• The Rams transformed their defense with the help of rookies: First-round pick Jared Wehrs is the highest-rated rookie cornerback in the NFL this season. Florida product Braden Fiske contributed 57 pressures and 10 sacks — among other standouts.
• The Eagles’ secondary will be a concern for years to come: Quinion Mitchell and Cooper DeJean teamed up to revamp Philadelphia’s backend, and the team achieved great results as a result.
• The 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Experience the best in class from PFF Draft mock simulator and learn about Main prospects for 2025 while trading and drafting for his favorite NFL team.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Some NFL rookie classes loaded with talent are easier to spot from the start, while others show unexpected results that force evaluators to re-evaluate their process.
Without further ado, let’s break down the top 10 NFL Draft classes for the 2024 season, with PFF grades updated during Wild-Card Weekend.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Notable newcomers:
The list of players above includes just a few of the rookies who contributed to the Rams’ NFC West title this season. First-round pick Jared Wehrs is the NFL’s top rookie defensive player this season and has immediately emerged as one of the league’s best offensive players. Boy Florida product Braden Fiske contributed 57 presses and 10 bags of his own.
Behind those two were productive players such as defensive backs Camren Kinchens and Jaylen McCullough, who combined for eight interceptions, as well as undrafted rookie linebacker Omar Speights, who became the starting linebacker during the team’s playoff run. As if that weren’t enough, sixth-round pick Bo Limmer has made 15 starts this season as the Rams have dealt with several injuries along the offensive line. These players along with the kicker Joshua Carty and other defensive backs have been the catalyst for the Rams’ success this season.
Rams rookie cornerbacks
2. Washington commanders
Notable newcomers:
Some rookie classes are defined by their depth, and some by their stars. Washington falls into the latter category, with Jayden Daniels having an epic rookie season. His overall PFF grade of 90.1 is second only to Russell WilsonThe 2012 season as the highest-rated campaign among rookie quarterbacks. He is by far the main reason for the teams’ massive turnaround and why they are still alive in the postseason.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil was a great player.UABpart of the team’s defense. He played out of position at cornerback for most of the season, but found a way to contribute with two interceptions and nine pass breakups. Brandon Coleman has been the team’s starting left tackle since Week 5 and has been a bright spot on several occasions. For now, however, Daniels carries the most weight as the rest of the class continues to develop.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Notable newcomers
When the Chargers drafted Joe Alt over wide receiver with the fifth overall pick, they expected Alt to become a star while they looked for other options on the outside. Both of these tasks were accomplished with great success. Alt ranks in the top 25 among qualified tackles with an overall PFF grade of 75.9. Meanwhile, McConkey burst onto the scene as a legitimate threat, finishing his rookie campaign with an outstanding 85.0 PFF grade.
The team also found a pair of starters in the secondary in cornerbacks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. Still earned a PFF coverage grade of 74.8, ranking among the top 15 cornerbacks in the NFL while picking off four passes and breaking up four others. Hart played over 500 snaps, breaking up six passes of his own and missing just two tackles all season. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers are ahead of the curve, thanks in large part to the success of their rookie class.
4. New York Giants
Notable newcomers:
Things haven’t gone well for the Giants in 2024, but they can take solace in the fact that their rookie class could be part of their core moving forward. Malik Nabers is a rising superstar after finishing his rookie season with over 1,200 yards and a PFF grade of 87.1. Fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy has been the team’s leading rusher this season and has 47 missed tackles while playing both kicker and receiver.
On defense, the Giants found starting-caliber players in cornerback Andru Phillips and cornerback Tyler Nubin. Phillips led the team’s list of qualified players with a PFF coverage grade of 75.8. Nubin played well in the box, posting a 76.0 PFF defensive grade. New York also received decent contributions from Elijah Chatman and Darius Muasau as injuries piled up on their defensive end throughout the season.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Notable newcomers:
Tampa Bay has quietly amassed a strong roster in the 2024 NFL Draft, and it has paid off with several of them contributing to the team’s fourth straight division title. Headlining is running back Bucky Irving, who has emerged as a star and earned an overall PFF grade of 90.8, ranking him fourth in the NFL behind Derrick Henry, Sesame Robinson And Josh Jacobs. Irving’s path was paved by center Graham Barton, who had some struggles but showed good athleticism throughout the season. He should improve as he gains momentum at the NFL level.
