Like many rookies, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten had his share of ups and downs during the 2024 season. Rosengarten started 16 games at right tackle for Baltimore, including the playoffs. He was credited with four sacks and 36 pressures allowed in 518 pass-blocking snaps. The strength of the line in pass protection, coupled with Lamar Jackson’s craftiness in the pocket, resulted in Baltimore leading the league in average time to throw (3.24 seconds).
Dalton Kincaid was the No. 25 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he looked every bit of the part during his rookie season. He caught 73 passes for 673 yards and two touchdowns. His 91 targets were second on the Bills, and he was third in routes run (460). Kincaid’s production declined in 2024. He ran just 276 routes in 13 games, leading to a dip in receptions (44) and yards (448). It’s not farfetched to predict a Kincaid bounce-back in 2025. He showed what he’s capable of in Year 1. Kincaid knows where he needs to improve, and rebuilding chemistry with the reigning NFL MVP is a top priority.
Jordan Battle’s brief tenure with the Bengals hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing since the team picked him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He put together a promising rookie season, recording 69 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception. He notched two sacks and seven pressures as well. The 2024 season was a different story, though. Cincinnati opted for a safety duo of Vonn Bell and Geno Stone, despite Battle’s performance the season prior. The defense struggled out of the gates. Battle saw his snap count increase midway through the season, and he eventually became a starter for the last six games of the season.
Emerson made a big jump during his sophomore campaign. He recorded 59 tackles, four interceptions, and 14 pass defenses in 2023. He excelled in coverage, allowing a passer rating of 44.1 when targeted as the nearest defender. Emerson failed to perform anywhere near that level in 2024, recording just five pass breakups and zero interceptions. When targeted, he allowed 682 yards and a 101.1 passer rating. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Emerson has the size to be more physical.
Dondrea Tillman’s play was a pleasant surprise last season. The Denver Broncos signed him to a deal, and he made a noticeable impact for the top-ranked defense in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. Tillman appeared in 12 games last season, recording 22 tackles, five tackles for loss, five sacks, 21 pressures, and eight quarterback hits. His 14.7% pressure rate ranked 22nd among all players with at least 100 pass rush snaps (143 snaps).
Bullock finished with 51 tackles, five interceptions, and 11 pass breakups in 2024. The first-year safety tied All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for the most interceptions on the team. He was targeted 28 times, allowing just 11 receptions, the lowest completion percentage allowed (39.3%) last season with at least 25 targets. He projects as the starting free safety, and with 15 starts already under his belt, he could reach new heights in Year 2.
Bortolini made five starts last season, allowing zero sacks, three quarterback hits, and a pressure rate of 3.6% on 198 pass block snaps. His pressure rate allowed tied with Chargers tackle Joe Alt for the 3rd-best mark among rookie offensive linemen in 2024. With Kelly gone, the Wisconsin product is in line to be the Colts’ starting center in 2025. Gaining experience as a rookie could serve him well. There will be plenty of pressure on Bartolini’s shoulders, though, as he’s anchoring an offensive line protecting Anthony Richardson, who has yet to live up to the hype.
Strange has made 14 starts over two seasons. His role as a rookie was minimal, but he made strides in 2024, particularly after Engram went down. He caught 40 passes for 411 yards and two scores on 53 targets. He posted a catch rate over expected of +5.1. There is a youth movement brewing at the skill positions in Jacksonville, and Strange’s play suggests he’ll have a big role in 2025.
The Chiefs drafted Hicks in the fourth round last April, and the former Washington State standout exceeded expectations. Hicks appeared in 20 games last season, including the playoffs. He recorded 42 tackles, three interceptions, and five pass breakups. He was targeted 14 times in the regular season, allowing a passer rating of 79.5. Hicks consistently got better as the season progressed, and playing behind and learning from Reid certainly helped. With Reid now gone, it’ll be Hicks’ show, and he’s clearly already earned the trust of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Bennett appeared in 10 games in 2024, seven of which were starts. He recorded 26 tackles and 8 pass breakups. He was targeted 45 times as the nearest defender, allowing a -10.2% catch rate over expected and an 86.9 passer rating, according to Next Gen Stats. He played just over 70% of snaps, but he could be in for a larger role in 2025 if he stays healthy. His physical profile, coupled with his production, could bode well for a full-on breakout season next year.
Tart’s strong suit is his run-stuffing ability. He recorded a tackle on a career-high 17.7% of his run snaps in 2024. That ranked 11th out of 109 defensive tackles with at least 100 snaps against the run. Tart was on the field for 31.7% of the Chargers’ defensive snaps last season. If he can be more productive as a pass rusher, that number could climb. The team brought him back for a reason. He didn’t get a lot of praise for his impact on the defensive line, but the Chargers will lean on him heavily to anchor the unit in the middle, especially with the loss of Ford.
Washington was a 6th-round pick for the Dolphins last year. He arrived in Miami as part of a crowded WR room that also featured Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios. Washington impressed as a returner before making his way onto the field more on offense. Injuries happened, and he took advantage of his opportunities. He was targeted 36 times, catching 26 passes for 223 yards. There’s a clearer path for Washington to be featured more in 2025, and with Hill’s status uncertain, there could be room for additional opportunities.
Despite a 3-9 record as a starter last season, Drake Maye displayed why he is the quarterback of the future for the New England Patriots. Maye threw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 88.1 as a rookie. He finished 22nd in EPA per dropback (0.01), ranking 21st from a clean pocket (0.2 EPA/DB) and 18th when pressured (-0.30 EPA/DB). There are some areas where Maye can improve in Year 2. He ranked 27th on 3rd downs (34.3%) and 31st in net yards per pass attempt (6.1).
If the Jets’ offensive line is going to improve in 2025, they will need Olu Fashanu to take the next step. Fashanu was the team’s first-round pick in last year’s draft (11th overall). He made nine starts and played 555 offensive snaps in his rookie year, allowing one sack, 25 pressures, and four quarterback hits. His 6.6% pressure rate ranked 14th out of 17 rookie offensive linemen with at least 300 pass block snaps. The run game is also an ongoing area with room for improvement for him as well. Fashanu suffered a plantar fascia injury that ended his season, but he did not require surgery, which is good news for 2025.
Jones’ career hasn’t started as well as the Steelers hoped. The former Georgia Bulldog has started 27 games over two seasons, allowing 16 sacks, 72 pressures, and 14 quarterback hits. He allowed a 4.2% pressure rate last season, which was the 5th-worst among offensive linemen with at least 300 pass block snaps. Jones is still pretty raw, but perhaps, moving back to left tackle will help him regain the form that got him drafted 14th overall in 2023. At 23 years old, you can’t just dismiss him as a bust, as he has plenty of room to grow.
Sweat, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, started 16 games last season. Sweat finished his rookie year with 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Sweat’s strong suit was stopping the run, which is not surprising given his 6-foot-4, 366-pound frame. Through Week 17, the Titans allowed 4.2 yards per carry with Sweat on the field, according to Next Gen Stats. That was the 7th-fewest in the NFL during that span. As a pass rusher, he added 23 pressures and three quarterback hits. Sweat seems to be just scratching the surface, and he could turn things up a notch in Year 2.
