Every year, the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) puts out their All-Rookie Team, highlighting the best rookies at every position. I put out my Midseason All-Rookie Team earlier this year, and PFWA just put out their All-Rookie Team list as well. Here are my guys to end the 2020 season:
Offense
Quarterback: Justin Herbert, LA Chargers
Honorable mention: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
This is the most obvious one on here. Herbert could very much win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and I even considered him as a Pro Bowler with how well he played. The Chargers were mediocre in 2020, but fans should be extremely excited about the future of their franchise.
Running back: James Robinson, Jacksonville
Running back: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis
Honorable mention: Antonio Gibson, Washington; Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City
This position was ever-changing throughout the year, but ultimately came down to Robinson and Taylor. Robinson came out of nowhere and put up a Pro-Bowl (snub) season with 1,070 rushing yards, the second most ever by an undrafted rookie. Taylor started off slow, but was hot down the stretch and into the playoffs. If Marlon Mack didn’t get hurt Week 1, who knows if Taylor would’ve had his opportunity, but he got it and capitalized.
Also in consideration was Antonio Gibson, who was Washington’s best offensive weapon, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who had a solid season, but underwhelmed based on the hype.
Wide receiver: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota
Wide receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas
Honorable mention: Tee Higgins, Cincinnati; Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh; Laviska Shenault, Jacksonville; Denzel Mims, NY Jets
What was touted as the best wide receiver draft of our generation, lived up to the hype. Many guys came out the gate hot, but only two can prevail to earn the spots. Justin Jefferson had 1,400 yards and was incredible. He broke the single-season receiving yards record by a rookie, and proved everyone wrong about him not being the top receiver selected in the draft (he was fifth). This story line has been beat to death, but the Stefon Diggs trade to Buffalo absolutely worked out for both parties. Diggs had an All-Pro season with the Bills, and the pick they sent was used to take Jefferson, absolute win-win.
The second guy was a bit tough, but I settled on CeeDee Lamb. He started out great, but fell off after Dak Prescott got hurt, but was able to salvage his season down the stretch. I like what I’ve seen from him so far, and so should Cowboys fans. I strongly considered both Tee Higgins and Chase Claypool for this spot, but I just liked Lamb’s numbers better.
Tight end: Harrison Bryant, Cleveland
Honorable mention: Cole Kmet, Chicago
Unlike wide receiver, the tight end class was abysmal. I’m giving it to Bryant because no one else deserves it. Kmet looked decent down the stretch, but Bryant flashed more. The guys drafted after Kmet and before Bryant didn’t do a thing: Devin Asiasi, Josiah Deguara, Dalton Keene, Adam Trautman. Bryant wins by default.
Center: Lloyd Cushenberry, Denver
Guard: Damien Lewis, Seattle
Guard: Solomon Kindley, Miami
Tackle: Mekhi Becton, NY Jets
Tackle: Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay
Honorable mention: T Jedrick Wills, Cleveland; G/T Michael Onwenu, New England
Offensive line is the toughest to predict, so I mainly go off of starts and PFF grade. Cushenberry was the lowest graded center in the NFL, but was the only rookie center to start all 16 games. Tyler Biadasz of the Cowboys started four games, and barely graded higher than Cushenberry. Matt Hennessy got a couple starts, and is likely the future starter for the Falcons in place of Alex Mack, but Cushenberry is really the only option here.
Guard is tough, and there were a decent amount of rookie starters, despite it being a weaker class. Lewis started all 16 games, and Kindley started the majority of the season. I also considered Jonah Jackson of the Lions, who started 16 games, Cesar Ruiz of the Saints, and Michael Onwenu of the Patriots. Onwenu is tough because he played both guard and tackle, mostly at tackle, so he deserves a spot, but I don’t think he outplayed the other rookie tackles.
The tackle spot was very good up top in 2020. Three of the top four tackles played well, so it’s a toss up, but I’m giving it to Mekhi Becton and Tristian Wirfs over Jedrick Wills. No real reason, just taking a shot in the dark.
Defense
Defensive line: Chase Young, Washington
Defensive line: Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco
Defensive line: Derrick Brown, Carolina
Defensive line: K’Lavon Chaisson, Jacksonville
After Chase Young, there were no clear rookie defensive lineman or pass rushers that stood out. Brown and Kinlaw played well, but the fourth spot was completely random, giving it to Chaisson, the Jaguars first-rounder.
Linebacker: Patrick Queen, Baltimore
Linebacker: Kenneth Murray, LA Chargers
Linebacker: Isaiah Simmons, Arizona
Honorable mention: Krys Barnes, Green Bay; Logan Wilson, Cincinnati
The rookie linebacker class was a bit underwhelming, with no one really standing out. Queen probably got the most publicity because he was the center of the Ravens defense, but he ranked 87th out of 88 qualifying linebackers according to PFF. Murray led all rookie linebackers in snaps, ahead of Queen, and also led the Chargers in tackles while starting all 16 games. Queen also led his team in tackles, and by default earns a spot. Simmons is interesting as one of the top utility defenders in the draft, and it’s still TBD on exactly what position he plays, so we’ll check back on him later in his career.
Cornerback: Cameron Dantzler, Minnesota
Cornerback: L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City
Honorable mention: A.J. Terrell, Atlanta; Jaylon Johnson, Chicago
Despite one being selected top 3, this was not a great rookie cornerback class this season. Just going off of what I saw watching the games, the only guys that stood out to me with successful seasons were Cameron Dantzler (11th CB taken) and L’Jarius Sneed (16th CB taken). Both players were the top-graded rookie CBs, and 22nd and 23rd ranked overall. They outplayed all six first rounders (Okudah & Henderson were hurt, Terrell and Arnette were decent, and Igbinoghene and Gladney weren’t good). I will shout out the efforts by Jaylon Johnson, Trevon Diggs, and Michael Ojemudia, who took advantage of opportunities and became decent starters.
Safety: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay
Safety: Jeremy Chinn, Carolina
Honorable mention: Kyle Dugger, New England; Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis
Forget about the cornerbacks, the safeties in this draft were phenomenal. Antoine Winfield was incredible and quickly earned the starting role in Tampa’s defense, and played all over the field. He reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu, with the ability to make plays all over the field. Jeremy Chinn was also similar, but played a more linebacker hybrid type role, and even scored defensive touchdowns on consecutive plays, while earning defensive rookie of the month twice. I like what I’ve seen from Dugger and Blackmon too, I think both teams found something there as well.
Special Teams
Placekicker: Tyler Bass, Buffalo
Punter: Tommy Townsend, Kansas City
Kick returner: Devin Duvernay, Baltimore
Punt returner: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas
Special teamer: Jordan Glasgow, Indianapolis
No one really focuses on special teams, and neither will I. Just going off of pure instinct and looking up stats, I went with Tyler Bass at kicker (also considered Rodrigo Blankenship) and Tommy Townsend at punter. The returners always stumble me, so I went with Duvernay and Lamb. Special teamer is a shot in the dark, solely looking at which rookie has the most special teams tackles, and that’s Glasgow.
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