2024 NFL season: One pivotal rookie for each team

Drafted: Round 4, No. 128 overall

This was a tough choice between Keon Coleman and Davis, but I believe Davis is the right selection for this exercise. First off, I’m expecting a Dalton Kincaid breakout to ease some of the pressure on Coleman in Year 1. Second, James Cook is an explosive talent, but Davis can provide the much-needed tough yards inside and has the ability to rack up catches out of the backfield. Davis will be sharing time with Cook, but don't be surprised if there's a stronger reliance on the running backs in Buffalo with Stefon Diggs in Houston now.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 21 overall

While I believe fifth-round pick Mohamed Kamara has a better feel for rushing the passer at this juncture, Robinson's explosiveness and rare athletic traits give him the best shot to bolster the Dolphins’ rush in 2024. Both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb are still working their way back from the season-ending injuries they suffered in 2023. If the Dolphins can't create a steady pass rush without them, the offense might need to be even better than it was last year, when it ranked second in scoring and first in yards.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 37 overall

Some people might have been expecting to see Drake Maye here, but it seems pretty clear that the Patriots won't rush the rookie QB onto the field and I don’t believe he’s ready for the “pivotal” designation. However, I do view Polk as a player who can get his feet underneath him before Maye starts making appearances. Polk is a clever wideout with great ball skills and New England has a huge need at the position.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 65 overall

Corley could give Aaron Rodgers and the offense a surprising boost. He’s a bruising target who plays the game like Deebo Samuel Sr. with the ball in his hands. His run-after-catch ability is unique to the Jets’ receiver room and Rodgers will love his competitiveness.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 62 overall

While CB Nate Wiggins was the Ravens’ first-round pick this year, Rosengarten’s ability to win the right tackle job and play at a steady level will be crucial for the team. The 2024 draft was unusually deep at tackle, which likely contributed to Baltimore’s decision to deal Morgan Moses and target Rosengarten in the draft. He's a physical run blocker with a chip on his shoulder, but he needs to prove he can handle NFL speed rushers.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 18 overall

It's still all about the offensive line and finding protection for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Mims is a rare tackle prospect with elite length and tremendous, lean muscle mass on his 6-foot-8, 340-pound frame. He's getting a chance to compete at right tackle and can offer an immediate upgrade as a run blocker and pass protector if he can stay healthy.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 54 overall

Teams spend heavy draft capital and big money on outside rushers, but finding an interior defensive lineman who can create mayhem in the pocket is the cheat code. Hall is undersized at 6-3, 300 pounds, but he has electric first-step quickness and a variety of rush moves to beat single blocks. We know the Browns can clamp down on offenses, but Hall gives the defense a chance to elevate its threat level to an even higher degree on passing downs.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 20 overall

There could be three rookie starters on the Pittsburgh offense, including Roman Wilson and Zach Frazier, but Fautanu is the player to highlight here. He's a very athletic big man who should be able to handle NFL rush quickness, but more importantly, he has a chance to remind longtime Steelers fans of the physical brand of offensive linemen they grew up watching. Fautanu is bringing nasty back.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 42 overall

With a winning background and plenty of competitiveness, Lassiter fits the mold of the culture changers that DeMeco Ryans has been targeting since he became head coach. It has been a while since the Texans had a solid, long-term duo at cornerback, but Lassiter could join with Derek Stingley Jr. to give Houston what it’s been lacking. 

Drafted: Round 1, No. 15 overall

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley expects his rushers to get home against single blocks -- no team had a lower blitz rate last season than the Colts, even though they finished fifth in sacks. It might take a few games for Latu to work his way fully into the rush rotation but he has the instincts and skills to help the Indianapolis get after division-rival QBs C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 23 overall

The pressure is mounting on Trevor Lawrence and Co. to win and it’s only going to intensify with his new contract. The Jaguars need Thomas to hit the ground running if they’re going to chase down the Texans in the division and start to realize their offensive potential. Thomas is big, fast and put an FBS-high 17 touchdowns on the board in 2023.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 7 overall

The Titans have been in flux at left tackle since the 2022 season, but Latham has the talent to provide the stability they so badly need. Tennessee will need to reestablish its offensive identity with Derrick Henry gone and Will Levis taking over as the full-time QB1. Having a talented ground-and-pound left tackle could smooth the transition.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 12 overall

I know he hasn’t been named the starter as of this writing, but Nix is the clear-cut choice for the Broncos here. Denver had limited draft capital and took a massive cap hit after the failed Russell Wilson experiment, so Sean Payton's decision to pick Nix 12th overall was a huge one. There was never a better fit for Nix than Payton's offensive scheme. He has a chance to build on the momentum from his outstanding senior season at Oregon.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 28 overall

Worthy can be an extremely difficult assignment in man-to-man coverage thanks to his vertical speed and explosion out of his breaks, but he does lack size. Patrick Mahomes needs another weapon he can trust, so all eyes will be on Worthy in Kansas City.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 13 overall

We know there is a quarterback battle between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell and we know Davante Adams is one of the top targets in the game. What we also now know is Bowers will give the Raiders' passing game a much-needed boost as an impressive three-level tight end who can stack yards after the catch.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 69 overall

Ladd McConkey is going to be a favorite of Justin Herbert and Joe Alt is a rock-solid option at right tackle. But I’m highlighting Colson, who follows Jim Harbaugh from Michigan and has a chance to become the tone-setter very quickly for a defense that hasn’t ranked in the top 20 in points allowed since 2019.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 29 overall

