NFL’s Top Players, Surprises, and Highlights from All 32 Teams

The 2025 NFL season is well underway, and teams are showcasing their strengths and challenges. As we approach the halfway point, it’s essential to evaluate the standout players and surprising performers from all 32 teams. Here is a detailed look at the top players and unexpected developments so far this season.

NFL Highlights: Top Players, Surprises, and Key Stats

Arizona Cardinals

• Highest-Graded Player: T Paris Johnson Jr. – 80.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.
• Biggest Surprise: QB Jacoby Brissett – 73.5 PFF passing grade in three games.
• Stat to Know: Rushing EPA per play ranks 25th without James Conner.

Atlanta Falcons

• Highest-Graded Player: WR Drake London – 89.0 PFF receiving grade.
• Biggest Surprise: LB Divine Deablo – 86.0 overall PFF grade before injury.
• Stat to Know: Offensive scoring drive rate ranks 28th (33.3%).

Baltimore Ravens

• Highest-Graded Player: WR DeAndre Hopkins – 90.2 PFF receiving grade.
• Biggest Surprise: CB Chidobe Awuzie – 74.5 PFF coverage grade.
• Stat to Know: Defensive EPA per play ranks 10th since acquiring safety Alohi Gilman.

Buffalo Bills

• Highest-Graded Player: QB Josh Allen – 87.9 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: EDGE Joey Bosa – 91.5 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Sixth in both passing and rushing EPA per play.

Carolina Panthers

• Highest-Graded Player: G Damien Lewis – among top-8 guards in PFF grades.
• Biggest Surprise: RB Rico Dowdle – 82.1 PFF rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Top-10 in rushing yards before contact per attempt.

Chicago Bears

• Highest-Graded Player: T Darnell Wright – 87.3 PFF run-blocking grade.
• Biggest Surprise: WR Luther Burden III – leads Bears receivers in PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: Ninth in sack rate (4.7%) after rebuilding the offensive line.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Highest-Graded Player: WR Ja’Marr Chase – 86.4 PFF receiving grade.
• Biggest Surprise: QB Joe Flacco – 82.2 PFF passing grade in four games.
• Stat to Know: Defensive EPA per play ranks last at 0.169.

Cleveland Browns

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Myles Garrett – 92.2 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: DL Maliek Collins – 90.4 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Fewest explosive plays generated (51).

Denver Broncos

• Highest-Graded Player: T Garett Bolles – 90.0 PFF pass-blocking grade.
• Biggest Surprise: RB J.K. Dobbins – 80.7 PFF rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Third in offensive EPA per play in the fourth quarter.

Detroit Lions

• Highest-Graded Player: T Penei Sewell – 95.7 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad – 76.0 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Top 10 in both offensive and defensive EPA per play.

Green Bay Packers

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Micah Parsons – 92.6 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Biggest Surprise: TE Tucker Kraft – PFF grade of 78.1 before injury.
• Stat to Know: Fewest explosive plays allowed (46).

Houston Texans

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Will Anderson Jr. – 29.2% pass-rush win rate.
• Biggest Surprise: G Ed Ingram – 73.9 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: 30th in offensive success rate.

Indianapolis Colts

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Laiatu Latu – 90.2 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: QB Daniel Jones – 73.4 PFF passing grade.
• Stat to Know: Leads league in both offensive EPA per play and success rate.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Highest-Graded Player: LB Devin Lloyd – 91.5 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: T Anton Harrison – 73.2 PFF pass-blocking mark.
• Stat to Know: Pace the NFL in dropped pass rate (8.8%).

Kansas City Chiefs

• Highest-Graded Player: C Creed Humphrey – 89.4 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: CB Jaylen Watson – 74.9 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: Second-lowest punt frequency (26.2%) in the league.

Las Vegas Raiders

• Highest-Graded Player: TE Brock Bowers – 89.1 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: LB Jamal Adams – 72.3 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: 29th in offensive EPA per play.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Highest-Graded Player: QB Justin Herbert – 90.4 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: DL Teair Tart – 90.4 PFF run-defense grade.
• Stat to Know: Highest pressure on quarterback with 155 dropbacks.

Los Angeles Rams

• Highest-Graded Player: WR Puka Nacua – 93.3 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: EDGE Byron Young – 84.8 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Top five in both offensive and defensive EPA per play.

Miami Dolphins

• Highest-Graded Player: WR Jaylen Waddle – 85.0 PFF receiving grade.
• Biggest Surprise: TE Darren Waller – 82.6 receiving grade before injury.
• Stat to Know: Allowed opponents to score at the third-highest rate (48.9%).

Minnesota Vikings

• Highest-Graded Player: WR Justin Jefferson – consistently above 81.0 PFF receiving grade.
• Biggest Surprise: DL Jalen Redmond – 73.4 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Leads in blitz rate (47.8%).

New England Patriots

• Highest-Graded Player: QB Drake Maye – fifth-most-valuable player this season.
• Biggest Surprise: S Jaylinn Hawkins – 80.2 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: Leads in explosive passes (61).

New Orleans Saints

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Chase Young – 90.7 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Biggest Surprise: QB Spencer Rattler – 66.2 PFF passing grade.
• Stat to Know: Most missed tackles in the NFL (96).

New York Giants

• Highest-Graded Player: T Andrew Thomas – 82.6 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: CB Cor’Dale Flott – 79.6 PFF coverage grade.
• Stat to Know: 18th in total pressures generated (155).

New York Jets

• Highest-Graded Player: DL Quinnen Williams – 90.8 PFF run-defense grade.
• Biggest Surprise: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. – 75.0 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: 22nd in combined quarterback PFF passing grade (66.5).

Philadelphia Eagles

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Josh Uche – 83.1 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Biggest Surprise: G Brett Toth – 85.3 PFF run-blocking grade.
• Stat to Know: Fifth in fourth-down conversion rate (76.5%).

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Highest-Graded Player: EDGE Nick Herbig – 90.4 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: G Isaac Seumalo – 74.9 PFF pass-blocking grade.
• Stat to Know: Aaron Rodgers throws the highest proportion of quick passes (56.2%).

San Francisco 49ers

• Highest-Graded Player: LB Fred Warner – 93.2 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: EDGE Bryce Huff – 85.9 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: 10th in offensive success rate despite injuries.

Seattle Seahawks

• Highest-Graded Player: QB Sam Darnold – 93.5 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: S Ty Okada – 76.6 overall PFF grade.
• Stat to Know: Second-most pressures accumulated (204), with five players over 20.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Highest-Graded Player: CB Jamel Dean – 90.7 overall PFF grade.
• Biggest Surprise: CB Jacob Parrish – 81.4 PFF run-defense grade.
• Stat to Know: Only five offensive turnovers this season.

Tennessee Titans

• Highest-Graded Player: DL Jeffery Simmons – 91.1 PFF pass-rushing grade.
• Biggest Surprise: LB Cedric Gray – 91.4 PFF run-defense grade.
• Stat to Know: 27th or worse in both offensive and defensive EPA per play.

Washington Commanders

• Highest-Graded Player: QB Marcus Mariota – 83.8 PFF passing grade.
• Biggest Surprise: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt – 77.4 PFF rushing grade.
• Stat to Know: Highest rate of explosive passing plays allowed (18.1%).

As teams progress through the 2025 NFL season, these highlights demonstrate the exceptional performances and surprising developments across the league. Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds with more players stepping into the spotlight at El-Balad.