NFL Rookies to Watch 2024-2025

The 2024 NFL schedule is entering the fourth quarter of the season as teams continue to fight for playoff positioning and the top players and rookies fight to finish off another season. Like each season expectations are set high for the incoming class of rookies and the same was set for the 2024 NFL Draft class that featured five quarterbacks, and three wide receivers selected within the first 10 picks of the draft.  Among those 10 picks, five have landed among the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024-2025 Rankings list including Jayden Daniels who is the front runner for the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Daniels, who was selected with the second overall pick by the Washington Commanders has been stellar all season long while helping the team into playoff contention from the first game of the season.

During the team’s week 15 game against the New Orleans Saints, Daniels became just the third rookie ever to throw for 3,000 yards and add at least 600 rushing yards in a season. Even more impressive, Daniels still has three games remaining to add to those numbers.

Joining Daniels among the best rookies are quarterbacks Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos and Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears as well as tight end Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders and defensive end Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams.

Here is a look at the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Calen Bullock

Team: New England Patriots

Position: Safety

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024-2025 Rankings list is the Houston Texans safety and former USC Trojans defensive star Calen Bullock.

Bullock who was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft class has emerged as one of top rookie defensive players while playing his way into consideration for the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Bullock enters week 16 of the season ranked tied for fourth in the NFL with five interceptions and tied for 21^st in passes defended to go along with one fumble recovery. Currently the Texans first year standout ranks first among all rookies in interceptions.

Quinyon Mitchell

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Position: Cornerback

In a world of statistics at the tips of our finger’s numbers have become a key focal point on the success of any player. However, in some cases numbers can be misleading and that is the case with the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback who continues to rank among the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL while delivering the team a playmaker in the secondary.

On the season Mitchell has posted 41 total tackles while also recording 10 passes defensed while also ranking 24^th among all cornerbacks with a 74.9 PFF grade. While there is room to improve it is hard to not like the potential of Mitchell down the stretch during the Eagles playoff run and into the future.

Top 10 Best NFL Rookies

10. Marvin Harrison Jr.

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Position: Wide Receiver

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024-2025 Rankings list is the Arizona Cardinals first round pick Marvin Harrison Jr.

Looking to fill in the shoes of his Hall of Fame fathers career at the receiver position, Harrison Jr has come out the gate fast for the Cardinals while providing Kyler Murray a proven playmaker at the position and a receiver who will step up to make a big play when needed.

While the numbers don’t rank among the best rookie receivers in the class, struggles at times as an offense and a large number of double teams have played a key role in his overall success.

Despite those issues, the former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver has posted 47 receptions on the season with 687 receiving yards to go along with seven touchdown receptions.

9. Braden Fiske

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Position: Defensive Line

As all eyes are focused on the offensive side of the 2024 rookie draft class, it is hard to look past some of the talented defensive players starting their NFL careers. One of those players is the Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske who the team selected during the second round of the NFL Draft.

The Rams, who have a solid track record finding talent on the defensive line, look to have their next star defensive player as Fiske currently leads all NFL rookies with six sacks over the first 15 weeks of the season.

In addition, the Rams rookie has added 38 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries while providing the team with a force up front both against the run and pass.

8. Bucky Irving

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Position: Running Back

Seems like each season a talented running back emerges that has gone under the radar through the NFL draft and entering the season. This season that running back is Bucky Irving who has turned in an impressive start to his NFL resume while ranking among one of the top players at the position as well as among the rookie class.

Irving, who was selected during the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft ranks 16^th among all running backs in the NFL with 852 yards, 19^th in rushing touchdowns with six, and 27 in total carries with 152 while playing a key role in the Buccaneers success this season.

The former Oregon Ducks running back has also become a key weapon in the team’s passing attack out of the backfield for Baker Mayfield while posting 38 receptions for 296 receiving yards.

7. Malik Nabers

Team: New York Giants

Position: Wide Receiver

One of two talented wide receivers from the LSU Tigers is Malik Nabers who like teammate Brian Thomas Jr. has put together a solid season to his rookie year.

Despite a long list of struggles at the quarterback including the release of Daniel Jones who was the team’s starting quarterback to start the season, Nabers has found a way to rack up 90 catches on the season while also adding 901 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions.

It is hard to imagine the type of success Nabers could have had with a top talented quarterback under center or even just a consistent starter for most of the season. In all, Nabers currently ranks tied for first among the rookie class in receptions, third in receiving yards, and fifth in receiving touchdowns (4).

