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RotoBaller dives into every NFL team's best and worst rookies from 2024. Which rookies exceeded expectations and who fell short of performing where they should?
The Best and Worst 2024 NFL Rookies for All 32 Teams
The 2024 NFL season is now firmly in the rearview. But with NFL training camps just around the corner, every team will begin to take stock of their rosters for the upcoming season. Read ahead, as we highlight the best and worst 2024 rookie seasons for every NFL team.
Arizona Cardinals
Best 2024 Rookie: Marvin Harrison Jr.,WR – Not sure anyone could have lived up to the hype that Harrison Jr. came into the NFL with. While he didn’t put forth superstar-type numbers, 885 receiving yards and eight TDs in a rookie campaign is rock solid. It feels like he’ll only go up from there as he continues to develop chemistry with QB Kyler Murray.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Darius Robinson, DL – It’s not fair to be overly critical of Robinson, as he dealt with a calf injury and rehab setbacks, as well as the tragic passing of his mother, during his rookie season in Arizona. Limited to just six games in 2024, lots of question marks remain about what type of player the first-round pick will be in his second season.
Atlanta Falcons
Best 2024 Rookie: Michael Penix Jr., QB – Atlanta’s most controversial 2024 draft pick ended up becoming the team’s most encouraging rookie last season. While many analysts were flabbergasted by Atlanta’s decision to select Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick, he looked every bit like the franchise’s future QB in relief of Kirk Cousins down the stretch last season.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL – It’s always tough to ping a player due to injury, but Atlanta’s second-round pick out of Clemson undoubtedly left the Falcons wanting more after his 2024 rookie campaign. Orhorhoro missed half the year with an ankle injury and managed just 11 total tackles in the eight games he suited up.
Baltimore Ravens
Best 2024 Rookie: Roger Rosengarten, OT – This was a tough call, as cornerback Nate Wiggins played at a very high level down the stretch for Baltimore. However, we’ll give the honors to Rosengarten, the 11th offensive tackle off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. Rosengarten entered the Ravens lineup at right tackle in Week 4 and never looked back. The rookie started 14 games and appears to be on a path to being a fixture on Baltimore’s line for years to come.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Devontez Walker, WR – Despite Baltimore’s relative lack of depth at the wide receiver position in 2024, the fourth-round pick out of North Carolina failed to crack the regular rotation or make an impact with limited opportunities. Walker finished his rookie campaign with just one catch for 21 yards and a TD.
Buffalo Bills
Best 2024 Rookie: Ray Davis, RB – There wasn’t a lot of star-power in Buffalo’s 2024 rookie class, but Davis perhaps brought the most juice of any Bills rookie last season. He established himself as a strong back-up to James Cook and showcased the ability to be a factor in the passing game with 189 yards on 17 receptions.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Keon Coleman, WR – The 33rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Coleman’s underwhelming rookie campaign is made a bit worse by the fact that Ladd McConkey was selected by the Chargers at No. 34. Coleman struggled to get consistent separation and failed to build chemistry with Josh Allen. He disappeared down the stretch following a wrist injury that sidelined him for a month.
Carolina Panthers
Best 2024 Rookie: Jalen Coker, WR – An undrafted free-agent signing out of Holy Cross, Coker outplayed fellow rookie receiver and Carolina’s 2024 first-round pick, Xavier Legette. An unexpected find who displayed good size and sharp route-running, Coker was a pleasant surprise for the Panthers scuffling offense.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Jonathan Brooks, RB – We’re using “worst” as a relative term when it comes to Jonathan Brooks, as “saddest” might be more appropriate to describe his unfortunate rookie season. The Panthers drafted Brooks following an ACL tear at Texas. Sadly, Brooks suffered another devastating ACL injury just three games into his first pro campaign.
Chicago Bears
Best 2024 Rookie: Caleb Williams, QB – The No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams was put in a “can’t win” situation in his rookie season. Despite behind an atrocious offensive line in a scheme so abysmal that the offensive coordinator was fired mid-season, Williams still managed to set Bears rookie records for passing yards and TDs.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Kiran Amegadjie, OT – Despite being a three-year starter at Yale, Chicago’s third-round selection looked far from pro ready in his lone 2024 start. Amegadjie was routinely beaten off the edge and penalized multiple times in a spot start against Minnesota.
Cincinnati Bengals
Best 2024 Rookie: Amarius Mims, OT – The 18th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft was forced into action sooner than anyone anticipated. Mims started just eight games in his entire college career at Georgia, but started 13 games at right tackle for the Bengals in his rookie campaign thanks to a season-ending injury to Trent Brown. While there’s still room for growth and improvement, Mims appears to have a bright future protecting Joe Burrow.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Jermaine Burton, WR – Cincy gambled on the talented-but-troubled Burton in the third round of the draft. If Burton’s rookie campaign is any indicator, it’s a bet the Bengals will regret, as he showed little ability to be reliable or professional. Burton’s talent is obvious, but it’s of no worth if he can’t get on the field.
