The Philadelphia Eagles put on a bow to a whirlwind 2024 season with a dominant Super Bowl win over the reeling Kansas City Chiefs. Now it’s time to see the first-year debutants who made their presence felt across the league in the regular and postseason. Who made the illustrious list for 2024’s all-rookie first-team offense? Are there any surprise rookies that rose above expectations and made their mark? Who could make a similar offensive impact as the 2023 bumper crop of first-year players in their sophomore seasons?
2024 All-Rookie Honors: First-Team Offense Features AFC
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels / Washington Commanders
Could Jayden Daniels have authored the most excellent rookie quarterback season in the league? He exceeded expectations in year one of the Dan Quinn era. What does the rookie have for an encore after running away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award? He had several highlight plays, including a hail mary heave to shock the world. More than one player has heaped a large amount of praise comparing him to Lamar Jackson, including the legend himself. After years of gross mismanagement under a previous owner, Daniels has led the Washington Commanders back into relevancy as a franchise. He is more than deserving of being QB1 on the all-rookie offense. If he can avoid the 2024 sophomore slump of C.J. Stroud, he can become one of the faces of the league.
2024 Statistics: 406/594 (68%), 4,390 yards, 30 touchdowns to ten interceptions; 183 attempts for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns
Running Back
Bucky Irving / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving proved an immensely valuable fourth-round selection as he quickly supplanted Rachaad White as a starter. He was also a PPR machine, catching 49 receptions for just under 400 yards. Although he didn’t get much red zone work, he still scored eight times. Irving was a tremendous talent at Oregon, and it translated in a big way into his career in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struck gold with his selection and will feed him more as the offense retools under a new coordinator.
2024 Statistics: 224 attempts for 1,199 yards and eight touchdowns; 49 receptions for 398 yards and one touchdown
Wide Receivers
Malik Nabers / New York Giants
The New York Giants had a tumultuous season, and some speculate that a quarterback change in the borough is needed to revitalize a hopeless franchise. Malik Nabers had a terrific rookie season despite the quarterback issues that rendered Big Blue rudderless. Frankly, it’s a miracle that he thrived at all. He looks to be a bona fide playmaker for a team that desperately needs a lead dog in the receiver room. The 2024 season could be a harbinger of further glory for the talented young wideout.
2024 Statistics: 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns
Ladd McConkey / Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers netted a potential superstar receiver in the second round after the former Georgia standout fell into their laps. Ladd McConkey led the team in targets, receptions, and yards for young veteran Justin Herbert. After a dismal 2023 season, Jim Harbaugh’s men made a thrilling run to the AFC divisional round. McConkey played an essential role in the chase and looks like a core player in the chase for the Chiefs’ AFC West throne.
2024 Statistics: 91 receptions for 1,346 yards and eight touchdowns
Brian Thomas Jr. / Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. was a revelation for the moribund Jacksonville Jaguars, who struggled once again to get anything going under the leadership of Doug Pederson. Thomas was an electric weapon for Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones, scoring ten touchdowns and having over 14 yards per reception. The dynamic athlete had more yards than the next three receivers combined and outpaced them in receptions. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain a similar pace with a new coach in town and Lawrence struggling under the weight of expectations. The prospects look immensely bright for the former LSU youngster.
2024 Statistics: 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns
Tight End
Brock Bowers / Las Vegas Raiders
Remember Sam LaPorta‘s historically excellent rookie season? It took Brock Bowers all of one season to crush those numbers and make himself a lock for the 2024 All-Rookie offense. The former Georgia star had a brilliant season and looks to be a building block for the perpetually rebuilding Las Vegas Raiders. Hopefully, they can find a quarterback this offseason to build with. Bowers was so good that he graded out as the third-best tight end in all of football with a score of 85.1.
2024 Statistics: 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns
Offensive Tackles
Joe Alt / Los Angeles Chargers
After being selected in the top ten, former Notre Dame star Joe Alt had a standout rookie season for the revitalized Los Angeles Chargers franchise. He played relative to the hype he received coming out of college. While he had some rookie moments, 2024 was a raging success for the youngster, and he looks like a building block for years. PFF graded him as the best rookie OT and 24th-best tackle overall, with a grade of 75.9.
PFF Grade: 75.9
Roger Rosengarten / Baltimore Ravens
Roger Rosengarten started his ascent to the starting right tackle gig for the perennial Super Bowl-contending Baltimore Ravens at the Senior Bowl. Ultimately, Baltimore selected him in the second round in the 2024 draft and was on a development plan. The former Washington Huskies star tackle took the job early on and didn’t cede any ground to veteran Patrick Mekari. He was efficient as the bookend to left tackle Ronnie Stanley, blocking for the league’s most talented backfield. While he is a surprise selection for the first team, he played well enough to merit consideration over JC Latham, Taliese Fuaga, and D.J. Glaze. The trio were efficient rookies who made the second tackle spot a hotly debated choice.
PFF Grade: 66.0
IOL
OG: Dominick Puni / San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers can’t stop finding great young offensive linemen. Dominick Puni is the latest in a long line of outstanding OLs to wear a 49ers uniform. He kicked off his 2024 campaign with a monstrous Senior Bowl performance, which showed his versatility and skillset. PFF gave him an overall score of 80.5, which was suitable for sixth-best in the league. He started at right guard for San Francisco but could slide over to the left side next season, depending on what the 49ers do with Aaron Banks in free agency.
PFF Grade: 80.5
C: Zach Frazier / Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier is showing signs of becoming the next great Pittsburgh Steelers center, a position held by three legendary franchise icons within the past 50 seasons. PFF graded him as the fifth-best center in the entire league, with an overall score of 77.9. He played very well as the anchor of the beleaguered offensive line for a precocious rookie with an impressive lineage to live up to. The Steelers might have stolen another great lineman in the second round. Now, can Pittsburgh build the line around him?
PFF Grade: 77.9
OG: Jackson Powers-Johnson / Las Vegas Raiders
Jackson Powers-Johnson had an outstanding Senior Bowl process that led to a second-round selection by the Raiders. He played significant snaps at both center and guard. The former Ducks star lineman was effective at both positions and showed flashes of consistent play. PFF rated him as the 40th-best guard with an overall offense score of 63.9. Powers-Johnson is slated to return to left guard next season with Andre James entrenched as the starter.
PFF Grade: 63.9
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
