Ourlads Archives

All-Rookie Team - WEEK 11

Dave Syvertsen, Senior Draft Analyst
10/30/2023 4:17PM ET

QB

 

Kyler Murray – ARZ (1st round)

 

The Cardinals were this close to pulling off the divisional upset in SF and it was largely thanks to Murray.  While he struggled to get the ball downfield and the ARZ offense as a whole continued to struggle in the red zone, Murray ended with 150 yards on 24/33 passing and added 67 yards on 8 carries, including a 22-yard score that gave ARZ a 4th quarter lead.

 

RB

 

Tony Pollard – DAL (4th round)

 

It remains and will continue to remain the Zeke show in the DAL backfield, but Pollard is proving he needs to get more looks.  The  playmaker had 4 catches / 44 yards and a touchdown while adding another 11 yards on 2 carries.

 

WR (2)

 

Deebo Samuel – SF (2nd round)

 

As the season progresses and urgency is heightened, it is always interesting to see which pass catchers a quarterback gravitates to.  Enter Samuel, who is getting more and more looks in crucial situations each week.  In their tight division win over ARZ, Samuel led the team with 8 catches / 134 yards and was often targeted on 1st down.

 

Hunter Renfrow – OAK (5th round)

 

Speaking of growing opportunities and targets, Renfrow is quickly becoming what he was for all four years at Clemson, the QB’s best friend.  He had 5 catches for 66 yards and already looks like one of the best route runners in the league.

 

TE

 

Dawson Knox – BUF (3rd round)

 

The Bills continue to be a very well balanced offense that wins games and much of that comes from a well balanced rookie tight end.  Knox has 2 catches for 32 yards, one of which was a touchdown where he broke a tackle in space and ended up in the end zone.  Knox is also an effective blocker and stays on the field for the majority of the snaps.

 

OT (2)

 

Bobby Evans – LAR (3rd round)

 

The Rams' offense has taken a step back, largely because of the offensive line but their unit’s performance as a whole improved so much Sunday night against Chicago that hope has been restored.  In Evans’ first NFL start, he helped keep Khalil Mack quiet and awaken Todd Gurley in the running game.

 

Chuma Edoga – NYJ (3rd round)

 

It wasn’t a clean day for rookie tackles across the league outside of Evans, but Edoga looked like the best of the bunch.  He was beat by Ryan Kerrigan a few times but he hung in there and kept it clean on the Jets and Sam Darnold’s biggest plays in their win over WAS.  Edoga did suffer a leg injury and played just over half the snaps.

 

OG (2)

 

David Edwards – LAR (5th round)

 

The other half of this dual rookie-based Rams' offensive line resurgence was Edwards.  His technique was consistent all night and while there are still power issues when it comes to movement off the ball, he stayed on his man and kept himself between the defender and the ball carrier which is always objective number one.  This was the best LAR running game we have seen in awhile and he was a huge part of that.

 

Dalton Risner – DEN (2nd round)

 

Denver got off to a big lead very much thanks to the control they had at the point of attack when they had the ball.  Risner was stout and quick, as he has been all year.  However an ankle injury slowed him in the second half and it was notable how much this offense was impacted by his drop in play after that ankle injury.  When on, as he was for the first half, he is a very important player for this team as a whole.  You can’t say that about a lot of guards.

 

OC

 

Erik McCoy – NO (1st round)

 

McCoy is a key cog in the Saints' power game as seen on a few 3rd and 1 situations vs TB.  He got plenty of movement against TB defensive tackle, Vita Vea, who is not an easy guy to move.  The Saints kept Drew Brees from getting sacked all afternoon.

 

EDGE (2)

 

Maxx Crosby – OAK (4th round)

Crosby, who has been inching up the rookie value board in recent weeks, put together one of the most dominant games by an edge player all year.  He had 4 sacks, 3 of which in the fourth quarter, 2 pressures, and a forced fumble in OAK’s win over CIN.

 

Jaylon Ferguson – BAL (3rd round)

 

Ferguson has been knocking on the door for a few weeks now and his performance against a solid HOU offensive line was his best of the year.  He was a huge part in BAL’s defensive front dominating the game from start to finish, as he contributed 4 tackles / 1 sack / 1 TFL / 2 pressures / 1 fumble recovery.

 

DT (2)

 

Ed Oliver – BUF (1st round)

 

The disruption is starting to click for the overly athletic Oliver.  He finished with 3 tackles / 4 pressures / 1 sack in BUF’s win over MIA.  He still gets overwhelmed by double teams in the running game but his ability to move laterally and explode into the pocket from a variety of angles is a weapon worth watching as the team continues their playoff run.

 

Dre’Mont Jones – DEN (3rd round)

 

Jones only played a quarter of the defensive snaps but he finished with 2 tackles / 1 pressure / 1 sack.  He is proving that he needs to be on the field more as Vic Fangio appears to be trying to find their ideal rotation inside.  His play is proving he needs to be involved more.

 

LB (2)

 

Devin White – TB (1st round)

 

A team leading 13 tackles only begins to tell how impressive White was in the TB loss to the Saints.  He was all over the field, against both the run and pass, and closed the deal with several violent hits.

 

Mack Wilson – CLE (5th round)

 

CLE’s defensive dominance over PIT on Thursday night started in the middle of the field where Wilson resides.  He was stout against the PIT inside running game and he made his presence known as a pass defender that made receivers think twice before running routes within the intermediate parts of the route tree.

 

CB (2)

 

Nik Needham – MIA (UDFA)

 

Needham is the frontrunner for the undrafted free agent of the year, as his play continues to surge weekly.  He finished with 6 tackles / 2 PD / 1 Forced Fumble against BUF.  He seems to be clicking mentally and showed outstanding body control and balance.

 

Trayvon Mullen – OAK (2nd round)

 

The OAK rookie class is starting to look like the difference maker in their run toward the playoffs.  Mullen finished with 5 tackles / 1 PD / and his first career interception.  He made an outstanding read and break on the ball, a sign things are starting to click for him mentally.

 

S (2)

 

Mike Edwards – TB (3rd round)

 

Edwards is among the rookie class’ defensive snap leaders and he has quietly been a solid player.  He finished with 6 tackles / 1 sack / 1 pressure vs NO and had a key third down stop, tackling Alvin Kamara solo in space, on a third down early in the game. 

 

Jalen Thompson – ARZ (S-5th round)

 

It isn’t common to see a supplemental draft pick make early contributions but Thompson is becoming a key cog in the ARZ defense that has flashed this year.  He had 5 tackles and a key diving interception late in the game that nearly led to an upset win against the best team in the NFC.