Members of the 2024 draft class have had a few months to get acclimated to their new cities and teammates. Now it's time to see how they handle the best competition they've ever faced.
I've graded the performance of one notable rookie from each of this past week's 16 preseason contests to get a feel for how some of these newbies stack up at the start of their respective professional careers.
These evaluations are not predictions of how players will fare this upcoming season, nor are they long-term career projections. Each mark simply takes stock of how the rookie played in Week 3 of the 2024 preseason.
In the team's second series against the Colts on Thursday night, Burton was unable to shake defenders on a screen and could not get two hands up for a well-thrown deep ball because he was using one arm to get late separation. Burton started the second half strong, though, snatching a throw away from his frame on a 14-yard deep curl and then adjusting through contact to a poorly thrown back-shoulder throw to gain 21 yards. His final play of the game was a 21-yard touchdown catch -- he ran a fade and cradled the ball with two hands while keeping both feet in-bounds. Burton did a good job early on getting his hands on corners to block for the run game, though the intensity seemed to wear off as the game went on.
Steele went undrafted in April, but he's earning attention for his play as a power back and special-teamer this preseason. On his first carry against the Bears on Thursday, he sidestepped an unblocked defender to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage. Steele handled the ball on all three plays of a mid-second quarter drive, slaloming through traffic, powering through tackle attempts and stiff-arming a safety in the open field on a 31-yard run. He paid off the drive with a 1-yard score. His special-teams acumen was on display against Chicago. He chopped down the Bears' returner on the opening kickoff after overpowering his blocker and stopped a punt return later on. Steele returned a Bears kick to the 36-yard line with his patented downhill running style. He has some work to do as a lead blocker; he crumpled to the ground on third-and-1 in the first quarter after running into an offensive lineman.
Jones played in the slot in the second half of Friday’s win over Atlanta, showing his football IQ in communicating offensive shifts to his teammates and always maintaining proper leverage to force plays inside. The third-round pick was not tested through the air during the game, but he showed the quickness to stay with inside receivers. Jones could not avoid or disengage from blocks, however, like when he read an early fourth-quarter outside run but couldn't avoid a lineman, which provided a lane for a 20-yard gain (negated by penalty). On special teams in the first half, he twice blocked an Atlanta punt gunner out of bounds as the outside part of a double-team. His only tackle on the night came when he was unblocked on a kickoff midway through the first quarter.
Robinson received a rude welcome to Tampa when pancaked by right tackle Luke Goedeke on the first play of the Dolphins’ loss to the Buccaneers. Goedeke two-hand punched the rookie to the ground on a third down midway through the first quarter, as well. Robinson played some five-technique along with lining up wide, not necessarily giving up ground but struggling to get off blocks from starting tackles or tight ends. The first-rounder flashed the quickness to win the edge at times, especially when moving to the right side of the formation against backups in the second quarter. Robinson also displayed the hustle to chase down ball-carriers from behind, as he did when stopping a third-down screen midway through the second quarter for his only tackle. But he'll need to shed blocks more consistently if he wants to be more than a pass-rush specialist this season.
Glaze is pushing veteran Thayer Munford Jr. for the right tackle job, getting the start and playing two series against the Niners. Glaze was fluid in his kick-slide and anchored against bull rushes in pass protection to keep quarterback Nathan Peterman clean. Leading off his second series, he came off the ball quickly and moved his man on a run play. Glaze effectively blocked down on a defensive tackle on another pass play, showing excellent athleticism for the position. From what I've seen this summer, it looks as though Glaze can be a very good swing tackle as a rookie, if not a starter.
