Rating the High 10 picks within the 2024 NFL Draft class: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Joe Alt prepared the ground

We’re 4 video games into the 2024 NFL season, it is instructive to additionally have a look at how the rookies, only a month into their skilled careers, are doing. 

So let’s rank the highest 10 picks from the 2024 NFL Draft class, a gaggle that features 5 (!) quarterbacks, three huge receivers and two offensive linemen (and, in fact, zero defensive gamers). I watched each NFL snap for eight of the ten gamers (Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy have not performed), and their rating under displays each how they’ve carried out, but in addition takes positional worth into consideration. Put one other approach: quarterbacks are necessary!

However take note: all the lively gamers on this listing are off to good-to-great begins, so there’s loads of cause for optimism in case your crew had a top-10 choose as a result of these guys have been spectacular by way of a month {of professional} soccer.

In case it is not apparent, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy are ranked eighth, ninth and tenth as a result of Maye has solely performed a collection, and neither Penix Jr. nor McCarthy have performed in any respect (and McCarthy is sidelined for the season following knee surgical procedure). This is not a commentary on something apart from they have not seen the sphere. 

10. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings (drafted tenth total)

McCarthy’s knee damage within the preseason required surgical procedure and ended his rookie marketing campaign not lengthy after it began. That stinks, for positive. Nevertheless it additionally means he can study pressure-free as Sam Darnold has a profession 12 months. McCarthy wasn’t prepared to start out as a rookie anyway, and this takes stress off everybody concerned; the rookie, the veteran and the teaching workers. McCarthy shall be higher for it in the long term.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

9. Michael Penix, QB, Falcons (drafted eighth total)

I cherished Penix Jr. popping out of Washington and he ended up as my QB4, after Williams, Daniels and Maye. Sadly, he landed on a crew that presently has a franchise quarterback, although one coming off an Achilles damage. We’ll see how lengthy it takes Penix Jr. to seek out his approach on the sphere.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

8. Drake Maye, QB, Patriots (drafted third total)

The Patriots offensive line is battling accidents, and even earlier than that, it was a large number. This is to hoping Maye, who is barely 21, does not see the sphere in 2024. We stay in a time the place rookie QBs, particularly first-rounders, are anticipated to play, however this appears like setting him as much as fail. He did play the ultimate collection in opposition to the Jets in a blowout loss and he took extra hits in these snaps than Jayden Daniels has taken all season. 

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Odunze had his first huge day in opposition to the Colts in Week 3 (11 catches, 112 yards, a TD) however he is not even near scratching the floor on what he’ll turn out to be (within the different three video games, Odunze has 4 catches for 54 yards). 

A part of it’s the pure adjustment interval it takes receivers not named Malik Nabers once they transition from school to the NFL. Odunze additionally is not 100% wholesome; he was battling a knee damage popping out of the preseason, and he is enjoying greater than twice as many snaps within the slot (35 p.c) than he did for the Huskies final season (16 p.c). I point out that as a result of, at occasions, it seems to be like he is not enjoying with the identical confidence we noticed at Washington. He’ll get there although, and we have seen glimpses of how good he may be. 

GRADE: B-

6. JC Latham, OT, Titans (drafted seventh total)

Like Joe Alt, JC Latham is enjoying a brand new place within the NFL. He manned proper sort out for the Crimson Tide final season, and beforehand performed guard. However in Tennessee, the place first-year head coach Brian Callahan properly introduced alongside his dad, Invoice Callahan, who additionally occurs to be among the finest offensive line coaches in historical past. So whereas I anticipated some rising pains from Latham, he is been strong. Rick and I talked about him throughout the preseason, when he confirmed what we noticed at Alabama: that he generally is a dominant run blocker, who continues to be rising as a go protector. It helps that he blocks out the solar whereas transferring like a person half his listed weight of 360 lbs. That mentioned, Latham has solely allowed one sack in 139 pass-rush snaps. The Titans drafted him to not solely shield their younger quarterback, however to additionally assist jump-start the run sport. He strains up subsequent to the crew’s 2023 first-rounder, Peter Skoronski, and I feel this group has an opportunity to be actually good, ahead of later.

One of many classes right here: never doubt someone who goes by Trench King!

GRADE: B+

Harrison Jr. was a non-factor in Week 1 in opposition to the Bills the place he dropped a go and was focused solely 3 times. However every week later, he seemed each bit the No. 4 total choose when he had 130 yards and a couple of touchdowns on 4 catches, exhibiting off his deep pace, contested-catch capacity and physique management (and he had an opportunity to pad these stats however he and Kyler Murray could not get on the identical web page within the crimson zone on a few targets). He solely logged 10 receptions for 109 yards within the subsequent two video games however once you watch these reps, whether or not he is lining up outdoors or within the slot, and see his motion expertise, his route working, how he units up the defensive again – it is clear he’ll be particular. 

