10 NFL Rookies Who Could Be All-Pros or Pro Bowlers in 2024

In 2023, seven rookies made the Pro Bowl rosters. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua made headlines with record-breaking receiving numbers, and as the Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud helped lead the Houston Texans to the playoffs. Which rookies will become instant stars in 2024?

Of course, we have to start with early first-round players. Most of them are expected to make an immediate impact, and they'll have key roles with their respective teams in Week 1.

Though like Nacua last year, a few under-the-radar rookies could rise through the ranks for a surprising season.

We'll highlight 10 rookies who could be All-Pro or Pro Bowl players in 2024.

The Detroit Lions selected Terrion Arnold two spots after the Philadelphia picked Quinyon Mitchell, who's the first cornerback drafted in the 2024 class.

Arnold landed in a better spot to launch his career into stardom though.

The Philadelphia Eagles may ease Mitchell into a starting role on the boundary as they phase out James Bradberry IV.

The Lions could immediately start Arnold opposite Carlton Davis. Detroit released cornerback Cameron Sutton after learning about his arrest warrant for domestic battery by strangulation.

Furthermore, despite generating the highest pocket pressure rate (28.2 percent), Detroit ranked 27th in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed last year.

With consistent pressure up front, Arnold may have plenty of opportunities to force turnovers on hurried throws. He recorded five interceptions in his final collegiate term at Alabama.

Javon Baker seems ready to use his fourth-round draft position as motivation for a big year.

In a workout video, Baker noted the number of wide receivers teams picked before him.

Baker's competitive drive sounds similar to wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown who has recited the names of all the wide receivers drafted before the Detroit Lions took him in the fourth round.

This offseason, St. Brown signed a four-year, $120 million extension. He's a two-time Pro Bowler with an All-Pro campaign on his resume.

Perhaps Baker has early career success as well.

In his last collegiate season at UCF, Baker averaged 21.9 yards per catch. He will team up with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who can make big throws downfield.

If Baker emerges among the New England Patriots' mediocre receiving group, many may ask how he fell to the fourth round.

With one of the surprising picks in the first round, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Brock Bowers at 13.

The Raiders have tight end Michael Mayer, whom the previous regime traded up to select in the second round of last year's draft, but Bowers isn't just a tight end.

At Georgia, Bowers lined up all over the formation and took a ton of snaps in the slot. He may play a big role as a pass-catcher in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's offense.

As the Chicago Bears play-caller, Getsy elevated tight end Cole Kmet's production.

Coming off a scoreless season, Kmet led the Bears with seven touchdowns in 2022. Last season, he logged career highs in multiple receiving categories.

As B/R's No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 class, Bowers has more upside than Kmet, who entered the league as a second-rounder in 2020.

Keep in mind that Bowers is the only two-time John Mackey Award winner (most outstanding college tight end). In all three of his collegiate seasons, he recorded at least 56 catches, 714 yards and six touchdowns.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chip Towers covered Bowers' three years at Georgia. He appeared on the Silver and Black Today podcast and said, "I have no questions that Brock Bowers will be All-Pro eventually, dare I say Hall of Fame." (starts at 17:55).

Clearly, Towers believes Bowers will be a special offensive playmaker capable of a standout season.

Among the Los Angeles Chargers rookies, Joe Alt likely comes to mind as a potential Pro Bowler, but the rookie may go through a learning period as he switches from left to right tackle.

Even as a third-rounder, Junior Colson won't have to make much of an adjustment on the pro level.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh hired defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who served in the same role on his Michigan Wolverines coaching staff.

Colson started in all three of his collegiate years under Minter, recording 257 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and five pass breakups.

Because Colson is familiar with the Chargers' defensive system, he could get off to a quick career start.

Bleacher Report's NFL expert panel voted Colson as the favorite to lead all rookies in tackles.

Jayden Daniels will be able to spread the ball among several pass-catching options in the Washington Commanders' aerial attack.

Daniels has a solid wide receiver duo in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. The team drafted Luke McCaffrey in the third round, and he could become part of a high-level trio.

