There's a cliché that says you can't truly evaluate an NFL draft class for five years, but we are far too impatient to wait that long. So below we ranked every NFL team based on the impact their 2016 classes have made so far this season.
It's important to note that different teams have asked their rookies to make different levels of contributions, often based on the quality of a team's roster independent of its rookies. What follows isn't an evaluation of which teams drafted best, but rather which teams have gotten the most (and least) out of their rookie classes in 2016.
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LA | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
1. Dallas Cowboys
No team in the NFL boasts two rookies as impactful as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott is currently No. 14 in PFF's quarterback grades this season and is completing 72.0 percent of his passes when the Dallas offensive line keeps him clean. Elliott is the highest-graded running back in the entire league, and talk of him winning the NFL's MVP award is absolutely warranted. Not only does he lead the NFL in rushing yards, but he's also seventh in average yards per carry after contact. Elliott has impressed as a receiver too, forcing eight missed tackles on 28 receptions.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Fifth-round draft pick Tyreek Hill has made a huge impact on special teams and on offense. The wide receiver has forced 13 missed tackles on 56 receptions, and another three on 14 carries. His role has grown as the season has progressed and he has seen 39 targets over the past five weeks. On defense, Chris Jones has been a menace as an interior pass-rusher over the past seven weeks, producing two sacks, five hits and 21 hurries on 193 pass-rushing attempts. That has yielded a pass-rushing productivity rating of 11.1 that ranks second among 3-4 defensive ends over that span.
3. Chicago Bears
Few teams are getting as many snaps from rookies as the Bears are -- and even fewer teams are getting as much positive impact from those players. Center Cody Whitehair and running back Jordan Howard already are playing like two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions. Since Howard became the starter in Week 3, only Elliott, Jay Ajayi and Le'Veon Bell have more yards after contact than Howard's 582. Whitehair currently ranks seventh in PFF's center grades at 84.9.
4. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are enjoying a solid season that has them currently tied for the lead in the AFC South, and they've been helped by the play of several rookies. First-round draft pick Jack Conklin has been the standout, manning his right tackle spot and allowing just two sacks, two hits and 20 hurries on 446 pass-blocking snaps this season. He kept Denver's star edge rusher Von Miller in check in Tennessee's win on Sunday, giving up zero sacks or hurries all game. Running back Derrick Henry has impressed as the backup to DeMarco Murray, forcing 10 missed tackles on 82 carries. On defense, third-round safety Kevin Byard has moved into a starting role, recording 12 tackles that have resulted in a defensive stop.
5. San Diego Chargers
It took until Week 5 for him to get on the field, but Joey Bosa is proving himself worthy of the third overall selection in the draft -- and then some. He has recorded seven sacks, 11 hits and 27 hurries on 250 snaps as a pass-rusher and has made an impact against the run too. He currently ranks fifth among all edge defenders in PFF grades with an 89.0. Linebacker Jatavis Brown has made an impact too, registering 18 tackles resulting in a defensive stop and impressing in coverage and as a blitzer.
6. New York Giants
As everyone guessed in the preseason, undrafted safety Andrew Adams has been the most impactful first-year player for the Giants in 2016. The Connecticut product has allowed a total of 35 yards all season in 369 coverage snaps. Second-rounder Sterling Shepard has firmly established himself as Eli Manning's No. 2 option, although his 1.09 yards per route is the worst mark among starting wideouts. First-rounder Eli Apple has been adequate as the Giants' nickel corner, allowing a passer rating of 86.3 when targeted.
7. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have gotten significant contributions from several of their 11 draft selections already. Tavon Young has been the star of the group so far, leading all rookie cornerbacks with a PFF grade of 82.5, which ranks 19th overall. Seventh overall pick Ronnie Stanley has struggled at times this season in addition to missing time because of injury. The Notre Dame product has surrendered two sacks and 24 total pressures, but did play very well in Monday night's loss to New England, both as a run-blocker and allowing just one hurry in pass protection. Guard Alex Lewis struggled when he was forced to play left tackle, but he has shown flashes of ability when healthy, allowing only one sack overall.
