As I put finishing grades on prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, I find myself wishing it were as strong of a class as the 2024 version.

Based on the rookie film, last year’s draft class certainly hasn’t disappointed in the NFL. Here is a look at The Athletic’s All-Rookie team:

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 2 overall)

Because of the season Bo Nix had, this was a much closer race than anyone expected. From start to finish this season, though, Daniels was the best rookie quarterback.

He engineered a dramatic franchise turnaround, leading a Commanders team that won just four games a year ago to a 12-5 finish. Daniels passed for 3,568 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns, finishing No. 1 among rookies in completion percentage (69 percent), yards per attempt (7.4) and passing first downs (204).

.@JayD__5 made history while clinching a playoff berth for the Washington @Commanders on Sunday!

Daniels is the ONLY rookie in @NFL history to have 3+ passing TDs and 125+ rushing yards in a single game. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TdLlSTkHrG

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— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 31, 2024

Daniels is a high-completion passer, but it’s what he brings with his legs that separates him. He set a rookie QB rushing record (891 yards) and finished 10th in the NFL with 28 carries of 10-plus yards. He also scrambled an NFL-high 75 times, so it will be interesting to see how that number fluctuates over the next few seasons.

A common thread between Daniels and Nix? Both were five-year starters in college, and that experience certainly played a part in their successes.

Second team: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Round 1, No. 12)

In most years, Nix runs away with Offensive Rookie of the Year. His finished the regular season with 3,775 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 430 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. And, like Daniels, Nix played a critical part in leading his team to double-digit wins and the playoffs.

The two things I liked best about Nix as a prospect: He understood where to go with the football, and his scrambling gave defenders fits. The main concerns, however, were how much he relied on the quick game in college and how he struggled when his eyes sped up on him. All credit to Nix and Sean Payton for the QB’s development. He’s been proving a lot of people wrong, including me.

Honorable mentions: Caleb Williams (Bears), Drake Maye (Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons), Spencer Rattler (Saints), Joe Milton III (Patriots)

Running back

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 4, No. 125)

Just four running backs rushed for 1,100-plus yards while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry this season: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and … Irving. He played only 45.2 percent of Tampa’s offensive snaps and had single-digit carries in eight of 17 games, but Irving proved to be a valuable part of the Bucs’ run to an NFC South title — Tampa finished 6-1 in its final seven games and Irving averaged 119.1 total yards per game during that stretch.

The sixth back drafted in April, Irving finished No. 1 among all first-year running backs in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (eight) and receiving (47 catches for 392 yards). Some soured on him during the draft process due to his average testing (4.55-second 40-yard dash and 29.5-inch vertical, at only 192 pounds), but his instinctive run qualities and pass-catching skills made it easy to appreciate Irving’s skill set.

Bucky Irving scores!

NFC South in their sights.

📺: #NOvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/nBRgpPWSxS

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025

Second team: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants (Round 5, No. 166)

In basketball terms, Tracy would be that high-energy sixth man who can swing games when he catches fire. The Purdue product was a threat to rip off an explosive play any time he touched the ball — he finished with six carries of 20-plus yards (one more than Bijan Robinson). Tracy (839 yards) was the only rookie back other than Irving to top 500 yards rushing.

Honorable mentions: Ray Davis (Bills), Isaac Guerendo (49ers), Braelon Allen (Jets), Trey Benson (Cardinals), Audric Estime (Broncos)

Wide receiver

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, No. 23); Malik Nabers, New York Giants (Round 1, No. 6)

LSU teammates a year ago, Thomas and Nabers took the NFL by storm — despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play.

Thomas finished with a rookie-best 1,282 receiving yards, third most in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. He had the fastest “flying 20” at the combine, so it was no surprise that he proved to be a big-play weapons almost immediately, producing a league-best five catches of 50-plus yards. He felt like a steal on draft night, and that is even more true now.

Nabers, meanwhile, finished third among all NFL receivers with 109 catches (behind only Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown), even though he missed two games. His 1,204 receiving yards ranked seventh in the league, and he was one of the best at making defenders miss in space and moving the chains. Nabers is (already) knocking on the door of being considered a top-five NFL receiver.

