NFL Rookie Rankings: Xavier Worthy, Top Performers After 2024 Week 1
The start of the NFL season finally allows rookies to get their first real taste of professional football. Results vary.
Preseason efforts can be promising, yet misleading. Bleacher Report kept a running tally throughout the exhibition season of which first-year players performed the best. The quarterbacks—from a historic QB class—often shone the brightest. The opposite happened once the games began to count.
Much like the preseason, B/R will reset and rank rookies each week based on their cumulative performances.
Week 1 provided a fresh start, but defenses are now game-planning toward specific talents. Coaching staffs lean more heavily on their veterans and tighten up their rotations. Rookies tend to be overwhelmed by the amount of information being thrown at them and the speed at which everyone else plays.
The game isn't too fast for everyone, though, starting with the NFL's fastest man, who showed his skill set translates. The Kansas City Chiefs' Xavier Worthy quickly caught everyone's attention. But he's not the only first-year player to do so.
Who to Watch Next Week
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Some first-year performers started to make names for themselves, though they didn't quite crack this week's Top 10. Still, they're worth a watch to see how they progress and potentially move up these season-long rankings.
RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Irving provided a previously anemic Buccaneers' ground game with some juice. The 5'9", 192-pound ball-carrier averaged 6.9 yards per carry against the Washington Commanders. An expanded role should be his reward.
TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders: The two-time John Mackey Award winner has all of the potential in the world to be a dynamic offensive weapon. He led the Raiders with six receptions. Unfortunately, the team's quarterback situation likely limits the tight end's effectiveness.
WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers are searching for a No. 1 target, and McConkey just may turn out to be that option after leading the team with five receptions on seven targets for 39 yards and a score.
C Cooper Beebe, Dallas Cowboys: Beebe made his first start ever at center against the Cleveland Browns and held up well against last season's No. 1-ranked defense. He didn't allow a single pressure. As the third-rounder grows into the position, he should only get better.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers: Bishop deserves significant credit for coming into the league as an undrafted free agent and immediately claiming a starting role as Pittsburgh's nickel corner. He tied for third on the team Sunday with four total tackles.
S Javon Bullard, Green Bay Packers: Bullard's pass coverage needs some work. But no one can deny how effective he was when moving forward, by tying for the Packers' team-lead with 11 total tackles against the Philadelphia Eagles.
10. S Calen Bullock, Houston Texans
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Calen Bullock was an excellent free safety at the collegiate level. Issues arose when he was asked to do more, though, specifically when playing downhill against the run.
The Houston Texans appear to be placing this year's 78th overall pick in the right spots since he played the majority of his snaps as a true free safety.
"Oh man, I think he's a ballhawk," veteran safety Jimmie Ward told reporters. "I think Nick [general manager Caserio] and [head coach DeMeco Ryans] did a great job of drafting him. He's going to do what he does best. He's going to find that ball."
Bullock did in his first NFL start. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson led his receiver on a crossing route a little to far. The diving defensive back snagged an interception that stopped a promising draft in the red zone.
The 21-year-old can thrive in pass coverage while working along the back line of Houston's defense.
As long as Bullock stays under control, he can make the most of his time on the field.
9. OT Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
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Quality of opponent must be taken into consideration when evaluating a young player and his performance.
Case in point, this year's fifth overall draft pick, offensive tackle Joe Alt, had the unenviable task of facing a Las Vegas Raiders front that features Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins in his first professional game.
The 6'9" blocker stood tall and more than held his own. According to Pro Football Focus, he didn't allow a single pressure when facing those two standout defenders.
Add in the caveat that Alt opened his career at Notre Dame as a right tackle before switching to the left side and never looking back. .
As good of an athlete as he is, the switch seemed elementary. Some still struggle, though, because muscle memory can be difficult to overcome. When the pressure of lining up directly across from an annual NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate is added to the mix, the potential for devastation exists.
Instead, Alt excelled. He could have performed better in the run game, but otherwise he has the potential to be an elite bookend opposite Rashawn Slater.
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8. Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas Cowboys
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The Cleveland Browns' offensive line didn't stand a chance against the Dallas Cowboys defensive front, including rookie Marshawn Kneeland.