I am giving him an “B+” right here as a result of he is not but the focus of the passing sport. When that occurs, he’ll take over video games, however by way of 4 weeks, and with the best way Malik Nabers has been balling, B+ feels proper.

GRADE: B+

4. Caleb Williams, QB, Bears (drafted No. 1 total)

Like a season in the past, the issue for the No. 1 quarterback within the draft class may find yourself being the No. 2 quarterback within the draft class. Not like a 12 months in the past, nonetheless, Caleb Williams has gotten higher every week of the common season and if not for Jayden Daniels, we would most likely all be saying that Williams is strictly the place he must be, and on observe to be actually good. The recurring theme by way of 4 video games is that if Williams performs on time, he is profitable. If – and this was the largest concern popping out of USC – he performs hero ball, he’ll get himself in hassle. He is had some uncharacteristic accuracy points on a few of his downfield throws however I chalk that as much as rising into this offense greater than anything.  

Rick Spielman and I discuss the rookie QBs each week on the With the First Choose Podcast, and these two throws from the Week 4 win over the Rams point out to me that the sport is slowing down and it is a preview of issues to come back.

And the landing to DJ Moore, who is roofed however the linebacker has his again turned and Williams trusts his receiver to make a play on the ball.

GRADE: B+

3. Joe Alt, OT, Chargers (drafted No. 5 total)

Joe Alt performed left sort out at Notre Dame in 2023 and he seems to be each bit the NFL left sort out, each getting off the bus and once you activate the tape. However the Chargers have Rashawn Slater, the previous first-rounder who’s an excellent LT in his personal proper. So the crew moved Alt to the appropriate facet, which carries with it much more issues than, “hey, line up over there as a substitute of over right here.” However you would not realize it to look at Alt, who in Week 1 noticed extra Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins than any offensive lineman ever needs to. However in that matchup, Alt performed like a grizzled veteran headed to the Corridor of Fame. In truth, in accordance with NextGen Stats, “Alt allowed zero quarterback pressures throughout 11 matchups in opposition to Maxx Crosby, all in 1-on-1 conditions. Crosby had not been held to zero pressures in a matchup in opposition to an offensive lineman since Week 9, 2022.”

Alt suffered an MCL damage in Week 3 in opposition to the Steelers and T.J. Watt, however he is already answered any questions on whether or not first-year coach Jim Harbaugh made the appropriate determination to a) draft an offensive lineman, and b) transfer that offensive lineman to a brand new place.

GRADE: A

2. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants (drafted No. 6 total)

Amongst first and second-year gamers, Malik Nabers leads the league in crew goal proportion (38%), receptions (35), receiving yards (386) and performs gaining not less than 16 yards (8). Nabers has been so good that he is made Daniel Jones a replacement-level passer (that is a very good factor!); by way of 4 video games he has an anticipated factors added (EPA) per dropback of … 0.00. That places him between Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott. (For additional perspective, amongst beginning QBs, Jayden Daniels is No. 1 (0.32, which is actually an All Professional performer) and Will Levis is citing the rear (-0.34).

Put one other approach: it actually helps the quarterback, whomever he’s, when your No. 1 receiver can do that:

Simply throw it in Nabers’ common neighborhood and he’ll handle the remainder. I am giving Nabers an “A.” It will’ve been an A+ if Jayden Daniels wasn’t enjoying like the perfect participant within the galaxy.  

GRADE: A

1. Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders (drafted No. 2 total)

“Jayden Daniels is enjoying higher than CJ Stroud was a 12 months in the past presently.” These aren’t my phrases – they’re Rick’s from Tuesday’s podcast – however I agree with them. 

No participant has made extra progress throughout their school journey than Daniels, who left Arizona State with loads of questions, arrived at LSU with no ensures, and two seasons later received the Heisman and was the No. 2 total choose within the NFL Draft. And after the debacle that has been the Bryce Young expertise in Carolina, I am continuously reminding myself that match issues. Whereas Daniels deserves the lion’s share of the credit score (the person is finishing a mind-melting 82 p.c of his throws!), new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has achieved an incredible job of placing Daniels in place for fulfillment, whether or not it is emphasizing the RPO and fast sport early within the season, or permitting him to push the ball down the sphere in subsequent weeks, the wedding has been a very good one. Daniels, who is among the greatest athletes on the sphere, has been considered with when to run, and when he does, he is typically averted huge hits. Extra spectacular, although, is that he is not seeking to run. As a substitute, he is standing within the pocket (because of an offensive line that is been higher than anticipated by way of the primary month) and getting by way of his reads. 

This throw vs. the Cardinals was considered one of my favorites from Week 4.

GRADE: A+