The NFL’s Top 5 Rookies from Week 1

One week of the 2024 NFL season is in the books, with the two primary favorites to play football in February, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, taking care of business. Other squads like the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants struggled tremendously.

The NFL’s Top 5 Rookies from Week 1

And per usual, oodles of new rookies took the field right away in 2024, notably headlined by 1st-Round quarterbacks Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (Washinton Commanders), and Bo Nix (Denver Broncos).

None of those passers stole the show, however, and the following five players represented the league’s top five rookies from Week 1, ranked in ascending order, according to Pro Football Focus.

5. Ladd McConkey (WR)

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
PFF Grade: 72.9

McConkey received 7 targets inside a run-happy Jim Harbaugh system, tabulating 5 receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. The yards, of course, did not stand off the page, but they didn’t need to, as McConkey compiled 2 first downs and instantly became one of quarterback Justin Herbert’s favorite targets.

It helped that the Chargers downed the rival Las Vegas Raiders, 22-10.

 

4. Jared Verse (EDGE)

Team: Los Angeles Rams 
PFF Grade: 75.5

Verse lives in a structurally sound organization known as the Rams — a club also needing pass-rush beef after future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald walked away for good eight months ago.

On Sunday night, Verse played 43 defensive snaps, or an impressive 71% of the time. He recorded a sack and 4 tackles along the way, solidifying his spot as a starting EDGE rusher for the 2024 Rams. Verse won the job this summer and won’t give it back.

3. Brian Thomas (WR)

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 77.5

The 23rd overall pick in April’s draft saw 4 targets from Trevor Lawrence, translating to 4 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. His stat line essentially mirrored McConkey from above.

An outcome that bodes well for fantasy football managers, Thomas was the most targeted Jaguars pass-catcher.

2. Dominick Puni (OG)

Team: San Francisco 49ers 
PFF Grade: 79.1

The Kansas alumnus started cover to cover for the 49ers on Monday night while his team thrashed the New York Jets 32-19. San Francisco found Puni in Round 3 of the draft 4.5 months ago, and if his first game served as a reasonable indicator, the 49ers might’ve found a Day One starter in the guts of the offensive line.

1. Calen Bullock (S)

Team: Houston Texans
PFF Grade: +82.3

Another 3rd Rounder, Bullock didn’t play as much as Puni, for instance, but he did see the field on 25 defensive snaps, and he notched 3 tackles and an interception in his first NFL game.

Bullock isn’t formally a starter just yet, but he could steal Jimmie Ward’s job before too long.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.