Welcome to Touchdown Wire’s countdown of the best offensive rookies in the NFL after Week 1. As the season progresses, this list will reflect a cumulative ranking rather than just a week-by-week analysis.
Keep an eye out for the defensive rookies tomorrow.
Without further ado, here are the top 13 first-year players on offense based on their recent debuts and the preseason:
13. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears
Montgomery’s final stat line — six carries for 18 yards — wasn’t all that impressive, but what he did when given the opportunity was. Mike Davis and Tarik Cohen are fine players, but the Bears need to feature their rookie running back and use those two as complements to Montgomery. His well-rounded skill set and potential should make him the man in Chicago sooner than later.
12. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
Frank Gore is probably the better short-yardage runner and T.J. Yeldon is the more accomplished receiving option right now, but Singletary has shown that he might be the best combination back for Buffalo right now. He isn’t fast or unusually powerful, but Singletary’s vision is superb, and that translates well to the NFL. Against the Jets, Singletary made a big impact, with 70 yards on just four carries. Singletary isn’t likely to average 17.5 yards per carry again, but he did play in 71% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps and finished his day with just under 100 combined yards when it was all said and done.
11. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
The No. 1 overall pick has to be mentioned here. Murray and the Cardinals offense were rather awful for three-plus quarters of play. He missed open throws and certainly put the football in harm’s way too often, but Murray also showed great mental toughness to stick with it and rebound. Based on the majority of this game, the Cardinals didn’t deserve to leave with a tie against Detroit. But that is exactly what Arizona got, mostly on Murray’s back in the fourth quarter.
10. Michael Dieter, OG, Miami Dolphins
Nothing went well for the Dolphins as they got walloped by the Ravens in their own building to start the season. That being said, Miami’s offensive line might have found a real piece for now and the future in Dieter, who is also coming off a strong preseason. Miami’s offense wasn’t on the field much, but when it was, Dieter held his own.
9. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Redskins
McLaurin was targeted seven times, catching five of those passes for 125 yards. The Redskins absolutely need someone at this position to step up, and McLaurin might be the perfect guy to assert himself. McLaurin was basically a full-time player in his first NFL game. Could he soon emerge as Washington’s top wideout? It’s certainly possible, and there aren’t many players in front of him on the current depth chart.
8. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett didn’t get his first target until late in the game against Cincinnati, but Metcalf made up for it. We know exactly what Metcalf is. He is a physical freak of nature with great long speed and overall strength and power. Metcalf is a developing route runner but has shown obvious big-play ability after just one game. The last pick in the second round could be a useful player for Seattle, and Metcalf fits in perfectly with his new team.
7. Erik McCoy, C, New Orleans Saints
During Drew Brees’ great tenure in New Orleans, the Saints have dedicated massive resources to their interior offensive line. When Max Unger retired, it had to be a concern. But the Saints snagged McCoy early in the draft, and it looks like that pick could go a long way toward securing the middle of their offensive line for years to come. McCoy had a nice night against Houston and helped keep Brees clean in the pocket in an amazing Monday night game.
6. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
This is just a big rugged dude that landed in an ideal spot to best utilize his talents. Taylor held up well in protection during his debut, but moving people in the run game is sure to be his forte. Unfortunately, Nick Foles is out of the mix for a while, and Jacksonville will have to lean on its running game even more than previously planned.
5. Gardner Minshew, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Minshew played 47 snaps after Nick Foles went down against the Chiefs. Expectations couldn’t have been high for the sixth-rounder, but Minshew threw the ball well and didn’t look out of place when abruptly thrown into the fire. Only three of Minshew’s 25 pass attempts went incomplete as the rookie threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Will he keep it up? That is unlikely, and Jacksonville did just acquire Josh Dobbs from Pittsburgh, but give Minshew credit for what he did on Sunday.
4. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders
Jacobs was the only running back selected in the first round this year, and he looks like the best of the bunch so far. Underused in college (like Alvin Kamara), the Alabama alum enters the league not only with fresh legs but also an accomplished all-around skill set. That combination is difficult to find. Oakland didn’t get Jacobs involved in the passing game against Denver until late, and Jacobs’ excellent acceleration really showed up when he had a little space to work with. Jon Gruden put the ball in Jacobs’ hands with a lead to bury the Broncos. Jacobs is going to be a foundational player for the Raiders.
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans
Think JuJu Smith-Schuster with this guy. Brown really stuck out as the Tennessee dismantled the Browns in Cleveland. His body type is thick and powerful like Smith-Schuster’s, and Brown also should be an immediate inside/outside threat in a similar way. Brown only caught three passes, but still got to 100 yards on the day and was particularly impressive after the catch. Although Tennessee won big, Brown was the only wide receiver on his team to amass more than five receiving yards, which is hard to believe. Brown’s role should only continue to grow.
2. Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Brown was targeted five times and ran just 10 routes on the day, but wow did he make them count as Baltimore trounced the Dolphins. Obviously, Brown has game-changing speed, and as Miami quickly found out, if you miss a tackle on this young man, it usually results in a Ravens touchdown. Brown can run past just about everyone in the league, but he is also a polished route runner in the intermediate portions of the field. With the attention opposing defenses have to pay to Baltimore’s run game, Brown could break free often this rookie season.
1. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
Somehow, the Cardinals came back to tie Detroit in a game the Lions controlled for three quarters. But don’t blame Hockenson, who caught six of his nine targets for 131 yards and a touchdown. That happens to be more receiving yards than any tight end’s debut game in NFL history. Hockenson is going to be an elite tight end.
