Rookies don’t get a second chance to make a first impression in the NFL. Here, we evaluate how every 2024 first-round pick fared in their first month in the league.
1. Caleb Williams, QB Bears
Best game: vs. Rams (Week 4)
Worst game: at Texans (Week 2)
We’ve seen flashes, but Williams was far from great in his first month. He didn’t throw his first touchdown until Week 3 when he also attempted 52 passes for 363 yards. It’s not all his fault as Chicago still rosters one of the league’s worst offensive lines. We expect more from a No. 1 pick, however. He’s thrown three TDs to four INTs so far, but his improvement in the last two games is encouraging.
Grade: C+
2. Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders
Best game: at Bengals (Week 3)
Worst game: at Buccaneers (Week 1)
Seven scrimmage TDs, just one interception, three wins in four games, and a 111.8 passer rating. All of that while completing 82.1% of his passes, an NFL record through a QB’s first four games. Daniels’ first pro month couldn’t have gone much better, and it made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. The Heisman Trophy winner had a signature prime-time performance versus Cincy when he had more total TDs (three) than incompletions (2).
Grade: A+
3. Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
Maye spent his first month in the league behind Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart and has yet to make his first start.
Grade: N/A
4. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals
Best game: vs. Rams (Week 2)
Worst game: at Bills (Week 1)
Harrison had a disappointing one-catch debut, but this year’s top rookie receiver quickly bounced back with a spectacular 130-yard, two-touchdown outing a week later. He then scored a TD in Weeks 3 and 4, showing Week 1 was just a fluke. Harrison – who’s averaging 16.2 yards per reception – is already a cornerstone of a Cardinals offense that has a lot of potential.
Grade: A-
5. Joe Alt, OT, Chargers
Best game: vs. Raiders (Week 1)
Worst game: at Steelers (Week 3)
Alt is key for a Chargers team trying to implement a balanced offense. His debut versus Las Vegas wasn’t perfect, but he stood out in pass protection. He didn’t allow any pressure in 19 reps against Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby, who hadn’t been shut out in an individual matchup since Week 9 of 2022. Alt’s been a reliable blocker, but an ankle injury unfortunately sidelined him in Week 4.
Grade: A-
6. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants
Best game: at Browns (Week 3)
Worst game: vs. Vikings (Week 1)
What we saw at training camp wasn’t a mirage: Nabers is already a special NFL player. He may play in a subpar, Daniel Jones-led offense, but Nabers has already produced multiple jaw-dropping highlights and leads the league with 52 targets and 35 receptions. His 386 yards also rank No. 1 among 2024 rookies by a significant margin. If not for a costly Week 2 fourth-down drop, his first NFL month would’ve been perfect.
Grade: A
7. JC Latham, OT, Titans
Best game: vs. Packers (Week 3)
Worst game: at Bears (Week 1)
It’s hard to find many positives for the Titans right now, but Latham has shown good signs. After allowing five pressures in the season opener, the former Alabama stud gave up only two pressures in Weeks 2-3 combined. He’s gone three straight games without allowing a sack. Though Latham hasn’t been a great run-blocker, he’s currently the league’s best rookie pass-blocker, according to PFF.
Grade: B-
8. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons
Penix began his rookie campaign as the Falcons’ backup behind Kirk Cousins and has yet to attempt a pass.
Grade: N/A
9. Rome Odunze, WR, Bears
Best game: at Colts (Week 3)
Worst game: vs. Titans (Week 1)
Odunze has had more one-catch performances (two) than touchdowns (one). Yes, his 6-112-1 stat line versus Indy was encouraging, but he combined for only four catches in the other three games. It’s fair to question if coordinator Shane Waldron’s offensive system is good for any of Chicago’s top receivers, but the reality is that Odunze hasn’t lived up to the hype yet.
Grade: C
10. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings
McCarthy underwent a full meniscus repair in August and is expected to miss the entire 2024 season.
Grade: N/A
11. Olu Fashanu, OT, Jets
Fashanu started as the backup behind right tackle Morgan Moses and didn’t play until Moses went down with a knee injury late in Week 3. He played 74 of his 88 offensive snaps during his first start in Week 4, allowing five pressures in an unimpressive loss to the Broncos.
