Alright, folks—NFL draft grades are in, social media scouts are taking victory laps, and every fanbase is absolutely convinced their GM just found the next Patrick Mahomes or Micah Parsons…
But here’s the thing—talent alone doesn’t cut it in the NFL. You can be built like Megatron and still end up running wind sprints on the practice squad if your coaching staff doesn’t know what to do with you.
There will, however, be a handful of fortunate rookies who land in the exact right spot with the right team and right scheme.
So, let’s take a look around the NFL and call out the 10 BEST fits we’ve seen for rookies to thrive.
Which ten rookies in the 2025 NFL draft will thrive with their new team?
Mason Graham, DT, Cleveland Browns
Never mind the value that Cleveland got trading back to get Graham… Graham to Cleveland has homerun written all over it—and, frankly, it is a fit you could see coming from a mile away. Jim Schwartz loves his disruptors up front, and Graham is built to attack. He’s a classic 3-tech with twitch, hand skills, and the kind of short-area burst that ruins a guard’s afternoon.
What makes this even better is how creative Schwartz is with his fronts. Graham will be moving around—stunts, twists, even stand-up rushes over center. If you’re an interior O-lineman in the AFC North, you’re probably already watching Michigan tape and sweating.
And if the way that Graham fits into what Schwartz will want to do wasn’t enough… how about the fact that he is going to be playing alongside Myles Garrett, one of the best pass rushers that the NFL has ever seen.
Garrett will attract all kinds of attention, and Graham will surely reap the benefits.
Trey Amos, CB, Washington Commanders
This defense under Dan Quinn is going to live or die by its corners challenging routes at the snap. Quick throws? Deep shots? Not on their watch if this thing works.
Washington had a very specific type in the 2025 NFL draft—a physical, press-man corner to complement Marshon Lattimore—and Trey Amos fits that profile to a tee. He’s big for a corner at 6’1″, 195 pounds, and can play super aggressively at the line… The guy is clearly not afraid of a little hand-fighting.
There’s still some cleanup needed—his footwork can get a little choppy, and he’ll have to tighten up the grabby tendencies or flags will follow. But the upside is legit.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
It’s not often you see a team trade back into the first round for a quarterback unless they’re absolutely sold, and the Giants clearly are. Jaxson Dart wasn’t just a panic pick; he was handpicked by Brian Daboll, a coach with a track record of turning raw quarterbacks into Sunday nightmares for opposing defenses.
Dart doesn’t have Josh Allen’s cannon or frame, but the dual-threat DNA is there. He’s mobile enough to keep defenses honest on RPOs and designed runs, and he’s got the arm to push the ball vertically off play-action. He fits the new mold: move the pocket, give him space, let him create.
But what makes this a sneaky great fit is the patience New York is showing. Dart won’t be thrown into the fire right away. He’ll get to learn behind veterans like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston—guys who’ve seen everything the league can throw at a QB. Daboll can mold Dart’s mechanics, sharpen his decision-making, and give him time to adjust to the speed of the game.
If the Giants stick to the plan and Dart develops on schedule, he could finally be the guy to pull this franchise out of quarterback purgatory.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
When Ben Johnson took over in Chicago, one of the first moves he made was grabbing Colston Loveland early in the 2025 NFL draft—and you can see why. The comparisons to Sam LaPorta weren’t just lazy takes. Johnson did help develop LaPorta into a star in Detroit, and Loveland profiles similarly as a fluid, versatile tight end with elite ball skills.
Loveland brings serious route-running nuance for his size, and he’s the kind of player you can move all over the formation—inline, out wide, or in the slot—to exploit matchups. He’s not a bruising blocker, but that’s not why he’s here. He’s here to be a mismatch nightmare in a scheme that thrives on confusion and spacing.
If Johnson can unlock Loveland the way he did with LaPorta, Bears fans might finally be watching a modern, dynamic offense on Sundays instead of the usual horror film.
Mykel Williams, DE, San Francisco 49ers
They might have struggled a little bit last season, but San Francisco’s defensive front has been a nightmare for offenses for years now.
And now they’ve added a guy like Mykel Williams to the mix, which should help get them back into fighting shape.
Not to mention that the Niners are reuniting with Robert Saleh, who was massively successful in that role prior to his ill-fated stint as the Jets’ head coach, and should be extremely motivated to prove himself once again.
If there’s one thing we know about Saleh’s scheme, it is that it is built to unleash pass rushers.
Williams is a long, athletic, power-speed end who fits perfectly in San Francisco’s wide-9 alignments. Opposing offenses will already be dealing with Nick Bosa on one edge, and now Williams can attack from the other side with one-on-ones galore. But Saleh won’t just leave him outside. Expect to see him kick inside on passing downs where his quickness and length can overwhelm guards.
Yes, Williams is still raw—his technique needs polish, and he has to prove he can consistently set the edge in the run game. But this scheme gives him the structure and support to develop while contributing immediately.
With the right coaching and that nasty rotation around him, Williams could turn into a high-impact NFL starter faster than people realize.
