Midseason All-Rookie Team

Every year, the PFWA (Pro Football Writers Association) puts out their PFWA All-Rookie Team, naming the top rookies at each position. We’re past the midpoint of the 2019 season, and I thought I’d make my predictions for who’s stood out in their first season in the NFL. So let’s get into it.

Offense

Quarterback: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Running back: Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders

Running back: David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

Wide receiver: Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins

Wide receiver: D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

Tight end: T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions

Center: Garrett Bradbury, Minnesota Vikings

Guard: Dalton Risner, Denver Broncos

Guard: Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers

Tackle: Jawaan Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tackle: Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons

Analysis: Kyler Murray got off to a slow start, but he has really impressed me lately. He’s a smart runner, quick decision-maker, and throws a real pretty ball. He’s poised for a promising second half of the season. Gardner Minshew mania is over for now after a stellar first few weeks, and Daniel Jones is having growing pains, but is showing flashes of a future franchise quarterback. Dwayne Haskins has been terrible, but was named the starter the rest of the season and might actually do something.

Josh Jacobs has not only been the best rookie running back, but one of the best backs in the league. He holds the highest RB grade in the league according to Pro Football Focus. David Montgomery is finally showing what I saw from him this offseason, so he gets the edge over guys like Devin Singletary, Miles Sanders, and Alexander Mattison. If any of these guys are going to challenge Montgomery, it’ll be Singletary. If he didn’t get hurt, he’d be the guy. He’s now back from injury, and is really producing. For now, it’s Montgomery’s spot.

Terry McLaurin has the most consistent rookie receiver this year. He’s leading all rookies in receptions and second in yards behind the other guy on this list, D.K. Metcalf. Limited with injuries early, Metcalf is proving to be a guy who should’ve been taken earlier in the draft. Marquise Brown and A.J. Brown could overtake these guys in the second half. Honorable mention to Preston Williams. The undrafted Dolphin was the team’s best offensive player and was near the top of several rankings this year before suffering a torn ACL. I’ll even show some love to Mecole Hardman and Darius Slayton.

The tight end position is pretty open, but I’m giving it to the top tight end from the draft in T.J. Hockenson. After a stellar Week 1 when he had 6 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown, he hasn’t done much since. The second tight end off the board, Broncos’ Noah Fant, is making the push after a breakout game in Week 9 with 3 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Keep an eye on Irv Smith Jr. of the Vikings, and even Dawson Knox of the Bills, they’ve been producing as of late.

The offensive line is always tough to predict, so playing time and PFF grade are big influences. At center, Garrett Bradbury gets the slight edge over Erik McCoy due to draft status, as Bradbury was a first rounder and McCoy went in the second. The Saints might have the best offensive line in the league, so don’t be surprised if McCoy pushes Bradbury for the spot.

At guard, Dalton Risner has been a lone bright spot on the Broncos line, and Elgton Jenkins has been impressive after taking over in Week 3 over veteran Lane Taylor. There aren’t much positive things to take away from the Dolphins this year, but the play of second-rounder Michael Deiter at left guard all year has been impressive. Max Scharping, the Texans second-rounder, has started the past seven games at left guard, and Titans third-rounder Nate Davis has started the past six at right guard.

At tackle, Jawaan Taylor and Kaleb McGary have started every game at right tackle for their teams. The only other rookies to have several starts at tackle are Cody Ford of the Bills at right tackle, and Tytus Howard of the Texans, who has started at right tackle for most of the season despite injury. Andre Dillard has started a few games at left tackle for the Eagles in place of Jason Peters, and the undrafted Justin Skule of the 49ers has started six games so far in place of the injured Joe Staley.

Defense

Defensive line: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

Defensive line: Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive line: Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers

Defensive line: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Linebacker: Devin Bush, Pittsburgh Steelers

Linebacker: Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Linebacker: Cole Holcomb, Washington Redskins

Cornerback: Byron Murphy, Arizona Cardinals

Cornerback: Deandre Baker, New York Giants

Safety: Darnell Savage, Green Bay Packers

Safety: Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs

Analysis: Nick Bosa has lived up to the hype and then some. He’s not only the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but he’s getting some DPOY consideration. Fellow first-rounders Josh Allen and Brian Burns have also been outstanding in their own rights. Big Dexter Lawrence has been great for the Giants in the interior of the line. Quinnen Williams has been great too, but he’s got a smaller sample size due to injury, and has a good chance to claim a spot. These are names that aren’t well-known, but the play of Patriots third-rounder Chase Winovich and Raiders fourth-rounder Maxx Crosby cannot be ignored, with the latter outplaying the team’s top pick, Clelin Ferrell.

