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Friday, Feb 14, 2025 08:40 PM

NFL rookie grades: Ranking each 2024 draft class, from No. 1 to 32

Gennaro Filice

Deputy Editor, Written Content

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NFL rookie grades: Ranking each 2024 draft class, from No. 1 to 32

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With the 2024 NFL campaign fully in the rearview, it's officially draft season! Yep, mock madness is upon us. But before we completely shift focus to the next class of rookies, let's close the book on this past year's crop. Here’s my final ranking of all 32 rookie classes, with accompanying grades and analysis on the most notable newbies.

Rank
1
Washington Commanders
Class grade: A

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 5

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Yes, Jayden Daniels is the biggest reason Washington tops this ranking, but he isn’t the only reason. In his first draft as a general manager, Adam Peters selected impact starters on both sides of the football, helping the Commanders go from 4-13 cellar-dwellers to 12-5 NFC Championship Game participants. That said, Peters’ first pick did provide an outsized benefit, giving Washington the league’s most valuable commodity: a true franchise quarterback. Posting the highest completion percentage (69.0) and most rushing yards (891) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, Daniels tormented foes via arm and legs. Frankly, though, his most remarkable trait might be his eternally calm demeanor. No moment is too big, no task too daunting -- and that’s a quality reflected by courageous cover man Mike Sainristil. The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder was drafted to play nickel, but the Commanders’ perimeter cornerbacks couldn’t hold their own in the first two weeks of the season, so Washington sent Sainristil outside. The rookie answered the bell with aplomb, finishing the season with four interceptions, including two in Washington’s playoff upset of Detroit. Add in 15 starts at left tackle from Brandon Coleman as well as under-the-radar disruption from DT Jer'Zhan Newton, and one overriding sentiment becomes even more pronounced: It’s a brand new day for football in the nation’s capital.  

Rank
2
Los Angeles Rams
Class grade: A

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Les Snead used to say “F them picks.” Nowadays, them picks are paying serious F-ing dividends. OK, the Rams general manager has long maximized Los Angeles’ non-premium picks, routinely finding starters in the latter rounds of the draft. But last April, Snead made a first-round pick for the first time since Barack Obama was president, and that selection ran away with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Edge beast Jared Verse racked up the fourth-most pressures in the entire league during the regular season -- only trailing pass-rushing luminaries Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter and Trey Hendrickson, per Next Gen Stats -- and then terrorized the Vikings and Eagles in the playoffs. Los Angeles’ second-round pick, gap-shooting DT Braden Fiske, finished third in DROY voting. With these two joining 2023 draft steals Byron Young and Kobie Turner, the Rams have successfully mitigated the retirement of an all-time great defensive lineman (Aaron Donald) by infusing the front with a quartet of game wreckers. And, of course, Snead also did his usual value shopping in last year's prospect market, unearthing immediate contributors in the mid-to-late rounds (Beaux Limmer, Kamren Kinchens, Joshua Karty, Jordan Whittington) and after the draft was complete (Omar Speights, Jaylen McCollough). All in all, a master class in talent accumulation.

Rank
3
Los Angeles Chargers
Class grade: A-

Round 1

  • (No. 5) Joe Alt, OT | 16 games/starts

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7


The selection of Joe Alt wasn’t exactly surprising; a towering offensive lineman felt like the perfect first pick for the Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles. The only potential criticism was that the Chargers didn’t use the top selection to address a depleted receiver room suddenly devoid of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. No matter -- they checked that box one round later with Ladd McConkey. Both picks worked out swimmingly, particularly for the object of Harbaugh’s affection, Justin Herbert. Alt and Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater give Herbert a pair of robust bookends he can grow old with, while McConkey’s the kind of route artisan who quickly becomes a quarterback’s best friend. GM Joe Hortiz did some inspired work midway through Day 3 of the draft, snagging cornerbacks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart in the span of four picks. Despite being inactive for the first three weeks of the season, the ballhawking Still led the team with 10 passes defensed and four interceptions, including a 61-yard pick-six that provided the winning points in the 17-13 triumph at Atlanta.

Rank
4
Las Vegas Raiders
Class grade: A-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Hired on Jan. 23, 2024, and fired on Jan. 9, 2025, Tom Telesco spent less than a year as Raiders GM. And yet, his lone draft class looks like it will benefit the franchise for years to come. Telesco nailed his premium picks, starting with Brock Bowers. Precluded from quarterback courtship by an unprecedented run on the position -- six of the first 12 picks were QBs! -- Las Vegas came away with quite a consolation prize at No. 13. The only rookie to earn All-Pro recognition of any sort this season, Bowers rightfully received first-team honors, having led all tight ends in targets (153), catches (112), receiving yards (1,194) and yards after catch (596). On Day 2 of the draft, Telesco fortified the offensive line by selecting Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze, who each logged 14 starts. JPJ was particularly impressive, operating as a tone-setting bully across all three interior positions. Even the Raiders’ first pick of Day 3, fourth-round CB Decamerion Richardson, provided Year 1 returns, starting the final seven games of the season. Las Vegas’ roster remains underwhelming in many areas, but Telesco supplied an influx of talent in his first/last draft with the team.

