There’s always excitement after the NFL draft. There are high expectations for the incoming rookies, and fans are optimistic that their favorite team has filled several holes with promising young players.

It’s not always that simple. Some rookies will get injured for weeks or miss the whole season, like Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee), who might have started over Sam Darnold if he had been healthy. Others will struggle once they get on the field or never get serious playing time. On the other hand, a few picks become immediate stars, while some teams find contributors among undrafted free agents.

It’s time to evaluate every NFL rookie class, ranking the value of their contributions in 2024 from 1 to 32. This ranking is based on only production from this season. Players who started the entire year — including undrafted free agents — are worth more here than players who started only three games, such as Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

To rank the rookie classes, I started with Sports Info Solutions’ total points metric. Based on game charting, total points takes every element of a play and uses that data to evaluate each player on a scale that allows comparisons between positions. In other words, it estimates how many points this player either earned for his offense or saved for his defense. Read more about how it works here. Then, I adjusted teams up or down based on the importance of certain positions or how well players did in ESPN tracking metrics and the FTN Network DVOA ratings. Postseason performance is not included.

The top two teams in 2024 are way ahead of the rest of the league in total points from rookies, and this list is headed up by a team that finished second on this list a season ago.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

The Rams’ rookie class had both quality and quantity. They had seven rookies worth at least 10 total points; no other team had more than five.

Linebacker Jared Verse was the Rams’ first Round 1 pick since 2016, and he ended up as a leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had only 4.5 sacks but was fourth in the league with 76 pressures, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and he ranked 14th among edge rushers in pass rush win rate (17.9%). His former Florida State teammate Braden Fiske, chosen in the second round, led the Rams with 8.5 sacks in eight starts. Behind Verse and Fiske was undrafted free agent Omar Speights, who took over as a starting inside linebacker halfway through the season.

Cornerback Jaylen McCollough, another undrafted rookie, had four interceptions, including a pick-six, and 43 combined tackles. He was joined in the defensive backfield by third-round safety Kamren Kinchens, who also had four interceptions and a pick-six.

The top rookie on offense was Beaux Limmer, who was slightly below average in both pass (92.9%) and run block win rate (68.1%). Limmer was one of four sixth-round picks for the Rams. Wide receiver Jordan Whittington had 22 catches for 293 yards, kicker Joshua Karty went 29-of-34 on field goals and defensive tackle Tyler Davis played roughly 30% of snaps per game and had 29 combined tackles. Third-round back Blake Corum also contributed with 207 rushing yards and 58 receiving yards. It was a deep class.

The highlight here is quarterback Jayden Daniels, the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year who finished fourth in QBR. But the Commanders also have the best list of “other guys” among the six teams that took first-round quarterbacks.

Washington used one second-round pick on cornerback Mike Sainristil, who started 16 games with 14 passes defensed and two interceptions. Another second-rounder, defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, started 11 games and had 44 combined tackles. The other key contributor was third-rounder Brandon Coleman, who started 12 games at left tackle. He ranked 23rd among qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (90.3%) and seventh in run block win rate (79%).

This Commanders class will look even better in the future if Washington can develop second-round tight end Ben Sinnott and third-round wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, who combined for 23 catches and 196 yards.

Most of the Chargers’ value comes from three players, but they were all very good. Let’s start with right tackle Joe Alt, chosen No. 5 overall. He ranked fourth out of 66 qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (94.3%) and was 15th in run block win rate (77.5%). Another star on offense was second-round receiver Ladd McConkey, who caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. He was ninth among all wide receivers in my DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) metric which measures total value.

Those two you have probably heard about. Perhaps you don’t know much about cornerback Tarheeb Still. The fifth-rounder was absolutely phenomenal, ranking third in coverage DVOA. Among qualifying cornerbacks, only Pat Surtain II and Christian Benford were ahead of him — and he had a strong opponent adjustment, which meant he was handling difficult coverage responsibilities. Cornerback Cam Hart, who was also selected in the fifth round, wasn’t quite as impressive in six starts and finished with a below-average coverage DVOA and easier coverage responsibilities. Finally, there was inside linebacker Junior Colson, who played 20% of defensive snaps and had 29 tackles.

Fantasy football players know all about running back Bucky Irving. He took over more of the Buccaneers’ running game as the season went on and finished with 207 carries for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns (plus 392 receiving yards). Wide receiver Jalen McMillan also blossomed late in the season, with 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns — seven of which came in the final five games. Continuing on the offense, first-round pick Graham Barton was Tampa Bay’s starting center all season.

On defense, the quiet star was third-round pick Tykee Smith. Nominally a safety, Smith was Tampa Bay’s slot cornerback and finished a surprising sixth among qualifying cornerbacks in coverage DVOA. He had two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Edge rusher Chris Braswell played only 30% of defensive snaps, but he did get 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers was instantly the star of the Giants’ offense when he caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. He finished the season with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

Two other rookies were regular starters on the New York offense. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had 192 carries for 839 yards and five touchdowns. He was roughly league average in advanced metrics such as NFL Next Gen Stats’ rushing yards over expected. The Giants also started fourth-round pick Theo Johnson at tight end, and he grabbed 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants had a number of contributors on defense, starting with two defensive backs in second-round safety Tyler Nubin and third-round cornerback Dru Phillips. Nubin had 98 combined tackles in 13 starts, while Phillips started six games and had an above-average coverage DVOA. Sixth-round inside linebacker Darius Muasau started seven games, with 55 combined tackles and an interception, while UDFA interior lineman Elijah Chatman started three games and had 21 combined tackles with a sack.

Despite the team’s overall struggles in 2024, the 49ers can be proud they found some good young talent. They needed it after finishing 30th on this list last season.

The best of the rookies was probably right guard Dominick Puni, who finished 11th among qualifying guards in pass block win rate (94.2%) while starting all 17 games. Also on offense, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall played in 11 games after missing time from an injury suffered in an offseason attempted robbery shooting. He had 31 catches for 400 yards with three touchdowns. Fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo started at running back late in the season and finished with 84 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns.

Rookies also played an important part in the defensive backfield. Cornerback Renardo Green started seven games and safety Malik Mustapha started 12. Green had a slightly better-than-average coverage DVOA and 13 passes defensed, while Mustapha had 72 combined tackles and five passes defensed with an interception. And on the inside, Evan Anderson had 24 combined tackles in 25% of defensive snaps.

This ranking is heavily about quarterback Bo Nix, who finished 18th among qualifying passers with a 56.9 QBR. The rookie receivers he was throwing to included Troy Franklin, who caught 28 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns, and Devaughn Vele, who caught 41 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Audric Estime also contributed with 310 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Third-round edge rusher Jonah Elliss, the latest member of his family to make waves in the NFL, had five sacks and 38 combined tackles. Cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine appeared in five games and had an end zone pick off Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Denver’s Week 16 loss.

Stats don’t capture the extent to which film gurus absolutely loved Pittsburgh’s new starting center, Zach Frazier. The second-round pick finished a respectable 13th among centers in pass block win rate (94.7%) and fifth in run block win rate (72.2%). Mason McCormick started 14 games, mostly at right guard, but had below-average blocking win rates. A third offensive lineman, first-rounder Troy Fautanu, dislocated his kneecap during practice after just one appearance.

Inside linebacker Payton Wilson played 45% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps with four starts and ended the season with 78 combined tackles, a pick and a forced fumble. But the real surprise was undrafted cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who started six games. He had an above-average coverage DVOA of negative-24% (below zero is better) with seven passes defensed and four interceptions.

Next season, the Steelers hope to get more out of third-round wide receiver Roman Wilson, who played only one game because of ankle and hamstring injuries.

The headline here is No. 13 selection Brock Bowers, who was named first-team All-Pro and broke Mike Ditka’s record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end with 112 receptions and 1,194 yards. But the Raiders also got two starters on the offensive line out of the 2024 draft.

Second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson started at both left guard and center, ranking 21st in pass block win rate (93.3%) among qualifying guards. Third-round pick DJ Glaze started at right tackle and finished 51st in pass block win rate (86.1%) among qualifying tackles. Glaze was above average in run block win rate (76.1%), whereas Powers-Johnson was below average (71.5%) there.

On defense, cornerback Decamerion Richardson had 46 combined tackles but only three passes defensed with a below-average coverage DVOA after adjusting for an easier set of assignments. Interior lineman Jonah Laulu could not make the Indianapolis roster as a seventh-round pick, so the Raiders picked him up and he recorded 35 combined tackles, a sack and three passes defensed. And undrafted safety Thomas Harper started five games with 26 combined tackles and an interception.

When a team has two picks in the top 10, you expect they’re going to get a lot of value out of their class. The Bears did just that with quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. Williams ranked 28th with a 46.7 QBR because he took 68 sacks, but he showed tons of promise with six interceptions and some impressive off-platform throws. Odunze caught 54 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the Chicago class didn’t go very far after those two players, with only three other draft picks and no undrafted free agents making significant contributions. Third-round offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie appeared in six games but struggled in his only start. Fourth-round pick Tory Taylor was one of the better punters in the NFL by my metrics. Fifth-round edge rusher Austin Booker played 26.5% of defensive snaps and had 1.5 sacks.

Here’s another team that may have found its franchise quarterback at the top of the draft. Drake Maye didn’t start until the fifth game of the season but finished 17th among qualifying quarterbacks with a 58.8 QBR. The Patriots also may have found a strong backup in the sixth round, as Joe Milton III had a 73.9 QBR playing most of the Week 18 game against Buffalo’s backups.

On the offensive line, fourth-round pick Layden Robinson started 11 games, split between both guard positions, although he was near the bottom in the league for pass block win rate (85.9%). Third-round tackle Caedan Wallace also started a couple of games. And on the defense, the surprise was UDFA safety Dell Pettus. He played 30.5% of the team’s defensive snaps (and over half the special teams snaps) with 34 combined tackles.

This class would look even better if the Patriots had gotten anything out of their two wide receiver selections. Second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk had 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, finishing last in receiving DVOA among wideouts with at least 25 targets. Fourth-round pick Javon Baker did even less, with a single catch for 12 yards.

The Eagles’ first two picks in last year’s draft turned out to be two really strong cornerbacks and a big reason behind Philadelphia’s dramatic improvements on defense. Slot cornerback Cooper DeJean ranked eighth in coverage DVOA, while outside cornerback Quinyon Mitchell ranked 16th.

The defense was also helped by third-round edge rusher Jalyx Hunt, who played 23% of defensive snaps and had 1.5 sacks. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. primarily played on special teams. The offense didn’t get too much out of its late-round rookies, however. Fourth-round running back Will Shipley had 30 carries for 82 yards. Two wide receivers, fifth-rounder Ainias Smith and sixth-rounder Johnny Wilson, combined for 12 catches and 79 yards with a touchdown apiece.

Like the Eagles, the Texans primarily got value out of two defensive backs. Safety Calen Bullock had 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions and 54 combined tackles. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter was roughly average in coverage DVOA with 10 passes defensed, including three interceptions.

Offensive tackle Blake Fisher was forced into the lineup late in the season, starting five games with a below-average pass block win rate (85.6%). Tight end Cade Stover had 15 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, while linebacker Jamal Hill played eight games on special teams. The other four late draft picks combined to appear in one game.

Fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. had a bit of a disappointing season, but only because expectations were so high. His 62 catches for 885 yards with eight touchdowns should not really be considered a disappointment, although Harrison was 58th out of 91 qualifying wide receivers in DVOA. The other Arizona first-round pick, defensive lineman Darius Robinson, played in only six games due to a calf injury.

Cornerback Max Melton was actually the top Cardinals rookie by total points. Although he started three games, Melton played over half of Arizona’s defensive snaps with a slightly above-average coverage DVOA.

The Cardinals had four third-round picks, and while cornerback Elijah Jones (ankle) spent the year on injured reserve, the other three were contributors. Running back Trey Benson had 63 carries for 291 yards and a touchdown; tight end Tip Reiman had six catches for 37 yards but was a strong blocker who played over 40% of snaps; Isaiah Adams started the final five games at right guard.

