The Most Likely Week 1 Starters in the 2024 NFL Draft
As the old NFL axiom states, it's never fair to judge a player based on one season alone. It's true because even some of the sport's best players take time to become great. However, that reality won't stop teams from targeting 2024 draft prospects with rookie contributions in mind.
The hope, especially for highly drafted prospects, is that rookies will make an immediate impact—and it's shared by playoff contenders and rebuilding franchises alike.
Last year, for example, the Baltimore Ravens drafted big-play receiver Zay Flowers in the first round to help open up the offense. Flowers did exactly that and helped Baltimore claim the AFC's No. 1 seed. The three-win Houston Texans snagged quarterback C.J. Stroud and pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. and leaned on the duo to become surprise division champions.
While there's certainly nothing wrong with taking a patient approach to high-upside prospects, some teams want or need immediate starters. Here, we'll dive into the most likely Week 1 starters from the 2024 draft class based on factors like experience, skill set, position and potential landing spots.
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
1 of 10
Offensive tackles aren't always asked to start immediately. The Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, took Broderick Jones 14th overall in last year's draft and didn't make him a full-time starter until Week 8.
However, no team is likely to take a similar approach with Notre Dame's Joe Alt. The 6'9", 321-pound prospect is a three-year starter with all the physical traits and polish needed to be an impact starter from Week 1 onward.
"While he isn't the most powerful blocker and will concede some initial ground in his anchor, Alt has virtually every other tool and skill to become an immediate impact starter at left tackle with the runway to continue ascending and cement his status as a foundational piece of a roster," Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
Alt, the fifth-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's draft board, is also likely to go early to a team that needs an immediate starter. Logical landing spots for him include the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 7.
The Chargers could use a bookend tackle opposite left-side starter Rashawn Slater, while the Titans desperately need to find an anchor left tackle. Alt's experience is mostly on the left side, but his floor is high enough that he could be an immediate asset at either tackle spot.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
2 of 10
At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Georgia's Brock Bowers might not have the build of a typical NFL starting tight end. Spend a little time watching game film, though, and it's easy to see why teams will want him in the Week 1 lineup.
Bowers is truly a special playmaker. Though on the shorter side for his position, he does a good job of out-positioning defenders to complete catches in traffic. Yet his combination of burst and agility often allows him to avoid traffic altogether.
The 21-year-old can be a quarterback's best friend by finding open space in the secondary, and he's a legitimate threat with the ball in his hand. He had a good supporting cast at Georgia, but the 2,538 yards he racked up over the past three years are a testament to his big-play ability.
Bowers shouldn't need an elite supporting cast to produce right away at the NFL level. His skill set will allow him to contribute immediately as a receiving tight end or hybrid slot target.
Sensible landing spots for Bowers include the New York Giants at No. 6 and the New York Jets at No. 10—which might be his draft floor.
The Giants may need a new receiving tight end, as Darren Waller is mulling retirement. The Jets have a serviceable starter in Tyler Conklin. However, they'd likely waste little time in making room for Bowers to give Aaron Rodgers another playmaker alongside Mike Williams and Garrett Wilson.
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
3 of 10
Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu is perhaps the one offensive tackle who is a threat to be drafted ahead of Alt. He's that good of a pass protector. However, he does have work to do in the run game, which could keep him out of a Week 1 starting lineup.
Fashanu's best fit might be with a team like the Jets, who have Tyron Smith under contract for 2024 but need a left tackle of the future.
"Fashanu has high-end physical tools with rarely seen polish as a pass-protector that is counterbalanced with being more underdeveloped as a finisher in the run game," Thorn wrote.
Alabama's JC Latham may be viewed as a right tackle only—it's where he started for two seasons in college—but he has the blend of size (6'6", 342 lbs), power and aggressive play style needed to thrive there immediately.
The best opportunity for Latham could come from the Chargers—if they trade down from No. 5, as they did in the B/R Scouting Department's latest mock draft—or the Baltimore Ravens at No. 30.
