NFL 2022 - Rookie Success

The 2021 rookie class made an immediate impact during their first season in the NFL, chasing down some of the league’s longest standing rookie records. Among the notable accomplishments

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,455 receiving yards, the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era. In Week 17, he recorded 266 receiving yards, the most-ever by a rookie in a single game.

In Week 7, at 21 years and 237 days old, Chase became the second-youngest player in NFL history to record at least 200 receiving yards in a single game, trailing only MIKE EVANS (21 years, 87 days old) and was also the first rookie ever and the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record multiple games with at least 200 receiving yards in a single season. In the postseason, Chase totaled 368 receiving yards, the most-ever by a rookie in the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers benefitted from an impressive pair of rookie performances, as tight end PAT FREIERMUTH ranked second among all rookies with seven touchdown receptions, tied for the most-ever by a rookie tight end in franchise history, while running back NAJEE HARRIS led rookies with 1,667 scrimmage yards (1,200 rushing, 467 receiving), the most-ever by a Pittsburgh rookie.

New England quarterback MAC JONES led all rookie quarterbacks with a 67.6 completion percentage, 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes and a 92.5 passer rating (minimum 100 attempts). He had a completion percentage of 70-or-higher in nine games, tied with DAK PRESCOTT (2016) for the most-ever by a rookie quarterback. Jones won six road games, tied with DAK PRESCOTT (2016) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (2004) for the most-ever by a rookie quarterback.

Jacksonville quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE led all rookies with 359 completions, the third-most completions by a rookie all-time, trailing JUSTIN HERBERT (396 in 2020) and CARSON WENTZ (379 in 2016). At London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in Week 6, Lawrence and Dolphins second-year quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA (23 years old) each recorded at least 300 passing yards, marking the second game in NFL history in which two quarterbacks under the age of 24 each passed for at least 300 yards in the same game. He also became the first rookie quarterback to ever win a game played in London.

San Francisco 49ers running back ELIJAH MITCHELL ranked second among rookies with a franchise rookie-record 963 rushing yards and became the fourth rookie since 1990 with at least 100 rushing yards in five of his first 10 career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer EDGERRIN JAMES (seven games in 1999), ADRIAN PETERSON (six in 2007) and EZEKIEL ELLIOTT (five in 2016).

Dallas Cowboys linebacker MICAH PARSONS led all rookies with 13 sacks, tied for the fourth-most by a rookie since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. He ranked third in NFL with 20 tackles for loss, most by rookie since LAVONTE DAVID (20 in 2012) and tied for the lead among rookies with three forced fumbles.

Atlanta tight end KYLE PITTS recorded 68 receptions and 1,026 receiving yards, the second-most receiving yards and third most receptions ever by a rookie tight end. He became the third rookie tight end in league history with 100 receiving yards in at least three games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (five games in 1961) and CHARLE YOUNG (four games in 1973). In Weeks 5 and 7, Pitts became the second rookie tight end in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards in consecutive games, joining RAYMOND CHESTER (Weeks 5-6, 1970).

Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN ranked second among rookies with 90 receptions and had a franchise rookie-record 912 receiving yards, fifth-most among all-first year players. In Week 13, he became the third rookie to record his first career touchdown reception with no time remaining in the fourth quarter since 2000, joining K.J. HAMLER (Week 8, 2020) and ERNEST WILFORD (Week 1, 2004).

From Week 13-18, St. Brown became the first rookie all-time with at least eight receptions in six consecutive games and from Week 15-18, joined ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2014) and Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (1998) as the only rookies all-time with at least 90 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in four consecutive games.

Dolphins wide receiver JAYLEN WADDLE recorded 104 receptions, surpassing ANQUAN BOLDIN (101 receptions in 2003) for the most receptions by a rookie all-time. He had seven games with at least eight receptions, the most such by a rookie all-time.

Waddle had at least eight receptions in four consecutive games from Weeks 11-16 and is one of three rookies all-time (ODELL BECKHAM JR. and AMON-RA ST. BROWN) with at least eight receptions in four consecutive games.

NFL 2022 - Rookie Success this Season