NFL rookies had some time to get acclimated to their new cities and teammates, but now we all get to see how they handle the best competition they've ever faced.
Below, I've graded the performance of one rookie from each game in the second full week of preseason action. Some of these players are well-known to football fans, while others are trying to make names for themselves on the professional gridiron.
These evaluations are not predictions of how players will fare in this upcoming season, nor are they long-term career projections. Each mark simply takes stock of how the rookie played in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason.
The No. 1 overall pick played better against the Falcons than his 2-for-7 passing line indicates. Ward was on the move for his first completion, hitting the crossing Elic Ayomanor for a 35-yard gain. Unfortunately, he faced hard luck on three third-down incompletions: Van Jefferson dropped a dart Ward put in a tight window, an unblocked defender forced an awkward screen pass, and Chimere Dike stopped his inside route short instead of crossing the field. Ward overthrew one sideline ball on his final series and then made a better throw on a similar route, though Ayomanor could not separate to grab the pass.
Simmons, whose final season at Ohio State came to an abrupt end last October due to a torn patellar tendon in his knee, looked healthy in one series against the Seahawks on Friday night. Edge rusher Derick Hall twice tried to turn the corner against the rookie left tackle, but Simmons maintained his balance while engaged, successfully thwarting Seattle's third-year pro both times. He also cut off Hall's attempt to get inside on a third-down play. However, Hall used quick hands against the No. 32 overall pick to reach a couple of inside runs. Simmons impressed with his quickness off the snap when not man-up on run blocks, smoothly moving to the second level.
Marshall played exclusively in the slot against Detroit. He used his size and physicality in the run game, shedding one block to make a stop for no gain in the red zone and blitzing multiple times, getting inside a slot receiver's block in the third quarter for a tackle for loss. Marshall was aware in zone, coming off one receiver to assure another catching a ball in his area was immediately stopped. In man coverage, however, he gave up a third-down reception, as well as a 27-yard gain in which he opened his hips outside early, allowing the receiver to run the seam.
Umanmielen saw extra snaps against Houston on Saturday with fellow rookie edge Nic Scourton out with a collapsed lung. Texans tackles thwarted most of his dip-and-bend and hesitation pass-rush moves, and he couldn't reach the quarterback when separating on a bull rush or spin move. Umanmielen stayed home to force a bad throw on a bootleg in the third quarter, though, and later made a couple of run stops. He also forced a second quarter punt by stopping a middle screen. The long-legged defender was stiff dropping into coverage and got a "Welcome to the NFL" low block in the box early in the second quarter.
Belton drew the ire of his coaches on Saturday for committing five penalties, including an unnecessary roughness for shoving a player out of bounds, as well as two illegal-formation flags on the same series that negated a 20-yard score and a 17-yard gain. He looked powerful as a run blocker at right tackle, though, shooting out of his stance, moving his man off the line, crashing down on a tackle or reaching a target downfield. In pass protection, the second-round pick was strong early but bent too much at the waist and failed to land his hands on later snaps, giving up the edge on a late second-quarter sack.
Henderson continued to show off his multifaceted skill set in the win over the Vikings, playing one quarter of action. He looked fast returning the opening kickoff and on his first two carries, though free defenders stopped his progress early on those offensive snaps. Henderson later converted a third-and-10, accelerating through a large hole up the middle, and then bounced off multiple defenders to score a touchdown on his final tote. He could not rein in an underthrown wheel route on his only target as a receiver. Henderson missed his punch in pass pro against a blitzing corner on the first play but recovered well and stood up to defenders on other plays.
Campbell covered a lot of ground as part of a two-linebacker set in the first half of the team's loss to the Browns on Saturday. While losing the ball on occasion, he ran to either sideline and downfield when needed. The first-round pick looked adept covering running backs, slot receivers and tight ends, making RB Pierre Strong Jr. hear footsteps on an early drop and forcing a field goal attempt at the end of the first half with a secure tackle. He also used heavy hands to beat blocks, including on a second-quarter blitz in which he chased Dillon Gabriel on a play that resulted in a pick-six.
