Rob Rang
NFL Draft Analyst
Now that the mud has settled on the 2024 NFL Draft and depth charts all through the league are materializing, it’s turning into clear which rookies have the within monitor to a beginning position. Quite a lot of of them had been drafted exterior the primary spherical.
A lot will change between now and the NFL’s opening evening in 4 months. Accidents, trades and the inevitable adjustments to the depth chart all through OTAs and coaching camp will power an replace to this text in a number of months.
At this level, nonetheless, here’s a position-by-position take a look at the rookies who I consider will make the largest affect within the 2024 NFL season — and why.
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (first spherical, No. 2 general, QB2)
Sorry, Bears followers. Whereas I anticipate No. 1 general choose Caleb Williams to submit spectacular numbers for Chicago, I’m much more intrigued by the statistics the dual-threat Daniels would possibly generate in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in D.C.
A lot has been made concerning the Bears’ weapons (and for good purpose), however the Commanders’ runners, receivers and tight ends are arguably simply as proficient. If Daniels can keep wholesome, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner will justify this choose and lead this 12 months’s celebrated quarterback class in passing yards and touchdowns.
Working again: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (third spherical, No. 66 general, RB2)
Even with veteran James Conner speeding for a career-high 1,040 yards final season, common supervisor Monti Ossenfort devoted the No. 66 general choice on Benson, a equally burly runner with a lot better straight-line pace (4.39 seconds on the mix) than the veteran incumbent.
Connor is coming into his eighth NFL season (and closing 12 months of his present contract), and he is by no means began greater than 13 video games. Do not be stunned if Benson works his approach into the beginning lineup halfway by way of his rookie marketing campaign and by no means relinquishes the position.
Better of Jayden Daniels’ wide-ranging interview with Keyshawn Johnson
Vast receiver: Malik Nabers, New York Giants (first spherical, No. 6 general, WR2)
With so many proficient pass-catchers drafted into positions to succeed, selecting only one large receiver was probably the most troublesome activity on this article. Arizona’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. Buffalo’s Keon Coleman, Kansas Metropolis’s Xavier Worthy and the Chargers’ Ladd McConkey are all wonderful bets to hit large instantly.
None of them, nonetheless, can match Nabers’ mixture of electrical athleticism and the sheer quantity of alternatives I venture for him as a transparent focus of the Giants’ offense.
Tight finish: Cade Stover, Houston Texans (fourth spherical, No. 87 general, TE8)
Whereas acknowledging the moment affect top-rated tight finish Brock Bowers ought to see in Las Vegas, I see a situation the place Stover might play the same position for Houston in 2024 as Sam LaPorta did in Detroit a 12 months in the past, supercharging an already formidable offense.
Stover was underutilized at Ohio State, however he possesses the dependable fingers, pace and toughness in bouncing off would-be tacklers to carve out a major position as a rookie, maybe serving to propel the Texans again to the postseason.
Offensive sort out: Olu Fashanu, New York Jets (first spherical, No. 11 general, OT3)
For these prepared to take their eyes off the ball, monitoring the success of this 12 months’s celebrated offensive sort out class shall be fascinating. There have been seven tackles chosen within the first spherical this 12 months — tying 2008 for probably the most within the command draft period — however they may not all slot into the plug-and-play situation they sometimes do.
That is as a result of Fashanu was the lone Day 1 lineman taking first-team reps in rookie minicamp on the identical place he occupied in 2023, complicating a lot of his friends’ projections. Fashanu, thoughts you, should beat out former Cowboys standout Tyron Smith for the privilege of blocking for Aaron Rodgers, however he is gifted sufficient to do it and there could not be an even bigger stage.
Offensive guard: Christian Haynes, Seattle Seahawks (third spherical, No. 81 general, OG4)
Corridor of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson now works as a marketing consultant for the Seahawks, which is acceptable provided that the membership has largely struggled on the place since he departed for Minnesota in 2006 on the prime of his profession. Haynes is probably the most gifted and polished inside blocker to enter the town limits since Hutchinson, dominating the previous 4 years at Connecticut, together with incomes All-American honors the previous two years below former Seahawks head coach Jim Mora Jr.