Ulofoshio's trying to be the next middle-round linebacker to excel with the Bills, but he saw some ups and downs in Buffalo’s loss to Carolina. Playing between the tackles, he found the ball through traffic for stops near the line of scrimmage early on. He also prevented an explosive rush from turning into a chunk gain late in the half. Ulofoshio exhibited toughness for his size (6-foot-1, 239 pounds), sticking a pulling guard in the second quarter and shedding to make the run stop. The fifth-round pick was used on blitzes but never got home. He ran with tight ends in coverage and dropped into zones adeptly but failed to stop a throw over the middle that went for 25 yards late in the third quarter. Ulofoshio shut down running back Jaden Shirden on a center screen on Carolina's two-point attempt on that drive. Shirden got revenge by heading upfield on a scramble drill on the next series, gaining 28 yards before Ulofoshio dragged him down.
The Steelers took Frazier in the second round to anchor their offensive line for the next decade. He looked like a player worthy of that billing against the Lions on Saturday. Veteran Cordarrelle Patterson ran for a 31-yard score on the first series, cutting off of Frazier’s block. The rookie turned a defensive tackle with his upper body to keep him out of the rushing lane on that play. On the second series, Frazier dominated against a linebacker on a run play, pancaked nose tackle Brodric Martin on another and then showed excellent feet to get a blocking angle on Martin on a goal-line run. Frazier showed the athleticism to block in space for a receiver screen early on and finished every play with attitude. It was an impressive performance.
Rosengarten is competing to start at right tackle, but he’ll need to improve on his mediocre play against Green Bay to hold onto the job when he gets his chance. Packers edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. easily shed the second-round pick to chase down a running back inside on Baltimore’s first play. On the second series, Rosengarten failed to reach-block a 3-technique on a run play, resulting in a tackle for loss. Cox knocked the rookie back with a strong punch on a third down, forcing quarterback Josh Johnson to unload a pass short of the sticks. Rosengarten did a better job of holding his ground against Cox and others in the second quarter but was inconsistent in his kick-slide, at times crossing his feet to stay with his man. The former Washington Huskie was certainly a willing run-blocker, whether crashing the edge to provide a lane or taking out a defender in space when leading on an outside toss in the mid-second quarter.
The sixth-rounder will need to make his living on special teams as a rookie, but he took 30 snaps on defense in the Texans’ win over the Rams. Los Angeles linemen often took him out of run plays early, but Hill used his quickness to beat a pulling guard to an outside run on the first series of the second half. His agility was evident when he picked up tight ends and receivers in coverage, which is something he might specialize in given his safety-like build. Hill forced his way into a couple of fourth quarter tackles against runs, but his relative lack of strength showed on a late touchdown run by the Rams where he was unable to shed a tight end block to get to the back.
Slowed this summer by a hamstring injury, DeJean had his first action against Minnesota on Saturday, exclusively playing at the nickel spot the Eagles hope he can handle as a rookie. He made a few run stops in three-plus quarters, diagnosing plays to outwit or out-quick blocking attempts by the slot receiver. DeJean kept his eyes in the backfield on a goal-line run early in the third quarter, stoning DeWayne McBride for a short gain, then came off the edge for a tackle for loss on a run blitz at the end of that quarter. In coverage, DeJean has the agility to stay with receivers; he was tested on a slot fade to Lucky Jackson early in the game and broke up the pass late. The Vikings nearly connected for a touchdown against the second-round pick at the end of the first half, but Jackson could not keep his feet in-bounds after winning the route. DeJean's physicality against receivers is clear, but he was inconsistent getting off blocks. He was also flagged for an illegal contact penalty that nullified an interception by Tristin McCollum.
New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh drafted Colson from Michigan to be a defensive leader. He looked like the real deal against Dallas on Saturday afternoon, showing a nice all-around game. Colson hustled to the ball between and outside the hashes, adding himself to piles wherever needed to ensure a stop. He found the ball through traffic for one tackle in the first series, then stoned his former Wolverines teammate, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, after the catch on third down in the red zone to force a field-goal attempt. Colson's physicality against blockers allowed him to make two run stops (one near the line, one at the second level) on the next drive. He displayed awareness in zone coverage, sticking to receivers in his area and taking on pass-catchers who tried to pick him off.
