History-making Emeka Egbuka leads list of standout NFL rookies from Week 5

Adjusting to the NFL can be difficult for rookies, but each season, a few stand out almost immediately. Here are five from Week 5: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka (first round)

In a 38-35 road win over the Seattle Seahawks, Egbuka had seven receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown catch. The former Ohio State star is the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions, 400 receiving yards and five touchdown catches through his first five games. During this span, he has 25 receptions for 445 yards and five TD catches.

"He's kind of one of one," quarterback Baker Mayfield said of Egbuka postgame. "He continues to amaze and do the things that everybody has seen him do, like he did in college." 

Egbuka is one key reason Tampa Bay's passing attack hasn't stalled despite star WR Mike Evans (hamstring) missing the team's past two games. The Buccaneers (4-1) rank sixth in the NFL in passing yards (243.4 per game). 

The last WR to win Offensive Rookie of the Year was New York Jets star Garrett Wilson, another Ohio State product. It's still early, but Egbuka (pick No. 19) may have a strong chance to become the next Buckeye to capture the award. As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook gives him the best OROY odds (+115).

Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan (first round)

If it weren't for Egbuka, McMillan (pick No. 8) may be considered the top rookie WR. Through five games, the Arizona product has the 15th-most receiving yards (351) in the league.

McMillan played a key role in the Panthers' 27-24 comeback win over the Miami Dolphins at home. He finished with six receptions for 73 yards, his second-best mark this season, helping Carolina rebound from an early 17-0 deficit. 

In a postgame news conference, McMillan said Carolina added him to make plays. The Panthers (2-3) will need him to keep doing that in a Week 6 road game against the Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1), who have allowed the most passing yards (284.6 per game) in the league. 

Cleveland Browns RB Quinshon Judkins (second round)

The Browns (1-4) still aren't sure if rookie Dillon Gabriel is their QB of the future, but they may have their RB of the future in Judkins (pick No. 36).  

In Sunday's 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, Judkins had 110 yards on 23 carries and one reception for 18 yards. Citing ESPN Research, ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi tweeted the Ohio State/Ole Miss product is the first Browns rookie with 100 scrimmage yards in consecutive games since four-time Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb in 2018. 

He has also joined Kareem Hunt (2017), Dalvin Cook (2017) and Alfred Morris (2012) as the only rookie RBs to rush for 60-plus yards in their first four games since 2010. 

Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward (first round) 

After calling out the team following a Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans, Ward led the 1-4 Titans to their first win of the season in Sunday's road game against the 2-3 Arizona Cardinals. Granted, they got lucky.

Arizona made a series of ridiculous mistakes that helped Tennessee erase a 21-6 fourth-quarter deficit. Still, Ward (pick No. 1) delivered in crunch time.

Per Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker, on Tennessee's final drive, the former Miami star completed 5-of-6 passes for 67 yards, including a 38-yarder to WR Calvin Ridley. This set up kicker Joey Slye's 29-yard field goal, sealing a 22-21 win.

"I think the second half, I really saw the field better in terms of just getting the ball out, letting my guys make plays," said Ward, who had a season-high 265 passing yards. "I wish I would've started better personally, but at the end of the day, it don't matter how you start. It's how you finish."  

New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell (first round) 

Campbell (pick No. 4) kept Patriots QB Drake Maye upright in Sunday's 23-20 road upset over the Buffalo Bills. PFF credited the LSU product with zero sacks allowed on 60 snaps and gave him a solid 77 pass-block grade.

During the predraft process, scouts questioned whether Campbell's arm length — measured at 32 5/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine — would prevent him from becoming a viable tackle. The average arm length of NFL edge-rushers is 33 1/2 inches. 

It hasn't been a problem. According to PFF's data, he has allowed just one sack through five games. 

"I'm predicting some hiccups here and there against better competition, but that doesn't mean you throw it out," The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo said on "The Next Pats" podcast before Week 5. "I think Will Campbell is absolutely the left tackle of the future."