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Second team: Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (Round 1, No. 4); Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, No. 28)

Harrison’s production pales in comparison to expectations, but he still had a very respectable rookie campaign. He finished fourth among first-year receivers with 822 receiving yards, and his seven touchdowns tied with Nabers and Ladd McConkey for second most among rookies. On 108 targets, Harrison was tagged with just one drop.

Worthy wasn’t considered a first-rounder by most teams, due to his lack of size and the undisciplined areas of his game. Although those concerns popped up in almost every game Worthy played, the Chiefs leaned into his explosive talent to maximize his impact. Worthy finished with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, three rushing).

Honorable mentions: Rome Odunze (Bears), Keon Coleman (Bills), Jalen McMillan (Buccaneers), Xavier Legette (Panthers), Troy Franklin (Broncos)

Slot receiver

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 34)

In an exceptional wide receiver draft, the Chargers addressed their offensive line in the first round and trusted the depth of the class. And the strategy worked — Los Angeles traded up a few spots to secure McConkey, whom many around the league believed would be a first-rounder.

McConkey finished with the ninth-most receiving yards (1,149) among all wide receivers and showed off his shiftiness after the catch (14 forced missed tackles). Despite two fumbles, he was one of the most reliable rookies (74.8 percent reception rate when targeted). Most importantly, McConkey stayed healthy, missing just one game.

LADD. Chargers take a 17-0 lead.

📺: #LACvsNE on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/7dO9Ch30WH

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— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2024

Second team: Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (Round 7, No. 235)

I don’t think many predicted Vele to have the same number of receiving touchdowns as Deebo Samuel, Puka Nacua or George Pickens. But he found a home in Denver and took advantage of his playing time. With 70 percent of his snaps coming in the slot, Vele finished with 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns.

Honorable mentions: Jalen Coker (Panthers), Ricky Pearsall (49ers), Malik Washington (Dolphins)

Tight end

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, No. 13)

The easiest decision on this All-Rookie team, Bowers had arguably the best debut season for a tight end in NFL history.

Despite the Raiders’ below-average quarterback play, Bowers led all NFL tight ends in catches (112), receiving yards (1,194) and first-down grabs (58) and finished second in catches of 20-plus yards (15). He broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and his drops were rare (three on 139 targets). Bowers’ touchdown total (five) doesn’t match the rest of his production, but that is more a reflection of the team than the player.

TE Brock Bowers (@brockbowers17) has now passed Puka Nacua (105 in 2023) for the most receptions in a single season in #NFL history by a rookie.#RaiderNation | @Raiders pic.twitter.com/OUSaxE69Mi

— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) December 29, 2024

Second Team: AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 121)

There was a massive gap between Bowers and the next-best rookie tight end. Barner gets the nod because he was reliable catching the football and solid as a blocker. He finished with 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns, joining Bowers as the only rookie tight ends with multiple TDs.

Honorable mentions: Ja’Tavion Sanders (Panthers), Theo Johnson (Giants), Erick All (Bengals), Cade Stover (Texans)

Offensive tackle

Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)

The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.

He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.

While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.

Second Team: Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, No. 14); Roger Rosengarten, Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, No. 62)

Unsurprisingly, Fuaga was the only rookie tackle close to Alt as a run blocker. And his improvements in pass pro at left tackle over the final month were encouraging (see his tapes vs. the Commanders and Buccaneers). Similarly, Rosengarten was outstanding as a pass blocker at right tackle over the final two months (10 pressures and one sack allowed in his final eight starts).

Honorable mentions: Olu Fashanu (Jets), Amarius Mims (Bengals), Brandon Coleman (Commanders), DJ Glaze (Raiders), Tyler Guyton (Cowboys), Matt Goncalves (Colts)

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Guard

Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, No. 86); Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 2, No. 44)

There were 25 offensive linemen drafted before Puni, but he would be one of the first offensive linemen off the board if a redraft happened today. Not only did Puni play at a high level for a rookie, especially in the run game, he was reliable, starting all 17 games and leading his team in snaps played.

Powers-Johnson got a late start this season due to injury and went through his share of hiccups early. But he improved as the season progressed and his confidence increased, which allowed him to lean on his movement skills and physicality. His versatility was a strong selling point, and he showed that with eight starts at guard and six at center.