At linebacker, the top two guys taken in the draft, the Devins, take the top spots. Devin Bush is an elite playmaker in a stout Pittsburgh defense and has slotted into the Ryan Shazier role quite nicely, and he leads all rookies in tackles. Devin White dealt with injuries early, but has come on as of late, playing like a heat-seeking missile with great instincts. The final spot is wide open, but I’m giving the edge right now to Cole Holcomb of the Redskins. The fifth-rounder is second among rookies in tackles and has Kuechly-like instincts at inside linebacker. Also in consideration are Mack Wilson of the Browns, Dre Greenlaw of the 49ers, Jahlani Tavai of the Lions, and Quincy Williams of the Jaguars. Special shoutout to Ryan Connelly of the Giants, who had two picks and a sack in four games before suffering a torn ACL. He likely would have more consideration if he stayed healthy, and the same can be said for the Jets’ Blake Cashman.

Coming into the draft, there was no consensus “top cornerback” in the draft. There was only one corner taken in the first round, and that is the Giants’ Deandre Baker. Baker has been criticized a ton this season, giving up the most touchdowns of any corner in coverage. He gets the nod so far because no other rookie has shown anything yet, besides the first guy on this list, the second corner off the board, Byron Murphy of the Cardinals. He’s fourth among rookies in tackles, and second in passes defensed. Someone who’s quickly climbing the ranks all of a sudden is the rookie who’s leading in passes defensed, Jamel Dean of the Bucs. Dean isn’t listed as a starter, but after posting eight passes defensed in his past TWO games, and the release of Vernon Hargreaves, Dean should be seeing the field more. I do expect Greedy Williams to play more for the Browns now that he’s healthy, and the Colts’ rookie pair of Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell have been solid as well. I’ll also shine some light on Nik Needham, the Dolphins undrafted corner. He didn’t make his debut until Week 5 after being promoted off the practice squad, but oddly enough, he is the highest graded rookie corner according to PFF.

Unlike the cornerbacks, the rookies safeties have been playing at elite levels. The top safety off the board, Darnell Savage of the Packers, is an elite playmaker in the back end of a revamped Green Bay defense. He’s locked in to one spot in my opinion, but the other spot is real tough. I’m giving the spot to Chiefs second-rounder Juan Thornhill, but guys like Taylor Rapp, Chauncy Gardner-Johnson, and Marquise Blair are not too far behind. Honorable mention are Will Harris of the Lions, Khari Willis of the Colts, and Roderic Teamer of the Chargers.

Special Teams

Placekicker: Matt Gay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Punter: Jake Bailey, New England Patriots

Kickoff returner: Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

Punt returner: Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints

Special teams: Drue Tranquill, Los Angeles Chargers

Analysis: Special teams is always the toughest to predict. Just looking at the stats, Matt Gay gets the spot at placekicker over Austin Seibert of the Browns and Joey Slye of the Panthers. The same methodology was used for punter, and I went with Jake Bailey, the second punter off the board, ahead of Mitch Wishnowsky of the 49ers, A.J. Cole of the Raiders, and the Scottish Hammer Jamie Gillan of the Browns.

The returner positions are a bit more exciting, as I’m going with Mecole Hardman at kick returner, and Deonte Harris at punt returner. Hardman is an absolute burner and has the most kick return yards for a rookie, but the only rookie with a return touchdown, is the undrafted Harris. He was touted as an elite returner, and he’s living up to the billing.

The special teamer role is one that is often overlooked, but guys like Matthew Slater and Justin Bethel have made careers as being elite at the position. I’m giving the rookie honors to Drue Tranquill. The fourth-rounder leads all rookies in special teams tackles, and even blocked a punt in Week 9. He’s also great on defense, posting 14 tackles in Week 10.