Tag: NFL Rookies

Marvin Harrison Jr. does something no rookie WR has since his father did it

Marvin Harrison Jr. does something no rookie WR has since his Hall of Fame father did it in 1996

After a quiet Week 1, Arizona Cardinals rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. was the centerpiece of the team’s offensive eruption in a 41-10 rout of the Los Angeles Rams. Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, caught four passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

More impressively, all of that production came in the first quarter of the game, a quarter that the Cardinals won 14-0 and outgained the Rams 199-13. The early-game outburst put Harrison Jr. into rarefied rookie air.

Harrison Jr. became the first rookie to record at least four catches and score two touchdowns in the first quarter of a game since his father, Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, did the same back in 1996 for the Indianapolis Colts.

Junior technically gets the upper hand on his old man by doing it in Week 2. Marvin Harrison achieved the feat in Week 15 of his rookie campaign.

Bo Nix looks abysmal in Broncos opening game loss against Seahawks

Bo Nix looks abysmal in opening game loss against Seahawks with an epically bad yards per attempt effort

There was a lot of hype surrounding the Denver Broncos new franchise quarterback hopeful heading into the regular season. After a masterful preseason performance from Bo Nix, fans had high expectations of the first-round pick, but it was quickly proven that preseason performances do not always translate to regular-season success.

Nix was allowed to test his arm out in the opener with an impressive 42 attempts. Unfortunately, this was met with little success, with just 26 completions and a pair of turnovers. This culminated in a historically bad performance against the Seahawks for Nix, averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt on the day for a grand total of 138 yards.

Of course, it is important to remember that Nix is just a rookie in his first game, but with the expectations laid upon him by his head coach and being touted in the draft as a more experienced quarterback, it may be a tough pill to swallow that he is struggling early on. Sean Payton and the Broncos must find a way to get Nix to air it out more in next week’s game and move away from the absurd amount of short-game concepts they ran against Seattle.

Caleb Williams struggles in his NFL debut in Bears big win over Titans

Top overall pick Caleb Williams struggles in his NFL debut in Bears big win over Titans
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If you were to ask Caleb Williams on how he performed today, he would tell you he was happy as ultimately the Chicago Bears came away with a win in their season opener against the Tennessee Titans. One look at the stat sheet however swiftly will remind you that Williams didn’t have a great day in the number one overall picks NFL debut.

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While Williams was certainly not the worst quarterback in the league over the weekend, there was much to be desired from the top pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams ultimately completed just 14 of his 29 passing attempts for a total of 93 yards and a rating of 55.7.

This isn’t to say that Williams was without his bright moments. Williams was able to show off his impressive arm and scramble ability a few times in the game, and of course bringing home the win was the brightest spot of all. Williams became the first number one pick to win his season opener in 22 years, a feat that cannot be underplayed.

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Fans and the rest of the league will all watch with a close eye to see some more of Williams and watch as he hopefully improves as the season goes on. Coming away with a big comeback win is something he should feel proud of regardless of his limited performance.

Bo Nix listed as third quarterback on Denver Broncos’ depth chart

1st round pick Bo Nix listed as third quarterback on Denver Broncos’ depth chart, behind Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson

There were a lot of assumptions made about rookie quarterback Bo Nix as we head towards preseason, the biggest among them that Nix would be the locked in starter out of training camp and glide into the starting spot come week one. A reality check has set in as with the release of the first official depth chart, the Broncos have labeled Nix as the third quarterback in the pecking order behind Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

Now history has shown us that the opening depth chart of the season is oftentimes just a placeholder as teams learn more and more about the rookies and rest of the roster. This should however send a message to Nix, who to this point has been performing quite well in camp, that it is still a spot for him to earn.

Given the play we have seen out of the two quarterbacks in front of him in recent years, Nix should be able to wiggle his way to the top of the depth chart with the consistency he showed at Oregon in his final two seasons in college. The preseason games should give us a clearer answer on who will be under center week one for the Broncos. At this point it’s anyone’s job to win.

Titans rookie T’Vondre Sweat showing up big in training camp

Titans rookie T’Vondre Sweat showing up big in training camp, answering pre-draft questions about his fitness and dedication

T’Vondre Sweat is a very large human. While playing at Texas, the defensive tackle used his massive frame very effectively but inconsistently. Sweat’s promise led the Tennessee Titans to select Sweat with the No. 37 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Sweat was often projected as a likely first-round prospect before concerns about his weight and dedication to football, plus a DUI arrest, caused him to slide into the second round.

Some of the early reviews on Sweat from Titans camp are easing the fears about the 360-plus-pound defensive tackle. He’s looking engaged and polished for a rookie who missed the early offseason work.

This quick review from Titan Sized’s Will Lomas aptly sums up the reports coming out of Tennessee on Sweat,

Since the pads came on, it has become clear that even good NFL linemen are going to struggle to maintain their anchor against Sweat.

It’s early, of course, but so far Sweat seems to be everything the Titans wanted from their second-round pick.

