Top NFL Rookies To Watch In 2024: Who Will Make The Biggest Impact?
There’s a distinct difference between being a top-ranked prospect and an impact rookie.
Take a peek at the top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft as Exhibit A.
Bryce Young was almost universally framed as the top quarterback in the draft. Carolina pushed its chips to the middle of the table, acquired the No. 1 pick from the Bears and hitched its nearly empty wagon to the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama.
No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud went from Ohio State to Houston to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in a scheme that emphasized strengths and offered superior skill-position talent. While offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was a critical asset for Stroud, the underappreciated element in his success was the superior offensive line to the group that tried – and largely failed – to protect the undersized Young.
Year 2 could be different for both players, but we’re here to talk about the ‘24 rookie class and identify the candidates to stand out from the rest.
Panthers RB Jonathan Brooks
Maybe the ACL tear in November holds him back out of the gate, but anyone who expects Miles Sanders to be the bell cow in Carolina this season should rewind the 2023 All-22 and find one good reason. Brooks was the top back in the 2024 draft and has speed, balance and didn’t slow down at first contact while breaking big gains at Texas. The Panthers paid big to roll in a new wall of road-grading offensive linemen to become a dominant run-first offense.
Bears WR Rome Odunze
With apologies to Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals) and Malik Nabers (Giants), Odunze by far is best positioned for a dominant rookie season. He’s not being cast as a No. 1 receiver with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen atop of the depth chart – and tight end Cole Kmet drawing attention – but the chemistry is undeniable between No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and Odunze from their days as Pac-12 competitors. A TD-heavy rookie season is coming in Chicago from Odunze.
Steelers LB Payton Wilson
One of two third-round picks for Pittsburgh, Wilson was making waves in minicamp before the ink was dry on his signed four-year deal with the Steelers. Older by relative comparison than most of his draft class, Wilson has everything head coach Mike Tomlin wants to rapidly develop as the heart of the defense. The 2023 Bednarik Award winner was only around into the third round to be selected as a potential steal for the Steelers because of a history of injuries.
DE Jared Verse, Rams
A pass rusher cast as an outside linebacker in Los Angeles at 255 pounds, Verse is also cross training up front and could be part of the planned solution to fill Aaron Donald’s role with a rotation of FSU defenders (Braden Fiske also landed with the Rams at pick No. 39).
Raiders TE Brock Bowers
For much the same reason we are buying Odunze stock, don’t blink on the opportunity to board the Bowers bandwagon. His QB situation isn’t special by any stretch, but if Garder Minshew wins the No. 1 job, Bowers essentially serves as the No. 2 receiver to Davante Adams in Vegas.
Commanders TE Ben Sinnott
We’re tapping the brakes on the Travis Kelce comps but Sinnott won’t be a sleeper for long. His size and athletic ability seem impossible, and Sinnott arrives as the perfect security blanket for rookie QB Jayden Daniels.