Rank
5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Class grade: A-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


The running back position is returning to prominence in the NFL, while nickelback has never been hotter. So, kudos to you, Jason Licht, for uncovering a dynamic talent at each spot in the middle rounds of the '24 draft. The sixth running back selected in what was widely viewed as an underwhelming prospect crop at the position, Bucky Irving wasn’t just the best rookie RB but one of the most elusive players in the entire league. Next Gen Stats credited him with forcing a missed tackle on 35.8 percent of touches -- the top rate in the NFL (min. 100 touches). NGS also had him averaging 5.5 yards per carry on rushes outside the tackles (fifth-best, min. 50 such carries) and 5.3 yards per carry on rushes inside the tackles (second-best). Oh, and he paced all rookie backs in catches (47) and receiving yards (392). Just an all-around baller -- like Tykee Smith, who flourished in the nickel role as a savvy defender against the run and pass. With Todd Bowles praising the versatile DB throughout his rookie campaign, the only thing that really held Smith back was a midseason knee injury that cost him four games. It’s a testament to Irving and Smith's stellar play that I’m only now getting to Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, Graham Barton, who provided exactly what the Buccaneers desired at the pivot. Like Irving, Barton played a huge role in the Bucs’ rushing offense vaulting from dead last in 2023 to fourth in ’24. In the passing game, Jalen McMillan started slow but finished with a flurry, catching seven touchdown passes in the last five weeks of the regular season. 

Rank
6
New York Giants
Class grade: A-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Notable free agent signees


With Saquon Barkley turning in one of the greatest campaigns ever by an NFL running back, the season felt like a six-month dunk contest on Joe Schoen. But here in draftland, the Giants general manager deserves love. Quibble with the decision to not take a quarterback if you like -- Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy were all available at No. 6 overall -- but New York added a bushel of starters, beginning with rookie Pro Bowler Malik Nabers. Combining a dog mentality with dynamic playmaking ability, Nabers posted spectacular numbers (109/1,204/7) while catching passes from an unspectacular cast of quarterbacks (Daniel Jones/Drew Lock/Tommy DeVito/Tim Boyle). And he wasn’t the only first-year player to infuse New York’s offense with some much-needed juice. Tyrone Tracy Jr., who spent most of his college career as a wide receiver, showcased dual-threat ability out of the backfield, while Theo Johnson started 11 games at tight end before breaking his foot on Thanksgiving. Defensively, the secondary remained suspect in 2024 -- particularly at outside corner -- but the Giants added a pair of versatile building blocks in nickelback Andru Phillips and safety Tyler Nubin. Phillips especially stood out as an edgy playmaker.

Rank
7
Philadelphia Eagles
Class grade: A-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6


A Super Bowl-winning group! And these rookies weren’t just along for the ride, either, as we all saw in the 40-22 demolition of Kansas City. Each of Philadelphia’s first three draft picks had a memorable moment in an eye-popping second quarter that essentially secured the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy:


  • With the Chiefs starting their third drive backed up against their own goal line, Patrick Mahomes attempted to create some space with a short pass to Noah Gray in the flat, but first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell flew up the field and walloped the 240-pound tight end, accentuating the booming hit with a flex that underscored a growing feeling at that point in the game: These Eagles are just too physically dominant for the back-to-back champs. That notion became reality on the very next drive, when ...
  • ... Mahomes was swarmed for back-to-back sacks, with Jalyx Hunt getting in on the second one. Having started his college career as a safety at Cornell before switching to edge at FCS Houston Christian, Hunt arrived in Philadelphia as a developmental third-round pick and barely played in the first couple months of the season. But down the stretch, the rookie became a key rotational piece in the Eagles’ loaded front, logging his most defensive snaps of the season (42) in the NFC Championship Game before taking down Mahomes on Super Bowl Sunday. And that sack set up the coup de grâce on the very next play, when ...
  • ... Cooper DeJean snuck into Mahomes’ throwing lane and returned an interception 38 yards for an electrifying touchdown that gave Philly a 17-0 lead. A prolific playmaker during his time at Iowa, DeJean fell into Howie Roseman’s lap in Round 2 because some questioned whether he was a cornerback or a safety. Well, after the Eagles’ Week 5 bye, Vic Fangio stuck him at nickel, a savvy move that turned out to be a force multiplier for the entire defense. And for the record, DeJean finished the season as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded corner, with a few points of separation between him and No. 2, Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II.
Rank
8
San Francisco 49ers
Class grade: B+