Second Team: Mason McCormick, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 4, No. 119); Layden Robinson, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 103)

McCormick had a few “welcome to the league” moments (see his tape vs. the Ravens), but there were more positive moments in his debut season, as he started the final 14 games. Robinson wasn’t nearly as consistent, but the positive flashes — especially after he moved to left guard — were encouraging.

Honorable mentions: Dalton Tucker (Colts), Isaiah Adams (Cardinals), Christian Mahogany (Lions), Jordan Morgan (Packers)

Center

Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 51)

As good as Alt and Puni have been, there is a strong case to be made that Frazier was the top first-year offensive linemen. Although his length and athleticism are more solid than exceptional, he already looks like a veteran with his strength at contact and ability to outmaneuver defenders. I think people get tired of hearing about wrestling backgrounds for offensive linemen, but with Frazier, you can clearly see how his skills on the mat translate to the NFL.

Second Team: Graham Barton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1, No. 26)

In most years, Barton would have been a shoo-in for the top rookie center. He seemed to have at least one penalty a game, an area of his game which needs to improve (flags were an issue for him in college, too). But Tampa has to be thrilled with his development.

Honorable mentions: Tanor Bortolini (Colts), Cooper Beebe (Cowboys), Beaux Limmer (Rams)

Edge rusher

Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, No. 19); Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins (Round 1, No. 21)

Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and Jonathan Greenard are the only players who created more pressures this season than Verse (77). To put that number in perspective, only Nick Bosa had more pressures as a rookie over the last dozen years. When Von Miller won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, he averaged 4.4 pressures per game; Verse averaged 4.5 this season.

Bro is DIFFERENT. 😮‍💨

📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/VUQdP9PSA0

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 3, 2024

Robinson’s impact was more gradual. After tallying 14 pressures over the first eight games, he accounted for 42 over the second half of the season to finish with 56 — three more than T.J. Watt.

Second Team: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts (Round 1, No. 15); Jonah Elliss, Denver Broncos (Round 3, No. 76)

As the first defensive player drafted, Latu had a bit of a disappointing season with just four sacks. But he led all rookies with three forced fumbles and showed enough promise off the bench that the Colts can be excited about a sophomore jump. Elliss, who finished third among rookies with five sacks, proved to be a quality subpackage rusher.

Honorable mentions: Chris Braswell (Buccaneers), Dallas Turner (Vikings), Marshawn Kneeland (Cowboys), Austin Booker (Bears), Javon Solomon (Bills), Jalyx Hunt (Eagles)

Defensive tackle

Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)

Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.

Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.

Second Team: Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks (Round 1, No. 16); Jer’Zhan Newton, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 36)

Injuries robbed us of seeing Murphy at full-go, but the flashes were enough to explain why he was so coveted in the draft. The same could be said about Newton, who started slow but has been a welcome part of the Commanders’ defensive line rotation.

Honorable mentions: Elijah Chatman (Giants), Mike Hall Jr. (Browns), Kris Jenkins (Bengals), Evan Anderson (49ers), Leonard Taylor III (Jets), Jonah Laulu (Raiders), Maason Smith (Jaguars), DeWayne Carter (Bills)

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Linebacker

First team: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 45); Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 3, No. 98)

Part of Cooper’s appeal as a prospect was his do-everything skill set, which was on full display this season. Despite missing a few games, he led all rookies with 13.0 tackles for loss (No. 2 among all NFL off-ball linebackers). After he returned from injury, Cooper played like one of the best defenders — not just rookie defenders — in the league.

Edgerrin Cooper has a sack tonight. Now he has an interception 🙌

📺: #GBvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pr0cXreRKn

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2024

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Wilson had a terrific year, too, defending the run, dropping in coverage and blitzing the pocket. Most importantly, he stayed healthy for all 17 regular-season games and was one of the Steelers’ best coverage players on kicks and punts (300 special-teams snaps).

Second Team: Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 118); Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams (undrafted)

An off-and-on starter, Knight led all rookie linebackers in tackles (88) — not too surprising, considering he had 140 tackles last season at UTEP. He plays like a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly lead to production. Speights ranked top 20 in the NFL with 60 tackles over the final two months of the season. He also has the lowest missed-tackle rate (5.7 percent) among rookie linebackers.

