Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is in Kansas City now, leaving a Price-sized hole in the backfield for the defending Super Bowl champions. Zach Charbonnet should be healthy again this year, but Price will get plenty of carries and could emerge as the starter, which is something he never achieved in four years with the Irish.<\/p>\n
Last ranking: 3<\/p>\n
Best rookie season: Gabe Jacas<\/a>, Edge, Illinois<\/p>\n The second-round edge rusher will start the season as a rotational player, but he\u2019ll be a starter by midseason. Harold Landry III and Dre\u2019Mont Jones are both 29. The Patriots were 20th in the league in sack percentage last season (6.2 percent), according to TruMedia. They needed some young legs.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 4<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Jonah Coleman<\/a>, RB, Washington<\/p>\n Would Sean Payton love anything more than giving a third-string, fourth-round running back 12 touches a game? Coleman is a thumper who could eat into starter J.K. Dobbins\u2019 carries and share the backfield duties with RJ Harvey by midseason.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 5<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Kaelon Black<\/a>, RB, Indiana<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want it to be true either, but the third-rounder could have a big role this year. Christian McCaffrey is coming off a career-high 311 carries. His second-highest total of carries in a season was 287. His third-highest was 272. In the two seasons immediately following those years, he played in a total of just seven games due to injury.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 2<\/p>\n Best rookie season: CJ Daniels<\/a>, WR, Miami<\/p>\n Yes, that\u2019s their sixth-round pick, but who else from this class is going to play? It\u2019s not just first-round quarterback Ty Simpson who\u2019s headed for the bench. It\u2019s second-round tight end Max Klare and third-round tackle Keagen Trost, too. Matthew Stafford could be calling games for CBS by the time these guys play.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 7<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Dillon Thieneman<\/a>, S, Oregon<\/p>\n The first-round safety will immediately slot into a starting role. The 6-foot, 200-pounder has 4.35 40-yard dash speed and can play over the top or in the run game. Defensive Rookie of the Year votes are incoming, and the Bears need them.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 10<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Cole Payton<\/a>, QB, North Dakota State<\/p>\n Has the league finally found another Taysom Hill? NFL teams have been trying to copy the New Orleans Saints\u2019 success with Hill for nearly a decade, and Payton, Philly\u2019s fifth-round pick, has the potential. The Eagles\u2019 first two selections, Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers, work the middle of the field where Jalen Hurts rarely throws, so \u2026<\/p>\n Last ranking: 6<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Davison Igbinosun<\/a>, CB, Ohio State<\/p>\n The second-round corner has a chance to get into the mix at nickel right away, along with free-agent addition Dee Alford and fifth-round safety pick Jalon Kilgore. The 6-3, 190-pounder has the feistiness to get into the fold in the run game and good coverage skills for a third cornerback as long as he can keep from getting flagged.<\/p>\n \n Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was overcome with emotion when he was picked early in the second round by the Texans. (Emilee Chinn \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n 9. Houston Texans<\/p>\n Last ranking: 8<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Kayden McDonald<\/a>, DT, Ohio State<\/p>\n The second-rounder was widely expected to be a first-rounder somewhere, but the Texans got a steal. McDonald is behind 32-year-old Sheldon Rankins on the depth chart. That\u2019s a road to playing time. The Texans spent their first four picks on line-of-scrimmage players.<\/p>\n 10. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n Last ranking: 9<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Tanner Koziol<\/a>, TE, Houston<\/p>\n The fifth-round pick wasn\u2019t even the first tight end taken by the Jags, but second-round pick Nate Boerkircher is mostly a blocker. Koziol is basically a wide receiver. He had 168 catches in his final two collegiate seasons. Jacksonville was 21st in the league in tight end targets last year (105). That\u2019ll go up this fall.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 14<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Germie Bernard<\/a>, WR, Alabama<\/p>\n The second-round wideout is going to have to overcome Aaron Rodgers\u2019 aversion to rookie receivers. Either that or he\u2019s going to have long shots Will Howard or Drew Allar at quarterback. Still, Bernard immediately slots in as the third wide receiver and will be one of the most polished rookie pass catchers of 2026.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 15<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Elijah Sarratt<\/a>, WR, Indiana<\/p>\n The fourth-round selection wasn\u2019t the first wide receiver Baltimore drafted. That was Ja\u2019Kobi Lane, but Sarratt looks more ready to contribute immediately. He\u2019s tough, versatile and productive. He caught 200 passes in his final three collegiate seasons and scored 15 touchdowns for the national-champion Hoosiers last year.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 16<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Derrick Moore<\/a>, Edge, Michigan<\/p>\n The second-rounder should not only step right into a starting role, but he\u2019ll do it across from Aidan Hutchinson. Moore had 10 sacks last year at Michigan and has a high enough floor that he can be counted on as a multiyear starter. The Lions defense added free-agent depth, and Moore could help turn things around.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 11<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Chris McClellan<\/a>, DT, Missouri<\/p>\n The third-round defensive tackle may not get a lot of attention in his first season, but he\u2019s going to eat up a lot of valuable snaps in the middle of the line, even though he\u2019s playing behind a former first-rounder in Devonte Wyatt for now. The 6-4, 313-pound McClellan didn\u2019t miss a game in his 51-game collegiate career. Wyatt missed seven last season.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 12<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Brenen Thompson<\/a>, WR, Mississippi State<\/p>\n The fourth-round pick is going to get the most attention of any of the Chargers\u2019 rookies because when he makes a play, it\u2019s going to be on a highlight reel. Thompson ran a 4.26 40 at the combine, and he joins a receiving corps that could use a big-play threat. He will have to survive to make good on this, of course. He\u2019s 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds.<\/p>\n 16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n Last ranking: 18<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Rueben Bain Jr.