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


San Francisco’s first-round pick, Ricky Pearsall, missed most of OTAs, minicamp and training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries. Then he missed the first six games of the season after suffering a gunshot wound in an attempted robbery. And yet, despite all that lost time, he showed plenty of potential down the stretch, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the final two weeks of the season. But the 49ers obviously don’t crack the top 10 on this list because of that pick -- rather, this ranking is fueled by the four selections that followed. Second-rounder Renardo Green really came on with increased playing time in the second half of the season, ultimately setting the franchise’s rookie record with 13 pass breakups. Third-rounder Dominick Puni was a stud from stem to stern, starting all 17 games at right guard and leading the entire team in snaps. An agile weapon in the run game, Puni shined in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, and his mature approach drew steady praise from veteran teammates. In the fourth round, San Francisco found two staples of this regime: a hard-hitting safety (Malik Mustapha) and a dangerous one-cut back (Isaac Guerendo).

Rank
9
Baltimore Ravens
Class grade: B+

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Baltimore only had two rookies log more than 60 snaps on offense or defense ... but those two fulfilled enormous needs on each side of the ball. Over the first 10 weeks of the season, the Ravens gave up 294.9 passing yards per game -- the worst figure in the league by more than 30 yards. From Week 11 through their Divisional Round loss, they only allowed two teams to reach 200 yards through the air. Many accurately pointed to Kyle Hamilton’s transition to more of a deep-safety role and Marlon Humphrey’s move to nickel as two big reasons for this striking turnaround, but Nate Wiggins’ increased playing time and growth over the course of the season played a major part. The cornerback’s slight frame led to pre-draft concerns about his physicality, but he played with an edge in Zach Orr’s defense. And his 4.28 speed kept him right in the hip pocket of receivers, as the sticky cover man finished the season allowing a completion rate of just 47.8 percent -- the third-lowest figure among all cornerbacks who faced at least 30 targets, per Next Gen Stats. On offense, Baltimore had major questions on the line last offseason, needing to replace three starters. Fortunately, the Ravens pounced on Roger Rosengarten near the end of the second round. Despite being the 11th offensive tackle off the board, Rosengarten proved to be a godsend for Baltimore. The rookie entered the starting lineup at right tackle in Week 4 -- allowing the uber-versatile Patrick Mekari to shift to left guard -- and the line wound up being a strength for an offense that finished first in total yards and rushing yards while tying for the third-fewest sacks allowed.

Rank
10
Green Bay Packers
Class grade: B+

Round 1

Round 2

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Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7


I obnoxiously contend that the judgment of this particular class could effectively separate casuals from ball knowers. Injuries ruined the 2024 season for the Packers’ first-round pick (OL Jordan Morgan) and third-round running back (MarShawn Lloyd), which could lead one to think Green Bay didn’t get much from this draft crop. Expressing that notion would be a mistake. Linebacker, safety and nickelback don’t get the attention of many other positions, but they’re three areas in which the Packers received significant rookie returns. Despite getting off to a slow start and eventually missing three games altogether due to some injuries of his own, LB Edgerrin Cooper stuffed the stat sheet as a rangy force against the run and pass, ultimately earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. Evan Williams also received that honor, proving his worth as a savvy playmaker on the back end. With the drafting of Williams and the signing of Xavier McKinney, the safety position went from being a major weakness in 2023 to an unquestioned strength. Javon Bullard, who split his time between safety and nickelback, wasn’t quite as exceptional as Cooper and Williams, but he did start 11 games and pile up 90 tackles.

Rank
11
Denver Broncos
Class grade: B

Round 1

  • (No. 12) Bo Nix, QB | 17 games/starts

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


I need to admit something: I seriously doubted Bo Nix. As a man who cherishes college football equally to the pro game, I remember the quarterback’s deterioration at Auburn and stubbornly refused to buy into his Oregon renaissance. When Denver drafted him 12th overall -- as the sixth(!) quarterback off the board -- I scoffed at the trendy take that Sean Payton had his new Drew Brees. And when Nix struggled mightily in September -- SEE: a 1:4 TD-to-INT ratio with a 62.5 passer rating and a miniscule average of 4.8 yards per attempt -- I felt a smug satisfaction for fading the most experienced starting quarterback in college football history. 


But then something happened on the way to confirming my priors on Nix: He made me look like an idiot.


From October through the end of the regular season, Nix posted sparkling numbers (68.3% completion rate, 28:8 TD-to-INT, 7.3 ypa, 103.2 passer rating) and guided the Broncos to their first postseason appearance since the Super Bowl-winning season of 2015. Yeah, Denver was blown off the field at Buffalo on Wild Card Weekend, but Nix personally acquitted himself just fine in his playoff debut.


Consequently, I’ve become a Bo believer. And given the promising contributions from other rookies like WR Devaughn Vele, OLB Jonah Elliss, CB Kris Abrams-Draine and OLB Dondrea Tillman, I do think Payton could be building something special in Denver.

