Fantasy Football NFL Rookie Report Card: Final Grades for Every Fifth-Round Pick of the NFL Draft

March 8, 2026

Quincy provides his fantasy football rookie report card draft grades for every fifth-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Which teams landed the next stars?

The fifth round of the NFL Draft is where gems start to come few and far between. Most of the stars have been selected at this point, and some fifth-round selections may not even make their roster in Year 1, let alone in Year 2 or 3.

Still, we have seen some great fifth-round picks around the league. George Kittle, Tyreek Hill, and Puka Nacua were all selected in the fifth round. All three have been All-Pros in the league and have at one point been considered the best at their position. Now, that is some great scouting work from these franchises.

A few 2025 fifth-round selections have flashed solid potential, but none have fully established themselves in the NFL yet. As such, we need to grade on a curve a bit once we get to this point in the draft. With the NFL Combine wrapped up, now is the time to revisit the 2025 NFL Draft and grade some of the selections. Let’s dive in.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Pick 176 - Tyler Baron, DE, New York Jets

The fifth round concluded with the Jets selecting Tyler Baron. Baron played in just six games and finished the season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Final Grade: D

Pick 175 - Robbie Ouzts, FB, Seattle Seahawks

Grading a fullback is tough, given their general lack of impact on NFL games, but Ouzts was a solid special teams player for the Seahawks in 2025.

Final Grade: C+

Pick 174 - Denzel Burke, CB, Arizona Cardinals

Denzel Burke enjoyed a nice rookie season with Arizona. He recorded 49 tackles and three interceptions. This looks like a real steal for a franchise that seems to be perpetually rebuilding.

Final Grade: A-

Pick 173 - Jackson Hawes, TE, Buffalo Bills

Jackson Hawes formed a three-headed tight end monster with Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid in 2025. He recorded 187 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He looks like he could develop into a nice player in the future.

Final Grade: C

Pick 172 - Chris Paul Jr., LB, Los Angeles Rams

Chris Paul Jr. did not make the Rams roster and wound up being signed by the Seahawks. He lived on Seattle’s practice squad for the entirety of the season.

Final Grade: F

Pick 171 - Miles Frazier, G, Detroit Lions

Miles Frazier did not play enough snaps to merit a PFF grade this season. However, as Lions offensive linemen continue to retire, Frazier may find himself with an opportunity on this team.

Final Grade: D

Pick 170 - Jordan Hancock, CB, Buffalo Bills

Jordan Hancock played solid ball in the Bills secondary this past season. He recorded 22 tackles. The Bills will need Hancock to develop as they try to rebuild their defense in a new regime.

Final Grade: C

Pick 169 - Zah Frazier, CB, Chicago Bears

Zah Frazier missed his rookie year with a “personal reason.” Therefore, a grade is not accessible.

Final Grade: N/A

Pick 168 - Drew Kendall, C, Philadelphia Eagles

Drew Kendall is going to have trouble cracking an Eagles offensive line rotation that is one of the best in the league. For now, Kendall will have to develop on the bench.

Final Grade: D

Pick 167 - Jackson Slater, G, Tennessee Titans

Jackson Slater played sparingly for the Titans in 2025. He did not even log enough snaps to receive a PFF grade.

Final Grade: D

Pick 166 - Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks

People may have forgotten about Tory Horton because he missed the second half of the season due to injury. However, this kid was cooking before that. Horton caught five touchdowns on just 15 receptions this past season. He even added one as a returner.

Final Grade: A-

TORY HORTON GOES 95 YARDS TO THE CRIB!

NOvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nwjvDYnnD2

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

Pick 165 - Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

Oronde Gadsden II looks like he has the potential to be the next great Chargers tight end. He popped with 664 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Not to mention, he looks like a fantastic athlete who will be a coverage nightmare.

Final Grade: A-

After 164 yards and a TD last week, rookie Oronde Gadsden is back in the end zone for the @Chargers!

MINvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RAZCq5UpeZ

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2025

Pick 164 - Yahya Black, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

Yahya Black played solid ball on the Steelers defensive line in 2025. He recorded 28 total tackles and forced two fumbles, recovering one. That is exactly the production you want out of a fifth-round pick.

Final Grade: B

Pick 163 - Mitchell Evans, TE, Carolina Panthers

Tight ends rarely make a mark in Year 1, but Mitchell Evans flashed a few nice plays throughout the season. The Panthers' tight end depth chart is wide open, and Evans could take this role all to himself sooner rather than later.

Final Grade: C+

Pick 162 - Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa, LB, New York Jets

Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa played meaningful snaps for the Jets in 2025. He recorded 45 total tackles and three stuffs. He has a chance to develop in head coach Aaron Glenn’s system.

Final Grade: B-

Pick 161 - Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Smael Mondon Jr. made little impact on the Eagles defense in 2025. He managed to play in every game, but he only recorded 11 tackles. Perhaps he can carve out a role in 2026.

