<
>

Grading the rookie classes for every NFL team

NFL Nation reporters give the rookie classes for all 32 teams a grade and pick the best, most improved and most disappointing rookies of the season. Click the links after each team to view the full posts.

Grade: A

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are looking at one of their best draft classes. Much of the focus is on Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, but they have received better-than-expected contributions from others. Read more.

Grade: A-minus

New York Giants: The Giants have leaned heavily on their rookie class, including starting four of its members Sunday night against Dallas. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard has evolved into the team's No. 2 target. Read more.

San Diego Chargers: Selected No. 3 overall, defensive end Joey Bosa was a surprise pick by the Chargers. He has 5.5 sacks in eight games and has been a key contributor to San Diego's stout run defense. Read more.

Grade: B-plus

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens' recent drafts haven't lived up to the franchise's gold standard. But the 2016 class is making an immediate impact and is a big reason why they are in the thick of the playoff race. Read more.

Chicago Bears: The Bears' season went off the rails weeks ago, but the organization can take solace in the rookie class. Six rookies have started games, and three have all but locked up starting jobs for 2017. Read more.

Denver Broncos: All eight players in the Broncos' draft class made the 53-man roster, and running back Devontae Booker, who is now the team's primary back, is leading the way. Read more.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs' rookie class has been better than expected, and second-round defensive lineman Chris Jones and fifth-round wide receiver Tyreek Hill both have made a major impact. Read more.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints appear to have hit on both of their 2016 second-rounders, and this class has the potential to become one of the strongest draft classes in the Sean Payton-Mickey Loomis era. Read more.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders had 14 rookies on their 53-man roster entering Game 13, including all seven draft picks. In fact, five of the seven picks have started at least two games. Read more.

Pittsburgh Steelers: That early-1970s Steelers defensive lineup was harder to crack, but what corner Artie Burns, safety Sean Davis and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are doing is still quite impressive. Read more.

Grade: B

Buffalo Bills: The Bills' rookie class has been the NFL's toughest to evaluate because of injuries to first-round pick Shaq Lawson and second-round pick Reggie Ragland. Read more.

Detroit Lions: Bob Quinn's first draft class as Lions general manager featured a lot of linemen, a backup quarterback for the future and a long-snapper. But so far, it has been a pretty strong. Read more.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts went into the draft needing to improve their offensive line, and they picked four linemen. Two of them -- Ryan Kelly and Joe Haeg -- have been fixtures in the starting lineup. Read more.

Jacksonville Jaguars: It looks as if there's at least one future Pro Bowler, potentially a double-digit sack guy, and at least two other starters among the Jaguars' top four picks. Read more.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are in playoff contention, partially because of immediate production from their rookie class, including first-round pick Laremy Tunsil and third-round pick Kenyan Drake. Read more.

New England Patriots: The Patriots didn't have a first-round pick, but third-rounder Joe Thuney was inserted into the starting lineup at left guard on Day 1 of spring practices and hasn't moved off the spot. Read more.

Philadelphia Eagles: It's no secret that the Eagles' class will be defined by the career of Carson Wentz. The next decade will be largely shaped by their decision to aggressively move up to secure the No. 2 pick. Read more.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers are not only getting significant contributions from their rookie class this season, but these players are a big reason for the team's turnaround -- particularly on defense. Read more.

Grade: B-minus

New York Jets: General manager Mike Maccagnan's second draft has a chance to get better with age, but it's short on star power. The wild card is quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Read more.

San Francisco 49ers: The results have been mixed, with three members of the class looking like potential long-term starters, another flashing some upside and three already gone from the organization. Read more.

Tennessee Titans: GM Jon Robinson's first draft class produced two starters, one regular contributor, one capable player stuck behind an excellent starter and one guy who's getting a late-season look. Read more.

Grade: C-plus

Atlanta Falcons: Three of the Falcons' top four picks -- first-rounder Keanu Neal, second-rounder Deion Jones and fourth-rounder De'Vondre Campbell -- are starters on defense. Read more.

Cincinnati Bengals: While the Bengals' rookies could prove to be valuable down the road, they're mostly a cast of unknowns at this point. That's nothing new for Cincinnati. Read more.

Grade: C

Houston Texans: Aside from glimpses of potential from the Texans' first and last picks, the rookie class has not been a major contributor through 12 games. Read more.

Seattle Seahawks: First-round pick Germain Ifedi has started 10 games at right guard and flashed the potential the team was excited about when it used the 31st overall pick on him in the spring. Read more.

Grade: C-minus

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers' draft class was mostly about replacing Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman and upgrading the defense in general. It's still a work in progress. Read more.

Green Bay Packers: Like usual, the Packers kept all seven of their draft picks coming out of training camp, and they're all still on the roster. But their impact has been minimal. Read more.

Los Angeles Rams: No. 1 pick Jared Goff spent the first 10 weeks of the season on the bench, but he seems to grow more comfortable every week. It is difficult to assess him until he gets a bit more help, however. Read more.

Washington Redskins: The early returns haven't been good, save for a couple of bright spots, in part because of three injured players. In two years, the contributions from this class could be a lot more significant. Read more.

Grade: D-plus

Cleveland Browns: The Browns drafted 14 players, and all of them made the roster coming out of training camp. None has had a sit-up-and-take-notice kind of season, however. Read more.

Grade: D

Arizona Cardinals: This has been the most unproductive Cardinals rookie class of the Bruce Arians-Steve Keim tenure. None of the five still on the roster has been an active part of the offense or defense. Read more.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings' rookie class hasn't yielded many immediate contributions, and first-round pick Laquon Treadwell has only one catch in 12 games. Read more.