Stiggers was one of the best stories of the 2024 NFL Draft -- and he's surely hoping the final chapter is far from complete. The 2023 Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Rookie began his day by recovering a Giants fumble on the opening kickoff. Then, on the Jets' first defensive series, Stiggers showed his aggressiveness against the run by racking up a pair of cut tackles. He gave up an easy first down to Allen Robinson on third-and-3 in that series, though, stumbling when breaking on the ball. Stiggers also missed an open shot at a running back on a third-down blitz, failing to flatten down the line. He was a bit overaggressive early in the second quarter and was lucky to not receive a late-hit penalty on Isaiah McKenzie; he wasn't as fortunate on the next play, drawing a flag for pass interference after missing his jam at the line against a slant by Isaiah Hodgins. Stiggers ended the half on a good note, though, shedding a receiver block to cut down Robinson on a jet sweep.
Haynes came into the team's win over Cleveland late in the first quarter, playing with physicality and quickness. Browns tackles Shelby Harris and Siaki Ika tried to overpower the third-round pick, but Haynes absorbed the blows, carrying Harris out of the pocket and stoning Ika. Haynes got a piece of Browns linebacker Devin Bush on a combo block to free Kenny McIntosh for a 56-yard touchdown in the second quarter. However, a holding penalty (Haynes wrestled his man to the turf) nullified a touchdown on the next series. Haynes stayed in front of his man despite losing the hand battle on a couple of snaps on that series, and he also aggressively aided his left tackle in pass protection. At right guard in the second half, he blocked a linebacker downfield on one run play, anchored and moved his feet to sustain in one-on-one blocks and sent his man sprawling on a couple of occasions.
The Saints' first-round pick has been transitioning from his college position of right tackle to the blind side for his rookie season, and he played the first quarter against the Titans on Sunday, showing off his lateral agility in pass protection and mobility as a zone run blocker. The 2023 All-Pac-12 Conference selection at Oregon State was not particularly dominant in this contest, however; he was on the receiving end of more physicality than he doled out, and he was shed by smaller defenders instead of sustaining. On third-and-10 in the first series, Fuaga failed to pick up a defensive tackle that won against the left guard, resulting in a rushed incompletion and a punt. On the second series, Fuaga gave up a quarterback pressure to Caleb Murphy, who used a ghost move to win the edge.
With Marvin Harrison Jr. logging just three snaps all preseason for the Cardinals, Weaver was the rookie receiver making an impression against the Broncos on Sunday. The former USF and Colorado star created separation but could not quite reach a pass on an over route late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, he and quarterback Clayton Tune connected on the same play, with Weaver laying out for a 43-yard gain. The undrafted free agent played mostly outside but lined up in the slot for a crossing route, missing a high, hard pass from Tune. Weaver went back outside on the next play and grabbed a speed out for a first down. He returned two kickoffs and two punts. On the first kick return, he ran hard into open space, and on the second punt return, he made the first man miss and gained 10 yards. Weaver gave some effort as a positional blocker on run plays.
Maye took over for veteran Jacoby Brissett after the team's first series against the Commanders and gave Patriots fans reason to hope he can become a good starter down the road. The third overall pick showed some wheels, sprinting up the wide-open middle for 17 yards on third down. On second-and-2, Maye stepped up in the pocket to avoid pressure and placed an accurate throw to fellow rookie Ja'Lynn Polk for a 29-yard gain on an over route. The young passer capped the drive with a perfect throw to running back Kevin Harris on a stop route, allowing Harris to head down the sideline for an 18-yard score. Maye had rookie moments, too, fumbling a snap, double-clutching on two passes, sliding into pressure on occasion, throwing into traffic twice without incident and missing on a couple of throws (though a deep toss to his left may have connected had the receiver not slowed down on his route). Maye found some rhythm in the two-minute drill on his final series, keeping his eyes in the middle of the field before delivering a strike to rookie receiver Javon Baker for 16 yards and finding an open K.J. Osborn on a scramble drill for a 48-yard score that was nullified by an illegal formation penalty.
