Every year, the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) puts out their All-Rookie Team, highlighting the best rookies at every position. Here are my guys to end the 2021 season:
Offense
Quarterback: Mac Jones, New England
Honorable mention: No one
It’s far and away Jones for this honor. The 15th pick out of Alabama is a rookie of the year candidate, and all the other rookie QBs have frankly been terrible. Trevor Lawrence is on the Jaguars and didn’t have any help around him, and just straight up looked bad. Similar to Lawrence, Wilson is on a bad team, but I kind of see more optimism in New York than Jacksonville. Justin Fields I feel like doesn’t have the mental makeup to be an NFL quarterback, coming off a big immature in my opinion, and Trey Lance looked horrible in his limited action behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Honestly if there was a ranking, the second-best rookie QB is not in the first round, it’s third-rounder Davis Mills for the Texans, that’s how bad the other rookie QBs were this year. But again, it’s clearly Mac Jones as the guy, despite a rough end to the season.
Running back: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh
Running back: Javonte Williams, Denver
Honorable mention: Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco; Rhamondre Stevenson, New England; Michael Carter, NY Jets
There were some solid rookie running backs this year. Najee Harris was a first round pick and was everything they expected him to be. He finished fourth in the league in rushing, and was a force in the passing game as the running back catch leader.
The second spot looked clear cut to be Javonte Williams mid-way through the season, but a lot of guys emerged down the stretch, but not enough to push Williams. The second-rounder was a staple on Angry Runs on GMFB as a one-two punch with Melvin Gordon in Denver, it also helped that he stayed healthy all year.
The main challenger to Williams was a 49er running back, no not Trey Sermon the fourth-round pick, but Elijah Mitchell, the sixth-rounder. It feels like the 49ers have a different starting running back every year and they thrive no matter where they come from, and a lot of that is credited to Kyle Shanahan, but Mitchell looks good. He finished second among rookies and eighth overall with 963 yards in just 11 games, that’s very impressive for a sixth-round rookie. His draftmate Sermon couldn’t climb up the depth chart despite all the injuries, including his own. Hopefully Sermon can develop and be a great tandem with Mitchell.
Also want to give some love to Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots fourth-round pick. After being benched early in the season, he teamed with Damien Harris to be a bruising duo, so kudos to Stevenson for being having relatively successful rookie RB season in New England, which never happens.
I also really like Michael Carter, the running back, for the Jets. He emerged mid-way through the season as a capable starter and a future big fantasy player. I think he can be the featured guy next year.
Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati
Wide receiver: Jaylen Waddle, Miami
Honorable mention: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit
The top spot with Chase was a slam dunk. Chase was everything and more his rookie season and is poised to be the best receiver in the NFL.
The second spot had some competition though, but I never really saw anyone overtake Jaylen Waddle for the spot. He broke the rookie receptions record and was a go-to target for Tua Tagovailoa.
DeVonta Smith had a solid rookie year, almost 1,000 yards and was a good playmaker in a weird Eagles offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown really emerged in the second half of the season and looks like a fourth-round gem for the Lions. After a couple breakout games I thought Kadarius Toney was going to have an electric season, but injuries decimated his potential, so we’ll wait til next year. I’m also excited to see what Rashod Bateman does, who started getting going late in the season once he returned from injury.
Tight end: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta
Honorable mention: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh
Another easy selection. If you’re the highest drafted tight end in history, you gotta be special. Pitts didn’t put up ridiculous numbers, in part due to the lackluster Atlanta offense, but you could see what he can do. I’m curious to see what his NFL future will be because he is a smaller tight end, at least he looks that way wearing #8, but if he becomes a complete tight end, he’s gonna be exciting.
Props also to Pat Freiermuth, who quickly became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and has a bright future, whoever might be throwing to him.
