NFL Rookies to Watch in the 2024 Season
The 2024 NFL season is about to get underway, and while many people are wondering if the Kansas City Chiefs will continue their run of dominance, or if the Detroit Lions will take the next step in their successful rebuild, there is plenty of attention on the rookies who were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, held earlier this year.
Whether you’re a huge college football fan who barely follows pro football, or you’re a die-hard NFL fan who doesn’t follow the collegiate careers of football players that closely, knowing about the NFL rookies that you need to keep an eye on is a great way to add an extra layer of enjoyment to your football-watching.
Here’s a look at some of the newcomers who are poised to make a splash in their first season in the NFL.
Caleb Williams
Quarterback for Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams wasn’t alive the last time the Chicago Bears had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards. That’s not really an insight into Williams’ age, because no one was alive the last time that happened.
That’s right, the Bears, one of the oldest franchises in the league, have never had a QB throw for 4,000 yards, making them one of only three teams to say that.
The Bears took Williams with the first overall pick in the draft, and have built a potentially explosive offense around him. Will Williams be the savior that the Bears hope he can be?
He certainly showed the skills in college, and with the receiving corpse around him, the potential is there.
Jayden Daniels
Quarterback for Washington Commanders
Another QB taken early in the draft, Jayden Daniels came into the 2024 NFL Draft with a lot of hype after putting together a stellar run at LSU. The Commanders have been in a state of flux at the most important position in the game for years.
With a new head coach (Dan Quinn), and a mass sell-off of most of their defensive stars, the Commanders are looking to turn the page on the past.
Some analysts believe that Daniels has the potential to be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, while others expect him to struggle with Washington’s limited roster.
Marvin Harrison Jr
Wide Receiver for Arizona Cardinals
The Marquis Brown experiment in Arizona didn’t work out as well as the Cardinals had hoped when they traded for Kyler Murray’s favorite college target during the 2022 NFL Draft.
With the third overall pick, the Cardinals grabbed Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of NFL icon, Marvin Harrison. Harrison Jr. was widely considered a can’t-miss prospect before the draft after putting together a stellar career at Ohio State.
Harrison already pencils in as the Cards’ number-one receiver, so he should see a large target load, but receivers typically struggle during their rookie seasons. If anyone can break the mold, it’s Harrison.
Malik Nabers
Wide Receiver for New York Giants
Over the past several seasons, the New York Giants have been a wasteland for wide receivers. Some people blame that on QB, Daniel Jones, while others point to a lack of talent that the team has acquired at the position.
The Giants grabbed Malik Nabers early in the first round, and he’s already the top option in the Giants' passing attack.
There have been rumors about Jones’ future in the NFL, and head coach, Brian Daboll is thought to be on the hot seat, but if Nabers can live up to the hype, he may silence all of those criticisms.
Blake Corum
Running Back for Los Angeles Rams
Corum was a major contributor on the University of Michigan’s National Championship team, but he still slid down draft boards, thanks in large part to the lack of value that teams put on running backs.
Unlike some of the other options on our list, Blake Corum doesn’t go into the season as the projected started for his team. He’ll likely start the season behind Kyren Williams on the depth chart.
However, with Sean McVay’s innovative approach to offense, it’s safe to assume that the versatile Corum is going to get some touches.
Bo Nix
Quarterback for Denver Broncos
Much was made about Bo Nix’s age coming into the draft. He is 24 years old, which is certainly older than most rookies in the class, but he’s only a year older than Jayden Daniels.
What we do know about Nix is that he resurrected his collegiate career after leaving Auburn and transferring to Auburn. His production there, combined with his preseason performance, landed him the starting job in Denver, who is looking to move on from the failed Russell Wilson experiment.
Is Nix going to light up scoreboards like he did at Oregon? Probably not, at least not with the Broncos current roster. But head coach, Sean Payton, is known as a QB whisperer, so if anyone can tap into Nix’s potential, it’s him.
Brock Bowers
Tight End for Las Vegas Raiders
During his college career, Brock Bowers established himself as a top TE in the nation at Georgia.
With that in mind, there were a lot of people surprised to see him slide to the 13th overall pick, where the Raiders grabbed him as part of their ongoing rebuild. If there’s a knock on Bowers’ game, it’s that he struggles in run-blocking situations.
But, he’s a weapon in the passing game, and the Raiders haven’t had a TE of this caliber since Darren Waller left town. The QB situation is murky in Vegas, and that may restrict Bowers a bit. However, he’s a 2024 NFL rookie to watch based solely on his raw athleticism.
Jared Verse
Outside Linebacker for Los Angeles Rams
The Rams made their first first-round pick of the Sean McVay era when they chose Jared Verse out of Florida State.
For years, the Rams had built their roster by trading early picks for proven starters, but they found themselves at a crossroads following the departure of Aaron Donald who retired.
While there were no defensive tackles worthy of going in the top 20, Jared Verse proved that he can get after the QB in college. He’s widely considered a frontrunner for the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Laiatu Latu
Defensive End for Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have been trying to duplicate the success of the Peyton Manning era since the signal caller went to Denver before retiring.
Last season, they grabbed Florida’s Anthony Richardson to play QB, but the defense struggled. The Colts addressed that with the 15th pick in the draft in 2024.
Latu led the FBS in sacks in 2022 and 2023 with 23.5, and the Colts need someone to get after the QB. With six games each year against Trevor Lawrence, CJ Stroud, and Will Levis, the Colts invested in a player who has proven to have a nose for the backfield.
Edgerrin Cooper
Linebacker for Green Bay Packers
Edgerrin Cooper came out of Texas A&M with some question marks, which led to him falling to the second round. It was there that the Packers grabbed him so he could line up across from Quay Walker, who the Packers took in the first round of the 2022 Draft.
With eight sacks over his last two seasons in college, Cooper has shown flashes of pure speed and strength. The Packers have a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley who runs a more aggressive defense than some of his peers.
That seems like a recipe for success for Cooper.
Cooper DeJean
Defensive Back for Philadelphia Eagles
For the last couple of years, there have been plenty of jokes about the Eagles drafting players from the University of Georgia’s defense early in the draft. They changed things up by taking Cooper DeJean, a cornerback out of Iowa.
Most experts agree that DeJean is better suited to play safety in the pros because he struggled in press-man coverage in college. DeJean proved that he’s willing to tackle and he had seven interceptions over his last two college seasons.
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Week one of the NFL season gets underway on September 5, 2024, when the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Baltimore Ravens.
With a new class of rookies around the league looking to take the first step on their road to glory, this season promises to be another great one.