NFL rookie stock up, stock down: Giants QB Jaxson Dart shines in preseason

USA Today

14 hours ago

Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason is in the books.
Another exhibition matchup's allowed for more tape and information for players across the league but especially rookies. This is the first time they're getting NFL action beyond training camp practices and lining up against players they'll see on Sundays this season.
Preseason performance isn't a direct indication of how a rookie will perform in the regular season; look no further than Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who recorded four drops in the 2021 NFL preseason yet went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in the regular season.
Even with exceptions like that, it's still important to take stock of how the 2025 rookie class is performing in their first weeks of NFL action. This was widely viewed as a rookie class with depth at certain positions and early-round picks who could contribute early on for their teams.
Here are five rookies whose stock is up after Week 2 and five whose stock is down after another exhibition game.
Stock up
Dart made his NFL debut with a solid showing against the Buffalo Bills. The Ole Miss product completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown but had an even better showing a week later at home against the Jets. Dart looked like the best rookie passer of the week.
He shook off an incompletion and sack on his first two dropbacks to finish the day 14 of 16 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing. The Giants punted on his first drive of the game but scored on the ensuing three drives with two touchdowns and a field goal. Dart was a surprise first-round pick in April but he's showing well so far.
Henderson entered the preseason with plenty of hype and delivered on his first touch in an NFL game. He took the opening kickoff of the Patriots' preseason opener against Washington 100 yards for a touchdown.
Henderson has just five carries on offense in the preseason but he's averaging 7.6 yards per carry. That's exactly the kind of explosiveness the Patriots offense needs and a good reason why Henderson is shooting up fantasy football draft boards.
Detroit traded up for TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft in a surprising move. The Arkansas product had plenty of traits but little production in the SEC with 897 yards and five touchdowns over two years with the Razorbacks.
TeSlaa's size (6-4 and 217 pounds) gives him the frame to be a solid blocker and that's shown up in training camp already. He's been just as impressive as a receiver with an outstanding catch against the Miami Dolphins for a touchdown in the red zone.
There's little doubt he'll be a key piece in the Lions wide receiver group behind All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Higgins had a standout college career at Iowa. He led the FBS in tackles in 2023, earned two first-team All-Big Ten honors and was the conference linebacker of the year in 2024. He went undrafted in April, though, likely due to his poor testing numbers and size (6-foot, 224 pounds) at the NFL combine.
He's been one of the best linebackers in the NFL during the preseason, both by the eye test and Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades. In the opener against the Indianapolis Colts, Higgins showed out in pass rush, run defense and coverage assignments. His high motor kept him involved in all scenarios.
Higgins got his first career sack against the Cowboys a week later and forced a fumble on Dallas quarterback Will Grier by timing his punch perfectly. Even on one of the better defenses in the league, Higgins should earn a spot for the 53-man roster.
Two rookie defensive backs have tallied three pass break ups in the preseason, per PFF: Parrish and Los Angeles Chargers safety R.J. Mickens. Parrish reached that with 29 coverage snaps while Mickens did so in 96.
The Kansas State product is expected to start at nickel cornerback for Tampa Bay and is already showing plenty for Buccaneers fans to be excited about. It's not just coverage snaps, either; Parrish had a stop in run defense against the Steelers to force a tackle for loss.
Stock down
Cleveland's gone to their rookies for their first two games in the preseason. Gabriel hasn't fared as well, going 13 for 18 passing with 143 yards and two turnovers against the Philadelphia Eagles. That's a tougher opponent than fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders faced in the opener against Carolina but still not a good showing. Cleveland's opting to start the season with 40-year-old Joe Flacco at quarterback. It's not a good sign for Gabriel, who had the leg up in training camp on Sanders.
McMillan has high expectations as a top-10 draft pick at wide receiver. He's dealt with plenty of physicality in training camp as the Panthers coaching staff want him to adjust to the contact he'll face in the NFL. In limited game settings, it hasn't been great from the Arizona product.
McMillan's played 30 total snaps through two preseason games, per PFF. On six targets in the passing game, he has as many drops (two) as receptions and just 43 yards. One of those drops came in the end zone against the Browns. McMillan will likely be a focal point of the Panthers' offense in 2025 but may still take some time to get up to speed.
Membou was one of the top tackles in the draft class alongside Will Campbell thanks to his size and impressive athleticism. That made him a plus run blocker and he's shown that well in training camp so far with New York.
Pass protection may take more time as he had trouble with speed-to-power rushers at time in college and the Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux took advantage of that in the Jets-Giants preseason game.
Membou rebounded with better reps later on but still ranks as the fifth-worst rookie lineman this preseason in blocking, per PFF grading.
Miami's offensive line looks much different in 2025 than last season with just one returning starter in center Aaron Brewer. Savaiinaea's played more than the other projected starters in the preseason with mixed results so far.
He's allowed four pressures and one sack on 36 pass blocking plays, per PFF. His pass blocking grade (9.5) is the fourth-worst among all rookie offensive linemen this preseason. He's learning a new position at guard after playing tackle at Arizona but that's not promising considering the Dolphins gave up two Day 2 draft picks to move up and select him No. 37 overall.
Las Vegas has arguably one of the shakiest cornerback rooms in the league after trading Jakorian Bennett to Philadelphia earlier in training camp. Porter is the team's lone draft pick in the secondary and has struggled in both coverage and run defense.
Per PFF, he's logged two missed tackles in 25 run defense snaps and allowed a 100.7 passer rating when targeted on 24 coverage snaps. That's not a promising start for a projected starter in the Raiders' secondary this season who only spent one college season as a full-time starter.