The Buccaneers also found a pair of perimeter contributors in Jalen McMillan and Tyka Smith. McMillan gained momentum at the wide receiver position and finished second on the team with eight receiving touchdowns. Smith contributed as the team’s primary running back with a 70.0 PFF coverage grade and an elite 90.3 PFF defensive rating. The Buccaneers should continue to compete for NFC South titles, thanks in part to their 2024 class adding a solid core of young players.
Top class running backs
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Notable newcomers:
The Raiders’ class is a bit top-heavy, but there’s no denying they’ve found three potentially impactful players on offense. Brock Bowers immediately became one of the best tight ends in football. He had an incredible 112 catches and 1,194 yards despite a terrible quarterback situation. His 88.4 PFF receiving grade was only surpassed by George Kittle And Trey McBride. Bowers is a superstar who the Raiders will continue to build their offense around.
Las Vegas also found a pair of newcomers in Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze. Powers-Johnson split his time between guard and center and proved to be a valuable player in pass protection, allowing just two sacks in 589 passes. Glaze found right tackle early in the season and earned a solid 66.1 PFF overall grade. The cupboard isn’t empty for the Raiders’ offense. They just need to find a franchise quarterback.
7. San Francisco 49ers
Notable newcomers:
A slew of injuries have allowed the 49ers to see what their young players are capable of as the team struggles to stay in the postseason race. The star of their rookie class is right guard Dominic Puney, who has immediately become one of the best run blockers in the NFL. Ricky Pearsall recovered from a scary off-field incident to contribute down the stretch, including an outstanding 141-yard performance against Lions. Isaac Gerendo also saw some opportunity in the backfield when the team’s running back went down and Jacob Cowing was the team’s primary punt returner.
San Francisco appears to have found a pair of goalies on defense in cornerback Renardo Green and strong safety Malik Mustafa. Green earned a solid 74.3 PFF coverage grade while stopping nine passes. Mustafa performed well in the box, posting a 66.3 PFF defensive grade and stopping three passes of his own. The 49ers will need to find less expensive resources with Brock Purdy the extension cord runs down the pipe. A draft class like this would certainly help the cause.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Notable newcomers:
Pittsburgh has found a couple players on both sides of the ball, although some of them may not have been expected to start the season. Second-round pick Zach Frazier was far and away the team’s best offensive lineman, posting an overall PFF grade of 77.9. Fourth-rounder Mason McCormick was not expected to start, but he was forced to take over at right guard when James Daniels suffered a torn Achilles. He has allowed just two sacks in his 15 games this season.
Linebacker Payton Wilson has become a hot spot in coverage as the season has progressed. He earned a PFF coverage grade of 77.3, highlighted by a standout interception in the team’s first game against Baltimore. Undrafted cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. had four interceptions and three passes of his own.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Notable newcomers:
The Eagles finished 2023 ranked 28th in the league in PFF team coverage grade, so they took advantage of their biggest weakness in the subsequent draft by selecting two standout cornerbacks. On the outside, first-round pick Quinion Mitchell has been a consistent force, earning a PFF coverage grade of 75.5 this season. He ranks second on the team with nine pass breakups.
Improvement did occur in Philadelphia when Cooper DeJean was inserted as the starting cornerback in Week 6. Not only has DeJean earned a solid 73.4 PFF grade in run defense this season, but he’s also been a big contributor in the run game. . His 89.1 PFF grade in run defense ranks sixth among qualified defensive backs. There are rare occasions when teams successfully fill their biggest need for extremely talented players. The Eagles have done just that this season, and the process has put them back in Super Bowl contention.
Top Rated Rookie Fullbacks
10. Denver Broncos
Notable newcomers:
Like Jayden Daniels in Washington, Bo Nix’s performance this year was the catalyst for a surprise playoff run and gave his team serious hope for long-term success. After a couple of rough early starts, Nix caught fire, earning an overall PFF grade of 85.7 and ranking seventh among qualified quarterbacks during that span. His ball security stood out as he posted an outstanding turnover-worthy 1.8% play rate in his rookie campaign. The Broncos could develop into serious contenders if they surround Nix with enough viable weapons.
However, one of those weapons could already be on the roster in seventh-round pick Devon Wehle. He earned a 71.4 PFF grade this season, ranking third on the team with 475 yards. Denver also found a pair of help at cornerback in John Ellis and Dondrea Tillman, who each racked up at least 20 pressures and five sacks. As the Knicks and other young players develop, the hope is that Denver can compete in the postseason for years to come.
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