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.
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Cowboys Suddenly Have A New Voice Fueling Big Playoff Belief
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Overshowns optimism carries some weight because it comes as he works his way back from a hamstring injury and has already flashed impact in the recent win over the Eagles. His return has given Dallas another fast, disruptive presence on defense, and his belief in what this group can become hints at a bigger standard inside the building, even if the next few weeks will say plenty about how realistic that postseason talk really is. [Read more 🡒]