Cleveland Browns
Best 2024 Rookie: Winston Reid, LB – Cleveland entered the 2024 NFL Draft with no first-round pick and only two selections in the top 150. Those limitations were visible in the performance of the Browns rookie class last season. Perhaps it’s not a shocker that Cleveland’s most notable rookie was an undrafted free-agent signing. Linebacker Winston Reid saw action in 16 games, earned three starts, and totaled 23 tackles with half a sack in his first pro season.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Michael Hall Jr., DT – The Browns highest selection in the 2024 draft was their most disappointing rookie. Hall’s rookie season featured a five-game suspension for domestic violence, as well as multiple injuries that are expected to impact his status in 2025.
Dallas Cowboys
Best 2024 Rookie: Cooper Beebe, C – While most eyes were on first-round selection Tyler Guyton, it was third-round pick Cooper Beebe who the more impactful player on the ‘Boys offensive line. Despite never playing the center in any of his 48 collegiate starts, Beebe stepped up to fill a gaping hole at the position, starting 16 games.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Marshawn Kneeland, Edge – Dallas received little return on their second-round investment in Kneeland. The Western Michigan edge rusher battled injuries and inefficiency. He appeared in 11 games and recorded zero sacks in his first pro campaign.
Denver Broncos
Best 2024 Rookie: Bo Nix, QB – During the final ten games of the regular season, Nix averaged a strong 252.9 passing yards per game and scored 25 total touchdowns with just seven interceptions. This strong play down the stretch was able to secure Denver a spot in the postseason. Nix is a budding star who showed consistent improvement each week.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Nick Gargiulo, G – You can’t expect much from a seventh-round selection, so we’re not picking on Gargiulo here. However, rookie contributions were strong across the board for the Broncos, so the (dis)honor falls to Gargiulo, who spent most of the season on the Denver practice squad.
Detroit Lions
Best 2024 Rookie: Terrion Arnold, CB – Detroit threw their first-round pick directly into the fire, and Arnold struggled a bit the first part of the season, drawing multiple penalties along the way. However, the Alabama cornerback survived the rough patches at what’s arguably one of the toughest positions in the NFL for a rookie, and finished the season in solid form.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Ennis Rakestrow Jr., CB – The second of Detroit’s two cornerback selections in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, Rakestrow found nowhere near the success of Arnold. He was limited to mostly special teams before being placed in Injured Reserve. Not ideal for a player the Lions spent a second-round pick on.
Green Bay Packers
Best 2024 Rookie: Edgerrin Cooper, LB – Cooper put forth a dazzling rookie campaign, showing versatility as a pass rusher, run stopper, and in pass coverage. He finished the season with the highest PFF grade among rookie linebackers.
Worst 2024 Rookie: MarShawn Lloyd, RB – Many expected the former USC Trojan running back to be a true compliment to Josh Jacobs in the Green Bay backfield. Unfortunately, Lloyd’s rookie season never really got going, as he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and missed the remainder of the season following an appendicitis episode in November.
Houston Texans
Best 2024 Rookie: Kamari Lassiter, CB – Lassiter was a strong addition to a Texans defense that continues to improve under DeMeco Ryans. The second-round pick out of Georgia allowed the league’s lowest completion percentage among corners who faced 30 or more targets.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Jawhar Jordan, RB – Despite Joe Mixon’s absence in three games due to an ankle injury, the sixth-round rookie out of Louisville was never able to get on the field for Houston. Jordan spent his first pro season on the Texans practice squad, and the recent addition of Nick Chubb doesn’t paint a pretty picture for his prospects in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts
Best 2024 Rookie: Laiatu Latu, Edge – The Colts first-round selection was solid, if unspectacular, in his first pro season. Latu played in all 17 regular season games for Indy, logging 42 QB pressures with 4 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Adonai Mitchell, WR – Many viewed Mitchell as a first-round talent that the Colts were able to steal in the second round of the 2024 draft. However, Mitchell was largely a ghost in his rookie season, catching just 23 passes and scoring zero TDs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best 2024 Rookie: Brian Thomas Jr., WR – The 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft enjoyed an incredible rookie campaign as he tallied 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns on 87 receptions. The LSU product saw 88.3 air yards per game and 25.4% of the team’s total targets. Thomas tallied at least 90 yards in six games this season and only fell below 40 yards in just three games.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Javon Foster, OT – The fourth rounder out of Mizzou failed to make an impact in his first pro season. Foster played zero offensive snaps for Jacksonville in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs
Best 2024 Rookie: Xavier Worthy, WR – It was a mixed bag for KC’s 2024 first rounder, as Worthy was given a golden opportunity to have an impact due to the injury to top wideout Rashee Rice. While the Texas burner failed to find steady production throughout the regular season, he finished his rookie campaign by playing his best ball down the stretch.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Kingsley Suamataia, OT – The offensive line was a constant sore spot for the Chiefs, and unfortunately, second-round selection Kingsley Suamataia wasn’t part of the solution. The rookie logged two disastrous starts in September, outings that went so poorly he rarely saw action for the remainder of the season.
