These 5 rookies stood out of their NFL debuts, however is it sustainable over the course of all the season?

A 12 months in the past, after Week 1 of the 2023 season, I wrote about five rookies who balled out in their debuts and whether or not it was sustainable over the following 4 months. Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua, Christian Gonzalez, Brian Branch and Jalen Carter all made the listing.

(Curiously, no C.J. Stroud, who struggled in opposition to the Ravens in Week 1 earlier than catching fireplace.)

Nacua was, far and away, the perfect rookie of that group, however Robinson was stymied by Arthur Smith’s offense, Gonazales’ promising season was lower brief by damage and Carter flashed top-5 expertise however the entire workforce crumbled to a 1-6 end and a blowout loss to the Bucs within the playoffs.

Department, in the meantime, was higher than marketed. And as Rick Spielman, my co-host on the “With the First Decide” podcast, would let you know, Department did not play just like the 4.58-second 40-yard sprint he ran on the NFL Scouting Mix. He performed extra like a 4.4 man, and he is additionally extremely vibrant.

One other 12 months, one other crop of gamers dealing with excessive expectations; some to avoid wasting a franchise, others to guard the face of the franchise, and others nonetheless to maintain an excellent factor going. In contrast to final 12 months’s listing, which featured a seconder- and fifth-rounder, the names under have been all taken within the first spherical, and all, to various levels, made instant impacts in Week 1. All of them, I think, will solely get higher because the season wears on.

• Week 1 stat line: 3 targets, 2 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush for 21 yards, 1 speeding TD

All of us knew Xavier Worthy was a burner, even earlier than he set the all-time 40-yard sprint file on the mix. He spent most Saturdays in Austin outrunning the 11 guys on the opposite workforce down the sphere, and normally into the tip zone. And whereas pace kills, it does not all the time instantly translate to the following stage, particularly at large receiver, principally as a result of considering — concerning the protection, the route changes, the snap rely, you identify it — is the enemy of taking part in quick.

All of that is to say, Worthy skilled not one of the early-season rising pains of Rashee Rice from a 12 months in the past. (And I acknowledge that Rice was the perfect receiver on this workforce not named Travis Kelce for the ultimate 3.5 months.) Worthy took an finish round for 21 yards for a first-quarter landing vs. the Ravens, then adopted that up with a wide-open landing catch within the fourth quarter. He appeared so much like he did on the College of Texas.

Is that this sustainable?

Yep. And I really feel like there is not way more so as to add, principally as a result of he is in Kansas Metropolis’s offense and never, say, the Patriots. Hollywood Brown will return in a couple of weeks, making Worthy’s job even simpler, and like these rookies who stored getting higher a 12 months in the past — Nacua, Jordan Addison, Marvin Mims, Rice — Worthy landed in probably the greatest conditions for a younger go catcher. Patrick Mahomes has the perfect receivers he is had since Tyreek Hill was traded, and that is horrible information for the remainder of the convention.

• Week 1 stat line: 2 hits, 1 sack

We talked about JC Latham on the podcast, partially as a result of he was the No. 7 general choose final April to a workforce that desperately wanted to improve the offensive line, but in addition as a result of he moved from proper deal with at Alabama to left deal with for the Titans. Usually, that is not a clean transition, however Latham was actually good within the preseason and appeared stable in his debut. The Bears stored Montez Sweat on the opposite aspect of the formation, and save one Darrell Taylor strip sack at Latham’s (and Will Levis‘) expense, the rookie was fairly good.

Is that this sustainable?

Sure sir. Latham is already a dominant run blocker, and whereas he is uncooked on the left aspect in go safety, he is extremely athletic for his dimension. And that, coupled with simply how sturdy he’s, means he can win with physicality whereas he hones his approach. Typically you see wide-eyed rookies who’re overwhelmed and out of types, needing months, and typically years, to succeed in their potential. That ain’t Latham; he has an opportunity to be particular, before later.

• Week 1 stat line: 0 hits, 0 sack

“He has an opportunity to be particular, before later,” is how I ended the paragraph above on JC Latham. It is becoming that it is how I am beginning the one on Joe Alt who, like Latham, has modified positions. Alt was a left deal with at Notre Dame and is now the precise deal with for the Chargers. And as his stat line exhibits, he did not enable a single hit on Justin Herbert, by no means thoughts a sack.

In contrast to Latham, who had only a single rep in opposition to Sweat, Alt spent his afternoon battling Maxx Crosby, probably the greatest go rushers within the league. And rep after rep, whether or not in passpro or a run play, Alt greater than held his personal. Bull rush? Alt re-anchored the primary time he noticed it after which shut it down the remainder of the day. Chop? Alt used his lengthy arms to redirect Crosby round Herbert a number of occasions.

Alt was additionally good in opposition to the run, however he was excellent in passpro.

Is that this sustainable?

The scary factor is that Alt goes to get higher, and possibly so much higher.

• Week 1 stat line: 14-29, 93 yards 0 TDs, 0 INTs; 5 rushes for 50 yards

Typically you watch a quarterback and you realize. You already know this ain’t going to work, both now or in two weeks or two years. Williams’ stat line is as pedestrian because it comes, however he will be wonderful. Bear in mind, a 12 months in the past, the Ravens had Stroud in stitches in Week 1 after which the whole lot modified. And by the tip of the 12 months, Stroud was legit a top-5 QB.

I do not assume Williams can be within the top-5 dialog in January, however he’ll be a top-half-of-the-league QB by then and he’ll play an element in getting the Bears over the hump. That might imply a successful season and a shot on the playoffs, and subsequent 12 months it is all-gas, no-brakes with this offense, and the expectations.

Is that this sustainable?

I’ve little question. For now, this workforce feels a bit just like the 2004 Steelers, which leaned on its protection and stored the coaching wheels on then-rookie Ben Roethlisberger and the offense. Williams is a a lot better passer proper now than Large Ben was then, however the huge challenge all of us talked about final fall is the one he’ll have to proceed to work on: taking part in on time. However he’ll be wonderful. Keenan Allen dropped a straightforward landing go, and the errors have been these you’d count on a rookie to make in his very first begin. In contrast to most rookie QBs in current NFL historical past, Williams has the luxurious of taking part in on a very good workforce.

• Week 1 stat line: 17-24, 184 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs; 16 rushes for 88 yards, 2 speeding TDs

Like Caleb Williams, Daniels performed like he was hopped up on adrenaline for 3 hours. It additionally appeared like the sport was shifting too quick for him at occasions. Not that he appeared overmatched, however that he was skipping reads, or if his first learn wasn’t there, he appeared to run. However that is additionally the fantastic thing about Daniels’ recreation: even on a area crammed with phenomenal athletes, he is normally the perfect.

So whereas he was hit and miss together with his arm, and his choices when he threw the ball, he saved himself from so many dead-end performs as a result of he was capable of run out of it. The 2 speeding TDs have been good, however each have been of the short-yardage selection; he is damn-near unstoppable within the open area and the largest risk to his security is not taking a success, it is that he is but to good the slide (it is extra of a tumble, like once you journey over your untied shoelaces). While you’re speaking about rookie QBs, there are actually greater issues to have.

Is that this sustainable?

Not solely is it sustainable, it should be lots of enjoyable to look at. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has an excellent monitor file with younger, big-armed, athletic QBs. In truth, the largest challenge dealing with the Commanders after Week 1 is not the rookie quarterback, it is getting this protection on monitor.