Grade: N/A
12. Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
Best game: at Buccaneers (Week 3)
Worst game: vs. Steelers (Week 2)
Nix’s first month was a roller coaster. There’s a lot to like about his Week 3 when he completed 69% of his passes, took care of the ball, and ran for 47 yards and one touchdown to beat a playoff team. That said, he’s had more interceptions (four) than TD passes (one), and his completion percentage is only at 60.1%. The fact that Nix’s Week 4 (48% completion rate and 60 passing yards) possibly wasn’t his worst NFL game so far shows that he’s had more lows than highs.
Grade: C
13. Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
Best game: at Ravens (Week 2)
Worst game: vs. Browns (Week 4)
Bowers hasn’t actually had a bad game so far despite playing in an inconsistent Raiders offense. He touched the ball only three times in Week 4 but gained more than 30 yards and was great in run-blocking. Four weeks into the season, Bowers ranks second in catches (20) and receiving yards (216) among all tight ends. But the former Georgia star has yet to score his first touchdown or post a signature breakout game.
Grade: B
14. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Saints
Best game: vs. Panthers (Week 1)
Worst game: vs. Eagles (Week 3)
The Saints’ O-line was a positive surprise through the first two games with Fuaga in the mix, helping the team put on a show offensively. New Orleans and Fuaga haven’t been as great the last two weeks, but the left tackle has yet to allow a sack and remains one of the best linemen of the 2024 rookie class.
Grade: B+
15. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Colts
Best game: vs. Bears (Week 3)
Worst game: at Packers (Week 2)
Week 3 showed exactly why Latu was the first defender off the board in the 2024 draft. He racked up multiple pressures and a clutch strip sack off Caleb Williams in the fourth quarter that helped the Colts secure a win. It was a promising showing for Latu, who left a good impression despite spending most of his first month as a situational member of Indy’s pass-rush rotation.
Grade: B-
16. Byron Murphy II, DL, Seahawks
It’d be unfair to evaluate Murphy based on just two full games. The 22-year-old sustained a hamstring early in Week 3 that also forced him to miss Week 4. Murphy has lacked consistency on the field but has at least flashed his potential as an interior pass-rusher. He registered his first sack in Week 2.
Grade: N/A
17. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Vikings
Best game: at Giants (Week 1)
Worst game: at Packers (Week 4)
Turner played more than 100 snaps in Minnesota’s first four games, but most of his workload came on special teams. He’s only played 29 defensive snaps since registering a sack in his debut. The 21-year-old – who missed Week 3 with a knee injury – has won just 8.3% of his snaps as a pass-rusher, per PFF.
Grade: C-
18. Amarius Mims, OT, Bengals
Mims made his first start in Week 4 in place of an injured Trent Brown after sustaining a strained pectoral muscle that sidelined him for the first two weeks. He looked ready for the NFL level at right tackle, but his sample size is too small.
Grade: N/A
19. Jared Verse, EDGE, Rams
Best game: at Lions (Week 1)
Worst game: vs. 49ers (Week 3)
With 19 tackles (five for loss), one sack, and one forced fumble, there’s a lot to like about Verse’s month. The former Florida State star has also generated 17 pressures, according to PFF, and he’s winning most of his pass-rush matchups despite being double-teamed at a high rate. The Rams’ defense hasn’t been great, but Verse’s first games show that he’s a player L.A. can build around.
Grade: B+
20. Troy Fautanu, OT, Steelers
Fautanu showed promising signs as a pass-blocker during his first start in Week 2, but the right tackle didn’t play in Week 1 and landed on injured reserve with a knee injury before Week 3.
Grade: N/A
21. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Dolphins
Best game: vs. Bills (Week 2)
Worst game: vs. Jaguars (Week 1)
Robinson appeared in all four games and played 40% of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps to go along with 45% of the team’s special teams snaps. However, he’s recorded only four tackles. Though he’s been better than his lack of production suggests, Robinson hasn’t been a reliable run defender and needs to stuff the stat sheet at some point to live up to the hype as a Round 1 pick.
