NFL Rookies: Top 15 highest-graded players after Week 18

• De'Von Achane at the top: The Dolphins running back earned a 93.5 rushing grade over the regular season, making him the highest-graded first-year back in the PFF era, surpassing Adrian Peterson’s 2007 campaign (90.8).

• Puka Nacua in a world of his own: The fifth-rounder out of BYU racked up a record-setting 38 receptions of 15 or more yards, passing up incredible rookie seasons from Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Members of the 2023 draft class are primed and ready to face down the bright lights of the NFL stage. Whether they were drafted first or 259th, the best will rise to the top when the games are played.

Here are the 15 highest-graded rookies after NFL Week 18.

1. RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: 92.4

The Dolphins running back earned a 93.5 rushing grade over the regular season, making him the highest-graded first-year back in the PFF era, surpassing Adrian Peterson’s 2007 campaign (90.8).

Achane averaged 7.9 yards per carry in 2023, first among 63 qualifying backs. His 5.1 yards after contact per carry bettered all but six other running backs' total per-carry average.

Highest-graded rookie running backs since 2006 (min. 250 snaps, regular season only)

2. DI Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles: 89.8

The Georgia standout fell just 0.7 grading points short of surpassing Aaron Donald’s rookie overall grade record (90.5), but he did break the PFF record for the highest pass-rush grade (85.9) and pass-rush win rate (17.7%) by a first-year interior defender.

3. WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: 88.2

In addition to Nacua’s official NFL rookie records, he comes away from 2023 with a PFF signature stat record, as well. The fifth-rounder out of BYU racked up a record-setting 38 receptions of 15 or more yards, passing up incredible rookie seasons from Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. The Rams standout averaged 2.59 yards per route run over the regular season, a top-five mark among rookie receivers in the PFF era.

4. S Ronnie Hickman Jr., Cleveland Browns: 86.6

From undrafted free agent to top-five-graded rookie. Hickman showed his prowess as a deep free safety since being elevated to the starting lineup in Week 14. Over that span, Hickman earned the highest coverage grade (87.9) from any first-year defender, spurred by a pick-six and a 25% forced incompletion rate.

5. WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs: 85.4

Rice finished the regular season having earned the eighth-highest rookie-receiving grade (85.1) of the PFF era. The electric receiver out of SMU was lethal with the ball, totaling 655 yards after the catch, just three yards shy of Ja’Marr Chase’s record set in 2021.

6. CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: 84.1

Witherspoon solidified himself as one of the most well-rounded and versatile corners in just his first season. In the PFF era, just three first-year corners earned a 79.0-plus grade in each defensive grading facet, with Witherspoon being the first to accomplish the feat since Tyrann Mathieu in 2013.

7. DI Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams: 83.8

The top pass-rushing seasons from rookie interior defenders came from this year’s class, as Turner’s 80.5 pass-rush grade now stands as the second-best mark since 2006. 

Among rookie interior defenders in the PFF era, Turner finished top-three in total pressures (48), piling up 11 sacks to tie the current rookie record set by Ndamukong Suh in 2010.

8. WR Tank Dell, Houston Texans: 83.4

The Dynamic receiver may have gone down in Week 13, but he accomplished a lot during his time on the field. The third-rounder out of Houston averaged 2.22 yards per route run and hauled in 21 receptions of 15 or more yards. Those metrics helped push his receiving grade to 83.3, 13th out of 306 qualifying seasons from rookie receivers.

9. QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: 83.1

Stroud closed the regular season as the sixth-highest-graded first-year passer (79.7) in the PFF era. Since 2006, no other rookie passer has recorded a sub-3.0% turnover-worthy play rate while attempting more than 49% of their passes beyond the first-down marker.

10. EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans: 82.8

Anderson recorded the eighth-highest overall grade (82.8) by a first-year edge in the PFF era. The third-overall pick excelled as a pass-rusher, piling up 59 total pressures, the fourth-most by a rookie edge since 2006.

11. S Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals: 82.5

Battle closed out his season by securing his first career interception and his highest single-game coverage grade this year (88.7). Pair that with his 81.3 run-defense grade over the year, and it’s no wonder he climbed this list. Battle’s 15 run stops rank top-12 at the position in 2023, but he stands as the only player to pull off this feat on less than 270 snaps.

12. WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers: 78.9

Wicks climbs into the top 12 off the back of his impressive performance down the back half of the season. Since Week 9, no first-year receiver has clocked a receiving grade better than Wicks’ 83.7. Over that span, the Packers receiver averaged 2.59 yards per route run and notched 14 receptions of 15 or more yards, ranking second in the class.

13. CB Brian Branch, Detroit Lions: 78.1

Branch is an incredibly versatile defender, producing grades in coverage (76.0) and run defense (83.6) that rank among the best in the class. The former Crimson Tide Captain forced 11 incompletions, three interceptions and eight tackles for loss on runs – all of which rank in the top-three in the class.

14. S Ji’Ayir Brown: San Francisco 49ers: 77.9

Brown (knee) was able to suit up each of the past two weeks due to injury, but the third-rounder has earned three single-game grades above 73.0 since Week 11. He has two forced incompletions and two interceptions on the season and has graded above 70.0 in coverage and as a run defender.

15. LB Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings: 77.2

The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati has proven dangerous for opposing offenses on passing downs, earning 77.0-plus grades as a pass-rusher (78.0) and in coverage (77.7). Pace’s 21.7% pass rush win rate led all qualifying defenders in the class. In coverage, he surrendered fewer yards per coverage snap (0.59) than all but one qualifying first-year cornerback.