The NFL has long been known for its players’ fast shelf lives compared to other sports. This makes it imperative for young NFL rookies to hit the ground running once they break into the league.
Otherwise, the reality is, that they can find themselves on the outside of the NFL, looking in real quick.
The good news for the young gridiron warriors is that the NFL is also extremely well-suited for young players to succeed.
So let’s take a look at 10 2024 rookies who may come out and earn Pro Bowl nods during their first season as a pro.
Which rookies are poised to have a breakout campaign in the upcoming NFL season?
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams comes into the NFL with a dazzling college career at USC, highlighted by his winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and his ability to keep a USC team that was largely unserious in the years leading up to his arrival in constant contention with his dual-threat capabilities.
During that Heisman winning campaign, he single-handedly carried the Trojans—throwing for 4,075 yards on 296-of-448 passing, a 66.1-percent completion rate, with a national co-leading 37 touchdown passes against just four interceptions.
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He was also able to add ten scores himself on the ground.
While his last season on campus was a little bit disappointing as the team struggled a little bit in 2023, and his play was relatively inconsistent, he remained the consensus first pick in this year’s draft—even with other star quarterbacks, like Jayden Daniels, climbing in the ranks.
And thus, the Bears, recognizing his potential, drafted him to be their franchise quarterback.
With his ability to make plays with both his arm and legs—and all of the insane playmakers that Chicago has brought in to support him, like DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, Williams—and the investment they have made in their offensive line, there is no doubt that he will have the opportunity to shine as an NFL rookie.
So much so—that we believe we will see him earn a Pro Bowl selection and maybe even Rookie of the Year honors in the process in 2024!
Marvin Harrison Jr. WR, Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. was a standout at Ohio State, known for his incredible route running and reliable hands—and, of course, the fact that his father was a Hall of Famer receiver in the NFL during his day!
Harrison was taken by the Cardinals, 4th overall, as the fourth wide receiver off the board, and he joins a once-electric offense on a team that is now in desperate need of a star receiver.
Harrison Jr. should benefit from playing with a young and dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray and a creative offensive scheme that such a quarterback enables.
Plus, with Marquise Brown leaving town—Murray will likely turn to Harrison as his go-to guy, which should give him an opportunity to put up some pretty big counting numbers… Maybe even bigger than his already impressive college resume—and just to put that in perspective—his last season in Columbus he averaged over 120 receiving yards per game, totaling 1211 and 14 touchdowns in 12 games.
It’s simply preposterous for one of the NFL’s most anticipated rookies to play this year.
Needless to say, there are high expectations for Harrison given his college achievements and his pedigree… and if he even comes close to meeting them, he will be not just a strong candidate for a Pro Bowl appearance in his rookie season, but a shoo-in!
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy lit up the college competition in Austin with his speed and playmaking ability as a Texas Longhorn.
He was a little bit raw—and lacked the polish that some other wide receivers in the collegiate game had, but you just can’t teach the kind of speed that Worthy possesses.
A 4.21 40-yard dash is insane—even to NFL standards!
Now that he is with the Kansas City Chiefs, he’ll have a chance to really develop and he should be excited because he’s in the perfect system to maximize his talents. Catching passes from Patrick Mahomes and learning from head coach Andy Reid, Worthy is poised to become a key weapon in one of the league’s most potent offenses—and one that was desperately in need of a player with his ability to stretch the field.
His transition to the NFL will be seamless, and the narrative is already building around his potential to make an immediate impact and earn a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Especially considering Coach Reid’s ability to develop and enable his young wide receivers for success—and his offense, which is designed to create mismatches and exploit the strengths of speedsters like Worthy.
Under Reid’s guidance, we should see Worthy’s route-running improve and the young wide receiver gain a deeper understanding of NFL defenses and refine his game to become a more complete receiver.
It may sound crazy, but we might see Xavier Worthy turn into Tyreek Hill 2.0 in Kansas City!
Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper DeJean may have been a second-round pick coming out of Iowa, but the former Hawkeye’s shutdown corner has all of the makings of an NFL star—and we could see him make a huge impact during his rookie season… That is enough for him to earn a Pro Bowl nod.
DeJean earned a number of accolades in college for his ability to neutralize top receivers—and built a reputation for being calm, cool, and collected under pressure—a mindset and skillset that should translate well to the NFL level.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles too, which means DeJean is stepping into a defense that values aggressive, smart play in the secondary. With the guidance of a strong defensive coaching staff and a talented supporting cast, DeJean is positioned to excel and make a name for himself as one of the NFL’s top rookies.
With just the right amount of ball-hawking—that could very easily turn into a Pro Bowl selection.
Also Read: 10 NFL Rookies In Horrific Situations This Season (2024 EDITION)
Amarius Mims, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
Amarius Mims was a dominant force on Georgia’s offensive line, playing a crucial role in helping the Bulldogs secure back-to-back national championships.
During his time at Georgia, he regularly put on display his exceptional strength, technique, and consistency, making him one of the most sought-after offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Now that he is with the Cincinnati Bengals, Mims is poised to make an immediate impact in the NFL. He will be protecting one of the top signal callers in the game, Joe Burrow.
Fortunately for Mims, Burrow is not just known for his clutch-time performances but also his precision passing ability—and for being one of the quickest decision-makers in the game, which should help simplify his transition to the NFL ranks.
