The consensus going into the 2026 NFL draft was that the class was light on high-end, elite talent — but surprisingly deep for reliable starters. Now that we’re halfway through the season it’s time to check in and see how the rucks are doing.
Broadly speaking, we’ve seen some impressive defensive talent come out of the 2026 class, but the offensive side is much harder to pin down. The Raiders are taking a slow and measured approach to elevating Fernando Mendoza to starting quarterback. The season has been awful for Jeremiah Love in Arizona, and the top receivers are struggling to drive home the point in mediocre offenses.
Today we take a look at the best rookies from the season and who has the best season awards.
Denzel Boston, WR – Cleveland Browns
The Offensive Rookie of the Year race is down to three receivers, and Denzel Boston is in the driver’s seat. The 39th pick has been incredible for the Browns despite the terrible balls feeding him, and he’s within earshot of the same numbers 2025 OROY Tetairoa McMillan put up a year ago. Here are their comparative stats through the first nine games of their careers:
Tetairoa McMillan (2025): 41 receptions, 558 yards (13.6 YPC), 2 TD
Denzel Boston (2026): 32 receptions, 507 yards (15.8 YPC), 3 TD
This could be the second straight year we’ve seen an underrated offensive rookie of the year in the draft process. Boston does an amazing job of using his frame to move the ball upfield and fight through contact, but like McMillan, his route running and separation have been very low in the pre-draft process. Now he’s the offensive steal of the draft, and unless something surprising happens, he should win OROY.
Carnell Tate, WR – Tennessee Titans
The Titans are still a work in progress and it’s unclear if Cam Ward will be “the guy” at quarterback — but at least Tate seems like the right choice. Tate has 413 receiving yards, including 18 for the first time through seven games and five starts. That’s pretty impressive when you consider that Ward has just 1,483 passing yards on the season — meaning Tati has accounted for more than a quarter of his passing yards despite missing two games.
While the skills are definitely there, ball security is something the rookie needs to work on. Tate has moved on after three catches this season, and while not back-breaking plays, that’s an area where he can improve. That won’t affect his Rookie of the Year chances, but Boston has some work to do in passing, and the Titans’ passing game hasn’t done him any favors.
KC Concepcion, WR – Cleveland Browns
It’s a testament to how bad the Browns’ QB class is that they have two top offensive starters, but Cleveland ranks 29th in points and 20th in passing yards.
Concepcion is a receiver built for good quarterback use. That’s the biggest knock on him so far. Now he has 437 receiving yards and 1 TD – but it should depend on how open he is and also his uncanny ability to carve out zone coverage.
The numbers are great, and Concepcion is picking up steam this season, but as less of a big-play receiver, it’s harder to get attention compared to his teammate. However, mark my words: When the Browns get a true QB, he will elevate their best offensive weapon.
Arvell Reese, LB – New York Giants
Arvel Reese is who we thought he was, and that’s a great thing for the New York Giants. A swiss army knife of all-purpose defense, Reese has been the biggest x-factor against the Giants’ defense which is formidable, albeit a work in progress.
The rookie filled out the stat sheet in every area. He has 49 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 32 run stops, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. If you need it anything In defense, Reese is going to give you. It looks like we’re looking at not just the best rookie defensive back in 2026, but the best defensive player to enter the league since Myles Garrett — that’s how good Arvel Reese was.
Pick a home run, and he’ll run away with DROY this year.
David Bailey, LB – New York Jets
The Jets took David Beiley with the No. 2 overall pick and left Reese on the board a bit short, but it was fantastic for them. Sure, he may not have the same all-around game as the Giants’ linebacker, but he’s emerged as the leading pass rusher on the team with 7.5 sacks this season.
Bailey was good at generating pressure and blocking the run. He’s trending as a Top 20 EDGE in the NFL this season in both areas, an impressive feat for a rookie. In any regular season, he’d be the runaway favorite to win the season-ending award, but he’ll need to eclipse 15.0 sacks during the standings or hope Reese falls over the top.
Caleb goes down, S – Dallas Cowboys
Despite recent news of Trey McBride trying to cut back on Caleb Downs, the Cowboys’ starting safety has been excellent this season. He ranks highest among all NFL safeties in pressures and run stops, and is also one of the most reliable linebackers at the position.
He has some weaknesses in his game, especially checking and breaking up passing plays – but we knew that was an area he needed to work on in the draft process. Overall, Dallas got a great player to shore up the defense for years to come, but when it comes to defensive backs, it’s a tough sell at year-end awards — mainly because they don’t fill the stat sheet in a way that appeals to voters.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB – Miami Dolphins
It was surprisingly easy to ignore the dolphins this season. In fact, it’s better for your health if you ignore this group — even if you’re a die-hard fan. One bright spot is 2nd round pick Jacob Rodriguez, who is proving to be every bit the hitting machine he was in the NFL in college.
With 79 total assists this season, Rodriguez is on pace for a combined 168 when the dust settles. He also showed glimpses of rushing chips from the middle of the field, adding a few pressures for good measure.
The Dolphins have been desperate for that Zach Taylor-esque leader in the middle of the field for a while, and they got their guy. He doesn’t get a lot of eyeballs, but that’s a good thing, because like true old-school center backs, it’s better to do their job and stay quiet than to hear their name called and be passed over.