Rank
12
Pittsburgh Steelers
Class grade: B

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 6

Notable free agent signees


Some people have issues with Pro Football Focus’ grading system, particularly when it comes to offensive linemen. Fair enough. I think it’s a nice data point. And when it comes to the center position, I can’t imagine anyone scoffing at the site’s top three players in 2024: Creed Humphrey, Frank Ragnow and Tyler Linderbaum. Those are the usual Pro Bowl suspects. But among pivots who played double-digit games this past season, the fourth-highest graded player might take some by surprise: rookie Zach Frazier. While an injury robbed Pittsburgh’s offensive line of first-round pick Troy Fautanu, the unit benefited greatly from the second-round center, who brings the kind of nasty Yinzers revere. The O-line also found something in Mason McCormick. Pressed into service by injuries in late September, the fourth-round guard out of South Dakota State ended up as a 14-game starter, largely looking the part, especially as a pass blocker.


Defensively, the Steelers received Year 1 stat-stuffage from linebacker Payton Wilson and nickelback Beanie Bishop Jr. Each exhibited a knack for playmaking, as evidenced by Bishop’s four picks and Wilson’s three takeaways, including a 21-yard scoop-and-score in a shootout win over Cincinnati.

Rank
13
Jacksonville Jaguars
Class grade: B

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7


The NFL was blessed with a special crop of rookie receivers last year. That seemed to be the case when the draft saw a record-tying seven wideouts selected in Round 1, and the 2024 campaign served as confirmation, with three first-year WRs crossing the 1,000-yard mark, also tying a league record. So, with one season in the books, how do these talented pass catchers stack up against each other? Well, if we re-drafted 2024 rookies today, I’d enter the exercise with the following receiver rankings, going eight deep to provide a solid sample: 


  1. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
  3. Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
  4. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
  5. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
  6. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
  7. Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  8. Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills


That’s right: BTJ tops the board. Amid a talented group of pass catchers offering varied skill sets, the Jaguars receiver offers intoxicating traits (most notably, world-class speed) and Pro Bowl production (87/1,282/10). Add in valuable first-year returns from nickelback Jarrian Jones and kicker Cam Little, and this rookie class is probably ranked too low.

Rank
14
Tennessee Titans
Class grade: B

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


T’Vondre Sweat surprised many when he refused to weigh in at last year’s Senior Bowl and disappointed everyone when he was arrested for a DWI just weeks before the draft. Many figured the 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year would suffer a slide down the draft board. But early in the second round, Tennessee pounced. Having flown out to meet with Sweat and his family a week before making the selection, the Titans felt confident investing in the 6-4, 366-pound defensive tackle. Sweat rewarded the team’s faith in Year 1, piling up 51 tackles as a run-stuffing force while increasingly pushing the pocket into the quarterback’s lap as the season transpired. This clearly wasn’t a banner season in Nashville, with the Titans finishing in the AFC South cellar for a second straight year. But the beastly DT duo of Sweat and Pro Bowler Jeffery Simmons gives the downtrodden team the makings of an identity. 


Sweat wasn’t the only gargantuan addition to the Tennessee trenches. The Titans spent their first-round pick on offensive tackle JC Latham, and the 6-6, 342-pounder manned the blind side all season long, not missing a single offensive snap. With Latham lining up next to left guard Peter Skoronski, Tennessee’s first-round pick in 2023 who also played every offensive snap in 2024, the Titans have a nice combo to build around on the offensive front, too.

Rank
15
Chicago Bears
Class grade: B-

Round 1

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5


When a team holds a pair of top-10 draft picks, a hype train forms. And when that team spends those picks on a quarterback and a wide receiver, the hype train takes off. Then it’s on the rookies to keep up. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze couldn’t manage that. Not that Williams and Odunze were abjectly bad in Year 1; they just failed to meet lofty expectations. 


Let’s start, per usual, with the quarterback. Williams flashed the enticing skill set that made him one of the more ballyhooed prospects in recent memory, but consistency was a problem. While he set Bears rookie records for passing yards (3,541) and passing touchdowns (20) -- and threw an NFL rookie-record 354 consecutive passes without an interception -- he suffered bouts of inaccuracy and took a league-high 68 sacks. No, the shoddy offensive line didn’t help, but frankly, Williams often just held on to the ball too long. The stirring arm talent and athleticism are still there, though, and I suspect new head coach Ben Johnson will make the most of them.


Odunze finished his debut campaign with a solid receiver slash line (54/734/3), but he struggled to carve out a prominent role on a weekly basis. In fairness, he joined an offense with many veteran mouths to feed -- most notably, target-hog wideouts DJ Moore and Keenan Allen -- and suffered the knock-on effects of playing with a rookie quarterback. I also expect the new coaching regime to spur a sophomore surge for this big-bodied wideout.