Cleveland entered the contest with backup offensive tackles. With Bill Callahan no longer serving as the team's position coach after the past four seasons, his wizardry couldn't hide potential weaknesses.
Instead, the Cowboys exposed the Browns offense and obliterated their entire approach. As a unit, Dallas pressured Deshaun Watson during 25 of his 56 dropbacks, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are established edge-rushers, with Marshawn Kneeland making the rotation even more dangerous. He registered six pressures himself.
This year's 56th overall pick creates further flexibility along Dallas' defensive front.
Parsons can already line up just about anywhere, either along the line of scrimmage or off the ball, and be effective. Kneeland has inside-outside versatility. The 267-pound defender is strong at the point of attack. He's also effective when reducing down over guards in sub-packages to place all three pass-rushers on the field at the same time.
The Cowboys defense can get after opposing quarterback, especially if it finds a weak spot to exploit.
7. C Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers know good center play, and it appears the organization could have another standout at the position.
It's far too early to place Zach Frazier in the same conversation as Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson or Maurkice Pouncey, but the second-rounder's initial pro performance proved to be quite promising.
Initially, Frazier and quarterback Justin Fields had some issues with the snap.
"It was everything you dreamed about as a kid to go out there for your first snap, then we fumbled it," Frazier said after the game.
Beyond those early hiccups, the No. 51 pick pieced together a fantastic performance against the Atlanta Falcons.
According to B/R's Ryan Fowler, the rookie snapper didn't allow a single hit, hurry or pressure. He was also extremely physical and effective at the point of attack.
Pittsburgh's plans at quarterback, and even with the rest of the offensive line, remain up in the air. Frazier will likely have a different set of hands waiting for the snap once Russell Wilson is medically cleared to play.
The offensive tackles will likely swap before the regular season is complete, but the center position seems solidified, which is a good starting point.
6. WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
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Calvin Ridley wouldn't be easy to replace after leading the Jacksonville Jaguars with 1,016 yards last season. But the organization couldn't get its best wide receiver to re-sign. To make matters worse, he joined the rival Tennessee Titans.
Jacksonville needed a replacement and has seemingly found one with this year's first-round pick, Brian Thomas Jr.
During his final season with LSU, the 21-year-old led the FBS with 17 touchdown receptions and averaged 17.3 yards per catch.
Thomas quickly established himself as a legitimate target. During Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins, the rookie led the Jaguars with four receptions and four targets. He also scored a touchdown along the back of the end zone.
A downfield pass interference prevented Thomas from catching a second touchdown pass. The penalty resulted in a 41-yard gain.
"Fortunately, we got the [pass interference]," quarterback Trevor Lawrence told reporters, "but he did a good job going and winning, and then the one in the end zone, that's just us and trusting it and me trusting he's going to get there and him trusting I'm going to put it in the right spot, and you see he made a great play, so it was awesome."
5. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman knew his defense was getting older at cornerback. In response, he drafted Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Iowa's Cooper DeJean during this year's first and second rounds, respectively.
And Mitchell quickly took over as a starting bookend opposite Darius Slay.
James Bradberry IV converted to safety before finding himself on injured reserve with a leg injury. Kelee Ringo couldn't secure the spot, but the Toledo product was ready for the moment.
"Q has got a calm, confident demeanor about himself because he knows he's prepared and he knows he's put the work in, and he knows he's a heck of a talent," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters.
Mitchell's ball skills were the best in this year's class and they showed during his debut. This year's 22nd overall pick defended two passes against the Green Bay Packers, to go along with five total tackles.
The 23-year-old did allow four catches but on nine targets. He permitted a 66.9 passer rating into his coverage, according to The Score's Brenden Deeg. The effort came against a talented young wide receiver corps and ascending quarterback in Jordan Love.
Early signs indicate a standout coverage corner.
4. Edge Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
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Everyone wanted to know what the Los Angeles Rams defense would look like without Aaron Donald. The group surrendered 363 total yards and couldn't stop the Detroit Lions in overtime.
However, the lineup is filled with a bunch of youngsters, who flew to the football and played physical. This year's first-round draft pick, Jared Verse, led the way.
