Eight weeks into the NFL season, the rookie class of 2026 is starting to reveal its true colors, and not everyone’s sparkling like we thought they would. Take Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders’ rookie quarterback. He is still rocking an “INCOMPLETE” grade at midseason, a wild assessment for a first-round signal-caller, especially when veteran Kirk Cousins is still holding the QB1 spot for now. Mendoza only got on the field in Week 5 for some mop-up duty, going 6 of 8 for 48 yards against the Patriots, but you gotta wonder if he will get a real shot as those losses keep piling up for Vegas.
The Early Hits and the Head Scratchers
Contrast Mendoza with the other side of the coin: David Bailey, the Jets’ EDGE rusher, is straight-up exploding, earning a solid B grade. This guy had an uneven start, but he absolutely went off with a three-sack performance against Cleveland! From his Texas Tech days, I always loved his explosive first step, that speed-to-power, his inside spin, and that relentless motor he’s got. Now we are seeing all of it on the NFL field. What’s even crazier is how much he has leveled up against the run game. Jets coaches are raving about his discipline and how he is handling responsibilities way beyond just rushing the passer. Bailey is becoming the complete defender New York dreamed of when they drafted him second overall.
Injury Woes and Lingering Questions
But it isn’t all sunshine and sacks. Down in Arizona, Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is struggling to find his stride, holding a C+ grade. He just hasn’t looked like the explosive, home-run threat we all watched tear it up at Notre Dame. The reason is simple and brutal: he’s been battling an ankle injury since the preseason, which cost him two full games. At Notre Dame, his ability to accelerate through the smallest crease and turn ordinary runs into huge plays was legendary, but Love himself has admitted he can’t cut or explode like he used to, not yet anyway. Honestly, this grade feels pretty meaningless until we see a healthy Jeremiyah Love on the field. The midseason grades also put a spotlight on guys like Rueben Bain Jr. still fighting injuries, and even David Bailey, who was “finding his footing” early on. Meanwhile, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Dillon Thieneman were already making noise as early standouts, with Thieneman looking like one of the league’s most promising young safeties. These first eight weeks definitely changed some of those early evaluations, showing us what traits translate and which college concerns have followed these players to the big leagues.
As we look ahead to the back half of the season, the pressure is on for these rookies. Will Fernando Mendoza finally get his shot under center and show the league what he can do, or will he keep riding the pine? Can Jeremiyah Love heal up and unleash that Notre Dame explosiveness we know he has? And for David Bailey, can he keep up this insane momentum and become the dominant force the Jets envisioned? The answers will dictate not just their individual futures, but how we remember the 2026 class. Keep watching, because these guys are only just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply