The 2025 offseason is well underway, with the NFL Scouting Combine coming hot on the heels after a thrilling 2024-25 season. Who were the best-remaining rookie defenders that made their way onto the All-Rookie Second-Team defense? Were there any surprise inclusions after a topsy-turvy season? How could these players’ careers play out in 2025 with more prominent roles?
The previous editions of the 2024 All-Rookie Honors can be found below:
AFC Dominates First-Team Offense
NFC Masters Second Team Offense
2024 All-Rookie Honors: NFC West Carries Second-Team Defense
Defensive Line
EDGE: Laiatu Latu / Indianapolis Colts
Latu was the first defender off the board in the 2024 draft. The Colts selected him to bolster their flagging pass rush further. He was effective in limited snaps in a rotation, and PFF rated him highly.
He earned an overall score of 71.5, the second-highest among rookie EDGE rushers and 31st-best in the league. While the statistics aren’t gaudy, he more than earned a spot on the all-rookie second-team defense. The future looks bright for the Senior Bowl standout in Indianapolis.
2024 Statistics: 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass defense and one forced fumble
IDL: Byron Murphy II / Seattle Seahawks
The other guy who terrorized opposing offensive lines in college next to all-rookie first-team defender T’Vondre Sweat? Murphy broke out in a big way during the offseason, and Seattle drafted him in the first round. The Seahawks have a talented defense, and Murphy is a key cog under Mike MacDonald.
He frees up teammates like Leonard Williams, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe to make plays. PFF rated him as the 60th-best IDL, with an overall score of 58.2. Murphy could be in for a more prominent role next season, as Jarren Reed and Jonathan Hankins are free agents.
2024 Statistics: 36 tackles, two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks
IDL: Jer’Zhan Newton / Washington Commanders
The former Illinois standout received first-round hype during the last draft cycle, but he settled into early Day 2. Washington was an excellent place to land as he could be brought along at his own pace behind two great players like Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Newton started 11 games in the regular season and notched almost 50 tackles in Dan Quinn’s scheme. While the pathway for a full-time starting gig is unclear, Washington’s ferocious front will make him more effective in the long run.
2024 Statistics: 48 tackles for loss, seven tackles for loss, one pass defense and one forced fumble
EDGE: Dondrea Tillman / Denver Broncos
Tillman isn’t a traditional rookie, but he didn’t play in the NFL until this past season. The Broncos signed him after a hugely successful UFL career with the dynastic Birmingham Stallions. He played collegiately at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Denver’s defensive front was terrific in generating pressure, and Tillman chipped in five sacks in 165 pass-rush snaps, according to PFF. The three-time USFL/UFL champion has a bright future with the Broncos if he can produce in a more prominent role. First-round selection Dallas Turner was another candidate for the all-rookie second-team defense, but Tillman’s contribution carried the day.
2024 Statistics: 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and five sacks
Linebacker
Omar Speights / Los Angeles Rams
Speights is yet another Rams rookie who thrived in 2024. After playing LSU for his final collegiate season, he joined the organization as an undrafted free agent. He started ten games, logging 78 tackles in 19 contests, including the playoffs.
The rising sophomore linebacker looks to be an essential building block as starter Troy Reeder is a free agent. Christian Rozenboom is also a free agent so Speights could play a significant role in the future for the Rams.
2024 Statistics: 78 tackles, three tackles for loss, two passes defended and one forced fumble
Cornerback
Renardo Green / San Francisco 49ers
The man who shut down nearly every talented receiver that he came across in college? Renardo Green. Florida State played some seriously talented receivers in 2023, and Green was tasked with covering the top weapon. He covered them with aplomb. He parlayed his successes into becoming a second-round steal for the 49ers, who are retooling their defense on the fly.
It helps that he had several veterans to guide him, but it was a youth movement in San Francisco. He’ll shoulder much of the burden in 2025 as Charvarius Green, Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin are free agents. Green was instantly the first name for the position on the all-rookie second-team defense.
2024 Statistics: 61 tackles, 13 passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble
Kamari Lassiter / Houston Texans
Lassiter joins his collegiate teammate Tykee Smith on the all-rookie second-team defense as a member of the AFC South champion Houston Texans. He jumped right in and started every game he was healthy for, with 16 starts. PFF ranked him as the 20th-best cornerback with an overall score of 74.7.
The former Bulldogs defensive back starred opposite lockdown corner Derek Stingley, Jr, and is expected to form an outstanding duo for many seasons. Lassiter posted four interceptions and 12 passes defended as the primary target for opposing quarterbacks. Houston’s depth will be tested as six members of its secondary are scheduled to be free agents and little cap room.
2024 Statistics: 63 tackles, five tackles for loss, 12 passes defended and four interceptions
Mike Sainristil / Washington Commanders
Sainristil had an impactful rookie debut for the surging Commanders, who made it to the NFC Championship. He made 19 starts throughout the regular season and playoffs and was effective in nearly all of them. The former second-round selection was in the running for the first team for most of 2024 but slipped to the second team due to better play by others.
This is not an indictment of his first season, where he led the Commanders’ secondary to great heights. There were a few rookie moments, but that’s to be expected. Washington’s cornerback is in transition, with three of the five on the final roster being free agents. The Michigan product is expected to be one of the primary starters as we advance into the back half of the decade.
2024 Statistics: 104 tackles, 18 passes defended, four interceptions and one forced fumble
Tykee Smith / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The third-round rookie proved immensely valuable to the Buccaneers as he often led the way for a wounded secondary. Smith played various roles in the secondary while at Georgia but saw his stock rise after a terrific Senior Bowl. A season after taking 2023 All-Rookie candidate Christian Iziem, Smith was a tremendous selection for the emerging Bucs’ secondary.
He played a significant role as the nickel back, posting 12 ball involvements. PFF rated him as the 26th-best cornerback with an overall score of 72.0. Other possible candidates for the all-rookie second-team defense included Jarrian Jones and Nate Wiggins.
2024 Statistics: 61 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven passes defended, three forced fumbles and two interceptions
Safety
Kamren Kinchens / Los Angeles Rams
Kinchens was part of the rookie revolution that led the Rams back to prominence. He didn’t start every game but made an impact throughout the season as one of the best young safeties. Interestingly, Kinchens remained a safety at the next level while college teammate James Williams converted to linebacker full-time.
While he isn’t a primetime athlete, he gets in position using his instincts. PFF graded the former Miami Hurricanes defender as the 26th-best safety, scoring 71.5. The Rams have a good thing going in the medium term with all these youngsters dominating the headlines, Kinchens is another key piece. He forms a fascinating safety duo with former All-Rookie athlete Kamren Curl.
2024 Statistics: 68 tackles, six passes defended, four interceptions (one touchdown) and one forced fumble
Malik Mustapha / San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ hit rate at the safety position continued in the 2024 draft as they selected Mustapha in the fourth round. He participated in the Senior Bowl, where he was mostly successful. The former Wake Forest safety started 12 games in the place of injured young star Talanoa Hufanga.
Interestingly, Hufanga is a free agent, so the 49ers have a readymade replacement should they fail to come to terms. Mustapha oftentimes looked like the best safety on the field for the franchise as a rookie. PFF graded him as the 53rd-best safety with an overall grade of 63.9.
2024 Statistics: 72 tackles, two tackles for loss, five passes defended and one interception
Main Photo Courtesy of Peter Casey – Imagn Images