The Rams hadn't experienced the sensation of selecting a first-round prospect since 2016. Verse finally received the honors this year and looks the part.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Florida State product created six pressures. He also posted the weekend's sixth-best pass-rush win rate among active edges at 33 percent, per ESPN's Seth Walder.
From a traditional standpoint, this year's 19th overall pick registered four tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.
Keep in mind, Verse played against one of the NFL's best offensive lines that had both of its starting offensive tackles—Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell—in the lineup, unlike the Rams, who were down to their third left tackle and a backup right tackle.
Obviously, Verse isn't Donald. But he appears more than capable of working off the edge and picking up some of the slack left when it comes to collapsing the pocket.
3. DL T'Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans
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Questions about T'Vondre Sweat's commitment bubbled to the surface during the NFL's predraft process. The Butkus Award winner didn't help matters when he was arrested in April on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
However, the Tennessee Titans still chose the 23-year-old in the second round.
On the field, the 366-pound defender is a wrecking ball when he wants to be. That version showed up during the Titans' season opener against the Chicago Bears.
The nose tackle didn't register a single tackle, but the position often works in anonymity. Sweat graded as Tennessee's second-best player, per Pro Football Focus, while playing a majority of the snaps.
"Yeah, it was really pretty impressive," head coach Brian Callahan told reporters after Sunday's contest. "I think Sweat has been on a consistent arrow up. He's been rising ever since he's gotten here. Every week that went by in training camp, he got more comfortable. He got better. His weight went down. He's getting more in-shape. He's learning how to play. That was really, really good to see.
"He was a force. We have two forces inside [along with Jeffery Simmons] to make life really hard. ... Jeff and Sweat inside, that's a duo in there that's going to be really hard to deal with."
2. OT Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints' performance proved to be the biggest surprise of Week 1, as Dennis Allen's squad battered the rival Carolina Panthers and nearly scored 50 points.
As part of that dismantling, rookie offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga couldn't have played much better.
The No. 14 pick got into an early groove and didn't look back.
"Taliese Fuaga said it took him a few plays to settle in/get the heart rate down," Audacity Sports' Jeff Nowak reported, "but he felt like it was a solid NFL debut. He said having a veteran quarterback in Derek Carr helps a lot. He described it as being like having a dad out on the field."
Solid might be a slight understatement. He led all rookies with a 94 percent pass-block win rate in Week 1, per ESPN's Seth Walder.
Take the previous stat under consideration, then understand Fuaga is making the transition from right to left tackle. He never started a game at left tackle as a member of the Oregon State Beavers. It's not an automatic transition by any means. Yet he wasn't overwhelmed.
Granted, the Panthers don't have a ferocious pass rush and D.J. Wonnum is currently found on the physically unable to perform list. Still, Fuaga excelled after making a position switch, and he deserves full credit for doing so.
1. WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
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The common refrain after seeing Xavier Worthy score two touchdowns in his NFL debut went as follows: "How could the NFL allow the Kansas City Chiefs to draft the fastest player in combine history?"
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid kept his answer rather simple when reporters asked about his rookie wide receiver: "He can run."
Take note, NFL defensive coordinators. Reid's response may have been simple, but it speaks volumes. He knows exactly what he has in Worthy.
The Texas product wowed everyone at this year's combine when he broke the record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash. Anyone who watched him during his collegiate career understood that he's not just a straight-line speedster.
His first score came during an end-around when he got behind a blocking convoy and then turned on the jets for a 21-yard touchdown. Two quarters later, he blew by the Baltimore Ravens secondary and caught a 35-yard scoring pass.
This year's 28th overall draft pick provided 68 yards from scrimmage and two scores.
He's not going to serve as the Chiefs' top target. Tight end Travis Kelce and fellow wide receiver Rashee Rice are quarterback Patrick Mahomes' preferred targets. However, Worthy provides a similar dynamic that has been missing since Tyreek Hill left.
The Chiefs are already back-to-back Super Bowl champs. Worthy makes the offense even more potent as Kansas City attempts to achieve the league's first-ever three-peat.
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