Las Vegas Raiders
Best 2024 Rookie: Brock Bowers, TE – Bowers caught the most passes by a rookie (112) and tallied the most yards (1,194) by a rookie tight end in NFL history. He found the end zone five times and immediately became the top option in the Vegas passing attack once Davante Adams was traded to the New York Jets. The 22-year-old tallied at least 50 yards in 11 games and established himself as one of the best at his position.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Dylan Laube, RB – Credit where it’s due, former GM Tom Telesco put together a solid draft class in his lone season with the Raiders. However, sixth-round rookie Laube failed to make any noise in a Las Vegas backfield that was starved for help in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers
Best 2024 Rookie: Ladd McConkey, WR – The Bolts were in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position following the departure of Keenan Allen. McConkey was all they could’ve hoped for and more, breaking multiple franchise rookie receiving records in his first pro campaign. The 34th overall pick of the draft, the Georgia product feels like the biggest steal of the 2024 rookie class.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Justin Eboigbe, DL – The Alabama fourth rounder struggled to get on the field for what’s a stacked L.A. defensive line group. Eboigbe saw action in just five games, recording only one tackle on the year.
Los Angeles Rams
Best 2024 Rookie: Jared Verse, Edge – The NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year winner, Verse generated an incredible 77 pressures, which placed him within the top-5 at the position. In the box score, Verse tallied 68 tackles with 31 assists, 4.5 sacks, and two pass deflections, and also forced two fumbles and recovered three. He is a rising defensive superstar in the league.
Worse 2024 Rookie: Brennan Jackson, LB – It’s hard to poke holes in L.A.’s stellar draft class that was chock-full of contributors. That said, fifth-round pick Brennan Jackson was largely silent and inactive for most of the 2024 season.
Miami Dolphins
Best 2024 Rookie: Chop Robinson, Edge – The 21st overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft got off to a sluggish start in his first pro season, however, Robinson looked like a potential star down the stretch. Across the final 10 weeks of the regular season he racked up 40 pressures and six sacks.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Mohamed Kamara, Edge – A productive player during his collegiate career at Colorado State, the ‘Fins likely had hopes that Kamara would bring some juice to their pass rush. Unfortunately, he rarely saw the field. Kamara logged just 26 snaps in his rookie season.
Minnesota Vikings
Best 2024 Rookie: Will Reichard, Kicker – It says a lot about your draft class when the best performer was a kicker, but that’s where Minnesota landed with their 2024 rookie crop. Reichard 80% on overall attempts and finished the season 8 of 11 from beyond 50 yards.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Dallas Turner, Edge – The Vikings aggressively traded up to grab ‘Bama edge Dallas Turner with the 17th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, that bold move didn’t pay off in Turner’s rookie campaign, as he struggled to earn playing time for the Vikings defense.
New England Patriots
Best 2024 Rookie: Drake Maye, QB – Maye’s statistical output won’t blow you away, but the rookie showed enough promise for the Patriots to believe he’s their franchise QB of the future. He didn’t get into the lineup until the fifth game of the 2024 season, and was surrounded by one of the worst supporting casts in the NFL. New England has upgraded things around Maye via free agency and the 2025 draft.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR – It’s tough to determine who was worse… Polk or fellow Patriot rookie receiver Javon Baker. We’ll give the dubious distinction to Polk, who despite being a second-round draft pick managed just 87 yards and two TDs on 12 catches in his first pro season.
New Orleans Saints
Best 2024 Rookie: Taliese Fuaga, OT – New Orleans had just two picks in the first four rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, they made their first rounder count, as it appears they have an offensive line building block in Fuaga. Despite playing right tackle in college, he was thrown into the deep waters of left tackle as a rookie, starting all 17 games for the Saints and allowing just one sack across the final nine weeks of the season.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Spencer Rattler, QB – It’s not fair to be overly harsh on Rattler – a fifth-round pick who was forced into the Saints lineup due to injuries. That said, Rattler did go 0-6 in his 2024 starts while posting a QBR of just 40.1.