Guyton has already put together some impressive reps in practice that have had local media buzzing, but the road to success for rookie tackles can be a long and bumpy one. Life without Tyron Smith will require an adjustment period, and Guyton's play as a rookie will go a long way in determining whether the Cowboys are serious title contenders.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 6 overall

The additions of second-rounder Tyler Nubin and third-rounder Dru Phillips in the secondary appear to be steps in the right direction, but Nabers is the focal point among the Giants’ rookies this season. The team is starving for a WR1 and Nabers has the tools to become that guy. If he proves he can handle the top-dog duties at wideout, it will be a massive change for the better in New York during a season that will decide Daniel Jones’ future with the franchise.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 22 overall

The Eagles ranked second to last in pass defense last season and finished in the bottom five in TD-INT ratio allowed. There will be a great deal of pressure placed on Mitchell to play at a level beyond the expectations most rookie corners encounter upon entering the NFL. The coverage must be better if the Eagles hope to make it back to the Super Bowl.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 67 overall

Jayden Daniels is the new face of the franchise, but like all quarterbacks, he’s going to need pass protection to have a chance at succeeding. The last thing Washington wants is for Daniels to start his career in a constant state of panic due to consistent pressure from his blind side. It’s a tall task for a rookie to step into the left tackle spot from Day 1, but Coleman is getting the opportunity to do so. The third-round pick must prove the job isn't too big for him.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 1 overall

The easy answer here is Caleb Williams, the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. He's the face of the Bears now. A fast start would create a lot of momentum for an organization and city starving for a star at quarterback. On the other hand, a slow start could create anxiety from the fan base.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 24 overall

The Lions know they can compete against the big boys in the NFC (and across the NFL) but competing and overtaking are two different things. Detroit has several new faces in the secondary this season and Arnold could be the most important player of them all. He’s probably going to need to play at a high level quickly if the Lions are to continue their momentum toward the top.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 58 overall

The Packers were desperate to find a savvy safety to plug in next to star free-agent acquisition Xavier McKinney. Georgia laid out the blueprint for how to use Bullard and I expect Green Bay to follow suit. He's plays with good pattern recognition and is feisty in run support. The NFC North is becoming a dangerous place for defensive backs with so many potent passing offenses in the division, so Bullard's play will be a key for the Packers in 2024.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 17 overall

J.J. McCarthy could certainly fill this slot, especially if he wins the starting job for Week 1, but I expect the Vikings to take their time before moving him ahead of Sam Darnold on the depth chart. In the meantime, replacing Danielle Hunter's pressure and sack production is a more urgent task, which helps explain why Minnesota traded up six spots in Round 1 to grab Turner. He has the talent and traits to become a force off the edge, but there’s still room for growth. The blitz-happy Vikings have to hope Turner can help hunt the quarterback right away.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 8 overall

Penix is Atlanta’s pivotal rookie regardless of whether he plays much this year or not. The dead money that would result from moving on from Kirk Cousins' contract is far less prohibitive after the 2025 season. The emergence of Penix -- even if it were in practice or in spot duty in games -- would play a big role in determining when the team decides its ready for a transition at quarterback.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 32 overall

Legette is a big target with a strong desire to fight for the football once it’s in the air. The underlying theme for the Panthers for the foreseeable future will be finding help for Bryce Young. There isn’t a quick fix that will happen overnight, but it would be a huge win for Carolina if Legette emerges as a receiver Young can trust as his go-to guy in 2024.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 14 overall

Fuaga was one of the more polished pass protectors in the draft, but he’s switching from right tackle to left tackle as a rookie. The Saints have to find out if he has the foot quickness to handle the speed he will encounter at his new position. There are question marks elsewhere on the roster, but finding a steady left tackle is typically critical for any team hoping to compete for a playoff spot.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 89 overall

I believe Graham Barton is going to be a stud at center for the Bucs, but I view Smith as the more pivotal rookie in 2024. Head coach Todd Bowles has made it clear he’s already been impressed by Smith’s football intelligence and calm. It appears Tampa Bay is counting on the former Georgia Bulldog to man the nickel back spot from Day 1. Smith has a shot to improve the secondary and give Bowles what he needs at the position.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 43 overall

The Cardinals secondary has been an issue for years, and this season’s crop again has its work cut out for it considering the dynamic passing offenses in the NFC West. The most important player to come out of the 2024 draft for Arizona is wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., but Melton could be the most pivotal rookie. He might have to step in from the jump and prove he has the goods to become a quality starter.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 19 overall

Folks, I see Verse as the slight favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The loss of Aaron Donald to retirement will be tough to account for, but Verse's leverage and strength make him a candidate to help defend the run and rush the passer at a successful clip early in his career.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 64 overall

Green has a chance to step into a big role for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He is hypercompetitive as a run defender and in contesting catches. The 49ers are giving him reps outside and in the slot, and he possesses the talent to play either spot. Green was one of my favorite corners in the draft, and my guess is Niners fans will find out why as the season progresses.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 16 overall

Murphy is a three-down defender who has excellent power for his size. He can be a very disruptive penetrator in the NFL thanks to his leverage and quickness. Finding an interior rusher who can also handle run duties is tough, but Seattle did just that with its first-round selection.