The 2024 rookie class was full of intrigue and highlight-worthy players who shined in their introduction to the league. Who were some of the best youngsters on the defensive side of the ball? How many late-round gems were unearthed by teams mining for some depth? Let’s look at the all-rookie first-team defense after the first-team offense got their turn in the sun.
2024 All-Rookie Honors: NFC Makes Presence Felt On First-Team Defense
Defensive Line
EDGE: Jared Verse / Los Angeles Rams
The former Florida State star pass rusher turned a highly successful collegiate career into a top-20 selection by the Rams. He then dominated the proceedings, so much that he won DROY convincingly over several highly qualified candidates. Verse notched 6.5 sacks during the 2024 season but saved his best performance against the reigning Super Bowl champions in a road playoff game. He posted two sacks and made several impact plays to make it a close contest against the heavily favored Eagles. The Rams found a gem that helps replenish their post-Aaron Donald defense with this all-rookie first-team defense selection.
2024 Statistics: 72 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries
IDL: Braden Fiske / Los Angeles Rams
Fiske earned his way into the second round with a standout 2023 college season, Senior Bowl, and Combine process. While Verse got all the deserved headlines for the Seminoles and Rams, Fiske is the glue that holds the defense together. He deserves his flowers as one of the best rookie defenders in the 2024 class. The versatile lineman is slated to start full-time in 2025 after starting eight games in 2024. The Rams got a steal in the second round by pairing up Seminoles teammates to do their thing.
2024 Statistics: 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries
IDL: T’Vondre Sweat / Tennessee Titans
Despite questions about his conditioning, the big man from the University of Texas was a dominant force to be reckoned with in 2024. He impacted the surprisingly effective Titans defense by freeing up his teammates, Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry. While there is a new regime in Nashville, the previous regime struck gold by making Sweat a key asset in a good 2024 draft. PFF graded Sweat as the 15th-best interior defender in the league, with an overall score of 76.2. Sweat was second in the league in defensive snaps among interior defenders, which emphatically answers the question about his conditioning.
2024 Statistics: 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble
EDGE: Chop Robinson / Miami Dolphins
Robinson burst onto the scene later in the 2024 season due to injuries and inconsistencies among Miami’s top pass rushers. He played in every game but only started one contest in 2024. He was second on the team in sacks with six in a limited role behind the Dolphins’ stars. The former Penn State star could be in line for a more prominent role in 2025 as former first-round pick Jaelen Phillips battles back from another injury. Bradley Chubb and Calais Campbell are getting older, which may affect their elevation in status. He earned his spot on the all-rookie first-team defense with stellar background play.
2024 Statistics: 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks, and four passes defended
Linebackers
Edgerrin Cooper / Green Bay Packers
The Packers selected Cooper in the second round and proved prescient by the storied franchise. Cooper was a revelation as the marshal of the defense, rapidly making an impact. He started four out of 14 games but produced almost 100 tackles and a team-leading 13 tackles for loss. The former South Carolina linebacker participated in the Senior Bowl, where the prospect excelled in Mobile. Green Bay is known for producing great defensive stars over the years, and he might be the latest in a long line. Cooper has a bright future ahead of him as the long-term starter in the middle of Jeff Hafley’s defense. The luminaries at PFF graded him as the fifth-best linebacker with an overall grade of 85.7.
2024 Statistics: 94 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four passes defended, 3.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble
Payton Wilson / Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson wasn’t the starter for most of the season, but he was a productive rookie. The former NC State linebacker gathered significant hype during the predraft process but fell to the third round. Pittsburgh’s long and storied tradition of redshirting and developing linebackers held. He was behind starters Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen. He will likely replace Roberts as the starter in 2025 since the latter is a free agent. PFF graded him as the 16th-best linebacker with an overall grade of 74.7.
2024 Statistics: 74 tackles, four tackles for loss, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries
Secondary
Cornerback
Cooper DeJean / Philadelphia Eagles
The former Iowa standout somehow fell to the Eagles in the second round, and boy, did he ever pay off their investment in spades. He was a star in the Super Bowl run, notching one of the most iconic plays in the game that reflected the defense’s dominance over Patrick Mahomes. PFF graded him as the best cornerback in the league, with an overall score of 86.3. DeJean also served as the team’s primary punt returner, harking back to his special teams prowess at Iowa. He’s a primetime athlete who started nine games this season and looks poised to be part of the cornerback future for the Eagles as their veterans age out.
2024 Statistics: A nice amount of tackles, ten passes defended, one interception (touchdown), one forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks
Quinyon Mitchell / Philadelphia Eagles
Mitchell came as advertised as a small-school corner who capitalized on a monstrous Senior Bowl process and became a first-round selection. He was a true shutdown corner for the reigning Super Bowl champions. Teams feared him and barely looked in his direction, even as a rookie. It echoes the past greats like Patrick Peterson and Champ Bailey, where teams routinely avoided them. The former Toledo star more than merited a few DROY looks due to his immense stature within the game so soon. 2024 portends a bright future for the precocious rookie and franchise as they look to reload for another Super Bowl run. PFF gave him a 79.1 overall grade, the seventh-best at his position.
2024 Statistics: 60 tackles, two interceptions, and 16 passes defended
Dru Phillips / New York Giants
The Giants may have had a terrible season, but their rookies delivered some promise and hope for the future. Phillips was a joyous find for the struggling franchise in the third round. He was duly hyped as a legitimate Day 2 prospect before the Senior Bowl and left with his stock intact to a degree. While the rookie’s ball production wasn’t there, he was constantly around the ball, registering 71 combined tackles. PFF thought of him highly by giving him an overall score of 77.5, which was suitable for ninth-best overall at his position. If the Giants can get the offense right, there’s no question that the young man can find a significant role in the secondary.
2024 Statistics: 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defense, one sack, and two forced fumbles
Tarheeb Still / Los Angeles Chargers
The 2024 cornerback class is projected to be one of the significantly talented position groups for many seasons. Still, as a fifth-round selection, was a hugely valuable piece to the Chargers secondary. PFF graded him as the 17th-best cornerback in the league with an overall score of 75.2. The Maryland product was oftentimes the best corner on the Chargers roster, which is hefty praise considering the talent in that room. He was part of a dynamic rookie class that saw contributions from several key players. Still, alongside fellow rookie cornerback, Cam Hart formed a solid and steady duo in the brightest of lights. Los Angeles is a town that never lies still and Still has the goods to produce more blockbusters in the years to come.
2024 Statistics: 65 tackles, four interceptions (one touchdown), ten passes defended, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks
Safety
Evan Williams / Green Bay Packers
Williams parlayed an outstanding Senior Bowl process into a fourth-round selection by the Packers. After spending part of his career at Fresno State, he transferred to Oregon for his final collegiate season. The rookie safety class didn’t play as projected, and Williams was the best of the crop. He started six games as a rookie and played well throughout the season, becoming an instant playmaker for the Packers’ defense. PFF graded him as the 23rd-best safety in the league, with an overall score of 72.5. The Packers got a pair of safeties in the 2024 draft that will start for them long-term. Williams more than earned his place as the lone safety on the all-rookie first-team defense.
2024 Statistics: 49 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and three passes defended.
Main Photo: [Eric Hartline] – USA Today Sports
