While the 2024 rookie quarterback class hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations to begin their respective NFL careers, several first-year players have shown promise.
The Offensive Rookie of the Year race won’t fully take shape for some time, but these three players have the potential to establish themselves as the way-too-early front-runner for the award in Week 3.
Offensive tackle Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
Some were a bit surprised on draft day that the Chargers selected Alt fifth overall instead of taking a playmaker like WR Malik Nabers for Pro Bowl QB Justin Herbert. However, the 6-foot-8, 322-pounder has been an excellent fit for Los Angeles’ new run-heavy offense under HC Jim Harbaugh.
After spending three seasons as Notre Dame’s starting left tackle, Alt has enjoyed a rather seamless transition to the right side of the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, Alt is the 11th-highest-graded tackle in the NFL (78.5), having allowed just one sack and two total pressures. Alt’s rapid success is all the more impressive, considering he didn’t allow a single pressure against Raiders All-Pro edge-rusher Maxx Crosby during his NFL debut.
Alt is in for the toughest test of his young career on Sunday, facing a formidable Steelers defense, which is pressuring opposing quarterbacks at the seventh-highest rate among teams (29.9%). It’s unclear how many snaps Alt will go head-to-head with linebacker T.J. Watt, though if he holds his own against the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, he’d have arguably the most impressive OROY case through three games.
Tight end Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
The term “generational prospect” seems to get thrown around rather loosely during the predraft process, but Bowers has lived up to the label through his first two games. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is off to a historic start to his career and is quickly solidifying himself as one of the top tight ends in the league.
Overall, Bowers ranks first at his position in receptions (15, which is also the second most in the NFL), receiving yards (156) and first downs (eight). As pointed out by Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, Bowers is the first tight end in NFL history to have at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
Although he’ll be competing for targets with Raiders star wideout Davante Adams throughout the season, Bowers has proved he’ll be QB Gardner Minshew’s security blanket. Expect Bowers to continue to be heavily involved in the passing game during Sunday’s home clash with the Panthers, who’ve allowed the most touchdowns (two) and ninth-most receiving yards (104) to opposing tight ends this season.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
The No. 4 overall pick was bottled up by the Bills during Arizona’s season opener, hauling in just one of his three targets for four yards. Harrison’s disappointing debut raised doubts about whether he was truly worth being the first wide receiver off the board in April, but he quickly proved his critics wrong against the Rams.
During the Cardinals’ 41-10 Week 2 thrashing of Los Angeles, Harrison caught four passes for 130 yards and his first two career touchdowns. All of Harrison’s production came in the first quarter, as he wasn’t involved much in the offense after the game turned into a blowout.
While he probably won’t have as productive a quarter this week, Harrison is well-positioned to make a significant impact against Detroit in a matchup that could turn into a shootout. Through two games, the Lions defense has allowed the eighth-most yards (502) and two touchdowns through the air.
