The NFL Rookies I Can’t Wait to Watch in Week 1

It’s Week 1 in the NFL, and I can’t wait to lay eyes on the 2025 rookie class after an offseason of training camp buzz. I spent a full year breaking down the tape on this class but haven’t seen some of these guys play meaningful game snaps since last December, so the first NFL Sunday of the year is always one I have circled on my calendar. Which rookies have developed the most in the offseason? Who looks better at the pro level than they did in college? Who looks outmatched? We’ll be closer to answering each of those questions 24 hours from now.

My McShay Show co-host Steve Muench and I discussed several prominent rookies—including Travis Hunter, Cam Ward, and Will Campbell, to name a few—on the podcast this week, but today I’m going to focus on the players that were “my guys” throughout the pre-draft process. Let’s get to it!

I was surprised that Henderson lasted to the 38th pick this past April. I even thought there was a chance he’d land in the first round, but the Patriots stopped his slide and based on reports this preseason they’re probably glad they did. Henderson has a different, Jahmyr Gibbs–like gear in the run game. Everyone I’ve talked to in New England expects new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to deploy him and Rhamondre Stevenson similarly to how the Lions use Gibbs and David Montgomery, mixing and matching their complementary skill sets to create what could be a special ground attack. This is a young offense and I think Henderson—with his pass-blocking chops and explosiveness in space—will be crucial to unlocking Drake Maye in year two.

Golden was my top-ranked wideout in the 2025 class and everything that I said about him throughout the pre-draft process matches what I’m hearing out of Packers camp. He ran the fastest 40 (4.29 seconds) among receivers at the combine, he adjusts well to the ball in the air, and he runs crisp, efficient routes. The Packers have drafted a carousel of receivers over the past few years but I think Golden is going to be Jordan Love’s top target moving forward. I’m excited to see what he can do as the Packers open at home against the Lions.

After Washington selected Terry McLaurin in the third round of the 2019 draft, it became evident fairly quickly that they’d found a steal. I’d heard great things about McLaurin’s work ethic, football character, and talent from my sources at Ohio State, and I couldn’t help but notice similarities between the those conversations and the ones I had about Emeka Egbuka throughout the pre-draft process this past spring. Egbuka’s just a reliable baller who, like McLaurin, can play on the outside or in the slot and understands the intricacies of the game. Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield already trusts him and that’s a huge deal. With Chris Godwin injured to start the season for Tampa Bay, I expect Egbuka to be Mayfield’s no. 2 option behind Mike Evans and to have a major role on that offense against the Falcons in Week 1. 

Arroyo had a unique path to prospect prominence after dealing with injuries throughout his first three seasons at Miami. He finished strong in 2024 by setting career-high receiving marks and really popped during the pre-draft process, beginning with a standout showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. The five words I keep hearing out of Seahawks camp to describe Arroyo are “speed,” “blocking,” “toughness,” “hands,” and “consistency.” He has a huge catch radius, unique flexibility, and is a physical, tough blocker. Seattle released veteran Noah Fant in July, which paves the way for Arroyo and AJ Barner to see significant roles in the Seahawks passing game this season. 

Say what you will about Shemar Stewart’s offseason holdout—the guys in that locker room love him. He’s been playing his ass off throughout camp like he did at Texas A&M and the Bengals desperately need his help to bolster a defense that held Joe Burrow and Co. back each of the past two seasons. Stewart has exceptional traits and flashes elite speed-to-power technique on tape. He needs to improve his finishing ability after having only 1.5 sacks for the Aggies last season, but I think his game will translate to the NFL and that he’ll be better as a pro than he was in college.