OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
JAYDEN DANIELS – QB / WAS
History was made this week. Daniels now has the best completion percentage of any rookie quarterback through four games we have ever seen. We are not talking about a solid game or two. What he is doing has truly been historic. Let’s not forget where the Washington roster was prior to the start of the season. A franchise that has had 25 starting quarterbacks since the start of 2022! A team that scored just 39 first quarter points throughout the entire 2023 season! A team that allowed the second most sacks in the league last year! And a team that lost four of its five top pass catchers from a year ago with replacements found at the dollar store in a new offensive system with an Offensive Coordinator that was fired by the Cardinals two years ago. No, 2024 was not supposed to be like this.
Daniels returned to the state where his college career began and faced off against the Cardinals led by Kyler Murray, a quarterback that Kliff Kingsbury bet his pro coaching career on. He completed 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards, averaging just 5.9 yards per target. He threw a touchdown and added another score on the ground with 47 yards rushing. His instincts as a ball carrier and lightning-quick release are such formidable weapons that are raising the level of the now 3-1, first place Commanders. Daniels has an 82.1% completion percentage through four games, the best we’ve ever seen out of rookie and one of the best in NFL history, ALL passers over any four-game span.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
T’VONDRE SWEAT – DT / TEN
Rewind to April 7, 2024. Just two and a half weeks prior to the NFL Draft. Sweat, who did struggle with maturity and commitment issues earlier in his college career, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. There were questions about how he would handle life at the next level, but there was no denying how much of a difference maker the 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Outland Trophy Award winner could be. Sweat, the third highest grade we gave to an interior defensive lineman last spring (and the third interior defensive lineman taken in the ‘24 Draft), finished with a 39th out of 41 OSR ranking (Ourlads’ Statistical Rating), a number given to a player based on workout scores specific to the position. His final grade is clear proof how much we value tape over workouts, an Ourlads core belief in the scouting process. Here is a blurb from the scouting report found in the Ourlads Draft Guide: “…plays with strong hands and is extremely stout at the point of attack…very hard to move and routinely stuffs double teams and combo blocks”.
Well, on Monday night in front of a national stage against an offense known for it’s ability to run the ball, Sweat was the catalyst for the dominant performance their defense put on display at Tennessee won their first game of the season without their star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Sweat who played a career-high 47 snaps, finished with six tackles and two pressures. He made two tackles for loss as he was putting on a show when it came to tossing blocker to the side as if he were swatting away flys. The gamble has paid off to this point for Tennessee/
QB
Jayden Daniels / WAS (Round 1)
See above
Honorable Mention: Caleb Williams (CHI)
RB
Bucky Irving / TB (Round 4)
Irving continues on the fast track in the eyes of Tampa coaches, finishing with 49 yards on just ten carries, adding another six yards on one catch. He scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter to give the Bucs a two-touchdown lead over the Eagles. Five of his 35 carries this season have went for over ten yards.
Honorable Mention: Braelon Allen (NYJ)
WR
Brian Thomas / JAX (Round 1)
Jacksonville got off the to an early 7-0 lead on a short touchdown pass to Thomas. He out fellow rookie corner Kamari Lassiter in a blender with a superb double route later on, but an overthrow by Trevor Lawrence prevented another score. Still, the Jaguars leading receiver finished with 86 yards on six catches. He brought in both of his contested situations and five of those receptions went for a first down or touchdown. This is the third player from the 2023 LSU offense to make this year’s All Rookie squad in just four weeks.
Honorable Mention: Ladd McConkey / LAC
TE
AJ Barner / SEA (Round 4)
Barner was thrown to just two times in their Monday night loss to Detroit, but he caught both of them and one went for a touchdown, the first of his career, and the first by a Seattle tight end in 2024. He lined up all over the offense and his contributions as a blocker are what may keep him on the field in a bigger role.
Honorable Mention: Erick All / CIN
OT
Roger Rosengarten / BAL (Round 2)
If there was one rookie that gave Jayden Daniels a run for his money as a rookie of the week, it was right tackle making his first career start against Buffalo. Rosengarten helped pave the way for Derrik Henry, who ran for 199 yards and scored three touchdowns running to his side of the line. Rosengarten also pitched a shutout in pass protection against a formidable group of Buffalo pass rushers.
Honorable Mention: Amarius Mims / CIN
OG/OC
Dominick Puni / SF (Round 3)
The Niners look like they took their 1-2 start to heart, and it started up front. Jordan Mason averaged over five yards per carry and Brock Purdy was sacked just once. Puni’s confidence and repeatability are key reasons why that right side of the line has been raised to another level. He pitched his first shutout in pass protection this year and the run blocking on the move was a huge weapon in their dominant win.
Honorable Mention: Zach Frazier / PIT
ED
Laiatu Latu / IND (Round 1)
With Kwity Paye sidelined due to injury, Latu led the defense in edge snaps in their first win of the season over the undefeated Steelers. He finished with four pressures, one of which was a hit that Justin Fields escaped. He added two tackles in run defense.
Honorable Mention: Chris Braswell / TB
DT
T’Vondre Sweat / TEN (Round 2)
See above
Honorable Mention: Braden Fiske / LAR
LB
Payton Wilson / PIT (Round 3)
Wilson saw a career-high 37 snaps and balled out. He finished with five tackles. We all know about is speed and playmaking ability, but it was the ability to take on blocks from the likes of All Pro guard Quenton Nelson that stood out on tape. It is a matter of a time before this guy is a starter.
Honorable Mention: Marist Liafu / DAL
CB
Nate Wiggins / BAL (Round 1)
Yes, the Ravens got off to an 0-2 start but after the snap of a finger, they’re back to .500 and it looks like they have a budding star at cornerback. Wiggins, one of the most explosive rookie corners in the NFL, has improved weekly. He allowed one of two passes to be completed and broke up two passes. Wiggins’ is getting himself in position to make plays but a couple of dropped interceptions are the dents in the armor. If and when he cleans that up, Baltimore may have a new CB1 brewing.
Honorable Mention: Jarvis Brownlee Jr. / TEN
S
Calen Bullock / HOU (Round 3)
Bullock played every snap in the Texans’ home win over the Jaguars, finishing with seven tackles. After an early deficit, the Houston defense clamped down Trevor Lawrence and Bullock especially excelled at keeping things in front of him.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Nubin (NYG)