In the NFL, so much of your success depends on being in the right circumstances. Here are five players selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft who are in the best position to succeed as rookies:
5. Byron Murphy II, DT, Seattle Seahawks
College: Texas
Drafted: No. 16 overall
When a team with a bad defense hires one of the best young defensive minds as its head coach and immediately drafts a lineman, that should tell you something. Mike Macdonald got rave reviews for his work as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. Now that he’s in charge of his own team, he’ll try to do the same with Seattle. Murphy is undersized but is a pass-rushing threat from the interior. He was also athletic enough to score two touchdowns on offense at Texas. Given how terrible Seattle was at stopping people, he should have several chances to shine and be a Defensive Rookie of the Year contender.
4. Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
College: Texas
Drafted: No. 28 overall
Who wouldn’t want to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes? While that seems like a dream job, the Chiefs’ recent track record on drafting wide receivers is mixed. Skyy Moore, a second-round pick in 2022, has been a bust. But Rashee Rice, a second-round pick in 2023, was a key contributor to a Super Bowl champion. However, he does have legal issues that could lead to a suspension. Still, Worthy is in a good spot because the record-breaking speedster just needs to be a complementary vertical threat behind Travis Kelce and Hollywood Brown. If Worthy is an improvement over Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Moore, that’s a major win. Plus, he can score on special teams.
3. Chop Robinson, DE/OLB, Miami Dolphins
College: Penn State
Drafted: No. 21 overall
As long as the Miami Dolphins have a healthy Tyreek Hill, they’ll score fast and often. That means plenty of opportunities for defenses to rush the passer. Playing from ahead helped Miami to finish third in the league in sacks (56). Chop Robinson, who has been compared favorably to fellow Penn State alum Micah Parsons, gives his new team a different kind of speed. He had the second-fastest 40-yard-dash time (4.48) among defensive ends at the NFL Scouting Combine. New Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver hails from the Ravens staff. It’ll be interesting to see how he uses Robinson.
2. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
College: USC
Drafted: No. 1 overall
You could argue that no top overall pick has ever been surrounded by this many weapons as a rookie. On paper, Williams has the best skill position talent that the Bears have had in recent memory. Chicago wide receivers are veterans D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, and rookie Rome Odunze (the No. 9 overall pick). Free-agent signee running back D’Andre Swift is coming off his best season, as is tight end Cole Kmet. Assuming everyone stays healthy, Williams could become the first quarterback in franchise history to pass for 4,000 yards. (That last sentence seems hard to believe). The Bears have a terrible history of drafting/developing quarterbacks, but surely Williams can’t miss, right?
1. Joe Alt, T, Los Angeles Chargers
College: Notre Dame
Drafted: No. 5 overall
No first-round pick is in a better situation. He’s playing for the right coach, at the right position with a veteran quarterback. Jim Harbaugh knows how to build an offensive line and loves to run the ball. That’s perfect for Alt, who earned Pro Football Focus’ highest run-blocking grade among tackles. Alt should fit nicely on the right side, playing opposite Pro Bowler left tackle Rashawn Slater. He’ll have more running-blocking opportunities and usually won’t have to face the defense’s top pass rusher. The son of former Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tackle John Alt looks like a future star.