Further down in the draft, fourth-rounder Dadrion Taylor-Demerson had 37 combined tackles and five passes defensed as a depth safety. Fifth-rounder Xavier Thomas appeared in 14 games and had 2.5 sacks as an edge rusher.

Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth wide receiver chosen in the draft, but he was the best of all of them per my advanced metrics. He had 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, which worked out to 311 DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement). That’s the 10th-best rookie wide receiver season since 1978, according to DYAR.

Third-round pick Jarrian Jones started only four games but played 58% of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps, enough to qualify for my coverage DVOA rankings. He ranked a surprising 22nd, best among the Jaguars’ cornerbacks. He also had two sacks. Defensive tackle Maason Smith started five games, with three sacks and three passes defensed.

The other important Jacksonville rookie was sixth-round kicker Cam Little. He hit 27-of-29 field goal opportunities, ranking ninth in my place-kicking values after adjustments for weather.

First-round pick JC Latham started all 17 games at left tackle with roughly league-average block rates on both passes and runs. Second-round defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat was also impressive, especially on running plays. He had one sack but his 46 combined run tackles ranked 14th among interior linemen. The third most impactful rookie was cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. He started 14 games and ranked 49th out of 71 qualifying cornerbacks in coverage DVOA.

The Titans had very little value from other rookies. Linebacker Cedric Gray played only seven games, mostly on special teams, and wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson had one catch all season.

Green Bay’s rookie value almost entirely came on defense, a big reason why that unit improved from 27th in the league in defensive DVOA in 2023 to seventh this season. Safety Javon Bullard played the most (72% of defensive snaps), making 90 combined tackles.

However, by total points, the most valuable Green Bay defensive rookies were linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Evan Williams, who each played about 45% of defensive snaps. Cooper led all rookies with 25 defeats, a stat that measures big plays by combining tackles for loss, turnovers and plays to prevent a third- or fourth-down conversion. Williams had 49 combined tackles and three passes defensed, with an interception and a forced fumble.

Unfortunately, first-round offensive lineman Jordan Morgan fought shoulder injuries all season and played in only six games, while third-round running back MarShawn Lloyd injured his ankle in Week 1 and then was lost for the rest of the season when he was diagnosed with appendicitis in mid-November.

First-round pick Taliese Fuaga started all 17 games for the Saints at left tackle. He was 57th among 66 qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (84%) with an average run block win rate (74.1%). Kool-Aid McKinstry moved into the starting lineup for good in Week 11 and ranked an impressive 29th in coverage DVOA among qualifying cornerbacks.

Wide receiver Bub Means had nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in seven games, while the undrafted Matthew Hayball was a slightly below-average punter by my metrics. And how much value you attribute to fifth-round quarterback Spencer Rattler depends on whether you consider all quarterback value to be important or whether you dismiss Rattler for a poor season. He started six games with a 40.1 QBR, which would have ranked in the league’s bottom three if Rattler had enough plays to qualify.

First-round pick Tyler Guyton struggled with both knee and ankle injuries but managed to make 11 starts at left tackle. He was exactly league-average in pass block win rate (88.9%), ranking 30th, and slightly above average in run block win rate (75.7%). Cooper Beebe became the Cowboys’ starting center and was more impressive, ranking eighth in pass block win rate (95.3%) and 10th in run block win rate (70.5%) at the position. Tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford caught nine passes for 88 yards with good blocking.

The leading defensive rookie was third-round linebacker Marist Liufau, who started nine games. He had 50 combined tackles, plus two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. However, second-round edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland never got going, finishing the season with no sacks before a meniscus tear ended his season in Week 5. He played 36% of defensive snaps in the games where he was active.

The Bills selected wide receiver Keon Coleman with the first pick of Round 2, and he played 13 games with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns. Coleman was 30th among qualifying wide receivers in DVOA. Another big part of the offense was backup running back Ray Davis. The fourth-round pick had 442 rushing yards, 189 receiving yards and six combined touchdowns. His rushing DVOA was average but his receiving DVOA was stellar, with an average of 10 yards per target.

