Two former Sooners among PFF's highest-graded rookies this season
Two former Oklahoma Sooners standouts are off to fast rookie starts in the NFL.
The Oklahoma Sooners fielded seven players in the 2026 NFL Draft, with multiple graduates making a significant impact in their first seven weeks of their NFL careers. Pro Football Focus (PFF) and writer Gordon McGuinness released a list of the top 15 highest-graded rookies in the league so far this season, including two former Sooners.
Former linebacker Kendal Daniels, now playing for the Atlanta Falcons, secured the No. 5 spot, a remarkable achievement considering he suffered an injury last week but returned to action. Daniels had a stellar performance in the Falcons' win against the San Francisco 49ers, racking up 10 solo tackles, three of which led to defensive stops, and earning his first career interception.
With a PFF grade of 90.5, Daniels shone as a starter on the OU defense, earning an overall rookie grade of 77.7. Also on the list is former defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who was selected at No. 7. Spears-Jennings, who played for the Sooners for four years, demonstrated consistent excellence, earning a 76.5 PFF grade in the Steelers' win against the Saints in Paris.
He has not earned a PFF grade below 60.0 in any of his 15 games as a rookie and has missed only one tackle attempt.
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