Scout's take: 15 impressive NFL rookies

Bush didn’t play in Week 2 of the preseason, but he lit it up in his debut. The middle of the defense was a huge problem for this team last year, so Bush is expected to play every down for Pittsburgh, and his explosive movement stands out immediately. Bush plays with great balance and leverage. He is quick to diagnose and gets to his target quickly. Bush also is developing into an excellent rangy pass defender. The Steelers uncharacteristically traded up to the 10th pick to grab Bush, so you know they loved him. They love him even more now after watching him in live action.

This is an interesting guy for sure, and Kyle Shanahan must be super excited to use this young chess piece. As a running back at the University of Tennessee, Hurd greatly cut into the playing time of Alvin Kamara, now a standout with the Saints. But then Hurd reinvented himself as a king-sized wide receiver. It shouldn’t be surprising that Hurd is great after the catch, but he is more refined as a route runner and with his ball skills than someone with his limited receiver experience should be. Hurd is a talented player who can do a lot for Shanahan.

Many of us were critical when New York selected Jones sixth overall. That being said, he is passing test after test since joining the Giants. In fact, he appears to be throwing better at the NFL level than he did in college. Considered a smart player and a quick learner, Jones has obvious athletic ability. Eli Manning should act as a perfect mentor for the rookie, and it won’t be long before he provides much more playmaking ability than his predecessor. It is early, but so far, so good for Jones.

Dolphin Laremy Tunsil is one of the league’s best left tackles, but Miami's offensive line could be one of the worst in the NFL. Deiter is another bright spot though. He played well in the run and pass game this past week and gives Miami hope that it might have the second piece of this five-piece puzzle.

Finley isn’t flashy. He is solid. He is reliable. He is accurate. Even as a rookie, Finley shows that he knows how to read a defense and where to go with the football. He has consistently marched his new team down the field in two games. Andy Dalton might not be back with the Bengals in 2020. Could Finley get a shot to start before long? He was the second choice of the fourth round and could develop much more value than that.

Hill has juice, and his great combine numbers translate to the field in the NFL, which isn’t the case for all running backs who test well. Pass protection was a huge problem for Hill in college, and he will have to work on that without question. But he might already be the most electric ball-carrier on this roster as well as the Ravens' most dangerous receiving running back. Hill might push Mark Ingram in Baltimore for playing time in a more Alvin Kamara-like fashion than many might expect.

Haskins has been up and down, and, frankly, his supporting cast is pretty terrible. This is doubly true if tackle Trent Williams never returns. Washington’s wide receiver corps is among the worst in the NFL, but you see tools and traits already with Haskins that could help change that. He is obviously a big, strong pocket passer who won’t be easy to get on the ground, and he has thrown on the move better than expected. And man, can Haskins sling it. He is an effortless power passer. There is an awful lot to work with here, but some help around Haskins would be nice.

Montgomery was the story of the first week of preseason. Even if you just saw Montgomery’s highlights from that game, you had to be impressed. This guy has uncanny contact balance and refuses to go down. He isn’t super fast, but he dishes out punishment and can set the tone for an entire offense. Montgomery could end up in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation.

All eyes have been on the first-overall pick in the 2019 draft and for good reason. This is one of the most interesting quarterback prospects we have seen enter the league in a long time and, wow, does Murray demand attention. His most recent performance didn’t go so well, but his offensive line was totally overwhelmed. That isn’t to make excuses for Murray. This is a guy who was a great passer at the college level and showed much of that in his first game. But his quick-twitch athletic ability, along with everything else Murray does, really stands out. He can be jaw-dropping

Oliver isn’t the biggest, but he fires off the ball like few in the league. He gets under his blocker with regularity and is a much stronger player than his size (6-1, 285) would indicate. He is relentless in all phases of the position and moves like a linebacker in space and in pursuit. Few tend to discuss it, but the Bills had one of the league’s best defenses in 2018. It could be noticeably better with an interior presence like Oliver, even if he plays only on passing downs as a rookie.

Everyone is aware of Ezekiel Elliott’s holdout, and while Pollard has been impressive and could really help the Cowboys offense in his rookie season, please don’t think that he is a substitute for Elliott. Pollard is a real weapon though. We might see Pollard on the field at the same time as Elliott, if he rejoins the team. Pollard should be a great return man and is an extremely accomplished receiver, especially as a route runner. The Cowboys need more big-play ability, and if used properly Pollard could provide it.

Sanders, who had a huge fumbling problem at Penn State, could replace teammate Jordan Howard because of his strong overall game. It is easy to see why he was a heavily recruited running back. Physically he pretty much has his all. While at Penn State though, he did learn a bad habit from Saquon Barkley: Too often he tries to hit the home run instead of taking what is there. While Sanders is gifted, he must realize that he isn’t Barkley. That being said, Sanders’ ceiling is clearly higher than Montgomery’s.

Stidham has played well with the Patriots, and he couldn’t have asked for a better landing spot. Stidham really throws the ball well but floundered some in Auburn’s questionable offensive scheme. Josh McDaniels will get much more from this talented signal-caller. Stidham has toughness and arm strength. Oh, and learning a thing or two from Tom Brady should help out the youngster too.

The final pick in the sixth round, Thompson  (5-8, 201) very well could be the Chiefs' most productive running back in 2019. Yes, you read that right. Andy Reid will see a lot of Brian Westbrook in his new backfield toy. Thompson played very little against the Steelers in the preseason game. Why? Because Reid already knows what he has in Thompson, who even in limited action showed that he plays at a different gear than Damien Williams or Carlos Hyde. Thompson is much more powerful with his low-to-the-ground style than his size measurables would indicate, and he might already be Kansas City’s best receiving back. If you haven’t had your fantasy football draft yet, make sure you grab Thompson. His stock is about to skyrocket.

Winovich is versatile, tough, aggressive and quite athletic. Think that might endear him to Bill Belichick? In some ways, what Winovich brings to the table is the definition of what the Patriots want in a defensive player. You don’t have to squint too hard to see Winovich playing the Rob Ninkovich role for Belichick immediately and for many years to come. He also reportedly really stood out in New England’s joint practices with the Lions.