8. Cleveland Browns
With 14 draft picks, no team took a bigger dredge to the draft than the Browns in April. With so little talent on the roster, the team has had to play a lot of rookies, but ironically the best-performing rookie of the bunch wasn't one of Cleveland's 14 draft choices. That distinction belongs to cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who has been particularly impressive in the running game. Injuries have hampered WR Corey Coleman, but he teased hints of what he could do by tying Giants CB Janoris Jenkins in knots for a touchdown two weeks ago. And while QB Cody Kessler played well when on the field, injuries have undermined his season.
9. New England Patriots
The Patriots had nine draft picks, and while several have made key contributions already, only Joe Thuney has nailed down a consistent starting spot. He has played all 902 offensive snaps for the Patriots at guard, surrendering two sacks, eight hits and 26 hurries. Elandon Roberts flashed quality play around the time the team dealt Jamie Collins to the Browns, but has since fallen off. And, of course, quarterback Jacoby Brissett was instrumental in two of the team's first three wins without Tom Brady after Jimmy Garoppolo was injured.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
The big story for the Eagles has been Carson Wentz's hot start and subsequent cooling off. When kept clean, Wentz has completed 70.2 percent of his throws with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Under pressure, that number drops to 43.4 percent and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is 1-7. Wentz has been inconsistent throwing the ball downfield, completing 18 of 53 passes he has attempted of at least 20 yards for four touchdowns and five interceptions. RB Wendell Smallwood has seen some opportunities but has forced just six missed tackles from 77 carries. On defense, seventh-round pick Jalen Mills allowed 686 yards in coverage, the seventh-most of any cornerback in the NFL.
11. Atlanta Falcons
Fed up with the coverage prowess of their underneath defenders a season ago, the Falcons completely overhauled their linebackers and safeties, thrusting Deion Jones, De'Vondre Campbell and Keanu Neal into starting roles. While all have been upgrades over their predecessors, they've had their ups and downs. Neal has given up the third-most yards of any safety, while Campbell and Jones both own below-average run defense grades. Still, they are all major contributors on a team that appears playoff-bound.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Jalen Ramsey, the fifth overall selection in the draft, has slotted straight into his role as a starter. Despite some inconsistent play, he has generally looked like the player the Jaguars were hoping for when they drafted him. He has allowed 56.9 percent of the passes thrown into his coverage to be caught for 525 yards and three touchdowns, with four pass breakups recorded. LB Myles Jack has flashed potential too, with just one missed tackle and eight tackles resulting in a defensive stop. DE Yannick Ngakoue has struggled against the run but is second on the team with 38 total quarterback pressures.
13. New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas has been about as big of a slam dunk as one could expect from a rookie second-round pick. No other starting first-year wideout has been close. His 1.92 yards per route run is second best only to Kansas City's Hill among rookie receivers. Undrafted rookie corner Ken Crawley has been forced into playing time because of injury and has predictably struggled. His 1.48 yards allowed per coverage snap rank 96th out of 122 qualifying corners. The one name we haven't mentioned yet is first-round pick Sheldon Rankins, who has collected only nine pressures since coming back from a broken fibula in Week 9.
14. Detroit Lions
It's always nice to know you've hit on a first-rounder, and the Lions look to have done just that. Taylor Decker is already grading out as one of the better left tackles in the league as a run-blocker, and even though he isn't great in pass protection, he's still much better than the majority of rookies we've seen at the position in the past 10 seasons. The only other rookies receiving meaningful playing time are A'Shawn Robinson and Anthony Zettel, and neither is making much of an impact.