6. Brian Thomas Jr.

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Position: Wide Receiver

Year in and year out we continue to see talented wide receivers to land at the NFL that suited up for the LSU Tigers. The 2024 NFL Draft class is no different producing two more stud wide receivers with Brian Thomas Jr and Malik Nabers ranking among the best rookies in the league.

Thomas, who was selected with the 23^rd pick of the first round, has not disappointed all season for the Jacksonville Jaguars despite some injury and struggles from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The six foot four-inch receiver currently ranks ninth in the NFL in receiving yards and tied for fifth with eight touchdown receptions while also leading all rookie receivers in each statistic. With Lawrence signed long term the tandem with Thomas Jr could emerge as one of the best quarterback-receiver tandems in NFL.

5. Caleb Williams

Team: Chicago Bears

Position: Quarterback

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024-2025 Rankings list is the Chicago Bears rookie quarterback and the first overall pick of the 2024 draft class Caleb Williams. While Williams might not meet the expectations of many, including helping the Bears to the playoffs, it is hard not to see how the rookie has played to start the season.

In 14 games played the former Heisman Trophy winner has completed 288 of 465 passing attempts for 2,937 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Williams, who is part of a stellar quarterback draft class ranks third among rookies in passing yards, tied for second in touchdown passes while also adding 408 rushing yards.

While the playoffs are out of reach, Williams can still finish the season strong and give fans of the Bears some promise for the upcoming seasons to come.

4. Jared Verse

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Position: Edge

When it comes to defensive players it is hard for many to see how great a player is or how good they have played all season as the statistics are limited in comparison to players on the offensive side of the ball.

Nonetheless the talented Rams edge defender currently has posted an 85.1 PFF grade ranking 13^th among all defensive ends in the NFL while turning in strong performances both against the run as well as against the pass.

After losing star defender Aaron Donald to retirement, the selection of Verse has delivered the team a talented star for the years to come. Overall, Verse has added 58 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 11 total stuffs.

3. Brock Bowers

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Position: Tight End

The tight end position continues to evolve as players continue to get bigger, stronger, and faster while helping to help evolve the offensive side of football.

One of those talented tight ends that has all the tools to put together a Hall of Fame career is rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers, who has not wasted any time after being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, currently leads all tight ends in receiving yards with 968 receiving yards and receptions with 90.

In addition to leading all tight ends, Bowers is currently tied for fourth in receptions, and eighth in receiving yards among all NFL players. Add in the fact the Raiders have had quarterback struggles all season makes Bowers season even that more impressive.

2. Bo Nix

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Quarterback

Landing just behind Jayden Daniels is another talented quarterback putting together a big 2024 NFL season while kicking off a great start to his resume.

Entering the season expectations were not set as high for Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos however the former Oregon Ducks quarterback has exceeded any expectations while helping the Broncos to a 9-5 record to start the season and a current Wild Card spot in the NFL Playoffs.

Entering the final three games of the regular season Nix is set to top the 3,000-yard passing mark after throwing for 2,972 yards over his first 14 games of the season. Among the rookie class quarterbacks, Nix ranks second in passing yards, first in passing touchdowns (20), fourth in rushing yards (327), and second in rushing touchdowns (4).

1. Jayden Daniels

Team: Washington Commanders

Position: Quarterback

In at number one on the Top 10 NFL Rookies 2024-2025 Rankings list is the Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels who is the early front runner for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has the Commanders excited for the future while also delivering them a potential run into the NFL Playoffs. Currently the former LSU Tigers quarterback ranks 15^th in the NFL in passing yards (3,045) while leading all rookie quarterbacks in passing yards.

In addition, Daniels ranks 15^th in the NFL with 17 passing touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. On the ground Daniels has added 656 rushing yards trailing only Lamar Jackson at the quarterback position.

Sunday Umoh

Sunday Umoh is the visionary founder and CEO of Fan Rankings LLC, a platform that merges sports passion with technology to create an engaging and interactive space for fans worldwide. With a background in Information Science and Systems and experience as a Software Engineer, Umoh has built a brand that blends analytical insights with emotional connection, offering unique coverage of Football, Basketball, MMA, and Boxing. A graduate of Morgan State University and a former collegiate Track and Field athlete, Umoh previously gained attention for his impactful Washington Wizards blog, fireerniegrunfeld.com. His journey exemplifies how technology can amplify sports fandom, with Fan Rankings setting a new standard in sports media, providing a community for fans to connect, debate, and celebrate their favorite teams and athletes.

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