New York Giants
Best 2024 Rookie: Malik Nabers, WR – Nabers overcame New York’s horrendous QB situation to earn Pro-Bowl honors in his first NFL season. The LSU product showcased freakish athletic ability and appears on his way to superstardom in the Big Apple.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Theo Johnson, TE – It’s no easy task finding a weak link in the G-Men’s overall stellar 2024 rookie class, but we’ll tab tight end Theo Johnson here. After a very sluggish start to his first pro season, Johnson began showing flashes toward the middle of the season only to be lost for the remainder of the year with a broken foot in the 11th game of the season.
New York Jets
Best 2024 Rookie: Olu Fashanu, OT – While Fashanu had to work his way up the depth chart before being sidelined late in the year with plantar fasciitis, he showed enough in seven starts for the Jets organization to be optimistic about his future.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Malachi Corley, WR – Hopes were high that third-round receiver Malachi Corley could provide a presence beside Garrett Wilson. Unfortunately, Corley was a ghost for the entirety of his rookie campaign. He logged just three catches for 16 yards across nine appearances.
Philadelphia Eagles
Best 2024 Rookie: Cooper DeJean, CB – The Eagles desperately needed help in the secondary heading into 2024. They found serious reinforcements in Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean. Philly got a steal when the Iowa corner slipped to them in the second round of the 2024 draft, and DeJean truly began to shine after being deployed as a nickel back in Vic Fangio’s scheme midway through the season.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Ainias Smith, WR – There’s no shame in failing to break into Philly’s star-studded pass-catching corps. Fifth rounder Ainias Smith saw action in parts of seven games, reeling in just seven catches for 41 yards in 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Best 2024 Rookie: Zach Frazier, C – The center position is generally one of the more undervalued position along the offensive line, but Frazier’s contributions were apparent in his rookie season. The West Virginia product finished the 2024 campaign as PFF’s fourth-highest graded center, and appears primed to be a fixture along the Steelers offensive line for years to come.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Troy Fautanu, OT – While Pittsburgh received big contributions from their second-round center, the same can’t be said for first-round selection Fautanu. The big tackle out of Washington suffered a dislocated kneecap just one practice into his pro career.
San Francisco 49ers
Best 2024 Rookie: Dominick Puni, OG – The former Kansas Jayhawk was a stud for Niners in his rookie campaign, starting all 17 games for San Francisco at right guard. A third-round pick, Puni’s skill set seems tailor-made for Kyle Shanahan’s run-blocking scheme.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Jacob Cowing, WR – More of a gadget player at this point, Cowing struggled to find a role in the San Fran offense, mostly being deployed on special teams – a role where he lost two fumbles as the squad’s punt returner.
Seattle Seahawks
Best 2024 Rookie: Tyrice Knight, LB – First-round rookie Byron Murphy II headed to Seattle with lofty expectations, but it was fourth-round linebacker Tyrice Knight who proved to be the real standout for Mike Macdonald’s defense. Knight was a pitbull over the second half of the season, totaling 88 tackles and starting nine contests.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Christian Haynes, OG – When Seattle needed a reserve to step up at guard it was sixth-round rookie Sataoa Laumea who got the call over third-rounder Haynes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best 2024 Rookie: Bucky Irving, RB – Irving dazzled as the season progressed, ultimately supplanting incumbent back Rachaad White. Flashing dual-threat skills, Irving amassed over 1,500 all-purpose yards and eight TDs.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Chris Braswell, Edge – The Alabama product wasn’t bad in his first rookie season, tallying 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks in limited playing time. However, it’s fair to say the Bucs probably hoped for more from a player that they invested a second-round pick into.
Tennessee Titans
Best 2024 Rookie: T’Vondre Sweat, DT – Pre-draft issues caused Sweat to fall into Tennessee’s lap in the second round. The big interior defender looks to be a wise investment if his rookie season is any indicator. Sweat was a run-stopping force, amassing 51 tackles in his first pro season.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Cedric Gray, LB – The fourth-round selection struggled to make much of a notable impact during his first pro season. Gray was hampered with injuries throughout training camp and spent much of 2024 on injured reserve. When he did see action, it was mostly work on special teams.
Washington Commanders
Best 2024 Rookie: Jayden Daniels, QB – Daniels wasn’t just good in his first pro season… he appears poised to change the trajectory of Washington’s long-downtrodden franchise. The dynamic rookie led the Commanders to the NFC Conference Championship game while posting the highest completion % and most rushing yards by a rookie QB in NFL history along the way.
Worst 2024 Rookie: Ben Sinnott, TE – “Worst” isn’t a fair label here, but in a Commanders rookie class full of contributors, the second-round tight end was rarely heard from in 2024. Sinnott may well still be Washington’s tight end of the future, but it appears as though he’ll remain firmly behind veteran Zach Ertz for now.