The most valuable rookie on defense was edge rusher Javon Solomon. He had a stellar 23.9% pass rush win rate in limited playing time, getting 10 pressures on 77 pass-rush snaps, according to ESPN Research. Safety Cole Bishop played in 16 games with 40 combined tackles, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter had three starts and UDFA linebacker Joe Andreessen had 26 combined tackles (mostly on special teams).

The Bengals had a lot of rookies who played a little bit, but no standout stars. Nine of their 10 draft picks played in at least nine games, while two undrafted free agents played in all 17 games.

First-round pick Amarius Mims was the most valuable by total points. He started 13 games at right tackle but ranked 58th out of 66 qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (83.3%). Next comes cornerback Josh Newton. The fifth-rounder started six games late in the season, with seven passes defensed and an impressive negative-18% coverage DVOA.

Interior lineman Kris Jenkins Jr. started nine games and had three sacks, plus 31 combined tackles. Edge rusher Cedric Johnson also registered a sack and tight end Erick All Jr. looked impressive before he suffered a torn ACL halfway through the season. He ended 2024 with 20 catches for 158 yards.

As for the undrafted free agents, punter Ryan Rehkow was slightly above average, according to my punt value metrics. Maema Njongmeta was one of only 24 NFL players to appear on over 80% of special teams snaps. Tight end Cam Grandy appeared in eight games and caught all five of his targets for 28 yards.

The Ravens’ class was primarily made up of two players, but they had important roles. Cornerback Nate Wiggins ranked 20th among qualifying corners in my coverage DVOA metric. The first-round pick started six games and had 13 passes defensed with one interception. Meanwhile, Roger Rosengarten started 14 games at right tackle. He was second among all qualifying tackles in run block win rate (84.3%), although he was 29th in pass block win rate (89.4%).

Safety Sanoussi Kane was the only other rookie to play in more than nine games, and he had nine tackles, primarily on special teams. Receiver Devontez Walker had one catch for a 21-yard touchdown, and running back Rasheen Ali had 10 carries in the regular season.

Although first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy II was the big name of Seattle’s draft class, it was third-round linebacker Tyrice Knight who had the most value, according to total points. Knight started nine games, made 88 combined tackles and had 1.5 sacks. Murphy also started nine games, with 36 combined tackles and 0.5 sacks.

When the Seahawks needed a new starter at right guard, it was a surprise when they went with sixth-round pick Sataoa Laumea over third-round pick Christian Haynes, although Haynes did play on 15% of Seattle’s offensive snaps. Also on offense, fourth-round tight end AJ Barner caught 30 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

We’ll start off with two wide receivers who entered the season with very different pedigrees. Xavier Legette was a first-round pick out of South Carolina and finished with 49 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Coker was an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross and finished with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. That sounds like Legette had more production, but he also had 84 targets compared to 46 for Coker. Advanced stats measure the two receivers very differently, as Legette had DVOA of around negative-20% and Coker was around positive-20%.

Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders also contributed to the offense, with 33 catches for 342 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers took running back Jonathon Brooks in the second round knowing he would miss much of his rookie season because of an ACL tear. He played in just three games with 12 touches and 22 yards before he re-tore the ACL in his right knee in December.

On defense, linebacker Trevin Wallace started eight games and had 64 combined tackles. Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade started four games, with 39 combined tackles, a forced fumble and an interception.

Kansas City’s most valuable rookies were wide receiver Xavier Worthy and safety Jaden Hicks. The Chiefs traded up at the end of the first round to get Worthy, who caught 59 passes for 638 yards and also ran 20 times for 104 yards. However, his advanced metrics are a little below average because of a poor catch rate (60.2%). Hicks played on 30% of defensive snaps and had 29 combined tackles and three interceptions.,

Second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia was advertised as being raw coming into the NFL, and it turns out he was throughout the season. His two starts at left tackle were disappointing, with a very poor 77.6% pass block win rate. There wasn’t much rookie value after that, although fifth-round offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad played in every game (mostly on special teams).

The Colts’ top rookie was their first-rounder Laiatu Latu. He started only one game at edge rusher but played in all 17, and NFL Next Gen Stats ranks him fourth among rookies with 42 quarterback pressures. However, second-round pick Adonai Mitchell was a disappointment. The wide receiver caught 23 passes for 312 yards with no touchdowns. He finished last out of 91 qualifying receivers (minimum 50 targets) in DVOA.