Honorable mentions: Trevin Wallace (Panthers), Marist Liufau (Cowboys), Jaylon Carlies (Colts), Junior Colson (Chargers), Winston Reid (Browns), Darius Muasau (Giants)

Cornerback

Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 22); Mike Sainristil, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 50)

Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin, Nabers — Mitchell faced some of the NFL’s best wide receivers and more than held his own. Despite not registering an interception (he had his chances), his snap-to-snap consistency made him the league’s most impressive first-year cornerback. Over the final 12 games, Mitchell allowed more than 35 receiving yards in a game just once. He also finished with 12 passes defended.

The second outside corner spot was much more competitive, but Sainristil gets the edge. He led all rookies with 14 passes defended and committed just two penalties, despite leading all first-year players in defensive snaps played (978). His competitiveness in coverage and against the run jumped off the screen — he finished with 93 tackles, second most among rookies.

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Second Team: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, No. 30); Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (Round 2, No. 42); Tarheeb Still, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 5, No. 137)

With his pick six in Week 18, Wiggins finished his rookie campaign with more touchdowns than touchdowns allowed. The only rookie corner to allow a lower reception rate than Wiggins was Lassiter (47.8 percent of targets resulting in a catch). And I couldn’t leave off Still, who finished second among rookies with four interceptions while posting 10 passes defended and committing just one penalty.

Honorable mentions: Terrion Arnold (Lions), Renardo Green (49ers), Josh Newton (Bengals), Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (Titans), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Saints), Max Melton (Cardinals), Kris Abrams-Draine (Broncos)

Nickel cornerback

Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2, No. 40)

After missing most of the first five weeks, DeJean entered the Eagles’ starting lineup and played like one of the best nickels in the league. You could make a strong argument that he was the best run defender among all first-year players, and he didn’t allow a touchdown on 71 coverage targets. Add his impact on special teams, and DeJean has been a home run for Philadelphia — especially for a second-rounder.

Second Team: Andru Phillips, New York Giants (Round 3, No. 70); Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 3, No. 89)

Phillips was an outstanding run defender this season and flashed in coverage. One of the concerns with him as a prospect was that he produced zero interceptions in 38 career games at Kentucky, so his first career NFL interception in Week 17 great to see. Despite missing four games due to injury, Smith finished his rookie season as one of only five NFL players with at least three forced fumbles and two interceptions — he was the first rookie to post those numbers since 2018.

Honorable mentions: Beanie Bishop Jr. (Steelers), Jarrian Jones (Jaguars), Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers), Christian Roland-Wallace (Chiefs)

Safety

Calen Bullock, Houston Texans (Round 3, No. 78); Tyler Nubin, New York Giants (Round 2, No. 47)

In a lot of ways, Bullock lived up exactly to his scouting report — both the good and the volatile. With his range in coverage, he led all rookies in interceptions (five) and allowed just 42.3 percent receptions when targeted. However, his questionable play strength was an issue, especially as a run defender. Despite the hiccups, Bullock proved to be an integral part of DeMeco Ryans’ defense, playing almost 1,000 snaps.

Rookie Calen Bullock has his 3rd interception of the season!

📺: #HOUvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/deEHrMJmr3

— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024

Nubin led all rookies in tackles (98), even though he missed four games. One of the reasons the Giants drafted him in the top 50 was his ball production in college (13 career interceptions), but he didn’t record an interception and registered just one pass breakup as a rookie — those numbers will need to improve next season.

Second Team: Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers (Round 4, No. 111); Kamren Kinchens, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, No. 99)

If he hadn’t missed five games (and parts of others) due to injury, Williams likely would have made the first team. Regardless, he had a much better season than anyone anticipated, and the Packers can feel optimistic about their free safety situation moving forward. Kinchens allowed four touchdown passes this season, but he posted four interceptions and led all rookies in interception yards (123).

Honorable mentions: Malik Mustapha (49ers), Javon Bullard (Packers), Demani Richardson (Panthers), Jaylen McCollough (Rams), Cole Bishop (Bills), Jaden Hicks (Chiefs), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Cardinals), Dell Pettus (Patriots)

Kicker

Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 6, No. 212)

Second Team: Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (Round 6, No. 203), Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams (Round 6, No. 209)

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Punter

Tory Taylor, Chicago Bears (Round 4, No. 122)

Second Team: Ryan Rehkow, Cincinnati Bengals (undrafted); Matthew Hayball, New Orleans Saints (undrafted)

(Top photos of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers: Kara Durrette, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

In our sporting corner of the world, betting is everywhere.