Heart: Cooper Beebe, Dallas Cowboys (third spherical, No. 73 general, OG3)
A lot of the post-draft buzz in Dallas has understandably centered on fellow rookie offensive lineman Tyler Guyton, the membership’s first spherical choose and a possible beginning left sort out in 2024. However the aptly-named Beebe is completely constructed and wired to be the actual “star” of this 12 months’s Cowboys class.
After taking part in each place up entrance for Kansas State besides middle, Beebe is a little bit of a projection, however he is highly effective, fast and savvy. I consider he’ll take to snapping pretty simply and turn out to be a right away and lasting presence inside for Dallas.
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Edge: Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins (first spherical, No. 21 general, E4)
When wholesome, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips give the Dolphins the most effective younger pass-rushing duos in soccer. However with every coming off of main surgical procedure (torn ACL and Achilles, respectively), the Dolphins had been sensible to nab Robinson — the perfect pace rusher on this 12 months’s class — at No. 21 general.
Even when Miami’s veterans are again within the beginning lineup, Robinson’s distinctive burst makes him a transparent “splash” candidate on apparent passing downs — and there might be loads of these this 12 months with opponents pressured to throw typically within the hopes of maintaining with the Dolphins’ explosive offense.
Defensive position: Darius Robinson, Arizona Cardinals (first spherical, No. 27 general, E5)
Step one towards making an affect within the NFL is alternative, after all, and Robinson ought to get loads of that as a rookie, because the Cardinals utterly rebuilt their defensive entrance following Jonathan Gannon’s first 12 months as head coach. Robinson is longer, leaner and a greater pass-rusher than free-agent additions Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones. After successfully switching from defensive sort out to defensive finish final 12 months at Missouri, I think that he’ll be moved throughout in Gannon’s scheme and would not be stunned if he winds up main Arizona’s protection — which I anticipate to take large strides this 12 months — in sacks as a rookie.
Linebacker: Junior Colson, Los Angeles Chargers (third spherical, No. 69 general, LB2)
If Jim Harbaugh’s choice of offensive sort out Joe Alt with the Chargers’ first choose did not sign a seismic shift within the franchise’s intent to be extra bodily transferring ahead, reuniting together with his battering ram of a linebacker definitely did the trick. Opponents in search of to mitigate the Chargers’ fearsome duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack merely attacked up the center. That will not be as simple with Colson, probably the most bodily linebacker on this class, amplifying the within.
Cornerback: Terrion Arnold, Detroit Lions (first spherical, No. 24 general, CB2)
Provided that solely 5 groups allowed extra passing touchdowns than the Lions’ 28 a 12 months in the past, cornerback was a transparent want and one made even bigger with the staff releasing embattled starter Cam Sutton. These details — to not point out Arnold’s expertise — led Detroit common supervisor Brad Holmes to aggressively commerce up for the previous Alabama star, transport a third-round choose to Dallas to maneuver up 5 spots and nab him.
Gifted in protection and taking part in with a Rat Terrier’s tenacity, Arnold is a wonderful slot in Dan Campbell’s protection. The identical goes for second-round choose Ennis Rakestraw and commerce addition Carlton Davis, the trio turning a once-soft Lions secondary right into a authentic energy.
Security: Cole Bishop, Buffalo Payments (second spherical, No. 60 general, S3)
Final within the article however amongst my absolute favourite suits on this class is Buffalo’s Bishop, a movable chess piece able to taking part in both security spot within the wake of the Payments transferring on from longtime starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Bishop’s instincts and dependable, open-field tackling understandably earned him loads of time within the field at Utah. However as he proved in 4.45 seconds on the mix, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound DB has the pace for deep protection, as properly.
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Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA At present, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.
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