NEW YORK — The league asked for stars, and the Class of 2025 delivered a constellation. The NFL officially dropped the curtain on the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year race this week, naming six finalists who didn’t just play—they took over. With the voting window slamming shut on Friday, Jan. 30, the power now shifts to the fans to crown the new king of the gridiron.
Forget “learning curves.” This group shattered franchise records, tied Hall of Famers, and turned Sundays into highlight reels. Here is your definitive breakdown of the six names on the ballot.
The NFC East and South found their answers under center. Tyler Shough walked into New Orleans and looked like a ten-year vet. The Saints quarterback didn’t just manage the game; he surgically dissected defenses with a rookie-best 67.6% completion rate. Shough’s Week 17 performance—joining Bo Nix as the only rookies to post an 80% completion rate, 300+ yards, and a 140+ rating in a single game—cemented his spot here.
Meanwhile, in New York, Jaxson Dart turned the Giants’ offense into a dual-threat nightmare. Dart found the end zone 24 times total, but his legs did the talking. With nine rushing touchdowns, he eclipsed Josh Allen’s rookie mark and trailed only Cam Newton in the Super Bowl era. He’s the first rookie signal-caller ever to rush for a score in five straight games. That is not potential; that is production.
Las Vegas has a new jackpot. Ashton Jeanty proved to be the engine of the Raiders’ offense, racking up a rookie-leading 1,321 scrimmage yards. He joined the elite company of Alvin Kamara and Charley Taylor as the only rookies with a 50/5/5 stat line (receptions, rushing TDs, receiving TDs). If you like versatility, Jeanty is your vote.
New England’s TreVeyon Henderson brought the explosion. Averaging a staggering 5.1 yards per carry, Henderson was a home-run hitter, ripping off four touchdown runs of 50-plus yards. He tied Dart with nine scores on the ground and kept the Patriots’ chains moving all winter.
Carolina finally has its WR1. Tetairoa McMillan was the only rookie to crack the quadruple digits through the air, leading the class with 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He broke the Panthers’ rookie receiving record, giving Bryce Young the safety valve he desperately needed.
Then there’s the lone defender, the “Tackle Machine” from Cleveland. Carson Schwesinger didn’t care about draft pedigree; the former UCLA walk-on led all rookies with 146 tackles. He was everywhere, tying Luke Kuechly’s record of six consecutive games with 10-plus tackles. In a league obsessed with offense, Schwesinger forced his way into the conversation by simply refusing to stay blocked.
“He’s right in the middle of the defense… He has really impressed me with his toughness and his ability to play through some injuries and some pain. That shows a lot of grit.” — Jim Schwartz, Browns Defensive Coordinator (on Carson Schwesinger)
The stats are locked, the regular season is history, and the debate is heating up. Will the voters favor the raw dual-threat numbers of Dart, the efficiency of Shough, or the undeniable volume of Jeanty and Schwesinger? The winner gets revealed during Super Bowl Week in the Bay Area, but the campaign ends in ten days.
Don’t let the wrong name win. Head to nfl.com/rookies and cast your ballot before Jan. 30.
