There is plenty of time for quick heroics at the NFL level. David Tyree will never be forgotten for the play he and his helmet made in Super Bowl 42. But sustained greatness is what turns the fortune of a franchise. So far, a few teams that desperately needed a kick-start have gotten them. Who will show up on the Week 6 NFL rookie report card?
The Jets, Texans, and Seahawks have significantly benefited from outstanding rookie performances. Those three teams, in particular, seemed to have hit the NFL draft lottery. Meanwhile, a rookie in New England might be deciding to move back to a first-round pick a bit difficult.
NFL Rookie Report Cards
Remember, there are no half-measures here. We do not cheat with pluses and minuses –complete letter grades only.
Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen: B
Tariq Woolen is on quite the little Trevon Diggs streak right now in terms of intercepting passes. If the 6-foot-4 cornerback becomes a decent starter in the league, he’ll be just the second ever at that size to do so. Brandon Browner coincidentally happened to be a Seattle Seahawk as well, bursting onto the scheme in their Cover 3 scheme back in 2011 at the ripe age of 27!
Woolen is the exact type of explosive athlete teams look for at the position, but it’s incredibly difficult to be a CB at that size. The fact that he’s doing this while LB Jordyn Brooks talks about Woolen “not even knowing what he’s doing half the time” is both terrifying and incredibly exciting.
It might not end up working out. At such a reactive position, being that big is a hindrance because it is so challenging to mirror smaller receivers. But one thing he’ll always be good for is carrying 5-foot-9 receivers downfield and out-jumping them for 50/50 balls.
Jets CB Sauce Gardner: A
By contrast, Sauce Gardner certainly knows what is going on. His physical skill set and mental prowess made him a top-five pick at cornerback, a feat only nine players had accomplished since 1997 before Derek Stingley Jr. and Gardner did it in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Gardner allowed just one catch on six targets against the Green Bay Packers. His length, athleticism, and technical refinement already make him a tough target. Add in an opposition that lacks all of that, and it’s no wonder the rookie made life hard for Aaron Rodgers.
Patriots QB Bailey Zappe: B
What Bailey Zappe is doing for the New England Patriots in place of the injured Mac Jones has been commendable. The rookie quarterback looks at home in the pocket for the Patriots, something even many of the second-year QBs are struggling with in their more permanent homes.
MORE: Bailey Zappe is PFN’s Week 6 NFL Breakthrough Player of the Week
Zappe is executing full-field reads with a quickness usually reserved for veteran starters, not rookie backups. While his lackluster athletic ability and underwhelming arm strength may keep him from maintaining the starting role in New England (not to mention the draft capital invested in Jones), he could be a very comfortable blanket to have around the house in case Jones goes down again in the future.
Zappe finished Sunday’s game going 24 of 34 for 309 yards, and his downfield accuracy was better than I expected it to be. However, he has yet to face any adversity in his first two starts. With Chicago next on the schedule, it’s unlikely he does in his third start, either.
Colts WR Alec Pierce: B
It’s not easy being a wide receiver on the receiving end of a Matt Ryan pass in 2022. If he isn’t underthrowing passes and forcing receivers into the turf with slides and dives, he’s trying to get them decapitated. But on Sunday, Alec Pierce also had to deal with Shaquill Griffin practically punching him in the mouth on every play, illegal contact be darned.
But on 3rd-and-13 from the Jacksonville 32-yard line late in the fourth quarter, the rookie receiver got press coverage, and the rest was history. Pierce stuttered before releasing outside, stacking Griffin, and tracking the pass over his right shoulder for the go-ahead touchdown.
Rapid-Fire Week 6 NFL Rookie Report Card Grades
It’s time for some quick hitters.
Jets RB Breece Hall: B
The only reason Hall didn’t get an A here is that he wasn’t as involved in the Jets’ passing attack on Sunday against the Packers. He did, however, top 100 yards rushing for the first time as a pro in the Jets’ win against the Packers.
Patriots G Cole Strange: B
Cole Strange has taken a few lumps so far as a rookie, but he’s been integrated much quicker to the NFL level than many expected after playing his college ball at Chattanooga. He only allowed one pressure against Cleveland and was perfect the week before against Detroit.
Patriots CB Jack Jones: A
Somebody needed to step up for Bill Belichick at cornerback this season after losing J.C. Jackson, and it looks like Jack Jones might be the guy to do just that. Jones allowed just two catches on six targets against Cleveland. He also added a nice pass breakup in the end zone late in the game.
Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu: B
After an ugly start to his rookie campaign, Ikem Ekwonu has turned things around in Carolina — for himself at least. Ekwonu hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 2, and he didn’t allow a single pressure against the Rams in Week 6. The only reason it wasn’t an “A” is that P.J. Walker was playing more hot potato than he was football.
Bears OT Braxton Jones: F
The game feels like eons ago at this point, but the wounds inflicted by the Chicago Bears offensive line are still fresh. Jones allowed six pressures and generally struggled against Montez Sweat, who was his primary opposition for most of the contest.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III: B
Walker narrowly missed out on being a Heisman Trophy finalist a season ago, and it was his electric running style that made him so difficult to defend. Against Arizona, he gained 73 yards after contact and forced 12 missed tackles.