OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jackson Powers Johnson – OC /LV Raiders
Let’s rewind to last February. I show up to Mobile, Alabama to scout the 100+ players performing at the Senior Bowl. Jackson Powers Johnson, a two-year starter from Oregon that played both center and guard, in addition to defensive tackle, weighs in at 334 pounds, the heaviest among all offensive linemen. Then, at practice there wasn’t a player that dominated more than he did. The 21-year-old didn’t lose a rep. The power and quick feet allowed him to both overwhelm the future NFL defenders but also mirror their movements. It looked easy. The Rimington Award Winner was by far our highest graded interior offensive lineman with a credible first round grade. A medical concern bumped into round 2 where Las Vegas was waiting.
Week 9 against the Bengals was the first start for him at center. He had played both guard spots prior to. It was by far the best we have seen out of him this year. He did not allow a single pressure on 41 pass block snaps and the violent push he created in the run game was full of teach tape. You don’t often find real highlights from offensive linemen, a key reason why they get overlooked with awards like this. But take a look at what he did in the run game, and it is impossible to not walk away impressed. Powers-Johnson defined what it means to displace defenders. Those Cincinnati linemen looked like the kids he tossed around in Mobile last February.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kamren Kinchens – S / LA Rams
Ball production out of a college safety has a strong correlation to the next level. Kinchens, a three-year starter from the Ed Reed school of safety play, University of Miami, led the country with 11 interceptions from 2022 to 2023. While his college was full of big plays, he had more than his fair share of misses. Add in the fact he had a poor pre-draft process with a sub-par combine workout, he found himself waiting for a phone call after the first 99 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. The phone call came from Rams GM Les Snead. The same GM that selected outside linebacker Byron Young and Defensive Tackle Kobie Turner in round 3 of the 2023 Draft. Both members of the 2023 Ourlads All-Rookie Team at the end of the year.
Kinchens was one of five defensive rookies that made a huge impact in the Rams road win over the division rival Seahawks. But none of them changed the outcome of the game the way he did. Kinchens picked off two passes in the fourth quarter. The first one came with the game tied at 13 in the end zone. He then made history with a 103-yard return for the defensive touchdown – a franchise record. Seattle then drove down and got the ball inside the 10-yard line again and it was Kinchens, once again, that came away with the interception. Without these two plays, Los Angeles does not win this game.
QB
Jayden Daniels – WAS (Round 1)
The first place Commanders won for the third straight week over the division-rival Giants. He only needed 22 pass attempts to gain 209 yards, giving him a fifth-best 9.5 yards per attempt league wide. He added 35 more yards on the ground as he did not get sacked once nor did he turn the ball over. Simply put, the favorite for Rookie of the Year award continues to play both explosive and efficient football with minimal turnovers and it has created a top-five offense in the NFL.
Honorable Mention: Drake Maye (NE)
RB
Trey Benson – ARI (Round 3)
Benson has been waiting for his time under James Conner, the sixth leading rusher and sixth most used back in the NFL. After a two-week stretch where he had just one touch, he carried the ball eight times for 37 yards. He scored his first career touchdown and gained another 18 yards on his one catch in Arizona’s convincing win over Chicago as they took ahold of first place in the NFC West.
Honorable Mention: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG)
WR
Rome Odunze – CHI (Round 1)
The only rookie receiver to gain over 100 yards, Odunze caught five passes for 104 yards, a season high for the ninth overall pick. He was targeted downfield often, as four of those catches went for a first down.
Honorable Mention: Ladd McConkey (LAC)
TE
Ja’Tavion Sanders – CAR (Round 4)
Sanders led all rookie tight ends with 87 yards. He had a 46 yard gain on a play where he hurdled a defender showing his underrated athletic ability that did not show up in a below average pre-draft workout process. He had three first downs and caught his only contested target.
Honorable Mention: AJ Barner (SEA)
OT
Brandon Coleman – WAS (Round 3)
The Giants edge rushers have been disruptive all season. It did not phase Coleman one bit. He kept him jail all afternoon, not allowing a single pressure and he was not flagged once. The hybrid tackle/guard in college has shown steady progress all season and we look forward to watching him face off against TJ Watt in week ten. He looks ready.
Honorable Mention: Taliese Fuaga (NO)
OG/OC
Jackson Powers-Johnson – LV (Round 2)
See above.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Morgan (GB)
ED
Jared Verse – LAR (Round 1)
Once again, Verse led all rookies in pressures with seven. It seems like last year all over again when we saw his teammate Byron Young racking up the pressures week after week. This is the sixth time he’s accrued four or more pressures. For the second straight week, Verse took down the quarterback twice as his bull rush has been ultra-effective. He is simply running through pro tackles.
Honorable Mention: Dallas Turner (MIN)
DT
Braden Fiske – LAR (Round 2)
The college teammate of Verse also took down Seattle quarterback twice. It is hard to imagine how opposing college lines dealt with these two. He added three hurries and two tackles, causing constant disruption behind the line of scrimmage.
Honorable Mention: Kris Jenkins (CIN)
LB
Edgerrin Cooper – GB (Round 2)
It was a quiet week for the rookie linebackers. Cooper led them all with five tackles and he added a pressure. He did not miss a tackle for the third time this season.
Honorable Mention: Trevin Wallace (TEN)
CB
Max Melton – ARI (Round 2)
Melton played 72 snaps in Arizona’s dominant win over the Bears. Caleb Williams targeted him nine times and only two of them were completed. The 22.2% reception percentage was best among the 13 rookie corners that were thrown at three or more times.
Honorable Mention: Tarheeb Still (LAC)
S
Kamren Kinchens – LAR (Round 3)
See above
Honorable Mention: Cooper DeJean (PHI)