From Jaxson Dart to Cam Ward: The best and worst rookie performers of the 2025 NFL season

The 2025 NFL season has barely hit cruising speed, but the rookie rollercoaster is already flinging us from wide-eyed wonder to forehead-slapping frustration.

Every year brings its breakout stars, and this crop has delivered a few instant-impact game-changers who look born for primetime. But for every meteoric rise, there’s a first-rounder flailing in the deep end or a mid-round gem turning out to be cubic zirconia.

Here are three rookies who are starring on Sundays and three who, so far, are struggling, giving their fanbases that familiar sinking feeling.

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Starring: Jaxson Dart – New York Giants

After taking pass rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, the Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 draft in search of a franchise quarterback. And in Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall selection, they appear to have succeeded.

Dart took over from Russell Wilson as the starter at MetLife Stadium in Week 4 and, despite New York’s continued struggles, the rookie signal caller out of Ole Miss has very much looked the part.

The uber-confident Dart has breathed new life into the Giants, giving fans optimism through another trying season that has begun 2-7. Dart has thrown for 10 touchdowns in his six starts to date, while adding another five on the ground, showcasing his elusive running skills.

He is the current favourite to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Struggling: Cam Ward – Tennessee Titans

The caveat here is that Cam Ward’s struggles so far in Tennessee are not entirely his fault. In fact, they are largely a result of his surroundings – a porous offensive line, inconsistent receiver play, and play-calling failures that have already led to a head coaching change.

Yet even with these excuses baked in, the No.1 overall pick’s numbers do not make for pretty reading. Through Week 9, Ward has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five) and has the lowest completion rate (57.6%) of all quarterbacks to have stepped on an NFL field this season.

Shining: Tyler Warren – Indianapolis Colts

It was something of a surprise during last April’s draft when Warren, who many analysts had tipped to be the first tight end off the board and a potential top eight pick, fell to the Indianapolis Colts at pick No.14.

Yet Warren has not allowed his minor draft slide to impact his play. The former Penn State star has already snagged four touchdowns for the Colts’ super-charged offense and is on course to break the 1,000-yard mark as a receiver.

Struggling: Travis Hunter – Jacksonville Jaguars

Perhaps the most talked-about player heading into the 2025 draft, Travis Hunter elicited excitement from fans and figures within the league alike for his insistence that – just like he had at Colorado University – he would play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

The Jaguars were so enticed by Hunter’s two-way potential that they gave up their 2026 first-round pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns to move up to No.2 and take the Heisman Trophy winner.

But nine weeks into the 2025 campaign, Hunter’s ambitions of playing on both sides of the ball have seen him make little impact on either, with just one touchdown on offense and only three passes defended on defense.

Starring: Carson Schwesinger – Cleveland Browns

The first pick of the second round, Carson Schwesinger didn’t command many headlines when he was selected by the Cleveland Browns, but the former UCLA off-ball linebacker has been the outstanding defensive player of this rookie class so far.

Schwesinger leads the Browns with 64 tackles, which includes four tackles for a loss, while also contributing one sack and one interception.

The 22-year-old may be sidelined with a high ankle sprain, but his future remains bright — and his place on our preseason All-Rookie team has been more than justified.

Struggling: Ashton Jeanty – Las Vegas Raiders

Considered the standout prospect in a stacked running back class, Ashton Jeanty’s otherworldly production at Boise State last year (2,601 yards, 30 total touchdowns) convinced the Raiders to take him with the sixth overall pick.

And while Jeanty has by no means been a total flop at the NFL level, his mediocre production to date has not justified his top billing.

He leads all rookies with 487 rushing yards, but that is good for just 16th overall among running backs. His 3.9 yards per carry is significantly short of the league average of 4.4, and fellow first-years Quinshon Judkins (69.4) and Omarion Hampton (62.8) have posted better yards-per-game averages than Jeanty’s 60.9.

While Jeanty has endured his struggles to start his career, there’s still plenty of hope for the youngster, whose numbers are likely to rise when the Raiders’ run blocking finally clicks.