2024 Rookie preview: Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears

2024 Rookie preview: Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears and what he offers in his first year

After taking their next franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears decided to arm Williams with a rookie running mate to help bolster an already impressive arsenal in the selection of former Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

With veterans Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore well established as top playmakers in the league, Odunze stands to capitalize in a big way in an offense motivated to throw the football. With teams focusing on shutting down the proven commodities, Odunze should see plenty of single and man coverage, something he thrived in beating during his time with Washington.

Odunze has all the makings of a top tier ‘X’ receiver in the league, and while his production may lag behind the two receivers taken ahead of him due to volume, Odunze should turn plenty of heads during the Bears 2024 season run.

Stat projection: 65 catches, 840 yards, 7 touchdownsĀ 

2024 Rookie preview: Joe Alt, OT, Los Angeles Chargers

2024 Rookie preview: Chargers first-round pick Joe Alt, who projects to play right away at offensive tackle

There was heavy speculation that the 2024 NFL Draft actually started with the fifth overall pick where Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers sat after all the quarterbacks and the top wideout had been selected as predicted. The decision for Harbaugh & Co. was widely discussed, as potentially another one of the top receivers on the board or the best offensive tackle in the class and who they actually ended up taking, former Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt.

Alt is in a good situation out in Los Angeles as he should operate as the opposite bookend to established veteran Rashawn Slater in their protection of franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. Alt was as dependable as they come out of Notre Dame and has proven to be a plug and play starter in the NFL given the level that he played at during his time in college.

Expect Alt to be one of the more refined rookies from day one as he should experience few bumps in the road as a key piece of a newly formed Chargers’ offense that should rely in part on him to anchor the run.

Stat projection: 2 sacks allowedĀ 

Bengals rookie wideout pushing for serious playing time with a great start to camp

Bengals rookie wideout Jermaine Burton is pushing for serious playing time with a great start to camp

The Cincinnati Bengals were hopeful when they drafted Alabama speedster Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft that they were getting someone who could contribute as a rookie. Through the first few days of Bengals training camp, Burton is looking like someone who can be more than just a contributor.

Burton is off to a flying start, making difficult catches and consistently getting open all over the field.

All-Pro Ja’Marr Chase and steady vet Tee Higgins are the only truly established spots on the Bengals depth chart at wideout. Burton has a big chance to seize the next spot in the pecking order, though he’s in a tight camp competition with 2023 sixth-rounder Andre Iosivas for balls and reps, with Iosivas playing more in the slot.

Burton continues to make impressive catches all over the field. Snags like this are a great way to endear himself to QB Joe Burrow.

ā€œOnce he gets the offense down pat, guys are going to realize heā€™s a problem,” Higgins said of Burton after a recent practice.

Burton might not have a starting role with the standouts ahead of him, but he’s showing he can be ready to contribute a lot more than is typically expected of a third-round pick.

Another Rams rookie WR impressing well above his draft status

The Los Angeles Rams keep finding wide receiver gems later in the draft and Jordan Whittington is quickly showing he can be the next one

There must be something very specific in the water of the Los Angeles Rams scouting department. The Rams have been fantastic in recent years at drafting wide receivers outside the first round, from Cooper Kupp in 2017 to Puka Nacua last year.

In 2024, the Rams just might be drinking in another unheralded wideout ready to flood the NFL with early success. This time around, it’s sixth-round rookie Jordan Whittington.

The sleek wideout from Texas is off to a great start to his training camp. He’s already earned public praise from his head coach, Sean McVay, as well as Kupp. The 2017 third-rounder and 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year likes what he sees from Whittington so far.

ā€œWhat heā€™s done, heā€™s been so impressive,ā€ Kupp said via Rams Wire.ā€ ā€œThe learning curve is so fast for him. Heā€™s really come out, you see him getting reps with the ones out here, too. Pretty special dude. Heā€™s got some gas, also.ā€

Whittington got overshadowed on a deep Longhorns offense that also featured Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jonathan Brooks–all taken in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s quickly showing the Rams that maybe he belonged closer to that draft range.

Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler gets a great endorsement from one of his WRs

Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler gets a great endorsement from New Orleans WR Chris Olave

Spencer Rattler was the seventh quarterback to come off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the first taken outside the first round. Selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round, the QB from South Carolina is already looking like a great value.

Specifically, Rattler has earned an impressive endorsement and review from an important source. Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, likes what he sees from Rattler in the early stages of training camp.

ā€œHeā€™s really talented,ā€Ā Olave said of his new quarterback. ā€œRattlerā€™s arm talent is off the charts.ā€

Careful to qualify his praise of the rookie quarterback, Olave did note that he needs to see more from Rattler as training camp progresses.

ā€œI want to see him in action, but from my first impression, heā€™s going to be a really good player,” Olave said.

Rattler is competing with Jake Haener to earn the top backup spot behind veteran starter Derek Carr. It seems Rattler is off to a good start in earning the trust and respect of one of the team’s top players.