Rank
16
New Orleans Saints
Class grade: B-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


The Saints entered the draft with just two picks in the first four rounds, but they addressed two areas of need with a pair of quality first-year performers. First-round selection Taliese Fuaga was a mauling right tackle at Oregon State, but New Orleans immediately installed him on the blind side, where 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning had failed. Fuaga fared much better than his predecessor, starting all 17 games and yielding just one sack in the final nine, according to PFF’s charting. He had some issues with speed rushers like Denver's Nik Bonitto, but the entire body of work was highly encouraging. In the second round, New Orleans traded up four slots to grab Kool-Aid McKinstry. Touted in the pre-draft process as a well-rounded corner with a mature game, McKinstry took over as a full-time starter following Paulson Adebo’s season-ending injury and Marshon Lattimore’s trade to Washington. The results? Not too shabby. Despite playing a position where it is notoriously difficult to transition from the college game to the pros, Kool-Aid didn’t look out of place in the NFL.


Mickey Loomis didn’t make his third selection until No. 150, where he snared Spencer Rattler. A fifth-round pick who was prematurely dropped into the starting lineup due to Derek Carr’s injury, Rattler looked like … a fifth-round pick who was prematurely dropped into the starting lineup, going 0-6 with twice as many turnovers as touchdowns. Lastly, undrafted punter Matthew Hayball didn’t display the biggest leg, but he did lead the league with 41 punts downed inside the 20.

Rank
17
Houston Texans
Class grade: B-

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 6

Round 7


With C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense taking a step back in 2024, DeMeco Ryans’ defense largely carried Houston to a second straight AFC South title. Edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter earned most of the acclaim as one of the most devastating duos in football, and Derek Stingley Jr.’s emergence as a truly elite cover man certainly played a significant part in the unit’s success, but so did the debut performances of two rookie DBs.


Kamari Lassiter entered the league with major questions about his long speed at a position that typically demands it, but the gritty, instinctive corner had no trouble sticking with NFL wideouts in Year 1. Just ask the good folks over at Next Gen Stats, who credited Lassiter with the lowest completion percentage allowed (45.6) among all corners who faced at least 30 targets. Lassiter certainly made his mark in the Texans’ playoff win over the Chargers, high-pointing a ball for an impressive pick and then delivering a vicious open-field hit on the Bolts’ very next possession. Calen Bullock’s play was a bit more uneven than his rookie secondary mate’s, but the rangy center fielder led all first-year players with five interceptions and earned a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Rank
18
New England Patriots
Class grade: B-

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Last April, New England drafted without Bill Belichick for the first time this millennium. So, how did Eliot Wolf perform in his first draft as de facto general manager? Well, that’s an interesting question …


Drake Maye certainly looks like an enticing quarterback to build a franchise around. The rookie's numbers don’t pop off the stat sheet, but Maye was thrown into a horrendous environment, with the Patriots arguably fielding the worst offensive line and worst skill-player group in the entire league. The fact that Maye was able to survive -- while showcasing elite arm strength, potent running ability and unshakable moxie -- is a huge win for the organization. But how much credit does Wolf get for making the pick that fell into his lap, with the other two Tier 1 QB prospects off the board when New England came on the clock at No. 3?


What did the Pats get from the rest of the rookie class? Not much at all. Fourth-round guard Layden Robinson started 11 games, but remember what I just said about New England’s offensive line? After Maye, the two most promising returns probably came from a pair of reserves: undrafted safety Dell Pettus and toolsy backup quarterback Joe Milton III.


So why does this rookie class crack the top 20? Quarterback’s kind of important, and I’m bullish on Maye.

Rank
19
Seattle Seahawks
Class grade: C+

Round 1

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6


With Mike Macdonald as his defensive coordinator in Baltimore, Nnamdi Madubuike blossomed into an absolute game wrecker on the defensive interior, tallying 13 sacks in 2023 to earn second-team All-Pro honors and a $98 million contract extension. So, it made perfect sense when the Seahawks’ first draft pick of the Macdonald era was a similarly compact defensive tackle who also wins with explosiveness and leverage. But Byron Murphy II didn’t exactly terrorize opposing quarterbacks in 2024, finishing his rookie campaign with half a sack. Now, Madubuike himself certainly wasn’t an instant-impact pass rusher in the NFL, and Murphy did miss three-plus games early with a hamstring injury. Also, QB hunting clearly isn’t the sole focus of a DT. Murphy played a big part in Seattle’s substantial improvement as a run defense, and his ability to eat double teams undoubtedly helped fuel Leonard Williams’ career year. It wasn’t a poor season for the No. 16 overall pick, but he didn’t deliver the kind of splash plays that made him a trendy preseason choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year.