Consider Major League Baseball: The league has official gaming partners, the broadcast home of its “Sunday Night Baseball” showcase boasts an official sportsbook, and the Dodgers’ World Series celebration was sponsored by a local resort and casino. On the television screen, the bottom line provides updates on odds as well as scores.

You can bet on the next pitch, the next home run, the next game, the next World Series. You might enjoy betting on sports, or you might disdain it.

Betting on tragedy? Profiting off the pain of our community? We all should condemn that.

Polymarket, which bills itself as a “prediction market,” invited you as of Thursday to stake some bucks on 18 questions related to the Southern California wildfires, including these: How many acres will the Palisades wildfire burn by Friday? Will the Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday? When will the Palisades wildfire be 50% contained? Will all L.A. wildfires be fully contained before February?

“My guess,” said Nathaniel Fast, director of the USC Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making, “is that most people don’t like the idea of individuals betting on or making money off disasters and catastrophes.”

Polymarket aims to set the chance of something happening, then harness collective opinion to adjust that probability in real time.

For instance, with the chance of the Palisades wildfire being 50% contained by Jan. 19 set at 86% on Thursday, you would take “yes” and could win $102 or would take “no” and could win $571. The market adjusts the chance, and in turn the chance adjusts the market.

In a statement to The Times, a Polymarket spokesman said: “These markets address the same questions being discussed across cable news and X. We’ve proven that prediction markets can be an invaluable alternative information source for those seeking real-time quantitative data.”

Said Fast: “I have a hard time imagining that people are logging onto Polymarket to decide whether or not to evacuate.

“On the other hand, though, if they are able to demonstrate repeatedly in events like this that they really can generate accurate forecasts, I think it’s possible that, in the future, this could prove to be a useful tool.”

In the torrent of social media misinformation generated by an event and its immediate aftermath, prediction markets driven in part by social media run a risk of their own.

On its site, Polymarket says this is one criterion for the company opening a prediction market: “Is there social good or news value in understanding the probability generated by the market?”

Said Fast: “It could create the incentive to influence events or, in the case of wildfires, it could lead to a callous attitude toward others’ suffering. If we are gamifying life-and-death issues, it could really negatively influence culture and society in a way we don’t like.”

Polymarket offers odds on such topics as the NFL playoffs, whether Donald Trump will follow through on his pledge to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, whether Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get engaged this year, and how many times Elon Musk will tweet in a given week.

All good. But this is not the first time Polymarket has used disaster as the basis for investment.

In 2023, after the submersible Titan was lost at sea en route to the Titanic, Polymarket asked: “Will the missing submarine be found by June 23?” Mother Jones found two investors, one who bet yes and one who bet no.

“Despite taking opposite sides of the bet, thanks to clever playing of the odds,” Mother Jones reported, “both … came away with thousands of dollars.”

Polymarket does not. According to the company spokesperson, Polymarket “does not charge fees on any market and currently does not generate any revenue.”

That might be the only thing worse than a company profiting off human misfortune: a tech startup enabling lots of people to profit off human misfortune.

The Polymarket statement to The Times started this way: “We express our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by these fires and appreciate the heroic work underway by first responders and everyday Angelenos.”

The statement is hollow so long as people still can stake their dollars on the calamities befalling everyday Angelenos. Polymarket should take down those wildfire odds. Those six historic words from 1954 ring true today: Have you no sense of decency?

You gotta want it, right? That’s what they always say, “they” being the NHL players who dare tread into the lawless border between slot and crease, the coaches who send them there, and the fans in the 300-level relentlessly calling for blood.

It’s about desire. It’s about a willingness to take the punishment, and an eagerness to dole it out. It’s about fearlessness and an almost wanton disregard for life and limb. That’s where the pain is, yes — the cross-checks to the back of the head, the slashes to the ankles, the elbows to the gut — but that’s also where the goals are. They’re called the scoring areas for a reason. They’re called the dirty areas for a reason, too. Pay the price, reap the reward. A red light is worth a black-and-blue every single time.

Easy to say that, of course. A tad more difficult in practice. Ever turn your back on an angry giant with a weapon in his hand? Ever step in front of a frozen projectile traveling at triple digits?

