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The 2024 NFL draft is in the books and an exciting rookie class is set.
The first round saw six quarterbacks taken off the board, which tied the NFL's record for quarterbacks selected in the opening round. USC's Caleb Williams headlined the class at No. 1 overall and Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye followed him.
The Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in a move that surprised many given the fact that the club just gave Kirk Cousins a lofty contract. J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix were also drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, respectively, in the first round.
Wide receivers were also popular in the first round with seven going off the board. Players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze highlight what should be a special group.
As is the case with most drafts, a few stars could emerge from outside of the first round. Two that come to mind could be wide receivers Keon Coleman and Adonai Mitchell, who were selected by the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, respectively. The two arguably could have been first-round picks, so they'll be looking to prove themselves in their rookie years.
We won't know who the stars of the rookie class are until this fall, but several players seem bound for success in 2024.
With the draft behind us, here's a look at a top-25 dynasty rookie ranking list based on their potential production of the next four years (through the end of a non-first-round rookie contract) as well as a rookie-only first-round mock draft focusing on just the 2024 season.
The focus will be on Harrison and Williams, who are set up to succeed immediately in their rookie seasons.
Top 25 Dynasty Rookie Rankings (Next Four Years)
- Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- New York Giants WR Malik Nabers
- Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze
- Carolina Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks
- Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- Arizona Cardinals RB Trey Benson
- Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy
- Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
- Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
- Denver Broncos WR Troy Franklin
- Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers
- Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman
- Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey
- Miami Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright
- Indianapolis Colts WR Adonai Mitchell
- Green Bay Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd
- Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Leggette
- Los Angeles Rams RB Blake Corum
- Pittsburgh Steelers WR Roman Wilson
- New York Jets RB Braelon Allen
- New England Patriots QB Drake Maye
- New York Jets WR Malachi Corley
- San Francisco WR Rickey Pearsall
- Buffalo Bills RB Ray Davis
- New England Patriots Ja'Lynn Polk
First-Round Rookie Mock (Predictions Specifically for 2024)
- Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze
- Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
- Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
- New York Giants WR Malik Nabers
- Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers
- Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey
- Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy
- Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman
- Indianapolis Colts WR Adonai Mitchell
- New England Patriots QB Drake Maye
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Leggette, Miami Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright, Arizona Cardinals RB Trey Benson
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison is ready for the NFL. The Ohio State star notched back-to-back seasons with 1,200+ receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2023.
His 6'4" frame means he has NFL size and should need very little time to acclimate to the league. Pro Football Network's Kent Lee gave Harrison a great composite size grade ahead of the draft.
Kent Lee Platte @MathBombMarvin Harrison Jr. is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class. He does not qualify for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RAS</a> due to a lack of measurements. <a href="https://t.co/Y3Cmw3z1Ww">https://t.co/Y3Cmw3z1Ww</a> <a href="https://t.co/XqucuGCVkU">pic.twitter.com/XqucuGCVkU</a>
Harrison was widely viewed as the top prospect in this year's draft class. Bleacher Report's Scouting Department gave him the nod as both the best player and the top wide receiver on the final big board before the draft.
He also received high praise from the coaches he played against. Per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, an anonymous college football coach said Harrison was "as good as the hype."
"He was such a problem for us," the coach said. "They were moving him around. He was as good as the hype. He's got the explosion, a big catch radius. He separated well. He makes catches in traffic. He was bigger than I thought."
While Harrison's skills set him to succeed, his situation does too. The Cardinals don't have a true No. 1 receiver option, meaning Harrison can walk in and potentially lead the team in receptions. He also has a solid quarterback in Kyler Murray, who will set him up for a big year.
Combine Harrison's tremendous talent with a team that will need him to step up and the rookie receiver should have a strong year in fantasy football.
Caleb Williams
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner was the clear favorite to go first overall, and the Bears drafted him with delight.
Now, Chicago is hoping to have its franchise quarterback and Williams is looking for a strong start to his career.
Williams had outstanding numbers in college, notching 4,537 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions his sophom*ore year before collecting 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2023. He also had 21 rushing touchdowns between his two years at USC.
He has appeared NFL-ready for the last two years and is now ready to shine in the pros.
Like Harrison, Williams is walking into a great situation. Chicago's roster is loaded with targets as it features D.J Moore and Keenan Allen—both 1,000+ yard receivers in 2023. The Bears also added Washington star receiver Rome Odunze in the draft, giving Williams another target.
The pressure is on for Williams with lofty expectations, but he seems ready for the moment and is a good bet to draft in fantasy football this year.
