Some rookies explode onto the scene every year and become instant contributors to their teams and, more importantly, their fantasy managers (Hello, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Micah Parsons). Others have more of a “Jalen Reagor” impact. Our analysts combed through the NFL rosters and identified the top rookie on every team. The results and accompanying justifications are below.
Previously, our analysts took a look at the most overrated and underrated players on each NFL team:
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AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
Top Rookies on Each AFC North Team
AFC North
| TEAM | Andrew | Derek | Pat | Worm |
| Baltimore Ravens | Zay Flowers | Zay Flowers | Zay Flowers | Zay Flowers |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Myles Murphy | Myles Murphy | Myles Murphy | Myles Murphy |
| Cleveland Browns | Cedric Tillman | Siaki Ika | Siaki Ika | Cedric Tillman |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Joey Porter Jr. | Joey Porter Jr. | Keeanu Benton | Joey Porter Jr. |
Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)
Zay Flowers spent four seasons at Boston College simply dominating as the team’s best wide receiver. He posted a career 33% dominator rating — highest in the draft class. His senior year was truly special as the 5-foot-9, 182-pound wideout racked up 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 receiving TDs. Per Sports Info Solution, Flowers finished 3rd in the class in unique routes run, 6th in target share (30%) and third in deep route percentage (49%). With first-round draft capital and projected inside/slot usage and downfield prowess that will work well with QB Lamar Jackson…don’t count out Flowers emerging as Baltimore’s WR1. The best ability is availability… which has not been the case for either Odell Beckham Jr. or Rashod Bateman. – Erickson
Myles Murphy (DE – CIN)
An edge rusher with prototypical size (6-5, 268) and impressive power, Myles Murphy should add teeth to a Bengals pass rush that ranked 29th in sacks last year. A disruptive difference-maker at Clemson, Murphy posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.71 on a 10-point scale, giving him sky-high NFL upside. FantasyPros college football and NFL Draft analyst Thor Nystrom compares Murphy to Green Bay’s Rashan Gary, one of the more fearsome edge rushers in the league. – Pat Fitzmaurice
Siaki Ika (DT – CLE)
Siaki Ika should make an immediate impact both as a run defender but also as a pass rusher. Ika’s help is needed for a Browns’ run defense that was 28th in run defense DVOA last year. Ika ranked 34th in pass rush grade and 41st in pass rush win rate last year (minimum 200 pass rush snaps per PFF). – DBro
Joey Porter Jr. (CB – PIT)
The Steelers front office snagged another first-round talent with the 32nd overall pick in Joey Porter Jr. Not only is it perfect from a real-life perspective – like father like son – but cornerback was a must-need for the Steel Curtain. Porter Jr. was a pass-breakup machine in 2022, posting college football’s second-highest forced incompletion rate (41%). Cameron Sutton (now with the Lions) ranked inside the top-10 in passes defended (15- career high) last season for the Steelers. – Erickson
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
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