Ever do both at the same time?

“It’s scary at first,” Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. “When you had Zdeno Chara behind you and Shea Weber shooting it at you — that’s the best of both worlds right there.”

Yes, it takes guts to work the net front in the NHL. But it’s facile, folly even, to say it’s simply about who wants it most. There’s a true art to working the net front — for the forwards trying to create havoc, the defensemen trying to prevent havoc, and the goaltenders trying to see through the havoc. It requires courage, sure. But it also requires precision timing, exquisite hand-eye coordination, uncanny instincts, physical fortitude and quick thinking.

And yes, a bit of a nasty attitude doesn’t hurt. Hey, gotta want it, right?

“It’s always chaos,” Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said. “But you’ve just got to try and make it a little bit of controlled chaos.”

The defensemen

Let’s start not with the trespassers but those patrolling the fence line.

For defensemen protecting the crease, it’s much more complicated than simply outmuscling an intruding forward — though that’s certainly part of it. It starts with picking your battles. Or more accurately, when to battle.

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Just because a forward is in front of the crease doesn’t mean it’s time to start jockeying for position. As a defenseman, you have to conserve energy for when you truly need it. So if the puck is wedged between a slew of skates and sticks in the corner, you merely keep an eye, not your whole body, on that forward lurking in the goal mouth. Otherwise, you’ll tire yourself out before the real fight begins.

Former Chicago Blackhawks coach and 21-year NHL defenseman Luke Richardson made a point of having his blueliners — particularly his smaller, more offensive-minded ones — watch video of Toby Enstrom and Kimmo Timonen, a pair of 5-foot-10 guys who protected the crease from power forwards who outweighed them by 20, 30, 40 pounds while conserving enough energy to exit the zone and maintain possession once they did, rather than just dumping the puck and going for a line change. Enstrom and Timonen would use their stick as a spacer more than a weapon. Or they’d stick their arms out and stiffen them, forcing forwards to go around them, making them expend just a little more energy and just a little more time before getting themselves planted. Every fraction of a second counts when forwards are looking for drive-by tips and screens.

Now, once the puck skitters free, or you sense that a shot is coming, it’s time to start boxing out.

But wait a second, dumb question — how do you box someone out on slippery ice?

“It’s turning your skates,” Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy said. “You can actually dig in more than you can in shoes because of your edges, if you turn them outwards. So you plant your feet sideways — duck-footed, or whatever it’s called — and you can be tough to move. Sometimes, if a guy’s coming at you from the side, you just kind of lean into them and wait for the right time to push off of him to get the rebound. It’s all just feel and strength, really.”

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Five-foot-10 Kimmo Timonen (44) made a living boxing out much larger players, such as 6-3 Patrick Maroon (62). (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

Getting there first is key, too. Better to be the guy trying to stand still than the guy trying to move the guy trying to stand still. Anticipate the play, get into position, jam those skates into the ice, get a strong and wide base and dare the other guy to dislodge you.

This, of course, is where the nastiness begins — jockeying for position can mean a light shove or it can mean a full-on two-hander to the spine. Back in Richardson’s time, it got truly violent among that amorphous mass of bodies. How violent?

“As violent as I was allowed to be,” Richardson said. “(But) you would be careful who you’re up against. I might not have been as violent against Bob Probert as I was against a smaller guy that wasn’t as tough.”

It went far beyond the usual two-handed shoves in the back that you still see today.

The can-opener — wedging your stick between the forward’s legs and either dumping them to the ice or maneuvering them around like a marionette — was popular in Richardson’s time. And good luck to the knees and ankles of any forward in the 1980s who got close enough to a Ron Hextall or a Billy Smith, who’d take their big goalie paddles and chop a forward down like a lumberjack.

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That stuff is all verboten today. These days, even especially aggressive cross-checks will get you two minutes. With rising slap shots screaming toward the goal mouth, a poorly timed — or well-timed, depending on how old-school you are — cross-check can put a player’s face right into the line of fire. For obvious reasons, the league doesn’t like that.

“The game has changed,” Vegas center Tomáš Hertl said. “Hockey got a lot smaller, guys got a little faster. I got into the league when it was still Chara and Weber. It was different — there were big, strong guys and they could break their stick over your back. It’s changed, but it’s still not easy in there. The next morning, you still feel it.”

