Three NFL Rookies who could make the biggest impact in 2025

The 2025 NFL season is weeks away and both fans and NFL bettors are eager to see which new faces will rise to the occasion. With so many offseason moves and roster shakeups, several rookies are poised to become instant impact players and could compete in the Rookie of the Year races.

These rookies could also play a big role in the NFL Playoff race, with each team's postseason Division, Conference and Super Bowl outlook updating in the Dimers NFL Futures predictions all season long.

With the kickoff to the new season and the quest for Super Bowl LX upon us, here are three first-year standouts who could play major roles in shaping the 2025 NFL season.

Abdul Carter, Edge Rusher – New York Giants

The Giants had a pretty rough season last year which many fans would like to forget.

However, the bright spot to their three-win campaign was their talented defensive line led by Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, totaling 45 sacks, the eighth-best mark in the NFL. Now, with the addition of Penn State superstar Abdul Carter, the Giants will be a tough front to stop this season.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has the ability to deploy the three-headed monster that is Burns, Thibodeaux, and Carter, the best edge rusher of the 2025 NFL Draft class, in a variety of ways with little threat of double teams and will no doubt wreak havoc on any offensive line and quarterback they face.

The Dimers model gives the Giants win projection at 5.54 wins this season following 10,000 season simulations. The NFC East is always a tough test, especially with the Super Bowl champion Eagles looking for a repeat campaign. However, even if the Giants offensive struggles continue into this year, their defense has the ability to keep them in games and make it tough to score against them. I think this Giants defense and an outstanding rookie campaign by Abdul Carter is something to look out for this NFL season.

Notable Bets: Giants over 5.5 wins (-130 FanDuel), Abdul Carter DROTY (+185 FanDuel)

RELATED: Bet These NFL Player Incentives Before Week 1

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Cam Ward, Quarterback – Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward was drafted first overall in a draft class that looked to be stacked with talent all around.

Despite his dominant year at the University of Miami and his first overall selection, there has been little hype and media talk about the young quarterback as the regular season approaches, which is very confusing to me.

Ward is a great quarterback, and his path to get to the NFL was one that proves dedication, hard work, and a desire to win, all traits you want in a franchise quarterback.

Ward had a spectacular college career, coming off his best season in 2024 when he led Miami to the most points in the nation (43.9 PPG) without much clear-cut NFL talent at receiver. And as recent history shows, young superstar quarterbacks have the ability to completely transform franchises that are in tough spots.

For example, look at the rookie season Jayden Daniels had for a Commanders team that had little expectation heading into last season as well as what C.J. Stroud has done for the Texans in his young career.

The Titans lack a great receiver, but they have three very capable veterans in returning No. 1 Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett (after a decade with the Seahawks), and Van Jefferson. Ward definitely has the potential to elevate that group the way Stroud and Daniels did with their receivers, and could lead the Titans to an unexpectedly good season, especially in a weaker division in the AFC South.

Currently, they're projected for fourth in the division at 6.1%, but their projection of 6.1 season wins from the Dimers model suggests an improvement over their 3-win season last year and support the over on their season total.

Notable Bets: Cam Ward OROTY (+300 FanDuel), Titans over 5.5 wins (-140 FanDuel)

Omarion Hampton, Running Back – Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers drafted UNC RB Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft after letting go of their two-man backfield committee from last year, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards.

The former North Carolina Tarheel had an incredible college career and is extremely explosive and versatile, a great fit for a Jim Harbaugh-run team, as the Chargers were ranked 11th in rushing attempts and 17th in yards last season after being in the bottom eight of both categories before Harbaugh took over.

Hampton is slated to be the No.2 back on the depth chart to Najee Harris to start the season, but I think that will change as the season progresses. Harris has a career yards-per-carry of 3.9 and is recovering from an injury, so Hampton should see plenty of opportunities to earn more touches as the season progresses.

The Dimers model gives the Chargers a 59% chance to make the playoffs this season, along with a 25.6% probability to win the AFC West, a solid value at +350 odds on DraftKings.

This is a very different looking Chargers offense due to the many offseason moves, and I think Hampton should have a breakout campaign to start off his promising career. Be sure to check the Dimers' NFL Player Props all season long where you're sure to find some Hampton Anytime TD Props this year.

Notable Bet: Over 850.5 rushing yards (DraftKings)

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