<\/a>, Edge, Miami<\/p>\n It is so tempting to pick third-round wide receiver Ted Hurst here because he could be Mike Evans Lite right away, but Bain is going to be such a nightmare playing in a Todd Bowles front seven. As the 15th pick, he might be the best value overall for any team this year.<\/p>\n \n First-round pick Malachi Lawrence should help boost a Cowboys pass rush that tied for 22nd in the league in sacks last season. (Kirby Lee \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n Last ranking: 21<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Malachi Lawrence<\/a>, Edge, Central Florida<\/p>\n The Cowboys drafted five defenders who should be part of the two-deep rotation this season, but Lawrence, a first-round pick, is the most likely to get attention. He\u2019ll start as a designated pass rusher, and he should be a good one. He has an 82-inch wingspan and had 19.5 sacks over his final three collegiate seasons.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 13<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Sam Hecht<\/a>, C, Kansas State<\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it: A fifth-round center isn\u2019t a sexy pick. But the free agent Carolina brought in at center, Luke Fortner, has started only 10 games in the last two years. Hecht doesn\u2019t have any elite traits, but he is the type of solid collegiate player who just keeps being solid in the NFL. He started 25 games over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 17<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Jake Golday<\/a>, LB, Cincinnati<\/p>\n The Vikings have three solid linebackers ahead of Golday, their second-round pick, but he\u2019s just too athletic and versatile not to make plays right away in a Brian Flores defense. The 6-4, 239-pounder posted a 39-inch vertical at the combine. He had six TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups as a senior and could have better numbers this year.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 25<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Mansoor Delane<\/a>, CB, LSU<\/p>\n The first-round cornerback is coming into a defensive system that has made stars out of much lower picks. He\u2019s a day-one starter who has the type of football intelligence and versatility to allow defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to get very creative. Edge rusher R Mason Thomas is also worth watching.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 19<\/p>\n Best rookie season: A.J. Haulcy<\/a>, S, LSU<\/p>\n The third-round safety may not be as important to the Colts defense this fall as second-round linebacker CJ Allen, but he\u2019s going to make a more noticeable impact. Haulcy will slide in as a starter in a veteran Indianapolis secondary. That should boost his learning curve and give him the freedom to make plays.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 20<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Zachariah Branch<\/a>, WR, Georgia<\/p>\n The third-rounder could have the second-most catches among wide receivers on the team this year. The Falcons depth chart is not insurmountable, and Branch\u2019s shifty skill set and elite speed make him a tempting screen target. If there aren\u2019t at least a few snaps with Branch and Bijan Robinson in the backfield together, Kevin Stefanski should be fined a game check.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 23<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Cashius Howell<\/a>, Edge, Texas A&M<\/p>\n The second-round pick enters one of the best situations in the league, and, amazingly, it\u2019s on the Bengals defense. Cincinnati rebuilt its defensive front with Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. Whoever starts at edge opposite Mafe is going to have some clear paths, and it\u2019s going to be either Howell or Myles Murphy.<\/p>\n 24. New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n Last ranking: 24<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Jordyn Tyson<\/a>, WR, Arizona State<\/p>\n The first-round wide receiver will pay off his top-10 selection while playing opposite Chris Olave in an offense that is going to try to run a ton of plays. Tyson wowed scouts at a late pre-draft workout necessitated by a hamstring injury. Injuries have been an issue, but if he\u2019s healthy, he\u2019ll produce big.<\/p>\n 25. Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n Last ranking: 22<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Chris Bell<\/a>, WR, Louisville<\/p>\n Second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is a tempting pick, but somebody has to catch passes in Miami. Bell, who was selected in the third round, is as good a bet as anyone. The 6-2, 222-pounder has elite separation speed and will be Malik Willis\u2019 favorite target before long.<\/p>\n \n Expect linebacker Sonny Styles to put up big numbers, even as a rookie, for the Commanders. (Emilee Chinn \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Last ranking: 27<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Sonny Styles<\/a>, LB, Ohio State<\/p>\n The seventh overall pick is going to excel in Daronte Jones\u2019 defense, where he\u2019ll start right out of the gate. The 6-5, 244-pound former safety will do a little bit of everything for the Commanders and should fill up the stat sheet.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 26<\/p>\n Best rookie season: KC Concepcion<\/a>, WR, Texas A&M<\/p>\n The second of Cleveland\u2019s two first-rounders, Concepcion will join fellow rookie wideout Denzel Boston in the starting lineup right away. With his separation ability, he\u2019ll be the best target for Deshaun Watson or whoever wins the starting quarterback job. He and Tyson will compete for the rookie receptions crown.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 28<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Arvell Reese<\/a>, Edge, Ohio State<\/p>\n The first-round edge rusher joins a pass-rushing group that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, at least for now, Kayvon Thibodeaux. Tackle Francis Mauigoa may have a bigger impact on wins and losses, but Reese should put up eye-popping stats.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 31<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Jermod McCoy<\/a>, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of debate about whether the fourth-round cornerback can play multiple years in the league due to a knee injury. Still, he\u2019s a first-round talent with a path to a starting job if he\u2019s healthy. With QB Fernando Mendoza maybe sitting the whole year, McCoy is the choice.<\/p>\n 30. Arizona Cardinals<\/p>\n Last ranking: 29<\/p>\n Best rookie season: Jeremiyah Love<\/a>, RB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n The first-round running back wasn\u2019t the smart pick at No. 3 overall \u2014 the salary cap math makes that a pretty clear-cut case. But he is going to be fun to watch. Love will get lots of carries and lots of catches in an offense that also has Trey McBride and Michael Wilson.<\/p>\n Last ranking: 32<\/p>\n![\"Kayden](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2273000730-scaled.jpg\")
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