Modern defensemen have to find subtler ways to hinder a forward’s ability to tip a point shot, redirect a slap pass or pounce on a rebound. A quick stick is critical. Most intentional deflections happen on the ice, so Murphy said he’s usually trying to get his stick underneath the forward’s stick and lift it off the ice. On the flip side, when a forward intentionally raises his stick as a shot is on its way, the defenseman’s instinct is to whack it down back to the ice with his own stick or use his body to angle the player away from the net. Whatever the forward’s trying to do, don’t let him do it.

Of course, the more bodies in that net-front battle, the harder it is for a referee to see what’s really going on in there.

“I wouldn’t say it’s like free game in there,” Makar said. “But you’re still going to do anything to keep the puck out of your net. If that means grabbing a guy’s stick or something, you try to do that.”

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There is another option — leave the scrum entirely and try to step in front of the shot yourself. That involves unspoken communication with a defensive partner and a trust level with the goaltender. Some goalies love it when a defenseman sacrifices his body for a blocked shot. Other goalies want a clear line of sight to the puck and would prefer to handle it themselves.

So, get there first. But monitor the puck closely so you don’t waste energy. Make sure you and your defensive partner know which forward is his and which one’s yours. Then, decide if you want to fight for position or block a shot. And if you choose to fight, determine whether the forward is going for a deflection — and what type — or if he’s looking to roll off and pick up some loose change around the net. And don’t get a penalty, but be sure to get away with whatever you can.

Oh, and process and accomplish all that in a second or two. Maybe three.

“It’s instinct,” Murphy said.

“It’s fun,” Makar said.

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The forwards

Washington’s Tom Wilson can’t exactly articulate what it is that makes him effective in front of the net. It all happens too fast, too chaotically, to distill into an easily digestible soundbite that accurately conveys the experience to a layperson.

“A lot happens really quickly — we’re talking tenths of a second, pucks flying,” said Wilson, a quintessential example of what seems to be a dying breed in the NHL — the power forward. “It’s a hectic game. A lot of the best players around the league are able to slow it down and make plays.”

He was talking about extraordinary tippers like Joe Pavelski and Chris Kreider. Or quick-twitch rebound guys such as Anders Lee and Sean Monahan. Or guys with an innate ability to plant themselves in just the right spot along the blue paint for redirects and tap-ins, such as Zach Hyman and Tyler Bertuzzi.

But in the anarchic area in front of the net, sometimes skill is overrated. Being an agent of chaos can be just as effective. Maybe not like Sean Avery turning his back on the play and waving his arms in front of Martin Brodeur like a basketball player guarding an inbound pass, but, well, not not like that, either.

“There are times where maybe it’s part of my job to make it a little bit crazy,” Wilson said. “I try to thrive in that environment. That’s hockey.”

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This is what players mean when they say they want to “take the goalie’s eyes away.” It’s bodies in the way, it’s arms and sticks flailing, it’s planting yourself a millimeter outside the blue paint, your backside taking up as much of the goalie’s field of vision as possible.

“Goalies are so good now, so you need to do that,” Forsberg said. “You need to find any advantage, even if it’s just causing some kind of distraction.”

As for the rest of it, it’s a lot of the same things and thoughts defensemen are working through — just in reverse. Navigate the towering trees, avoid getting mauled, keep your stick on the ice, and get in the way as much as possible. For big guys like Wilson, who is 6-4, 220 pounds, it’s often about brute strength. For smaller forwards, it’s about using your lack of size to your advantage — whether that means using your lower center of gravity to knock bigger defensemen off balance or squeezing through tight spaces and finding open ice.

Utah’s Clayton Keller used to be hesitant to get too involved in the goal mouth. But once he started scoring goals from there, it got a lot less intimidating.

“For a guy like me, a smaller guy, I try to spin off guys, and that’s when you get the rebound, or sometimes you get the tips,” Keller said. “But for a smaller guy, it’s mostly about arriving at the right time and not always standing there. Being around it and getting used to it is the most important thing. That’s where a lot of the goals are scored.”

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Veterans such as Corey Perry can dig into their deep bag of tricks in front of opposing goalies. (Jason Mowry / Getty Images)

Savvy forwards can take advantage of the clutter and get away with bending the rules, too. Richardson pointed to a game last February in which Edmonton’s Corey Perry flat-out slashed the stick out of the hands of Anaheim goalie John Gibson, leading directly to an Evander Kane goal. The rules can be very different for a young guy versus a crafty veteran.

