The 2024 NFL draft could go down as one of the best classes of all time.
In the first round alone, there were several selections who instantly became stars in the NFL, including a rookie quarterback who guided his team to championship Sunday. Perhaps one day this draft class could be as good as the 2011 draft, which had Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt all taken within the first 11 picks.
The 2024 group also wasn’t short on stars with the first 13 picks. It’s not surprising that our 10 biggest draft hits from last year are all first-round picks, but this was a difficult list to form. Second-round selections Cooper DeJean, Ladd McConkey, Braden Fiske, Edgerrin Cooper and T’Vondre Sweat all had standout rookie seasons with their respective teams.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had two gems in Bucky Irving and Jalen McMillan, the former drafted in the fourth round and the latter in the third. The Los Angeles Chargers had a pair of impactful defensive backs from the fifth round, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
There were many worthy rookies for this list, but there’s no denying the impact the first-round picks had in 2024.
10. Joe Alt, OT, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers brass likely hasn’t spent a second wondering whether wide receiver Malik Nabers would have been the better choice at No. 5. Alt quickly proved the draft assessments correct, looking the part of a tackle the Chargers won’t have to worry about much for the next decade. Alt’s rookie year is more impressive considering that he was asked to start at right tackle after spending most of his time on the left side with Notre Dame. Coach Jim Harbaugh knew in Week 1 he made the correct choice after Alt contained Maxx Crosby for most of his regular-season debut.