Latham would be a natural fit opposite Slater, and new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has a history of building his rosters from the inside out. The Ravens need a new starting right tackle after trading Morgan Moses, and Latham could fill that void before the end of August.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
4 of 10
Washington's Troy Fautanu stands a good chance of being the first interior lineman off the board later this month. That would likely land him with a team that needs a starting guard.
The Seattle Seahawks are a very sensible spot for Fautanu at No. 16 for a couple of reasons. For one, Seattle struggled along the offensive interior last season and needs an immediate upgrade. Secondly, new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb held the same position at Washington over the past two years.
The Miami Dolphins (pick No. 21) would also make sense for Fautanu, as they lost starting guard Robert Hunt in free agency.
The good news is that Fautanu has the skills and the floor of a Week 1 NFL starter. He'd be a plug-and-play option virtually anywhere he lands.
"His tools and skill set should land him a starting job right away, and he has Pro Bowl potential within his first contract as he settles into a full-time role inside," Thorn wrote.
While most of Fautanu's experience came at tackle, he was a two-year starter for the Huskies. At 6'4" and 317 pounds, he has the size, play strength and movement skills to be an elite interior lineman at the pro level.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
5 of 10
Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the B/R Scouting Department's top overall prospect for a reason. He's as close to a "can't-miss" pro-ready prospect as a team is going to find in the NFL draft.
"Harrison is a slam-dunk prospect," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He is a twitched-up athlete with polished route-running ability and elite ball skills. It's so easy to see how his game translates right away. Harrison would be an instant No. 1 WR for most offenses."
There's nothing to not like about the 6'3", 209-pound pass-catcher. Harrison is very likely to be the first non-quarterback off the board, possibly going as high as No. 3 to the New England Patriots, if New England opts not to draft a quarterback.
The Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 and the Chargers should also be interested in Harrison, and the Giants may provide his floor. The Patriots, Cardinals, Chargers and Giants all lack a true No. 1 target in their offense.
Few offenses wouldn't instantly make Harrison their top option. And teams that wouldn't—like the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals—won't be in a position to draft him anyway.
There's no "likely" about it. Harrison, who amassed 2,474 yards over the past two seasons alone, will be a Week 1 starter in 2024, barring injury.
Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
6 of 10
Many defensive positions provide difficult college-to-pro transitions because of differences in scheme concepts and responsibilities. Defensive backs, for example, don't always play in versatile coverage schemes or combat nuanced receiver routes at the collegiate levels.
However, edge-rushers often get on the field early because their main task—getting after the quarterback—will remain the same. There's still a learning curve because many college offensive linemen are woefully underdeveloped, but physically, the job doesn't change much.
UCLA's Laiatu Latu has all the traits needed to get onto the field immediately. He's a physically impressive 6'5", 259-pound prospect with terrific quickness (4.64-second 40-yard dash), length and technique. He's mostly reliable against the run, and his hand usage and countermoves are outstanding for an incoming rookie.
Latu is the third-ranked edge defender on the B/R board because his athletic upside isn't elite and he carries some medical concerns—he was medically retired by Washington due to a neck injury before reemerging with the Bruins. However, he might be the most likely to step into a three-down role.
Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 18) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 19) should be very interested in landing Latu in Round 1. Cincinnati could use an upgrade over Sam Hubbard opposite Trey Hendrickson, while the Rams lack a high-end edge opposite Byron Young.
Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
7 of 10
The golden era of edge-rushers isn't over, but interior defenders who can stop the run and pressure the quarterback are the league's new hot commodity. Virtually every defense is looking for the next Aaron Donald, and they're willing to pay heavily or draft highly to find him.
Texas' Byron Murphy II is likely to draw a few Donald comparisons because he makes up for a lack of ideal length (6'1", 297 lbs) with athleticism, technique and an explosive first step.
Comparisons to the first-ballot Hall of Famer aren't fair, but Murphy's speed (4.87-second 40-yard dash), play strength and skill set are nonetheless impressive. He's the B/R Scouting Department's top-rated defensive lineman and the clear top option in a class that lacks depth at the position.
Murphy tallied 29 tacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with the Longhorns last season.
The 2023 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year would be a sensible target for the Dolphins, who lost Christian Wilkins in free agency, or the Chargers—if L.A. does trade down and depending on how far it goes. He'd slot right into the starting lineup for either franchise.