Jeanty's strong showing against the 49ers showed why he can carry the load for the Raiders this season. He impressed with downhill aggression on an early third-down conversion and displayed the strength to push safety Ji'Ayir Brown into the end zone early in the second quarter. The top-10 pick's best rush came late in the first quarter, however, when he cut off a lineman's back side, accelerated through the second level and ran over Deommodore Lenoir in space to ultimately gain 13 yards. He was unsuccessful bouncing an inside run off left tackle and lowering pads against linebacker Tatum Bethune on his only reception.
Booker was solid despite facing a strong Ravens defensive line on Saturday night. He was shed by veteran Brent Urban on the first run play and did not generate significant movement on some others, but he did create creases for his backs with his strong upper body and powerful legs. Booker's mobility to reach linebackers and pull across the formation is impressive, given his size (6-foot-4, 321 pounds). He was a wall in pass pro and showed a bit of nastiness taking a blitzer to the ground on the first series (though another blitzer got a safety on the play) and keeping a defensive tackle on the turf during a third-down play in the third quarter.
Harris looked like an immediate starter against the Rams, catching six passes for 85 yards. He moved the chains on slants from the slot and converted a third down by grabbing a pass thrown low and outside. Harris' big play came in the third quarter, when he separated late with some handplay and then dragged his feet for a 34-yard gain. He was an active run blocker downfield and in tight formations, though he gave up the inside lane to a blitzer on one play. Harris could not win a fade on a two-point conversion, stumbled after one catch and was tackled short of a first down on another.
Moore was physical against the Giants, lining up in the box, in the slot and deep. He twice came across the field to lay a shoulder into a ball-carrier, chased down a run from the back side and held up blockers while at nickel. Moore effectively covered receivers in the slot and stayed home on zone plays, wrapping up a receiver in space for a minimal gain. On the downside, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. juked Moore in the hole on his first snap and the rookie failed to beat a running back block on one pass-rush attempt.
Harmon looked natural playing outside the right tackle as well as inside against Tampa Bay on Saturday. He held up versus double teams early on, maintaining leverage and moving his feet while keeping his eyes on the ball. Harmon consistently pushed the pocket as a pass rusher, forcing guards to get help because of his power and quick hands. He put a backup guard on skates to earn a sack at the end of the first quarter and stopped a run cold from the 5-technique spot on the next play. The rookie lost his stamina after those plays, putting his hands on his hips, missing a tackle and lacking strength at the point of attack.
Barron primarily played nickel against the Cardinals, as expected. His biggest impact came against the run, taking out the legs of Michael Carter on an inside play and filling the hole to wrestle down Carter on another snap. Barron showed speed off the edge on a third-down blitz and displayed physicality fighting through a block to limit the gain on a quick throw. The first-rounder kept pace in coverage most plays but was picked on underneath on a crossing route that converted a third down. Barron played outside on a couple of snaps, stumbling out of his cut on one comeback route that harmlessly sailed out of bounds.
Banks mostly stood up to Jaguars starting ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker at left tackle, staying engaged with quick feet, strong hands and consistent balance. Hines-Allen did throw aside the first-round selection on a first quarter run play, but Saints RB Kendre Miller ran through the tackle attempt. Dawuane Smoot challenged Banks, too, but the rookie escorted the ninth-year vet around the pocket on one pass play and forced a draw on run plays, missing a reach block on an inside run but getting movement on another handoff. Banks flashed excellent agility on one combo run block, staying on a linebacker through the whistle.
The Bears threw to Loveland twice in the first five scrimmage plays of their Sunday night win over the Bills for a total of 26 yards, first on bootleg action and then on a deep over where the No. 10 overall pick snatched the ball above his head while on the move. During the second series, though, the rookie did not get his eyes to quarterback Caleb Williams as a hot read on third down. Loveland showed promise as a blocker, throwing a solid back-side block on one run and pushing a nickel defender 5 yards downfield on another while sustaining in his lone pass-protection rep. Veteran linebacker Dorian Williams shocked and shed Loveland to reach the ball-carrier on a third run play, however.