Final Grade: C-

Pick 160 - Marques Sigle, S, San Francisco 49ers

Marques Sigle looks like a potential steal after holding down the 49ers’ safety position for much of the year. He recorded 52 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Final Grade: B

Pick 159 - Collin Oliver, LB, Green Bay Packers

Collin Oliver only played in one game in 2025 after entering the season injured. We never got a good look at what Oliver is capable of.

Final Grade: D

Pick 158 - Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

KeAndre Lambert-Smith was an exciting prospect in 2025. Unfortunately, Lambert-Smith’s first season ended with just five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. He landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in Week 18 as well.

Final Grade: D

Pick 157 - Elijah Roberts, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As a depth piece, Elijah Roberts did not see the field very much in 2025. However, he recorded a pair of sacks to go along with 14 tackles on the season.

Final Grade: C

Pick 156 - Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Jeffrey Bassa did not make much of a mark on the Chiefs defense this past season. However, do not count Bassa out, as this team has a great track record of drafting and developing defensive talent.

Final Grade: D+

Pick 155 - Dante Trader Jr., S, Miami Dolphins

One of multiple young Dolphins secondary players thrust into the limelight early, Dante Trader Jr. enjoyed a solid season. He recorded 55 total tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. Not bad for a dart throw in the fifth round.

Final Grade: B

Pick 154 - Marcus Mbow, G, New York Giants

Marcus Mbow was a terribly graded pass blocker in 2025, but his run blocking was middle of the pack. Hopefully, he can improve for quarterback Jaxson Dart in 2026.

Final Grade: C-

Pick 153 - Jalen Rivers, G, Cincinnati Bengals

By PFF grade, Jalen Rivers was one of the worst guards in the league this past season. That makes a lot of sense given the Bengals’ offensive line issues.

Final Grade: F

Pick 152 - Shemar James, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Shemar James made a real impact on a Cowboys defense in desperate need of impact players. He recorded 91 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. He should only continue to develop into a well-rounded player for this defense.

Final Grade: A-

Pick 151 - DJ Giddens, RB, Indianapolis Colts

DJ Giddens backed up Jonathan Taylor throughout the season. He flashed solid ability, but it will be difficult for Giddens to earn much meaningful playing time in this backfield.

Final Grade: D+

Pick 150 - Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Miami Dolphins

Jason Marshall Jr. was thrust into a relatively large role with the Dolphins losing several players to trades and injuries this past season. He held down the fort as best he could. It was a great opportunity for the youngster.

Final Grade: B

Pick 149 - Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Jaydon Blue was all the rage in the preseason with a thin Cowboys running back room. However, Blue was a healthy scratch for several games and was little more than a backup when he was active.

Final Grade: D+

Pick 148 - Ty Hamilton, DT, Los Angeles Rams

Ty Hamilton enjoyed some success on a talented Rams defensive front in 2025. He recorded 11 total tackles. Perhaps he can crack the rotation more consistently in 2026.

Final Grade: C-

Pick 147 - Jordan James, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Another late-round 49ers running back selection, Jordan James, was primarily a special teams player in 2025.

Final Grade: D

Pick 146 - Bradyn Swinson, DE, New England Patriots

After being released following the preseason, Bradyn Swinson managed to make the active roster in the second half of the season. His impact was minimal, and he will have to scratch and claw for a spot on this team next season.

Final Grade: D-

Pick 145 - Mac McWilliams, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

Mac McWilliams did not immediately become one of the many great Eagles draft picks. However, you never know with the way this team drafts and develops.

Final Grade: D+

Pick 144. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders began the year buried on the depth chart, but ultimately emerged as the Browns’ starting quarterback. Sanders was inconsistent in his starts, but he flashed great traits at times. He could become the Browns’ quarterback of the future.

Final Grade: C

.@ShedeurSanders showed out tonight ⌚️

CLEvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XLSpqql9xK

— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2025

Pick 143 - Jordan Phillips, DT, Miami Dolphins

Jordan Phillips played a meaningful role on a Dolphins defense devoid of playmakers in 2025. He recorded 34 total tackles and played in all 17 games.

Final Grade: B

Pick 142 - Rylie Mills, DT, Seattle Seahawks

Rylie Mills can call himself a Super Bowl champion despite having hardly played in 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. However, Mills’ biggest moment came in the biggest game when he sacked New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. As a former All-American, this kid has real potential.

Final Grade: C

Pick 141 - Carson Vinson, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Carson Vinson was definitely a developmental piece for the Ravens. He played in just seven games all season.

Final Grade: D+

Pick 140 - Cam Jackson, DT, Carolina Panthers

Cam Jackson hardly played in 2025. He recorded just nine total tackles and no other stats. Even for a fifth-round selection, his impact was lacking.

Final Grade: D

Pick 139 - Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DE, Minnesota Vikings

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins earned limited time on defense in 2025. However, he managed to lodge a sack and a couple of tackles for loss. He even earned one start this season.

Final Grade: C+

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