Center: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City
Guard: Trey Smith, Kansas City
Guard: Alijah Vera-Tucker, NY Jets
Tackle: Rashawn Slater, LA Chargers
Tackle: Penei Sewell, Detroit
Honorable mention: T Dan Moore, Pittsburgh; C Kendrick Green, Pittsburgh; G Royce Newman, Green Bay;
Humphrey, a second-round pick out of Oklahoma, is PFF’s No. 1 rated center, not just out of rookies, so he’s well deserved here. The 17-game starter was a Pro Bowl snub, but is a worthy all-rookie teamer. The only other rookie center considered was Steelers third-rounder Kendrick Green (PFF #33), who also started every game. Josh Myers of the Packers, who was drafted one pick ahead of Humphrey, was the Week 1 starter, but was only able to start six games due to injury. The only other rookie to start more than one game is Jimmy Morrissey, who was a seventh-round pick of the Raiders, but didn’t make the team and signed to the practice squad before being plucked by the Texans, where he started in place of an injured Justin Britt a few times.
A lot of rookie guards this year, a total of six that started at least half the season. The one guy that was the apple to Brian Baldinger’s eye is Trey Smith. PFF’s 18th ranked guard started every game at right guard after being drafted in the sixth-round has been spectacular on a much improved Chiefs offensive line. The other spot was kind of tough, but Vera-Tucker just makes the most sense. The first-round pick (the Jets second of the round) started every game at left guard and is PFF’s 41th-ranked guard. The other players to start almost every game at guard is Royce Newman (PFF rank 63 of 84), the Packers fourth-round right guard, and Falcons third-round left guard Jalen Mayfield (PFF rank 77 of 84). Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders first-round pick, started at right tackle, struggled, then moved to right guard, and wasn’t any better, and ranked 81/84 by PFF. Others considered were Landon Dickerson (ranked 38th, started 13 games) and Quinn Meinerz (ranked 36th, started nine games).
The top two tackles selected in the draft earn a spot on my team. Day 1 left tackle Rashawn Slater is PFF’s #10 overall tackle, was named second-team All-Pro, and earned a starting spot in the Pro Bowl, very impressive accolades for a rookie left tackle. Penei Sewell started at left tackle for half the season in place of Taylor Decker, then moved over to right, and is likely the franchise guy there with Decker signed long term. Vikings first-rounder Christian Darrisaw didn’t become the left tackle starter until Week 6 and is ranked 36th. Steelers fourth-rounder Dan Moore started 16 games at left tackle, and was the 73rd-ranked tackle. Bills third-rounder Spencer Brown became a starter during the season due to injuries, but may have earned a permanent starting job with a 63rd ranking. Dolphins second-rounder Liam Eichenberg became the left tackle starter in Week 5 after a couple right tackle starts, and is likely the future starter, despite being the second-worst ranked PFF tackle.
The Bears had a couple rookie tackle starters, including second-rounder Teven Jenkins who joined the team mid-season after back surgery. Pegged to be the replacement for Charles Leno, Jenkins got hurt in the summer, which prompted the team to sign 39-year-old Jason Peters. He struggled mightily in his limited game action, as has fifth-rounder Larry Borom, who has eight right tackle starts. Washington second-rounder Sam Cosmi was the Week 1 right tackle and started nine games, and Panthers third-rounder Brady Christensen started a few games for the Panthers and could be the future.
Defense
Defensive line: Christian Barmore, New England
Defensive line: Jaelan Phillips, Miami
Defensive line: Kwity Paye, Indianapolis
Defensive line: Odafe Oweh, Baltimore
Honorable mention: Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas; Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa Bay; Azeez Ojulari, NY Giants; Gregory Rousseau, Buffalo; Alim McNeil, Detroit
This is where it gets tricky when figuring out positions because PFWA doesn’t use an edge rusher designation, just defensive line and linebacker, so I’m hoping they consider the two edge rushers as defensive lineman, even though they’re listed as outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, because that opens the door for my linebacker selections.
Barmore was the first interior defensive lineman taken in the draft after slipping to the second round and taken by the Patriots. He is also PFF’s highest-graded rookie interior defender, so he gets one spot. I was considering Dallas’ Osa Odighizuma or Detroit’s Alim McNeil for another spot, but I think the final three spots should go to edge rushers. If I had to pick another interior lineman, I’d probably go Odighizuma as he’s started more games and is on the Cowboys, which accounts for something.
The final three spots I’m giving to edge rushers, and this was really tough as no one really stood out outside of Micah Parsons, who is a linebacker.
Looking at Pro Football Focus, the highest-rated rookie edge rusher is Gregory Rousseau of the Bills at #35. He started all 17 games, but only had four sacks. Similar can be said about Kwity Paye (#38) who started 15 games with also four sacks. The rookie leader in sacks is Jaelan Phillips of the Dolphins with 8.5, but no one cared to watch the Dolphins this year, so no one watched Phillips. Same can be said for the guy with the second-most sacks: Azeez Ojulari. The guys who probably got the most air time were Odafe Oweh and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, the final two picks of the first round. Both guys made big plays in big games, so they got the recognition despite five and four sacks, respectively. Looking at everything, the stats, advanced metrics, and my own brain, I decided on Phillips, Paye, and Oweh. I wanted to give love to Ojulari, to give some hope to Giants fans, but sometimes name recognition matters, and if you’re on a bad team, your play can get overlooked.
Linebacker: Micah Parsons, Dallas
Linebacker: Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, Cleveland
Linebacker: Nick Bolton, Kansas City
Honorable mention: Pete Werner, New Orleans; Baron Browning, Denver
If no edge rushers are considered linebackers, these three are the deserved selections.
Parsons has been unbelievable this season. Leading all rookies in sacks while finishing sixth in the league. Named a Pro Bowl starter and a first-team All-Pro, Parsons is PFF’s highest graded linebacker and one of the biggest playmakers this season, being all over the field and constantly making game-changing plays, so the least I can do is name him to my little All-Rookie Team.
The other spots go to Owusu-Koromoah and Bolton, who became key starters for their respective teams. JOK is a smaller, more athletic linebacker who is great in pass coverage and a great run defender. Bolton is a very good run defender and is a tackling machine.
Also considered were Pete Werner, the Saints second-rounder, who loses points for wearing #20 as a linebacker, and Baron Browning, the Broncos third-rounder, who became a starter midway through the season.
Cornerback: Patrick Surtain, Denver
Cornerback: Eric Stokes, Green Bay
Honorable mention: Greg Newsome, Cleveland; Asante Samuel, LA Chargers; Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas; Paulson Adebo, New Orleans; Marco Wilson, Arizona; Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville
Two first-round cornerbacks really caught my eye this year were Surtain and Stokes. Surtain was lockdown, though not many people saw that in Denver, and Stokes was solid, and everyone saw it because the Packers were always on.
There were some solid rookie cornerbacks this year, and many were considered. Greg Newsome, another first-rounder, started over half the season. Asante Samuel, Paulson Adebo, Marco Wilson, and Tyson Campbell were all starting outside corners, while Nate Hobbs excelled in the slot.
Looking at this draft class, there is a ton of potential. The first CB selected, Jaycee Horn, only played three games for an injury, and looked really good. Caleb Farley had injuries entering the season, came back, then got hurt again, so we’ll be looking forward to him as well in 2022.
Let’s not forget about a few other who got a lot of playing time. Elijah Molden of the Titans, Ambry Thomas of the 49ers, Tre Brown of the Seahawks, Brandin Echols of the Jets, Aaron Robinson of the Giants, Benjamin St. Juste of the Commanders. There is a lot of talent in this 2021 cornerback class, and some names people are going to have to learn soon.
Safety: Jevon Holland, Miami
Safety: Trevon Moehrig, Las Vegas
Honorable mention: Brandon Stephens, Baltimore
Pretty easy selections as there weren’t a ton of rookie starting safeties. Two of the top three safeties drafted started most, if not the entire season, and played exceptionally. Holland broke out as a playmaking blitzing ballhawk while Moehrig was a great 17-game starter. Two studs for their respective teams.
Quick shoutout to Brandon Stephens, who became a starter for the Ravens after an injury to DeShon Elliott.
Special Teams
Placekicker: Evan McPherson, Cincinnati
Punter: Pressley Harvin, Pittsburgh
Kick returner: Kene Nwangmu
Punt returner: Demetric Felton
Special teamer: Nick Niemann, LA Chargers
Special teams selections really just have to be made purely by stats, and lack of competition.
McPherson has been incredible this season, one of the best rookie kicker seasons in recent memory, especially being clutch in the playoffs. Harvin was the only rookie punter, so congrats.
Nwangwu missed the first few games then came out of nowhere and started scoring return touchdowns, and was a positive on every kick return it seemed. He also led all rookies in kick return yards. Felton led all rookie in punt return yards and had the second-most punt returns in the league.
And Niemann led all rookies in special teams tackles.
Football Nerds 