15. Denver Broncos
The Broncos didn't expect to have to play quarterback Paxton Lynch this year, and when he has taken the field, the results have been as expected. He has a passer rating of just 27.1 when pressured and has completed only one of his 14 attempted passes of 20 yards or more in the air. RB Devontae Booker has seen his role grow as the season has progressed, with 359 of his 510 yards coming after contact. On the defensive side of the ball, rookie DBs Will Parks and Justin Simmons have each played fewer than 206 snaps, but both have looked solid when they've been on the field.
16. Green Bay Packers
Blake Martinez has been a welcome upgrade over what the Packers had at inside linebacker a season ago. His 9.7 run-stop percentage is 20th among inside linebackers this season; for comparison, Clay Matthews' was 5.4 a season ago. No other rookie had been receiving meaningful snaps until second-round pick Jason Spriggs was thrust into action a few weeks ago when T.J. Lang went down. The former Indiana left tackle looked particularly out of place in his first game against the Eagles, but fared much better against the Texans in Week 13, surrendering just one QB hurry.
17. San Francisco 49ers
Three of San Francisco's first four picks have played considerable roles this season. DeForest Buckner's 823 snaps leads all interior defenders, not just rookies. He has been steadily solid for the 49ers, collecting 39 total pressures. Fourth-rounder Rashard Robinson already looks like a steal. Outside of a disaster against Tampa Bay when he gave up two touchdowns, Robinson has been solid, allowing a completion rate under 50 percent as the team's nickel corner.
18. Miami Dolphins
Laremy Tunsil has started all season, primarily at left guard, but has seen two starts at left tackle filling in for an injured Branden Albert. Tunsil has flashed very good play, particularly as a run-blocker, but his pass protection has been spottier. He has surrendered 19 total pressures, albeit just one sack. CB Xavien Howard had played 304 snaps, all in the first four weeks, allowing 65.4 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught before getting injured. The rest of the class has seen minimal playing time on offense or defense, though Jakeem Grant has looked electric on special teams.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
Artie Burns and Sean Davis have been significant members of the Pittsburgh secondary, which goes a long way in explaining some of its shortcomings this season. Burns has allowed five touchdowns on 68 targets, and Davis has allowed 84.2 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught. Javon Hargrave has played 335 snaps on defense up front for Pittsburgh; he has notched 13 total pressures and nine defensive stops as a starter on the nose, with his best game coming against a weak Indianapolis line on Thanksgiving Day.
20. Oakland Raiders
Oakland's success this season has come in large part thanks to the success of recent drafts, but the Raiders could still use more from their 2016 class. Safety Karl Joseph has looked the part and is PFF's 17th-ranked safety in coverage this season. Second-round draft pick Jihad Ward hasn't made a positive impact on the defensive line, though, registering just eight hits and 18 hurries on 331 pass-rushing attempts and recording 11 tackles resulting in a defensive stop.
21. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were forced to start multiple rookies at corner out of necessity, and the results have been mixed. James Bradberry had a rocky start to the season, but since his return from injury in Week 9, he has been fantastic, allowing fewer than 7 yards per target. Third-rounder Daryl Worley is the other rookie starter at corner, and his results have lagged behind those of Bradberry. Worley is allowing a passer rating of 97.5 this year when targeted.
22. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo's draft class was dealt a major blow before the season ever began with LB Reggie Ragland being lost for the season and DE Shaq Lawson undergoing surgery that delayed his appearance on the field. DT Adolphus Washington has shouldered the biggest workload, with 287 defensive snaps. He has notched three sacks but only five total pressures. Sixth-round pick CB Kevon Seymour also has seen significant playing time but has yet to distinguish himself. Lawson, who has since returned to the field, is still working to make a major impact. He has 10 total pressures on 183 snaps.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cornerback is not a position to judge too harshly in Year 1, but Vernon Hargreaves' rookie season hasn't been too encouraging. He has allowed 781 yards in coverage so far, the most in the league. Defensive end Noah Spence is having himself a tad better introductory season. His 8.9 pass-rushing productivity ranks third-best among rookie defensive linemen.