Instead, the Colts’ rookie value came on the offensive line. Due to injuries, third-round tackle Matt Goncalves had to start eight games, while fourth-round guard Tanor Bortolini started five and undrafted guard Dalton Tucker started seven. The other rookie with significant value was fifth-round linebacker Jaylon Carlies, who started six games and had 36 combined tackles.

First-round edge rusher Chop Robinson started only one game but really came on in the second half of the season. Robinson finished 11th among edge rushers with an 18.8% pass rush win rate, and he was fifth at 20.5% from Week 10-18. His six sacks all came in November or December.

But the second-best Dolphins rookie was probably an undrafted depth corner. The fantastically named Storm Duck played in 14 games and started three. Also in the lineup for three starts each were second-round offensive tackle Patrick Paul and sixth-round wide receiver Malik Washington, who had 26 catches for 223 yards. Fourth-round running back Jaylen Wright had 68 carries for 249 yards behind De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.

The star here is first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold, who started 15 games with a league-average coverage DVOA and 10 passes defensed. But that’s it for major contributors.

Second-round cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. played less than 10% of defensive snaps before he suffered an ankle injury in Week 11. As for two fourth-round picks, offensive tackle Giovanni Manu was a healthy scratch in every game while running back Sione Vaki played mostly on special teams. Christian Mahogany started in just one game when left guard Graham Glasgow was hurt in Week 16.

First-rounder Olu Fashanu started seven games at left tackle. He finished 19th among qualifying left tackles with a 91.9% pass block win rate, although his 72.3% run block win rate was below average. After Fashanu, the top rookies were the two running backs behind Breece Hall. Braelon Allen finished the season with 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns, plus 148 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. Isaiah Davis had 39 combined touches for 249 yards, including both a rushing and a receiving touchdown.

The Jets also got good value from UDFA defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III, who appeared in 14 games and had 24 combined tackles. Cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers primarily played in Week 15 because of injuries to other players. And receiver Malachi Corley was expected to be a much bigger part of the passing game, but the third-round pick ended up with three catches for 16 yards in nine games.

This would be a much more impressive rookie class if first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had started more than three games. He finished the year with a 50.4 QBR, and Penix was the only Falcons rookie to start a game in 2024.

Second-round defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro missed half the year with an ankle injury and had 11 combined tackles in eight games. Edge rusher Bralen Trice tore his ACL in the preseason and defensive end Brandon Dorlus played in two games. Fifth-round inside linebacker JD Bertrand may have been the top rookie other than Penix, making 23 combined tackles on special teams with occasional defensive appearances.

The Browns, who did not have a first-round selection in 2024, also did not have a single rookie who appeared in at least 50% of either offensive or defensive snaps in the games where that player was active.

The top rookie for Cleveland was undrafted free agent Winston Reid. The linebacker played 16 games, starting three, and had 23 combined tackles with a couple of passes defensed. Two defensive tackles also made an impact. Second-round pick Mike Hall Jr. played eight games with three starts, but he was suspended for five games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy with a domestic violence arrest. Seventh-rounder Jowon Briggs played in the final six games of the season and had 13 tackles.

Third-round guard Zak Zinter made it onto the field in all 17 games, but that was primarily on special teams. He filled in at starting right guard for three games early in the season. Fifth-round wide receiver Jamari Thrash played in nine games with three catches and 22 yards.

The easiest way to come out at the bottom of a list of rookie value is to spend your first pick on a young quarterback only for him to injure his knee in the preseason.

J.J. McCarthy is expected to return in 2025. But the Vikings had two first-round picks, and the other one didn’t do much either. They traded up a total of seven surrendered picks for edge rusher Dallas Turner, who played just 26% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps. The Vikings hope they can get more out of him in future seasons than the three sacks and one interception he had in 2024.

Sixth-round kicker Will Reichard had a league-average year on field goals. He hit 80% of his attempts but was 8-of-11 from 50 yards or more. Three other late-round picks combined to appear in six games.