Mac Jones extended his lead over the rest of the rookie passers this week with his best game to date. The Alabama product was outstanding against the Cleveland Browns and produced one of the top overall PFF grades of the week.
DeVonta Smith took his game to a new level, beating up on former Crimson Tide teammate Patrick Surtain II for some of his best plays. Micah Parsons ensured the Dallas Cowboys still fielded an elite pass rush without their starting defensive end, as he kicked back down to the line of scrimmage and racked up the pressure. But overall, it was a week full of rookie struggles.
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PICK NO. 1: QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Overall Rookie Grade: 56.9 (Rank: 6/6)
Week 10 Grade: 58.2
It might not be time to panic over Lawrence’s rookie season, but at the very minimum, it’s tough to see it as anything other than a significant disappointment so far for a prospect who was being talked about as one of the best to come along in the past 20 years.
As usual, Lawrence made good throws against Indianapolis this week, including a nice sideline dime to Jamal Agnew that fell incomplete, but there was also plenty of bad. He fumbled the ball while trying to escape the pocket into multiple defenders and forced a pass into double coverage on the run, netting out to another overall PFF grade in the 50s — his fourth such outing of the season. The situation in Jacksonville isn’t great, but even with that context, you would have expected to see more from Lawrence at this point in the year.
PICK NO. 2: QB Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Overall Rookie Grade: 59.5 (Rank: 3/6)
Week 10 Grade: DNP
Wilson remains sidelined, but at least he could take a small measure of solace from Mike White coming back down to earth in a major way this week. Wilson surely means White no ill-will, but the better that White, Josh Johnson and Joe Flacco look in their playing time, the worse that Wilson’s performances look by contrast. The rookie now owns the second-worst turnover-worthy play rate in the league, behind only White.
PICK NO. 3: QB Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
Overall Rookie Grade: 59.0 (Rank: 5/6)
Week 10 Grade: DNP
Lance once again didn't see any snaps for the 49ers, but Jimmy Garoppolo played his third consecutive strong game and the 49ers pulled off an upset win on Monday Night Football. It seems like Garoppolo doesn't have much margin for error before we see Lance starting, but he is in the midst of his best run of play in a while.
PICK NO. 4: TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Overall Rookie Grade: 79.5 (Rank: 1/10)
Week 10 Grade: 78.0
Atlanta’s offense put three points on the board against the Cowboys, but Pitts was at the heart of what little good took place for them. He caught four of his seven targets for 60 yards and was drawing elite coverage for much of his time. Four of the seven targets came against cornerbacks, including two against Trevon Diggs. Diggs' interception came on a target intended for Pitts, and the receiver was open on the play.
Overall, Pitts is an elite playmaker who can be moved all over the formation and tasked with beating whoever is assigned to cover him.
PICK NO. 5: WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Overall Rookie Grade: 76.8 (Rank: 4/24)
Week 10 Grade: BYE
Chase and the Bengals were on a bye this week, which worked out well for them, as every other team in the AFC North failed to win their games. Baltimore and Cleveland lost, while Pittsburgh struggled to a tie against the winless Detroit Lions. Chase is likely itching to get back out there and right the issues that showed up against Cleveland. Based on his rookie year so far, you would back his chances to do so.
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