It already feels as though the 2022 NFL season is going to be much different than last year when it comes to rookies. Early in the 2021 season, there were rookies such as Ja'Marr Chase, Micah Parsons, Rashawn Slater and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah delivering eye-opening performances. This year, no one has really established himself in that way, which means the Rookie Power Rankings could change drastically in any given week. Several others could have made the list, but there were not enough spots.
These rankings are not based on statistical performance but rather overall play. Without further ado, here are the cumulative regular season rookie rankings following Week 1 action:
Week 1 Rookie Rankings
| 1 | 
Kenyon Green
Houston Texans OT
|
| Green is one of three Texans on the list. A year ago, there were obvious Rookie of the Year candidates early in the season but this year feels much more wide open. No one separated themselves from the rest and everyone is now fishing in the same pond. | |
| 2 | 
Sauce Gardner
New York Jets CB
|
| After being targeted little in college, Gardner was thrown at three times Sunday against the Ravens. The result of those attempts were one completion for eight yards. | |
| 3 | 
Derek Stingley Jr.
Houston Texans CB
|
| Stingley was not tested often but made a nice play going over the back to make a deflection in the end zone. | |
| 4 | 
Jahan Dotson
Washington Commanders WR
|
| Dotson taught a master class in route breaks Sunday. He broke off a defender for a touchdown and had the inside track on a second until Carson Wentz went in another direction. The timing between Wentz and Dotson needs to improve but that should come in time. | |
| 5 | 
Travon Walker
Jacksonville Jaguars LB
|
| Walker registered his first sack as an NFL player when he dipped his shoulder high side and turned the corner to the quarterback. He also showed awareness and athleticism securing his first career interception. | |
| 6 | 
Abraham Lucas
Seattle Seahawks OT
|
| The Seattle offensive tackle pairing of Charles Cross and Lucas stirred a lot of positive buzz during the preseason. It was Lucas who played well on Monday night against the Broncos. | |
| 7 | 
Trent McDuffie
Kansas City Chiefs CB
|
| It was unfortunate that McDuffie got hurt because he was playing very well. He showed burst to close on plays and carry routes across the field. | |
| 8 | 
Cade York
Cleveland Browns K
|
| Kickers do not often make the list because they play a smaller sample size of plays. However, York is absolutely justified after going 4-of-4 on field goal attempts, including the 58-yarder that gave Cleveland the lead with eight seconds remaining. | |
| 9 | 
Drake London
Atlanta Falcons WR
|
| London was efficient in his rookie debut. He looked more smooth and quick than I ever gave him credit for during the pre-draft process. His route running can still improve, but there were more opportunities where Marcus Mariota simply missed him. | |
| 10 | 
Nick Cross
Indianapolis Colts DB
|
| Indianapolis always seems to find good safeties. Bob Sanders is one of the greats going back several years, but Malik Hooker played well before encountering unfortunate injury luck. Julian Blackmon has played really well early in his career and now Cross has arrived. Known for his athleticism at Maryland, he is validating the high expectations many had for him. | |
| 11 | 
Jalen Pitre
Houston Texans SAF
|
| Houston should be encouraged with the defensive backfield of Derek Stingley Jr. and Pitre. The latter has a diverse skill set allowing him to play in a variety of roles. Head coach Lovie Smith should have no issues creatively deploying him. | |
| 12 | 
Tyler Linderbaum
Baltimore Ravens C
|
| The Iowa product handled exchanges with the awareness of a seasoned veteran. He was blocking with good leverage and showed the athleticism to make blocks in space. | |
| 13 | 
Braxton Jones
Chicago Bears OT
|
| Coming out of Southern Utah, there were concerns about Jones' play strength. In the opener against San Francisco, play strength was not an issue outside of one bull rush by Nick Bosa. He is a great athlete, which shines through in Chicago's new offensive scheme. | |
| 14 | 
Zion Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers OG
|
| Los Angeles may not have hit on Johnson to the same extent as they did a year ago with Rashawn Slater, but the former is already proving to be a good player. The Chargers are in a good spot with an offensive core that includes Justin Herbert, Slater, Johnson and others. | |
| 15 | 
Cole Strange
New England Patriots OG
|
| For whatever reason, the jersey looked strange on him but Strange played with good leverage and used his athleticism in that blocking scheme. Bill Belichick needs to hit on him considering the criticism that the first-round selection received in the moment. | |