While the Seahawks’ first-rounder fell short of expectations, their two fourth-rounders exceeded them. Macdonald spent the first couple months of the season trying to find the right mix at linebacker. Trading for Ernest Jones IV certainly helped, but don’t overlook the impact Tyrice Knight made as a tackling machine in the second half of the season. AJ Barner was overshadowed in his one year at Michigan by Colston Loveland -- a projected first-round pick in this April’s draft -- but he developed a nice rapport with Geno Smith in Seattle, hauling in four touchdown grabs.

Rank
20
Indianapolis Colts
Class grade: C+

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

  • (234) Jonah Laulu, DT | 0 games/starts (17 games w/ LV)

Notable free agent signees


After the 2024 draft kicked off with an unprecedented run of 14 straight offensive selections, Chris Ballard had his pick of the defensive litter. The Colts GM gladly scooped up Laiatu Latu, memorably cackling as he pronounced, “We got the best f---ing rusher in the draft!” That wasn’t exactly the case in Year 1, as Rams edge Jared Verse -- selected four picks after Latu -- rampaged his way to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Latu did show some pass-rushing chops, though, as Next Gen Stats credited him with a respectable 42 pressures to go along with four sacks and three forced fumbles. He wasn’t great, he wasn’t lousy, he was ... solid. That descriptor largely sums up this draft class for Indianapolis. Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini both showed promise as injury replacements on the offensive line, which is notable, with C Ryan Kelly and RG Will Fries now a month away from free agency. Meanwhile, converted safety Jaylon Carlies gave the Colts quality coverage at the linebacker position. The one truly disappointing pick was Adonai Mitchell. Ballard went to bat for the second-round pick, colorfully disparaging pre-draft questions about Mitchell’s attitude, but the wide receiver was largely MIA in Year 1.

Rank
21
Arizona Cardinals
Class grade: C+

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7


Coming out of the receiver factory at Ohio State as the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner and son of a Hall of Fame wideout, Marvin Harrison Jr. entered the NFL with GREAT expectations. So, when he failed to produce the kind of Pro Bowl debut that has become en vogue at WR in recent years, questions arose about his game. Why can’t he separate? Where are the contested-catch skills? What is his trump card? Some of these questions are valid, to be sure. But I also think it’s useful to take a step back and remember that the 22-year-old comfortably led Arizona's receiver room in targets (116), receptions (62) and yards (885) while pacing the entire team in yards per catch (14.3) and touchdown grabs (eight). More inconsistent play from roller-coaster QB Kyler Murray didn’t help Harrison’s production, and it felt like the Cardinals failed to tap into the big-bodied target’s polished route-running ability. While MHJ didn’t immediately take the league by storm, freaking out about his long-term upside after one season feels rash.


Unfortunately, Arizona’s second first-round pick, Darius Robinson, was far less productive, thanks to a calf injury that sidelined him for the first three months of the season. As a whole, the Cardinals’ rookie class -- which included an NFL-high 12 draft picks -- underwhelmed. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Max Melton flashed in the secondary, while Isaiah Adams started the last five games of the season at right guard.

Rank
22
Miami Dolphins
Class grade: C

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Notable free agent signees


Chop Robinson didn’t record his first NFL sack until November, yet he was a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist. How does that happen? Well, in the second half of the season, the explosive edge was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the entire league, not just the rookie class. Over the final 10 weeks, Robinson ranked sixth with 40 pressures, racking up six sacks in the process. His definitive trait? A lightning-quick first step. Per Next Gen Stats, Robinson had an average get-off of 0.75 seconds. That’s near the top of the league, edging out twitchy Pro Bowlers Nik Bonitto (0.76) and Micah Parsons (0.77).


As for the rest of the rookies in Miami, they didn’t provide much. Patrick Paul was drafted as a developmental tackle, and that’s largely what he looked like in limited work. That said, he did show well in a Week 15 spot start at Houston, holding his own against the Texans’ terrifying tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

Rank
23
Atlanta Falcons
Class grade: C

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It was hard to glean much from this group, as only one of Atlanta’s rookies ever entered the starting lineup. Shoot, only one even reached 200 offensive or defensive snaps on the season. But that one? Yeah, he was pretty intriguing.


With Kirk Cousins starting the first 14 games, we didn’t see much of Michael Penix Jr. But the limited viewing certainly left me wanting more, especially following the dazzling display of arm talent in the season finale. The Falcons lost that game to the Panthers in overtime, 44-38, but Penix essentially won the starting job for 2025. Spraying lasers all over the field, the rookie cooked Carolina for 312 yards and two touchdowns through the air, with a scrambling, diving score on the ground. Yeah, he also had an interception, but the ball bounced off his receiver’s hands. The only real drawback in the performance was the substandard completion rate (21-38, 55.3%), though that was partially due to Penix’s fearlessness as a thrower. The man has a rocket, and he likes to test its limits -- often to his team’s benefit. In that one game against Carolina, PFF credited Penix with a whopping seven “big-time throws” -- Cousins had 13 of those in the entire season.