Look for Mims to be a high-impact player and a potential Pro Bowl selection.
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
During his time at UGA, Brock Bowers quickly built a reputation for being, far and away, the best pass catching tight end in the college game.
Bowers was renowned for his athleticism, versatility, and ability to create mismatches on the field—and during his Bulldog career, he was a walking highlight-reel—and proved to have a knack for coming through in crucial moments.
Considered one of the top rookies in the NFL, Bowers should serve as a much-needed shot in the arm for a Las Vegas Raiders offense that desperately needs to bolster its offensive unit in the aftermath of the disaster that was the Josh McDaniels era.
The good news for Bowers is that the team seems to have a revitalized sense of purpose with Antonio Pierce calling the shots.
And Davante Adams should open up a ton of opportunities for him to run over the middle and get open on those seam routes, similar to the patterns we’ve seen Travis Kelce make a living off of in Kansas City.
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders go to Bowers early and often—and he gets selected as a Pro Bowler during his first season as a pro.
Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
With Stefon Diggs unceremoniously getting shipped out of Buffalo, there are huge shoes to fill in Western New York… and subsequently—a huge opportunity to put up HUGE numbers.
And that is exactly what the Bills and their diehard fans are hoping that rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will do in his first NFL season.
Coleman made a name for himself at Florida State with his big-play ability and physical style of play.
He consistently made highlight-reel catches and found ways to dominate the opposing defenses with his size, strength, and speed.
After all, he stands at 6’4″ and weighs 215 pounds, making him a physical specimen who can outmuscle defenders and win contested catches, making him a nightmare matchup for any NFL cornerback and for any of the incoming rookies… He could very well play a similar role in their offense that another second-round wide receiver selection, DK Metcalf, has played for Seattle in the past few years.
Coleman also has the advantage of catching passes from Josh Allen as a rookie, which could result in a statistical windfall that skyrockets him to the top of the NFL Pro Bowl voting race.
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Green Bay Packers
He may not have been a first round pick, but there is a reason that the Green Bay Packers took Edgerrin Cooper 45th overall.
Cooper was a tackling machine at Texas A&M, known for his sideline-to-sideline speed, football IQ, and his ability to perform at a consistent level on a week to week basis.
Joining a well-established Green Bay squad, Cooper finds himself in an ideal situation to showcase his talents and quickly establish himself as one of the top linebackers in the league. Especially when you factor in his ability to read offenses, cover ground quickly, and make decisive tackles, it is hard to see any other outcome besides him becoming a key piece in Green Bay’s defensive scheme.
Cooper should be well-positioned for a seamless transition to the NFL as part of the Packers’ defense, as the combination of veteran players, the strategic acumen of the coaching staff, and the team’s overall winning culture, is essentially an incubator for young talent.
All signs point to an impressive rookie season that could come with an NFL Pro Bowl nod for Cooper!
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels enters the NFL with a standout college career at LSU as the second overall pick in the draft—just behind the aforementioned Caleb Williams.
While both NFL rookies are known for their abilities to make plays with both their arm and their legs, Daniels takes that playmaking ability to another level.
During his time in Baton Rouge, Daniels earned a reputation for his dynamic play style, regularly showcasing his ability to extend plays with his legs, gain huge chunks of yard, and stretch the field with the deep ball—making him one of the most exciting prospects in the 2024 draft.
I mean… His senior year—when he won the Heisman Trophy—statistics were ridiculous. The then-Tigers QB threw for 3,812 yards and 40 scores with just four interceptions while also rushing for 1,134 yards and another 10 TDs.
Those are video game numbers.
Despite Washington not having built as robust a roster around Daniels as one might have hoped, his playmaking abilities give him a unique edge. He will be able to make something out of nothing in a way that few quarterbacks in the NFL—veteran or rookie—can.
Plus, the Commanders’ receiving corps, though not star-studded, has potential. Terry McLaurin remains one of the top wideouts in the game and an extremely reliable target when healthy… The Commanders may have struggled in recent years, but Daniels’ arrival brings hope and excitement—and could breathe new life into McLaurin and this offense.
And if his ability to turn broken plays into big gains translates to the NFL level, he could single-handedly lift Washington back into contention—and earn himself a trip to the Pro Bowl in the process.
Tyler Guton, OT, Dallas Cowboys
Tyler Guton was a stalwart on the offensive line for Alabama, known for his strength, technique, and consistency.
Now that he has entered the professional ranks with the Dallas Cowboys as the 29th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Guton finds himself in an ideal situation to showcase his talents and quickly establish himself as one of the top offensive tackles in the league.
I mean… There is a reason that the narrative around Guton is one of immense potential and a belief that he could make an immediate impact, enough so that he is well-positioned to earn a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season.
While the Cowboys are far from a perfect organization in terms of culture, there is no denying their storied history and reputation for developing elite offensive linemen.
Dallas has long been known for their strong offensive line play, and Guton will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business. The presence of experienced linemen like Zack Martin will provide Guton with invaluable mentorship and guidance as he transitions to the NFL—and may even result in him getting a Pro Bowl nod in Year 1.
Also Read: 5 NFL Rookies That Will Be STARS…And 5 That Will Be Big-Time BUSTS