“Some guys get away with things because they’ve been around a long time, and they have relationships with the referees that the young guys don’t have,” Richardson said. “You’ve got to play that card, too. If you’re a younger guy trying to earn your stripes, play fair and don’t bark at the referee.”

When Alex DeBrincat first broke into the league, he was regularly getting into physical battles in front of the net, often leading to full-blown scraps after the whistle. Despite being 5-8, tied for the shortest player in the league, DeBrincat too often went toe-to-toe with some of the league’s biggest, strongest players.

He’s a little wiser now at 27 years old.

“I was a little bit more frisky earlier in my career,” he said. “But it’s just playing hockey. I’ve done it for so long, it’s just kind of second nature. I’m not always right in front of the net, but when I am, I’m just trying to get an edge on the other guy and trying not to get pushed out of the net. Sometimes I get a little angry, but usually I’m trying to stay out of the box. I like scoring goals better than fighting.”

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The goaltenders

The Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman is 6-3, 195 pounds. By most standards, he’s pretty big. By modern hockey goalie standards, he’s average at best.

“I’m still growing, trust me,” he said. “We’ll get there one day.”

There are 240 forwards and defensemen who have played in the NHL this season who are 6-3 or taller. And very often, several of them are standing directly in front of him while the puck is moving along the blue line. So eight years after arriving at the University of Maine as a scrawny, somewhat short goalie, he’s still trying to see over people’s heads so he can do his job.

“As a freshman, I had to find ways to find and track that puck because these defensemen and forwards were so good at tipping pucks, so good at sifting pucks through,” Swayman said. “And obviously, the forwards in front of me are using their bodies to take away the goalie’s eyes. So I still love bobbing and weaving. I’m probably a little more physical than most goalies, too, making sure I see the puck. Because at the end of the day, I don’t care how it’s done, I just want to see the puck.”

At 6-4, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot tries to peer over the scrum, too. The New York Rangers’ Jonathan Quick is one of the few remaining goalies who likes to get low, coiling his body in the crease like a snake and peering through everybody’s legs. Whatever line of sight you prefer, being able to track the puck through all the traffic might be the most important skill a goalie can have.

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And if that traffic backs into you a few times each possession, so be it.

“That’s what you sign up for, right?” Talbot said. “It’s their job to make it as hard on us as possible, and it’s the D’s job to help us out as much as they can.”

Goalies such as Cam Talbot rely on their defensemen as much as their defensemen rely on them. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

You’d think communication between goalie and defenseman would be key, but it’s more of a luxury, really. The action’s happening too fast to truly divvy up responsibilities on the fly. There’s usually not even time for trash talk between opponents; that has to wait for the inevitable post-whistle skirmish. Talbot is more vocal than most, though, and has no trouble yelling at his teammates to get out of his way.

“They’re pretty good about it,” Talbot said. “And sometimes they come back and tap me on the pads and say, ‘Good, I didn’t want to eat that one, happy to let you take it.’”

Just as video review has made most forward-initiated contact with the goalie a thing of the past, those Hextall stick swipes have mostly disappeared, too. But if the swarm of bodies in front of the net seeps into the crease, it’s not uncommon to see a goalie take matters into his own hands and start shoving people out of his way.

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And sometimes it’s not just the opponents.

“I’m color blind, so sometimes my own guys get in the mix,” Swayman said with a laugh. “Like I said, I don’t care how I get it done, I just want to make sure I see the puck.”

Shoves from behind. Shoves from ahead. Cross-checks to the back of the neck, butt-ends of sticks in the ribs, stick blades in the skates, gloves in the face. All while that hard chunk of rubber could be rocketing in — throat-high or knee-high or toe-high — at any moment.

No, it’s not glamorous at the net front. But when you do it right — whether it’s scoring a goal or stopping one — it’s totally worth it.

“It’s great in there,” Forsberg said. “OK, yeah, it’s awful sometimes. But when you get rewarded, there’s nothing better. Those are the best goals you can score. You earned those.”

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(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Maddie Meyer, Ethan Miller, Scott Taetsch, David Berding / Getty Images)