NFL Rookies Who Won't Start in 2024 but Definitely Should
The 2024 NFL draft has brought an influx of rookie talent into the league, many of whom will play big roles and even earn starting jobs in their first professional seasons.
Not all first-year players will have an opportunity to make the impact they are capable of, though.
Plenty will be buried on depth charts, stuck behind proven veterans who will retain their incumbent roles. Regardless of how high their ceiling is or how much upside they bring to the table, some rookies simply won't get a fair shake due to these positional logjams.
With that in mind, here's a look at a handful of first-year players who probably aren't going to win a starting job in 2024 but certainly have the talent to thrive in the NFL.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
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Jonathon Brooks became the first running back off the board in the 2024 draft after the Carolina Panthers moved up to secure him.
While his selection didn't come until Day 2, the Texas product has a bright future ahead and there's little doubt he'll make a real impact at the professional level.
Unfortunately for Brooks, his chances of jumping out to a truly fast start are hamstrung by a veteran-laden Carolina backfield that will likely work as a platoon this coming season.
That much was confirmed by new head coach Dave Canales, who told reporters that "all of these guys are going to play" in a run-heavy system that the team is hoping will help second-year quarterback Bryce Young bounce back from a trying rookie campaign.
The Panthers are returning both Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, their top rushing performers last year. While neither player exceeded the 1,000-yard mark or averaged over four yards per carry, the lack of a competent passing attack put a low ceiling on the unit's capabilities.
Hubbard was the team's starter last year and has the inside track to retaining that role next season. Even if Brooks' upside is much higher, he lacks experience and is coming off an ACL tear that cut his 2023 campaign short.
While he expects to be ready for training camp, the 20-year-old didn't participate in rookie minicamp and could take a while to get up to speed.
Sanders will also be in the mix despite having a disappointing first season in Carolina.
The 2019 second-round pick only posted a meager 432 yards on 129 carries, but he still has three seasons left on the four-year, $25.4 million contract he signed last offseason. Because the team doesn't have a fiscally responsible way to get out from under that deal until after the 2024 season, he is likely to play at least a tertiary role in the rotation.
Brooks may work as the three-down back he's capable of becoming this year, and he should gain steam as the season wears on when he's healthier and gains a better grasp of the playbook.
His fresh legs—he had just 238 totes across his entire collegiate career—and versatility will be a boon for a Panthers offense that is set to lean heavily on the ground game.
WR Malachi Corley, New York Jets
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By selecting Malachi Corley near the top of the third round this year, the New York Jets brought in one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football.
The YAC King, as Corley came to be known during his stellar tenure at Western Kentucky, is a major threat every time he touches the ball and should have little issues translating that skill to the next level.
His aggressive style led to him tallying up an eye-popping 253 catches for 2,966 yards (with an incredible, nation-leading 2,056 of those coming after the catch and 838 coming after contact) and 29 touchdowns in his last 40 games with the Hilltoppers.
According to Lauren Gray of Pro Football Focus, Corley was targeted on nearly a third of the routes he ran and ranked No. 3 in the country in total targets over the last two seasons.
Unfortunately, that usage will have to come down in the NFL—even with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers working as his quarterback.
The Jets are already spreading the ball around between talented pass-catchers such as wideout Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, who each earned target rates around 25 percent last year, per PFF.
The team must also integrate free-agent pickup Mike Williams into the mix while Allen Lazard, who has plenty of experience playing with Rodgers from their time in Green Bay, should also see more usage with the two-time MVP back in the fold.
Despite the veterans he'll be contending with for looks, Corley should still carve out a decent chunk for himself right away. He's been a proven producer at every level and drawn Deebo Samuel comparisons for his hard-nosed style and ability to play bigger than his 5'11", 215-pound frame might suggest.
Corley should eventually surpass all bar Hall and Wilson in the pecking order, but it's hard to envision him earning more than a handful of targets each week out of the gate.
If he landed on a team with a weaker crop of pass-catchers it would be a different story, but his first-year impact will be limited for now.
TE Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
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The 2024 tight end class was headlined by a potential generation talent in Brock Bowers, but the Washington Commanders quietly secured one of the best players at the position in Ben Sinnott on Day 2.
