The 2022 NFL Draft Class was not well received. The quarterback class felt underwhelming. Only a handful of running backs moved the meter at all. After having a few years of ridiculous receiver prospects, this crop fell flat. There was no Myles Garrett in the green room.
But these rookies still must contribute to their teams. Who surprised with high grades in Week 1, and which rookies had a tough go of it in their first professional outing? Much like the draft itself, across a large sample size, no rookie outing was spectacular during the opening week of football.
NFL rookie report cards
One week does not make a career. Whether good or bad, we still have no idea how these young players will fare throughout the next 16 weeks and beyond. There will be no + or – on our grading scale. We’re going A-F, excluding E of course, because the educational system chose to ignore that letter for some reason.
Eagles DT Jordan Davis: A
There was a distinct difference in the Philadelphia Eagles’ ability to defend the run depending on whether or not they were in a 40 or 50 front. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon mostly used the Monstar as a true 0-technique with his head up on the center, and Jordan Davis wreaked havoc on the defensive interior during his 22 snaps on Sunday.
The discrepancy between allowing 2.2 yards-per-carry with Davis on the field and 10 with him off is due, in some part, to situational circumstances. That said, I don’t otherwise recall a team showing a complete switch in a discipline due to the addition of one player like the Eagles’ defense showed on Sunday.
Their even fronts attacked gaps to a fault, consistently getting too far upfield while actually opening rushing lanes. But in their 5-man front, they were patient on the interior, and their force players did a good job steering the ball back inside.
Colts WR Alec Pierce: D
Alec Pierce needed to be a Day 1 contributor. Unfortunately, his first day of school was unforgettable for the wrong reasons. His first-ever target in the NFL was to the end zone, hitting him in the hands and then harmlessly falling to the turf.
His second target, you may ask? He bravely carried it over the middle and was de-cleated by fellow rookie Jalen Pitre. The hit ended up resulting in a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Pierce popped back up, but that couldn’t have felt good.
His third target came on a play Matt Ryan extended, making it a solid sweep. It was also in the end zone. After running to the flat, Pierce tried to shoot toward the inside and create some space as Ryan bought time, but fellow rookie Derek Stingley Jr. laid out and broke up the pass.
Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu: F
The only accurate way to describe Ekwonu’s matchup is like this: think about what a fight between Krillen and Ultimate Gohan from Dragon Ball Z would look like.
Not a Dragon Ball Z fan? Well, just know that it’s as unfair a matchup as any. Ekwonu has a ridiculous amount of upside, but he was not a finished product coming out of North Carolina State.
A 275-pound martian with the technical ability of a wizard in Myles Garrett is not an ideal first opponent, and it showed. The rookie was no match for the top edge rusher in the NFL. Ekwonu officially allowed two sacks and two pressures on the day, but he was fighting for his life on most of his 53 snaps.
Jets CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner: B
Ahmad Gardner is a long and athletic cornerback who many thought would be a great press-man player at the next level. But the Cincinnati defense he hailed from wasn’t some rudimentary country Cover 1/3 from the days of yesteryear. In Week 1, Gardner showed his zone coverage chops, even when his teammates did not.
He was the cornerback on Rashod Bateman’s side when the second-year wideout caught a touchdown, but the Jets appeared to be in quarters coverage. That inside vertical route should have been for safety Lamarcus Joyner to cover had the latter not, for some reason, lost his mind on that play. Gardner had a pass breakup and was only targeted three times as the closest defender.
Commanders WR Jahan Dotson: B
Yes, he had two touchdowns, one of which was a circus catch that became the game-winner. But the rookie receiver was targeted five times in 47 passing snaps, so he couldn’t receive an “A” grade. However, Dotson’s playmaking ability and eerily-quiet hands will make him a go-to weapon alongside Terry McLaurin.
Washington has a legitimate 1-2 punch at the position now. For all of Carson Wentz’s flaws, there’s no doubt he’ll sling the pill to those two. Dotson mistimed his jump along the sideline on his first target and lost 10 yards on a poorly blocked end around, but he settled in after that.
Rapid fire NFL rookie report card grades
It’s time for some quick hitters.
Cowboys OT Tyler Smith: B
Smith was way better than expected at left tackle, especially considering his issues coming out of Tulsa and who he was facing (Shaq Barrett).
Titans WR Treylon Burks: B
The snap count is still a bit worrisome, but he commanded five targets on just 14 passing play snaps and caught a big pass over the middle on — wouldn’t you guess it in the Titans offense — a crosser.
Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson: D
The Eagles’ offensive line is no joke. Hutchinson was matched up against Aussie legend Jordan Mailata for most of the contest and couldn’t get anything going.
Jaguars OLB Travon Walker: C
Yes, he had an outstanding interception, and his sack was impressive. However, he needs to show far more consistency as a rusher, overall. Sacks aren’t sticky stats, and that one sack was his only pressure.
Dolphins DB Kader Kohou: A
We may never hear Kader Kohou’s name again, but what a showing that was. The undrafted rookie from… checks notes… Texas A&M Commerce had three stops, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in just 18 defensive snaps. Maybe he’s earned himself a long-term roster spot with his breakout performance.
Vikings G Ed Ingram: C
This “C” grade is definitely a good C grade. While there were some struggles in pass protection, opposing defensive tackle Kenny Clark is really good at football. The Vikings needed more beef in the run game, and Ingram brought that in his first professional outing.
Falcons WR Drake London: B
Drake London and Kyle Pitts are a match made in Madden heaven. Pitts is practically a create-a-player, and, given a little more speed, London is what you’d build as a prototype WR. He caught five of his seven targets and topped all rookie receivers on the week with 74 yards.
Chiefs DE George Karlaftis: B
The rookie from Purdue doubled the pressure production of any other rookie in Week 1 with six. Granted, he was playing the energizer bunny in Kyler Murray who was running around trying to extend plays, but Karlaftis still made his mark in his professional debut.