Experts widely consider the 1983 NFL rookie draft class to be the best draft of all time.  Boasting a record eight hall of famers and 42 pro-bowlers it is a tremendous task even to be compared to this group.  But can we make a case for the 2024 class to compete?

Let’s start with the elephant in the room, it has only been one year.  There is no way of knowing how the rest of the careers with play out for the many emerging stars in this rookie class.  That being said, it is already shaping up to be one of the best rookie classes of all time.

Quarterbacks:

A record six QBs were taken in the first 15 picks of the NFL draft this year.  All but one has seen game action, and all have looked like future stars in the league. 

Caleb Williams: 

It hasn’t been completely up to billing for the first overall pick in the NFL draft, but there have been definite flashes of why Williams was so highly touted.  Williams has had to endure the 3rd most sacks in the history of the NFL, despite that he has kept turnovers to a minimum.  Williams needs to work on his habit of trying to make a play happen when he should just throw it away, but there is plenty of reason to stay positive in Chicago.

Jayden Daniels:

Daniels is the likely rookie of the year in what has become a two-man race.  Daniels has won double-digit games in Washington for the first time since 2012, breathing new life into a sleeping giant of a fanbase.  Daniels looks like the next big thing in the NFL and undoubtedly has a long future of dicing up the league ahead of him.

Drake Maye:

Maye has seen slightly less action than Daniels and Williams but has looked like a true franchise guy despite the Patriots abysmal team around him.  The Patriots have the luxury of using the first pick to build around Maye rather than trying to find someone who should help his development heading to the future.

Michael Penix Jr:

In very limited action the surprise eight overall pick in the NFL draft has looked phenomenal.  1-1 in his first two starts with incredible zip on the ball.  His talent was well on display in the Sunday night game vs fellow rookie Jayden Daniels leading the Falcons down the field not once but twice setting them up for a game-winning kick.  As Penix continues to develop he will add to the already stacked group of QBs in this draft.

Bo Nix:

Bo Nix has brought the Broncos back to the brink of the playoffs.  Nix entered himself into the rookie of the year conversation midway through the season and has stayed comfortably in there ever since.  His experience in college has proven invaluable in the NFL as he looks poised and calm like a veteran.

Wide Receivers:

The WR class is just as impressive as many of the incredible classes that have come in recent years.  Instant stars from all over the draft at this position only build the depth of this year’s class.

Marvin Harrison Jr:

Marvin Harrison Jr. has put up one of the quietest 1,000-yard seasons in recent memory, everything that was said about Harrison coming out of Ohio State has shown itself early on in his career.  As he gets more comfortable with Kyler Murray his stats will continue to improve. 

Malik Nabers:

What Malik Nabers has done in a New York Giants uniform this season is nothing short of incredible.  Crossing the 1,000-yard after missing a few games and catching passes from four different quarterbacks throughout the season.  Nabers has shown a toughness that is going to be needed as the Giants struggle to find the answer at QB.

Brian Thomas Jr:

Similar to Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. has put up incredible numbers with a disappointing Jacksonville team.  Currently in the top ten for receiving yards in the NFL, with his physical tools and route running ability he will be a problem and a true number one that Jacksonville has been missing for all of Trevor Lawrence career.

Ladd McConkey:

Lass McConkey rounds out the list of rookie receivers that have taken the number one spot in their offense.  The second-round pick out of Georgia is putting up rookie record numbers comparable with names like Odell Beckham Jr. and other great rookie WRs.  McConkey has built a great connection with Justin Herbert and will be a massive issue in the AFC West for years to come.

Tight Ends:

Brock Bowers:

Tight ends usually are not the bright spot of a class but when a rookie like Brock Bowers comes around putting up the best rookie tight end season of all time it’s impossible to ignore.

Brock Bowers has officially broken the rookie tight end receiving record held by Mike Ditka for over 60 years.  That’s not the only record Bowers broke, taking the all-time rookie receptions record previously set by Puka Nacua just a year prior.

Bowers has a hat in the ring as the best tight end in the game right now as he heads toward the end of his rookie season.

Running Backs:

While not as impressive as the rest of the skill position groups there are still a couple of bright spots that could be big players in the future of the league.

Bucky Irving:

Bucky Irving has been a revelation in Tampa Bay.  Coming on midway through the season he has added a massive boost to the Bucs when they needed it the most.  After Godwin and Evans went down in the same game they had to rely on the rookie out of Oregon and he massively answered the bell.  Through the air, and on the ground his elusiveness and speed have been a massive boon to the Bucs as they make a playoff push.

Tyrone Tracy Jr:

Tyrone Tracy has been as close to a Saquan Barkley replacement as the Giatns could have possibly hoped for.  Taking over for Devin Singletary as the lead back halfway through the season Tracy has turned in 1,000 yards from scrimmage.  The converted wide receiver is invaluable in the check-down game and has been a big play machine all season for a Giants team that desperately needs one.

Defense:

The draft isn’t just offensive weapons, the other half of the game has a couple of players making massive impacts early in their careers.

Jared Verse:

Jared Verse has done an admirable job trying to fill the hole left by Aaron Donald, one of the best defensive players of all time.  It has been a replacement by committee for the Rams as fellow teammate and rookie out of Florida State Brandon Fiske has been an excellent partner in crime for Verse and the Rams.

Edgerrin Cooper:

Cooper has come on strong down the stretch for the Green Bay Packers.  Inserted into the starting lineup late in the year to cover the biggest weakness of this Packers defense, the middle of the field.  The Packers, before Cooper, had been gashed repeatedly by mid-range crossers in the play-action game.  Coopers’ speed and range have helped shore up their biggest weakness as they look to compete in a stacked NFC.

There is going to need to be a lot more time before we know if this is the best rookie class ever, but especially with the offensive talent it should at least be in conversation as one of the best in the history of the NFL.