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
This might be one of the most under-the-radar great fits of the entire 2025 NFL draft. Jihaad Campbell is exactly the type of athlete that Vic Fangio knows how to maximize—and he walks into a system built to accentuate his versatility.
Campbell can absolutely play as a traditional off-ball linebacker. He’s got the closing speed, instincts, and size to stuff the run and patrol zones in coverage. But that’s just the baseline of what Philly will get from him. What makes him special in that scheme is his ability to do a bit of everything because Fangio knows how to deploy guys like that across different packages with the best of them.
Need him to blitz from the interior? No problem. Want to line him up on the edge and let him bend the corner on passing downs? Done.
The best part is that the Eagles don’t need him to be a finished product in Week 1, so they’ll have plenty of time to mold him into the backer they want come playoff time…
And by midseason, don’t be surprised if Campbell is playing every down, lining up all over the front seven, and quietly becoming one of the most important pieces in Philly’s defense.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Carolina badly needed a guy who could go win against man coverage and become Bryce Young’s go-to weapon. Tetairoa McMillan is that guy. At 6’4″, with elite body control dating back to his days as a volleyball standout in high school, and strong hands, he instantly becomes the most imposing presence in that receiver room.
In Dave Canales’s system, the Panthers want to simplify reads, isolate matchups, and build confidence for their young quarterback.
McMillan checks every box. He can line up anywhere and even slide into the slot depending on the look. And wherever he’s aligned, he’s going to be a problem, especially on in-breaking routes where he can use his frame to shield defenders. He was one of the best-contested catchers at Arizona for a reason!
He isn’t a burner, but that’s not his role here. His job is to be the steady, reliable mismatch guy who keeps chains moving and helps Young take the next step—and he should thrive in that.
Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets
The Jets knew they needed to get tougher up front, and Armand Membou fits that vision perfectly.
New head coach Aaron Glenn saw firsthand how dominant the offensive line was in Detroit with Penei Sewell, and it’s no coincidence he used his first draft pick on an NFL rookie who brings that same trench warfare mentality.
Membou is nasty at the point of attack. He’s got a wide, powerful frame at 6’4″ and 332 pounds, and he routinely overwhelmed SEC defenders with a mix of violent hands and clean footwork.
He’s not just a people-mover in the run game—he’s nimble enough to hold up in pass protection and plays with an edge that Glenn will absolutely love.
Obviously, it will still take a good bit of work to turn the Jets into the offensive juggernaut that Detroit turned into over the past couple of years, but this is a savvy first move because Membau’s play style aligns perfectly with what the Jets want to do from a schematic perspective.
With Justin Fields at quarterback, the Jets are going to lean heavily on their run game and play-action. That means Membou won’t just be a tone-setter—he’ll be the anchor of the right side—and have a ton of opportunities to prove his worth.
And if he hits early, this offense suddenly has a lot more bite than most expect heading into the season.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton has always prioritized versatility in his backfield, and RJ Harvey checks every box. This wasn’t just a depth add for Denver. It was a deliberate move to inject explosiveness and balance into an offense that has lacked juice at the running back position for far too long.
Harvey is compact but powerful at 5’8″, 205 pounds. He runs with excellent pad level and absorbs contact without slowing down. He’s slippery in space, patient at the line, and has the straight-line burst to flip field position in a hurry. But what sets him apart in this system is his ability to impact the game in multiple phases.
Payton’s offense thrives when the running back is more than just a ball carrier, and Harvey gives them that. He’s already comfortable as a receiver, and you can expect to see him featured on option routes, screens, and quick checkdowns designed to give Bo Nix clean, confidence-building looks. Payton will use him to manipulate coverage pre- and post-snap, especially against linebackers who can’t match his change-of-direction quickness.
Let’s not forget—Denver made the playoffs last year despite getting very little from their running back room. Harvey has a real chance to step in and take over early down duties while becoming a high-volume target in the passing game. If he hits, this offense could look a whole lot more dangerous in 2025.
Malaki Starks, S, Baltimore Ravens
Leave it to Baltimore to find a perfect modern safety and pair him with a unicorn like Kyle Hamilton. The addition of Malaki Starks gives the Ravens two hybrid enforcers who can play deep, spin down into the box, and erase mistakes with their range and awareness.
This isn’t just about adding another talented player—it’s about what it allows Baltimore’s defense to do from an optionality perspective.
With Starks and Hamilton both able to disguise coverage and move post-snap, the Ravens can muddy the picture for opposing quarterbacks better than almost anyone in the league.
Starks brings legit ball-hawking ability from his time at Georgia—six interceptions and 15 pass breakups in the SEC isn’t an accident. He reads quarterbacks well from depth, has the speed to range sideline to sideline, and can also step up to handle tight ends or close out space underneath. He’s not just interchangeable—he’s reliable at every level of the field.
This defense has already built its reputation on confusion and versatility. Now, with Starks in the mix, expect Baltimore to take it a step further. Rotating safeties, simulated pressures, complex zones—Starks gives them the flexibility to do it all.