Daniels will have two safety blankets in the short-to-immediate passing game with Zach Ertz at tight end and running back Austin Ekeler out of the backfield. They're both accomplished pass-catchers with 51-plus receptions in at least five seasons.

The Commanders offensive line may feature new starters at center, left guard and left tackle. If that group jells quickly, Daniels should have enough time to dissect defenses from the pocket.

Don't forget Daniels's rushing ability, which may propel him into the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Daniels could also run for 1,000-plus yards and score several touchdowns on foot. In his last collegiate term at LSU, he ran for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cooper DeJean has a good chance to garner Pro Bowl honors because of his position versatility.

Last year, cornerback Bradley Roby and safety Kevin Byard played a lot of snaps in the slot. The Philadelphia Eagles haven't re-signed the former and released the latter.

Without Roby and Byard in the nickelback rotation, DeJean could become the primary defender in the slot over Avonte Maddox and Eli Ricks.

DeJean could split boundary cornerback snaps with fellow rookie Quinyon Mitchell if the Eagles reduce James Bradberry IV's workload after his down year. He can also line up as a third safety.

DeJean's willingness to line up in various spots can lead to a highly productive rookie campaign.

"I'm a football player," DeJean said during a Zoom interview (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra). "You put me on the field and I'm going to go play football, whether it's inside, outside, at safety, wherever it is."

Fox Sports' Gus Johnson called Marvin Harrison Jr. "Maserati Marv" when he made big plays at Ohio State. We may have to call him an All-Pro after the 2024 season.

Harrison will likely see a high volume of passes from two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray as the probable lead receiver in the Arizona Cardinals offense.

More than a year after tearing his ACL, Murray could rediscover his Pro Bowl form after he missed nine games last season.

In five campaigns, Murray has averaged 240.7 passing yards per game and completed 66.6 percent of his passes.

If Murray can at least match his career passing numbers in volume and efficiency, Harrison could break Puka Nacua's rookie receiving records.

Rookie wideout Malik Nabers is in a tough spot to garner Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors with Daniel Jones at quarterback. In the upcoming season, the New York Giants may have to win with a stifling defense that forces turnovers.

The Giants acquired edge-rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers, and he'll line up alongside Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence II in Big Blue's defensive front.

With constant pocket pressure up front, the Giants can force quarterbacks into inaccurate or turnover-worthy throws, which would bode well for Tyler Nubin.

At Minnesota, Nubin became a ball hawk, recording nine interceptions over the last two years. He has posted a higher number of interceptions every year since 2020, which shows his consistency in coverage.

Nubin's Pro Bowl viability may be dependent on the Giants' pass rush, but he can certainly take advantage of a quarterback's mistakes.

Our B/R NFL analysts split between Dallas Turner and Jared Verse in their consensus vote for most sacks and Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Without defensive tackle Aaron Donald commanding double- and triple-teams, Los Angeles Rams defenders may find it difficult to rack up sacks, which is why Turner may be in a better spot to emerge as a Pro Bowl player than Verse.

In 2023, two Minnesota Vikings edge-rushers, Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum, logged at least eight sacks. The former recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks and tied Maxx Crosby for a league-leading 23 tackles for loss.

The Vikings lost Hunter and Wonnum in free agency. They signed edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard, though Turner has the ability to lead Minnesota's defensive front in sacks and tackles for loss this year.

In his final collegiate term at Alabama, Turner logged 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. With 4.46 speed off the edge, he may live in the opponent's backfield on passing and run downs.

The Chicago Bears offense is set up for Caleb Williams to become the franchise's first 4,000-yard passer. If he accomplishes that feat, he's an easy pick to make the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

After the Bears drafted Williams, they selected wideout Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick.

In the upcoming season, Williams can play pocket point guard with six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, wideout DJ Moore, who's coming off his most productive season, Odunze and tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett downfield.

With a mix of ascending and established playmakers at wide receiver and tight end and offensive line mostly intact from the previous season, Williams should be able to post impressive rookie passing numbers and vie for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.