Expect Murphy to be coveted by virtually every defensive coordinator who doesn't already have a high-impact defensive tackle in the rotation.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
8 of 10
The 2024 draft class is littered with quality receiver prospects, and several are likely to go early in the draft. LSU's Malik Nabers is rated slightly above Washington's Rome Odunze by the B/R Scouting Department and may be the second receiver off the board because of his upside.
However, upside alone might not guarantee Nabers a Week 1 starting role.
"Nabers also isn't a reliable ball-winner right now," Klassen wrote. "He's excellent at tracking the ball as a vertical threat and reaching for passes outside his frame, but he does not consistently win in traffic or in the air."
It wouldn't be a shock to see a team work Nabers into the lineup somewhat slowly as he adjusts to the nuances of the pro game.
Odunze may not have quite as much upside or explosiveness as Nabers, but he also has a higher floor. He combines good-enough speed (4.45-second 40-yard dash) and archetypal size (6'3", 212 lbs), smooth route running, reliable hands and tremendous awareness.
The three-year starter has plenty of experience, and his skills should quickly translate to the NFL.
As a rookie Odunze should be, at worst, a high-end, ball-winning No. 2 receiver, and he'd be the No. 1 option in a lot of offenses. Teams like the Cardinals, Chargers, Giants and Atlanta Falcons should have interest in Odunze—if they miss out on Harrison—and could provide an immediate starting opportunity.
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
9 of 10
Florida State's Jared Verse is the top-rated edge-rusher on the B/R board. While his upside will get him drafted early, he's also polished enough to be an immediate starter.
Verse is an intriguing 6'4", 254-pound prospect with a great burst (4.58-second 40-yard dash) and an elite blend of strength and athleticism. He'll be able to mix it up with NFL linemen as a pass-rusher right away, and he won't be a liability against the run.
"The Seminole is also a plus run defender with his physicality at the point of attack and ability to get off blocks," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He has pop in his hands to stand up offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and gain a leverage advantage, making him hard to move one-on-one and block with tight ends."
Verse recorded 18.0 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons with the Seminoles.
The 23-year-old has a good chance to be the first defender off the board later this month, and he could go quite early. He'd be a logical fit for the Chicago Bears at No. 9, as Chicago needs a complement to 2023 trade acquisition Montez Sweat.
Verse's floor is probably at No. 12 with the Denver Broncos. Denver has lacked a difference-maker on the edge since its 2022 trade of Bradley Chubb, and Verse can make an impact as early as Week 1.
Caleb Williams and Other Top Quarterbacks
10 of 10
Highly drafted quarterbacks don't always start as rookies in Week 1, but the recent trend has been to get them on the field early. Last season, for example, Stroud, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson were all opening-day starters.
USC's Caleb Williams is widely expected to be Chicago's pick at No. 1 overall. If he is, it's hard to envision Tyson Bagent or Brett Rypien keeping Williams on the bench beyond the early stages of the preseason. His upside and ability are simply too great.
"The arm talent oozes off the film, and he is a special playmaker when things break down," Klassen wrote. "Williams is also more put together as a processor than his playing style suggests, even if he still needs work."
North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy are likely to hear their names called shortly after Williams does. The Washington Commanders (No. 2) and Patriots need new franchise quarterbacks, and both the Cardinals and Chargers could trade their picks (No. 4 and No. 5, respectively) to a QB-needy team.
While rookie quarterbacks always face a learning curve, the floor is high enough with this year's top four QB prospects to justify starting them in Week 1. A lot will hinge, however, on exactly where they land.
The Commanders added Marcus Mariota this offseason, while the Patriots brought back Jacoby Brissett. Both journeymen could potentially serve as placeholders for a few weeks if needed. The Minnesota Vikings are a threat to trade up for a signal-caller, and they recently added Sam Darnold, who could fill that bridge role.
Still, it would be hard for a franchise to justify using a top-five pick on a quarterback and not starting him right away. It should surprise exactly no one if Williams, Maye, Daniels and McCarthy are all opening-day starters in 2024.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