Grade: C
22. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles
Best game: vs. Packers (Week 1)
Worst game: vs. Falcons (Week 2)
Mitchell has been solid, amassing 18 tackles and six pass breakups while often covering the opposing team’s best receiver. There’s still room for improvement, and he’s yet to make many game-changing plays, but his performances against Green Bay and Tampa Bay in Week 4 suggest he’ll be the Eagles’ best corner for years to come.
Grade: B
23. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars
Best game: at Texans (Week 4)
Worst game: at Bills (Week 3)
Jaguars fans aren’t happy about their 0-4 record, but they should feel good about Thomas. His 17 receptions and 275 yards rank third and second among rookies, respectively. The 21-year-old would probably get more recognition after scoring a touchdown or topping 90 yards in all but one game in September if not for Jacksonville’s disappointing start.
Grade: A-
24. Terrion Arnold, CB, Lions
Best game: at Cardinals (Week 3)
Worst game: vs. Buccaneers (Week 2)
Arnold’s first month featured some highlights, but he committed eight penalties in his first four games and was targeted 25 times while allowing a 98.4 passer rating, according to PFF. We knew about Arnold’s physicality predraft, but he hasn’t been able to make it a plus for him in the NFL yet. At least he’s amassed 16 tackles and three pass breakups while posting some very good reps, such as his one-on-one against Marvin Harrison Jr. to prevent a big play.
Grade: C
25. Jordan Morgan, OL, Packers
Morgan had a decent debut as part of Green Bay’s right guard rotation in Week 1. The versatile lineman was expected to receive more snaps but sustained a shoulder injury early in Week 2 that kept him sidelined for multiple games.
Grade: N/A
26. Graham Barton, OL, Buccaneers
Best game: vs. Eagles (Week 4)
Worst game: at Lions (Week 2)
Barton’s first NFL games showed why he won Tampa Bay’s starting center job at training camp. He’s been more than capable and has had a positive impact on the team. Barton did commit a couple of penalties the last two weeks, but he’s the third-best rookie interior lineman in run-blocking, according to PFF.
Grade: B
27. Darius Robinson, DL, Cardinals
Robinson began his rookie season on injured reserve and missed Arizona’s first four games.
Grade: N/A
28. Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs
Best game: vs. Ravens (Week 1)
Worst game: vs. Bengals (Week 2)
Worthy has only had 14 touches (nine catches) so far. But K.C. sure knows how to use the speedster’s ability as a big-play threat, as he’s scored touchdowns of 54, 35, and 21 yards. Two of those scores came in his NFL debut. Worthy was electric in Weeks 1 and 4 but limited to two receptions and 17 receiving yards in each of his other two appearances.
Grade: B+
29. Tyler Guyton, OT, Cowboys
Best game: at Browns (Week 1)
Worst game: at Giants (Week 4)
Dallas’ O-line had a shaky first month of the season, and Guyton didn’t look great. He allowed multiple pressures and a sack while committing at least one penalty in each of hisfirst four games. After more than a decade with Tyron Smith at left tackle, the Cowboys need more from Guyton as Dak Prescott’s blind-side protector.
Grade: C-
30. Nate Wiggins, CB, Ravens
Best game: vs. Bills (Week 4)
Worst game: at Cowboys (Week 3)
Wiggins has dropped a few interceptions, and his stats aren’t eye-popping, but the Clemson product has held his own in three appearances. (He was sidelined in Week 2.) While making his first two starts in the last two games, he recorded a forced fumble and had his best appearance in pass coverage versus Buffalo.
Grade: C+
31. Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers
Pearsall has yet to play this season as he began the campaign on the reserve/non-football injury list after being shot before Week 1.
Grade: N/A
32. Xavier Legette, WR, Panthers
Best game: at Bengals (Week 4)
Worst game: vs. Chargers (Week 2)
Legette has caught only 12 passes, but his numbers likely would’ve been better if Andy Dalton, not Bryce Young, started the season as Carolina’s QB1. In two games with Dalton under center, Legette has posted an 8-108-1 stat line. He’s yet to produce many highlights or record a big breakout performance, but we haven’t seen many red flags in his game.
Grade: C
