9 Rookies I LOVE in the 2024 NFL Draft – Dynasty Fantasy Football

by Seth Diewold · NFL Draft
2024 Rookies

PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Below, Seth Diewold breaks down nine prospects he loves entering Draft season. Keep an eye on these rookies as we approach the 2024 NFL Draft!

Caleb Williams

This is a simple evaluation. Caleb Williams is far and away the best quarterback in this draft. He does everything well. His mechanics are sound, he can throw from a variety of arm angles. He can also manipulate the pocket and looks to pass first, but he can scramble when he needs to and does so extremely well. Sure, any player can bust, but Williams is about as sure of a thing as we get in the NFL Draft, and the Bears would be foolish to pass on him. 

He’s also entering a phenomenal situation. When was the last time a rookie quarterback entered the league with wide receivers like D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, tight ends like Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, and a running back like D’Andre Swift? This is not to mention the fact that the Chicago Bears offensive line has been improving. They drafted rookie right tackle Darnell Wright last season and have already signed center Ryan Bates this offseason. The Bears also have another top-10 pick in the NFL Draft and many insiders believe they could draft another wide receiver there. It goes without saying that everything is lining up for Williams to be a very productive player in his rookie season.

Roman Wilson

Roman Wilson feels like this year’s Jayden Reed. He was a productive wide receiver in Michigan’s run-heavy scheme. The most productive season he had was in his senior season when he caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Big Ten. The lack of production early in his career is a concern, but on tape Wilson checks a lot of boxes.

First, Wilson is a good route runner with good feet. Some receivers have a knack for getting open, and Wilson is one of those guys. Wilson also has good speed and size for a wide receiver. He ran a 4.39 40-yard Dash at the NFL Combine at 6-0, 192-pounds. He also displayed good hands and good YAC ability at the college level. The negatives in his game are there. Sometimes he got jammed at the line of scrimmage by bigger, more physical corners, and, at times, struggled to separate from bigger corners. But overall, there is a lot to like.

Trey Benson

Trey Benson displayed elite speed at the NFL Combine – running a 4.39 40-yard Dash at 6-0, 216-pounds. That is great size to go with that speed. Additionally, Benson was able to produce at Florida State. He put up back-to-back 900-yard rushing seasons and improved as a pass catcher every year.

Benson has the breakaway speed to be a home run hitter at the NFL level. There are some serious injuries in his past, including an ACL and MCL tear (per NFL Draft Buzz), but if the medicals check out, this is one of the best running backs in the class.  

Malachi Corley

Malachi Corley produced on the field at Western Kentucky. His best season came during his true sophomore season when Corley caught over 100 passes for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns. Corley was also very productive as a freshman and junior as well. There is no doubt Corley is also a super athlete.

The one knock on Corley is that his ADOT was very low in college. The counter to that would be that Western Kentucky didn’t have the best quarterback play in the world. Clearly, they recognized that Corley was one of the best players on their offense, and they wanted to get the ball early and often. This has caused many to compare him to Deebo Samuel. As with any prospect, draft capital and situation are going to matter, but regardless, Corley is a special athlete who has a ton of skills that translate to the NFL level.

Jermaine Burton

I like the fact that Jermaine Burton was productive in every single season in college. He started his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs before transferring to Alabama. Burton never finished a college season with less than 400 receiving yards, even as a freshman. Throw in the fact that Burton has good size – 6-0, 196-pounds – and ran a 4.45 40-yard Dash, and you have an athletic player who may sneak his way up draft boards. 

Burton also put up some impressive numbers against Texas A&M, when he completely took over the game. In that game, he caught nine passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also a receiver who gets targeted and wins routes deep down the field. Burton averaged 20.5 yards per reception in 2023. Additionally, he displayed the ability to win in all quadrants of the field and showed many translatable skills, including great hands and footwork. 

Ladd McConkey

Ladd McConkey has been one of the biggest risers in rookie rankings across the industry for good reason. Let’s start with the fact that he was productive in college and put up great tape as well. His most productive season came during his true sophomore campaign when he caught 58 passes for 762 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for two more scores. McConkey only played in nine games his senior season, but he was on a good pace, catching 30 passes for 478 yards and scoring a total of three touchdowns. 

Additionally, McConkey was one of the most impressive wide receivers at the Senior Bowl, and he outperformed expectations at the NFL Combine. McConkey ran a 4.39 40-yard Dash, showing that he in fact does have good speed to go with his route-running ability. That is perhaps the trademark of McConkey’s game – the ability to get open and make the most out of his opportunities with the ball in his hands. There are already rumors McConkey will be drafted in round one of the NFL Draft, but he will not fall any further than early- to mid-round two. With that prospective draft capital, McConkey is one of the more talented and insulated rookie wide receivers in this year’s draft class.

Ricky Pearsall

Ricky Pearsall started his college career at Arizona State where produced a solid season as a junior – catching 48 passes for 580 yards and five total touchdowns. In his 2022 senior season, Pearsall transferred to Florida and produced right away, but his best season came during his fifth year senior season. In 2023, Pearsall caught 65 passes for 965 yards and scored a total of six touchdowns. 

McConkey was not the only wide receiver to impress at the NFL Combine. Pearsall ran a 4.41 40-yard Dash and performed well in the on-field drills, according to many analysts. Sometimes he gets jammed at the line of scrimmage by more physical cornerbacks, but Pearsall has a knack for getting open, and displays good hands, great footwork and route-running to go with his good run after the catch ability. Don’t be surprised when Pearsall gets selected on Day Two of the NFL Draft, earlier than many people expect.   

Theo Johnson

Theo Johnson is a massive man. He is 6-6 and weighed in at 259-pounds at the NFL Combine. Johnson also performed well at the NFL Combine – running the second best 40-yard Dash time amongst tight ends (4.57) and tied for first amongst tight ends in the 10-yard split.

Johnson was also decently productive in a run-heavy Penn State scheme, showcasing some potential in the passing game. In a class with a lack of talent at the tight end position, Johnson could wind up being the tight end that gets drafted earlier than people think, given his size, speed, and athleticism.

Jaylen Wright

Jaylen Wright proved he is an athletic freak both on and off the field. In his time at Tennessee, he improved as a player every year. That culminated in his junior season when Wright rushed for 1,013 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and catching 22 passes for 141 yards, scoring four touchdowns. In his time with Tennessee, Wright displayed elite speed and breakaway run ability.

At the NFL Combine, Wright proved he is one of the most athletic running backs in this year’s class. Wright ranked No. 2 amongst running backs in the 40-yard Dash and No. 1 in the Broad Jump. There is little doubt Wright has the ability to be a good running back at the NFL level. He runs hard and physically, and proved he can add weight and still maintain his elite speed. Wright still needs to improve as a pass catcher and a route runner, but the tools are there to improve in that area.

See John Laub’s top rookie wide receiver prospects here: 2024 Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings (UPDATED) | Top 12 Rookie Wide Receivers – The Scholar Series with John Laub