These five rookies stood out in their NFL debuts, but is it sustainable over the course of the entire season?

A year ago, after Week 1 of the 2023 season, I wrote about five rookies who balled out in their debuts and whether it was sustainable over the ensuing four months. Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua, Christian Gonzalez, Brian Branch and Jalen Carter all made the list.

(Interestingly, no C.J. Stroud, who struggled against the Ravens in Week 1 before catching fire.)

Nacua was, far and away, the best rookie of that group, but Robinson was stymied by Arthur Smith’s offense, Gonazales’ promising season was cut short by injury and Carter flashed top-5 talent but the whole team crumbled to a 1-6 finish and a blowout loss to the Bucs in the playoffs.

Branch, meanwhile, was better than advertised. And as Rick Spielman, my co-host on the “With the First Pick” podcast, would tell you, Branch didn’t play like the 4.58-second 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL Scouting Combine. He played more like a 4.4 guy, and he’s also incredibly bright.

Another year, another crop of players facing high expectations; some to save a franchise, others to protect the face of the franchise, and others still to keep a good thing going. Unlike last year’s list, which featured a seconder- and fifth-rounder, the names below were all taken in the first round, and all, to varying degrees, made immediate impacts in Week 1. All of them, I suspect, will only get better as the season wears on.

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Author : Ryan Wilson

Publish date : 2024-09-10 10:01:08

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