Copied!
NFL rookies had some time to get acclimated to their new cities and teammates, but now we all get to see how they handle the best competition they’ve ever faced.
Below, I’ve graded the performance of one rookie from each of the past week’s 16 preseason contests. Some of these players are well-known to football fans, while others are trying to make names for themselves on the professional gridiron.
These evaluations are not predictions of how players will fare in this upcoming season, nor are they long-term career projections. Each mark simply takes stock of how the rookie played in Week 1 of the 2025 preseason.
The Colts showed confidence in their first-round tight end, throwing Warren a screen on the team’s second offensive play (though it was negated by penalty). He caught a short pass over the middle on that drive, fought for a first down after a would-be tackler bounced off his thigh on his second catch, and then rumbled 23 yards down the middle on this third grab. Warren attacked his blocking duties in-line, keeping his hands and feet active while also holding his ground as a move blocker.