24. Houston Texans
WR Will Fuller has been the player many expected him to be: He has averaged 14.3 yards per catch so far, but also has dropped 11.9 percent of his targets, which ranks 77th among 96 qualifying wideouts. Fellow WR Braxton Miller has seen 379 snaps on offense, but is averaging just 0.43 yards per route run, ranking 177th out of the 188 wide receivers to see the field this year.
25. New York Jets
Arguably the biggest name among the Jets' draft picks was QB Christian Hackenberg, but he has been treated as a redshirt player in his rookie season. LB Darron Lee is struggling to live up to his athletic talents, ranking 85th out of 90 LBs in PFF grades. Jordan Jenkins has notched just 11 total pressures and one sack from 97 pass-rushing snaps. On offense, WR Charone Peake has flashed talent but hasn't performed consistently.
26. Indianapolis Colts
Center Ryan Kelly is the lone bright spot from the Colts' 2016 rookie class. Allowing zero sacks, two hits and 15 hurries on 559 snaps in pass protection, Kelly is currently the No. 23 center in PFF grades. Fellow rookie offensive lineman Joe Haeg has struggled as a starter, allowing eight sacks, eight hits and 31 hurries (he had a very hard time in Sunday's loss to Houston). No defensive rookie has made a strong impact.
27. Washington Redskins
Washington's rookie class pales in comparison to the rest of the NFC East, but there have been some bright spots. RB Rob Kelley has taken hold of the starting job in recent weeks. He's averaging 3.03 yards after contact per rush, fifth best in the NFL this season, and his 70.1 elusive rating ranks second overall. The only other impactful rookie is CB Kendall Fuller, who has been exposed at times in the slot. He has allowed a 121.9 quarterback rating when targeted, and his 1.84 yards allowed per coverage snap ranks eighth worst in the league.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati lost its top pick, CB William Jackson III, to injury before the season began. He was then joined on the sideline by DT Andrew Billings, who had a real chance to finally unseat Domata Peko in the middle of the Bengals' defensive front. Injuries have forced wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Cody Core into more prominent roles as the season has worn on. Boyd has caught 72.7 percent of his targets, and Core hauled in a 50-yard catch against the Eagles in Week 13 that nearly went for a touchdown.
29. Seattle Seahawks
Starting offensive linemen Germain Ifedi and George Fant are the lone wolves of Seattle's rookie class, although QB Trevone Boykin, WR Tanner McEvoy and C Joey Hunt have played sparingly as well. It doesn't take an offensive line guru to tell you that Ifedi and Fant have been liabilities in pass protection this season. Fant is No. 69 of 73 qualifying tackles in pass-blocking efficiency, and Ifedi is 73rd out of 78 qualifying guards. It hasn't been pretty for Russell Wilson.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings rookies have played a total of 269 snaps this season. First-round pick WR Laquon Treadwell has only 79 of those despite not missing time because of injury -- and that leads Minnesota's rookie class. For a team with such glaring holes that could be filled by rookies, particularly on the offensive line, it's a bit surprising.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has received next to nothing from its rookie class. CB Brandon Williams looked poised to play a bigger role, but multiple coverage breakdowns in Weeks 1 and 2 got him benched for 10 games before his return last week in a loss to Miami. He allowed one catch for 11 yards on two targets, adding a pass breakup. He has managed just 116 total snaps on the season, the highest of any Arizona rookie.
32. Los Angeles Rams
The team that drafted No. 1 overall in April has received the least amount from its rookie class. QB Jared Goff leads the Rams' rookies with 236 snaps, and he didn't even see his first action until Week 11. The Cal product has struggled in his first four starts, earning the fifth-worst PFF grade among quarterbacks. He has had a very hard time when facing pressure in particular, owning the NFL's worst completion rate under duress (46.8 percent).