The 2024 NFL season is right around the corner, and these 10 rookies could make or break a contending team’s chances to make the playoffs and do some serious damage once they get into the postseason.
The 2024 NFL season is less than three weeks away, and teams are really starting to take shape as we work into the third week of preseason games.
Everyone is excited to watch this rookie class, and these ten could have huge impacts for potential playoff teams in getting to the playoffs and doing some damage once they get there .
Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Gone are Josh Allen’s top two wideouts the last few years in Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs. Insert Keon Coleman, a first-round prospect that slipped to the first pick of the second-round. The former Michigan State Spartan also played basketball there before transferring to Florida State.
His ability to go up and make contested catches and use his sizable frame all over the route tree should make him Josh Allen’s top target at the position quickly. He will need to be efficient if the Bills offense is to not take a step back this year.
Olu Fashanu, OL, New York Jets
Getty Image / Mitchell Leff
The rookie out of Penn State has long been considered one of the best pure pass-blocking tackle prospects in all of football. While he’s not a projected starter for the New York Jets as of now, there’s no way that oft-injured acquisition Tyron Smith lasts a full season. Expect Olu Fashanu to be called in to protect Aaron Rodgers sooner rather than later. He has the talent to be very good at it for a very long time.
Cooper DeJean, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
Getty Image / Justin Casterline
The Philadelphia Secondary was a total liability last year. It made very few plays and was torched in coverage all year. Enter Iowa superstar Cooper DeJean.
DeJean is still getting into the siwng of things after recovering from a broken bone in his leg suffered at Iowa last year. But, he can do it all, can play anywhere in the secondary, and is a fantastic playmaker. The Eagles will need all of those things if they want to get back to the Super Bowl.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Getty Image / Terence Lewis
The Eagles used a second-rounder on Cooper DeJean, but their first-round pick was arguably the best cover guy in the draft in Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. And, it was for good reason.
Mitcchell is going to immediately step in to a huge role in the Eagles secondary, likely as their top cover guy. He’s got to keep his head above water against the game’s best receivers to allow Philadelphia’s strong pass rush to get home.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Getty Image / Don Juan Moore
After winning a playoff game in the 2022 postseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams in 2023. A big part of rebounding will come down to the play of their first-round rookie wideout.
Thomas is going to get a ton of targets alongside inconsistent options in Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis. What he makes of those opportunities will go a long way in determining just how good Trevor Lawrence and the Jags offense is.
Zach Frazier, C, Pittsburgh Steelers
Getty Image / Kevin Sabitus
The Steelers needed to upgrade the center position, and they picked one of college football’s best at the position in Zach Frazier.
Initially, Frazier was second on the depth chart behind incumbent Nate Herbig. But, Herbig has suffered an injury in the preseason that will keep him out for likely the entire season. The job is now Frazier’s, and he will need to play well if Pittsburgh is to sneak into the playoffs.
Chob Robinson, Edge, Miami Dolphins
Getty Image / Stacy Revere
The Dolphins are thin at pass-rusher after a torn Achilles suffered by Jaelen Philips last year and Andrew Van Ginkel moved on in free agency.
Enter Chop Robinson. Robinson showed off one of the quickest first-steps in all of college football, and has a devastating inside counter to go along with it. The AFC is laoded with stud quarterbacks, and you better be able to pressure them. Robinson and Bradley Chubb could emerge as one of the better duos in the league.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Getty Image / Stacy Revere
The San Francisco 49ers may still yet trade star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Even if they do not, that’s a very injury-prone group of skill position players for Kyle Shanahan and company in the Bay area.
That’s why Ricky Pearsall is such an important player for the 49ers this year. It’s inevitable he will have to play a really big role at times. i0