After beginning his time at Kansas State as a walk-on fullback, Sinnott eventually emerged as a top-tier TE for the program. He not only posted 80 catches for 1,123 yards and 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons, but he also stood out for his utility and blocking skills.
Although he's not truly massive for an NFL tight end, the 21-year-old has more than enough size to succeed at 6'4", 250 pounds. He showcased a 40-inch vertical and 10'6" broad jump in addition to a respectable 4.68-second 40-yard dash time at the combine, a display that assisted him in becoming the second TE off the board at No. 53 overall.
Now that he's in Washington, Sinnott should push veteran Zach Ertz for playing time right away. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will likely dial up plenty of 12 personnel for the pair to share the field in, while the versatile rookie can also line up at fullback and other spots in the lineup akin to how the San Francisco 49ers have utilized Kyle Juszczyk.
Although tight end is a notoriously difficult position to make a quick transition from the college game to the pros at, recent successes such as Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid have shown that the timeline can be sped up. Sinnott could be the next playmaking tight end to get involved in his team's offense early and play a notable role from the jump.
While Ertz will be a critical pass-catcher and main tight end for the rebuilding Commanders as they work to get No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels up to speed, Sinnott has a strong long-term outlook and should develop side-by-side with the new quarterback.
CB T.J. Tampa, Baltimore Ravens
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The Baltimore Ravens scored one of the big steals of the 2024 draft when they landed cornerback T.J. Tampa in the fourth round.
The organization received some incredible value with that No. 130 overall selection, gaining a cornerback with incredible size and athleticism in addition to promising skill.
Tampa rated as the No. 44 overall player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, making it a shock that he was still up for grabs on Day 3. While concerns about his tendencies to take risks going after the ball and the fact that he didn't run at the combine may have put some teams off, the rest of the league's loss will be Baltimore's gain.
At 6'1", 189 pounds, the Iowa State product possesses ideal size for a modern NFL corner tasked with going up against the hulking wideouts thriving in the modern game.
His length, athleticism, leaping abilities and tackling skills should allow him to make a successful transition to the next level, although the cornerback talent in Charm City may keep him from playing a significant role as a rookie.
The Ravens are not only returning starters Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, but they also selected top CB prospect Nate Wiggins in the first round. That trio projects to fill the starting outside and nickel roles, but Tampa should be the first man up on the depth chart behind them.
If it weren't for the depth of this year's draft, Tampa would have likely been an early Day 2 pick with a strong chance of earning a starting job in training camp. Regardless, he has a fantastic outlook and should start playing a critical depth role immediately while transitioning to a starter on the outside in the near future.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
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The New York Giants may have parted ways with offensive lynchpin Saquon Barkley this offseason, but there's still a good chance their backfield remains competent in 2024.
Not only did the G-Men bring in veteran Devin Singletary as a cost-effective replacement following his breakout half-season run with the Houston Texans, but they also landed a back brimming with intrigue when they snapped up Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round.
Tracy doesn't bring much experience to the table despite being one of the older rookies in the class at the age of 24.
That's because he spent his first four collegiate seasons working as a wide receiver for an Iowa program that is known for its emphasis on the run game. He didn't hit his stride immediately after transferring to Purdue following the 2021 campaign either, as it wasn't until 2023 that he made a full-time swap to running back and broke out in a big way.
Tracy finished his tenure with the Boilermakers having racked up a respectable 854 yards and eight touchdowns on a mere 130 carries. Although it was no longer his primary job, he still flashed his receiver skills often in West Lafayette and accumulated 330 yards on 47 receptions.
Although there's not much on tape to go off, Tracy displayed power and elusiveness in equal measure. At 5'11", 209 pounds, he's well-built to handle the rigors of the pro game. Any doubts about his athleticism should have dissipated at the combine when he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds and leaped 40 inches vertically and 10'4" in the broad jump.
That unique combination of rushing potential, receiving skill and athleticism gives Tracy the rare potential to be a playmaker right out of the gates for Big Blue.
It's unlikely the coaching staff will entrust the lion's share of carries to the rookie, though, as Singletary and 2023 fifth-rounder Eric Gray will likely account for a majority of the platoon's touches in 2024.
If Tracy has a strong camp, he could put himself in the discussion for more than a couple of home run shots each week early. But it'll likely be another year or two before he's ready for a leading role in the Big Apple.
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