Whereas the 2024 rookie quarterback class hasn’t precisely lived as much as expectations to start their respective NFL careers, a number of first-year gamers have proven promise.
The Offensive Rookie of the Yr race will not totally take form for a while, however these three gamers have the potential to determine themselves because the way-too-early front-runner for the award in Week 3.
Offensive deal with Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
Some have been a bit stunned on draft day that the Chargers chosen Alt fifth total as a substitute of taking a playmaker like WR Malik Nabers for Professional Bowl QB Justin Herbert. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-8, 322-pounder has been a superb match for Los Angeles’ new run-heavy offense beneath HC Jim Harbaugh.
After spending three seasons as Notre Dame’s beginning left deal with, Alt has loved a reasonably seamless transition to the fitting facet of the offensive line. In line with Pro Football Focus, Alt is the Eleventh-highest-graded deal with within the NFL (78.5), having allowed only one sack and two whole pressures. Alt’s speedy success is all of the extra spectacular, contemplating he didn’t allow a single pressure in opposition to Raiders All-Professional edge-rusher Maxx Crosby throughout his NFL debut.
Alt is in for the hardest take a look at of his younger profession on Sunday, dealing with a formidable Steelers protection, which is pressuring opposing quarterbacks on the seventh-highest price amongst groups (29.9%). It is unclear what number of snaps Alt will go head-to-head with linebacker T.J. Watt, although if he holds his personal in opposition to the 2021 Defensive Participant of the Yr, he’d have arguably probably the most spectacular OROY case by means of three video games.
Tight finish Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
The time period “generational prospect” appears to get thrown round reasonably loosely in the course of the predraft course of, however Bowers has lived as much as the label by means of his first two video games. Bowers, the thirteenth total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, is off to a historic begin to his profession and is shortly solidifying himself as one of many high tight ends within the league.
General, Bowers ranks first at his place in receptions (15, which can also be the second most within the NFL), receiving yards (156) and first downs (eight). As identified by Professional Soccer Discuss’s Michael David Smith, Bowers is the primary tight finish in NFL historical past to have a minimum of 5 receptions and 50 receiving yards in every of his first two profession video games.
Though he’ll be competing for targets with Raiders star wideout Davante Adams all through the season, Bowers has proved he’ll be QB Gardner Minshew’s safety blanket. Count on Bowers to proceed to be closely concerned within the passing recreation throughout Sunday’s dwelling conflict with the Panthers, who’ve allowed probably the most touchdowns (two) and ninth-most receiving yards (104) to opposing tight ends this season.
Large receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
The No. 4 total decide was bottled up by the Payments throughout Arizona’s season opener, hauling in simply certainly one of his three targets for four yards. Harrison’s disappointing debut raised doubts about whether or not he was really value being the primary large receiver off the board in April, however he shortly proved his critics improper in opposition to the Rams.
In the course of the Cardinals’ 41-10 Week 2 thrashing of Los Angeles, Harrison caught 4 passes for 130 yards and his first two profession touchdowns. All of Harrison’s manufacturing got here within the first quarter, as he wasn’t concerned a lot within the offense after the sport become a blowout.
Whereas he in all probability will not have as productive 1 / 4 this week, Harrison is well-positioned to make a big influence in opposition to Detroit in a matchup that would flip right into a shootout. By way of two video games, the Lions protection has allowed the eighth-most yards (502) and two touchdowns by means of the air.