Rank
24
New York Jets
Class grade: C

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Notable free agent signees


Blocked by veterans early and sidelined by plantar fasciitis late, Olu Fashanu had an abbreviated debut campaign. But in his seven starts, the athletic bookend displayed the kind of pass-blocking prowess that validated his first-round selection. Poised to enter next season as the starter at left tackle, Fashanu could be a foundational piece on this roster for years to come. So, while many Jets fans spent much of the season ruing the decision to pass on tight end Brock Bowers at No. 11 overall, Fashanu looks like he could be the kind of “dancing bear” who fulfills one of football’s most important duties: shoring up the blind side. Now, it’s not hard to understand why this fanbase looked so longingly at Bowers; despite plenty of star power on offense, New York lacked playmaking ability. The Jets got next to nothing from Malachi Corley. In fact, the third-round pick’s most memorable play was the touchdown he didn’t score. On the plus side, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis each flashed enticing big-back ability.

Rank
25
Cincinnati Bengals
Class grade: C

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Notable free agent signees


Of the record-tying eight offensive tackles selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Amarius Mims was the least experienced, having started just eight games during his three years at Georgia. He eclipsed that total in Year 1 as a Bengal, starting 13 games at right tackle and acquitting himself pretty well, especially in the second half of the season. The rookie wasn’t perfect, but he supplied plenty of inspired work, notably holding his own against edge monsters like Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons. All in all, Mims looks like a boon to Joe Burrow. The same cannot be said for third-round pick Jermaine Burton. Dogged by character concerns entering the NFL, the wide receiver was reprimanded multiple times by the team and accused of assault. Asked last month by the Cincinnati Enquirer what Burton has done to reserve a spot on the roster, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin didn’t stutter: “He's done nothing, and he's going to have to start doing something quickly.” Another thing that doesn’t help Burrow: Tight end Erick All, who showcased enticing ability as a pass catcher and blocker before tearing his ACL in November, is reportedly expected to miss the entire 2025 campaign due to complications in his rehab. Getting back to the positive aspects of this rookie class, though, undrafted free-agent signee Ryan Rehkow received the nod at punter on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. That 80-yard boot all the way back in the first quarter of the season wasn’t a fluke.

Rank
26
Dallas Cowboys
Class grade: C

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Notable free agent signees


Jerry Jones catches a lot of flak as an owner doubling as general manager, but the Cowboys have culled premium talent from many a draft. Unfortunately, that hot hand has cooled of late, with Dallas looking at a second straight rookie class that leaves much to be desired. The most impactful selection -- by far -- was third-round pick Cooper Beebe. After Tyler Biadasz followed Dan Quinn to Washington in free agency, the Cowboys had a hole at the center of the offensive line. Beebe started 48 games for Kansas State at tackle and guard, but he never manned the pivot. Regardless, Dallas put him there to open the season, and he stuck, turning in 16 starts of mostly good play. The Cowboys’ other third-round pick, Marist Liufau, showed growth over the course of the season. The linebacker could be in line for a big role in 2025, considering DeMarvion Overshown’s status for next season is completely up in the air after he suffered a major knee injury in December.


Dallas’ first two picks, LT Tyler Guyton and DE Marshawn Kneeland, struggled with injuries and inefficiency. Guyton, who started just 14 games at tackle in college, was always going to be a project -- which left many to first-guess his first-round selection.

Rank
27
Carolina Panthers
Class grade: C

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In the wake of a rough 2023 season for No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, Carolina spent three of its first four picks in the 2024 draft on offensive weapons. The results weren’t ideal. Xavier Legette certainly doesn’t lack for raw athleticism, but the receiver struggled to corral the football, most memorably in the near-upset of Philadelphia. Running back Jonathon Brooks, who tore his ACL in his final college season, didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 12. Two weeks later, he retore that ACL. Ja'Tavion Sanders showed the most promise of this trio, potentially giving the Panthers a true receiving threat at tight end for the first time since Greg Olsen exited stage. Frankly, though, Carolina’s best gift to Young didn’t even come from the draft. Undrafted free-agent signee Jalen Coker proved to be quite a find as a reliable, big-bodied target with route polish.


Defensively, Trevin Wallace was pressed into service by Shaq Thompson’s season-ending injury in late September, and the rookie linebacker performed pretty admirably, especially as a coverage player, before hitting injured reserve himself with a shoulder issue. Chau Smith-Wade eventually took over as the team’s starting nickel, but he also finished the season on IR. Like Coker on offense, Demani Richardson was found money on defense, starting five games after going undrafted.

