The Jets left Week 7 with another bruising loss, this one at home to the winless Dolphins, and it only sharpened the scrutiny around embattled coach Aaron Glenn’s second season in New York.
But while the big-picture questions keep piling up, the Jets do have one clear success story. First-round edge rusher David Bailey has wasted no time looking like a difference-maker, and through seven weeks he’s piled up 5.5 sacks.
Only four players in the league have more. He’s added nine quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, and he also leads the team with 34 quarterback pressures.
Bailey ranks fifth in the NFL in pressures behind Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner, Aidan Hutchinson and Nik Bonitto. If New York is hunting for anything to feel good about, Bailey is the place to start.
Elsewhere in this rookie class, a Titans linebacker is making his case in a tough season under first-year coach Robert Saleh. Tennessee has had a rough go of it, but Hill has been one of the bright spots.
The second-rounder out of Texas has 68 tackles, tied for third-most in football, and he has played every snap for the Titans so far. He’s not just piling up stops either; Hill has three passes defensed while still chasing his first interception.
For general manager Mike Borgonzi, it’s starting to look like a strong second-day pickup.
Cleveland has gotten plenty from its rookie receivers, though Boston gets the nod over KC Concepcion for now. Boston has found the end zone three times, while Concepcion has yet to score, and Boston has also produced 20 catches for 372 yards.
He’s been the Browns’ splash-play threat, with three receptions of at least 46 yards, helping fuel a surprising 5-2 start that has Cleveland leading the AFC North. That division, notably, has four teams sitting with winning records.
Dallas took Downs at No. 11 after he slid because of positional value, and he’s already justified the pick. Through seven weeks, he has 48 tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack, while holding up well in both zone and man coverage. The Cowboys’ defense sits dead last, but Downs has already become a key piece for the future because of the way he can cover and work downhill.
Tate has also made a fast impression, even with second-year quarterback Cam Ward struggling around him. The first-round receiver has topped 69 yards in three of his last four games, including a nine-catch, 145-yard outing against the Ravens in Week 4. He’s up to 34 catches for 413 yards and is on pace to clear 1,000 yards, something no one else in his class can currently claim.
Washington’s season may be headed nowhere in a one-win campaign, even in the weak NFC East, but Styles has given the Commanders something to build around. The 21-year-old middle linebacker, an All-American at Ohio State in 2025, has been a force for Dan Quinn’s defense with three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. He’s been a complete second-level defender from the start.
The Chiefs have also found a major contributor in Delane, who has been a steady presence for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo since returning from a shoulder injury in Week 3. He missed most of the first two weeks, though he did play the first series of Week 1 and record an interception, and since then he has become a fixture in Kansas City’s secondary.
Delane has played 83.3% of the defensive snaps, mostly in man coverage, and has allowed only 15 completions while adding three tackles for loss. His play has helped the Chiefs get off to a 5-1 start.
Trotter, meanwhile, has been exactly what Tampa Bay hoped for after he slid into the second round. He stepped into the lineup right away and has been everywhere for a rebuilding Buccaneers front, ranking seventh in tackles with 62. He’s also delivered a pick-six, three passes defensed, a sack and three tackles for loss while logging 92% of the defensive snaps.
Miami’s own rookie defender has been just as important to the Dolphins’ rebuild. Rodriguez came out of Texas Tech in the second round and has quickly emerged as a centerpiece for first-year coach and former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Even with Miami’s early bye week, Rodriguez is tied for eighth in the league with 61 tackles. He’s shown range, coverage ability and playmaking chops, including an interception of Patrick Mahomes in Week 3, and he’s added three tackles for loss.
If not for Bailey’s surge in New York, Reese would have a strong claim as the top defensive rookie so far. The former Ohio State standout has been outstanding, posting 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four passes defensed and an interception while playing 99% of the snaps. At just 21, he still has plenty of room to grow, which is a dangerous thought for the rest of the NFC East.
In Other News...
Browns Could Find Two Crucial Defensive Upgrades In Colts Sell-Off
The Colts decision to start unloading veteran talent has created a ripple effect around the league, and its the kind of move that naturally puts the Browns on alert. Indianapolis has already sent out Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner as part of a broader rebuild, which opens the door for other names on that roster to surface in trade chatter as teams look for help before the season gets much deeper.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious. The Browns could use upgrades up front and in the secondary, and players such as Stewart and Charvarius Ward fit the kind of profile that would make sense if the Colts keep listening on veterans. Nothing there is confirmed, of course, but once a team begins a sell-off, the next question for contenders is which pieces might be worth chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Still Add The Missing Piece To A Dangerous Defense
The Browns are still doing what contenders do in October and November: keeping one eye on the standings and another on the trade market. Even with a defensive line that has played well overall, Cleveland knows the edge group could use another piece if it wants to keep pace in the AFC North and squeeze even more out of a unit that has already been a strength.
That is why defensive end has become such a logical area to monitor ahead of the trade deadline, with names like Khalil Mack, Jermaine Johnson and YaYa Diaby surfacing as possible fits depending on performance and contract status. The appeal is straightforward for Cleveland - a stronger outside pass rush and sturdier run defense could make a good front even harder to deal with, and the Browns do not seem ready to let a chance like that pass without exploring every option. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face One Huge Steelers Week Concern On Defense
The Browns spent part of the week sorting through a familiar mix of injuries and optimism on defense, with defensive end Jared Verse sitting out practice after hurting his knee in the recent game. Head coach Todd Monken sounded hopeful that Verse will be available for the upcoming matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would be a welcome bit of stability for a unit that needs all the help it can get in a divisional game like this.
Verse was not the only concern on the practice report, either, as right tackle Tytus Howard and center Elgton Jenkins also missed work because of injuries. At the same time, some players who had been dealing with ailments were back on the field, leaving Cleveland with a clearer picture of who might be ready and who is still trending the wrong way as Pittsburgh week approaches. [Read more 🡒]