Rank
28
Detroit Lions
Class grade: C-

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Notable free agent signees


Like Philadelphia, Detroit drafted cornerbacks in the first two rounds. Unlike Philadelphia, Detroit didn't enjoy immediate Super Bowl-winning returns. Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s season was waylaid by injuries, so it’s hard to judge his actual performance. Terrion Arnold, on the other hand, basically started the entire season -- and he experienced significant growing pains, particularly in a flag-filled opening month. In his defense, cornerbacks face one of the most difficult transitions from college to pro, largely because NFL rules are much stricter when it comes to policing and punishing contact in coverage. On top of that, Aaron Glenn runs one of the most man-heavy defenses in the NFL. Per PFF, Arnold comfortably led the league in man-coverage snaps. Essentially, Detroit threw this rookie right into the fire and then doused him with gasoline. He didn’t thrive, but he survived, showing progress as the season transpired. So long as Arnold maintains the self confidence that we all saw back on draft night in Detroit -- when he memorably hit the stage and told a raucous crowd of Lions fans “Y’all got yourself a star” -- I could see a major step forward in Year 2.


Beyond those first two picks, Detroit’s most notable returns came via Christian Mahogany (who excelled in a pair of spot starts at guard, one of which came in the postseason) and Sione Vaki (the RB/DB who got the special teamer nod on the PFWA All-Rookie Team).

Rank
29
Kansas City Chiefs
Class grade: C-

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Kansas City’s first two picks loomed large in Super Bowl LIX, even though only one of them played in the blowout loss. Let’s start with the good. Xavier Worthy steadily progressed over the course of the season, becoming the Chiefs’ go-to guy down the stretch. Catching at least five passes in seven straight starts leading into Super Bowl Sunday, Worthy saved his best for last, corralling all eight of his targets for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, most of the production came after the game was already decided, but the rookie’s first 100-yard effort might have been the only silver lining of a K.C. nightmare. Speaking of nightmares, the Chiefs’ offensive line was a ticking time bomb all season long, ultimately exploding on football’s biggest stage. While both bookends proved problematic, the left tackle spot was the constant issue Andy Reid had to scheme around. Second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia started the first two games in September but struggled so mightily he spent the rest of the season as a reserve, not playing a snap in the Super Bowl. No one’s saying Suamataia can’t take significant strides this offseason and re-emerge as a factor in Year 2, but he clearly wasn’t ready to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side in Year 1.

Rank
30
Buffalo Bills
Class grade: D+

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Notable free agent signees

Notable trade additions


The biggest pre-draft question about Keon Coleman was whether he could separate at the NFL level, with his 4.61 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine only furthering concerns. His supporters countered that separation knock by touting his contested-catch ability, but he struggled in both areas as a rookie. His inability to separate was clear to the naked eye but also underscored by a number of Next Gen Stats metrics. Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus charted that Coleman received 19 contested targets and caught just seven, giving him a subpar conversion rate of 36.8 percent. Frankly, following a November wrist injury that sidelined him for a month, Coleman struggled to find a connection with Josh Allen on any sort of pass, catching just 10 of his 29 targets over the final seven games (playoffs included).


The rest of the class was pretty unremarkable, though Ray Davis provided some juice in the backfield and Cole Bishop played decent in spot duty at safety, racking up a team-high 10 tackles in the AFC Championship Game.

Rank
31
Minnesota Vikings
Class grade: D

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Notable free agent signees


Yet another reason why Kevin O’Connell won Coach of the Year: He guided the Vikings to 14 wins despite receiving minimal returns from the rookie class. Minnesota’s two first-round picks were beset by injury (QB J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in the preseason opener) and inefficacy (OLB Dallas Turner’s growing pains overshadowed the flashes of three sacks and a pick). Tragically, the Vikings’ third selection, fourth-round cornerback Khyree Jackson, died in a car accident just a few months after joining the team. Sixth-round kicker Will Reichard easily provided the most significant contributions, but a quadricep strain abruptly upended his red-hot start and sent him to the sideline for four games. Down the stretch, he wasn’t as reliable.

Rank
32
Cleveland Browns
Class grade: D-

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Notable free agent signees


The Browns only made two selections in the first 150 picks, and those two players were the only rookies to reach 200 offensive/defensive snaps on the season for the team. Ironically, Michael Hall Jr. and Zak Zinter joined forces in Cleveland after battling against each other in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. In fact, the Wolverine (Zinter) had his college career come to an abrupt end when the Buckeye (Hall) was blocked into his leg, resulting in a broken tibia and fibula. Despite the injury, Zinter still appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, logging three starts. But he struggled mightily in pass protection, allowing pressures and sacks at high rates. Perhaps he was still feeling the effects of a major injury. As for Hall, he was suspended for the first five games after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge, missed four more contests due to a midseason knee injury and then was carted off the field in the season finale, with GM Andrew Berry saying he suffered a knee injury that will require months of recovery. When Hall played, he created plenty of interior disruption, but now we'll need to see how his recovery goes. Seventh-rounder Jowon Briggs exhibited potential as a rotational DT in a late-season audition, but like the Browns’ 2024 campaign as a whole, the rookie class largely failed to inspire.