Obviously a lot will change between now and the actual 2024 dynasty rookie draft season. For example, at this time last year, Zach Evans and Kayshon Boutte were both near the tip top of everyone’s early 2023 rookie rankings.
Still, dynasty managers should have a general understanding of the 2024 rookie landscape at this early stage.
After all, I’m sure many of you have already encountered trade offers involving 2024 rookie draft capital. If you are going to buy or sell 2024 picks right now, does it not make sense to establish a baseline of knowledge about the 2024 class so you know what you’re buying or selling?
Early 2024 dynasty rookie mock drafts like this one can help build that mental baseline. The actual picks will ultimately be different come May 2024. Getting familiar with the names and general hierarchy from the dynasty and devy communities can give you a leg up right now in the trade market over someone who isn’t yet familiar with the ins and outs of this 2024 class.
If I had to draft 2024 rookies today, here is how I would rank them in Superflex right now.
FIRST ROUND
1.01 – QB1 Caleb Williams (USC)
From Diego to the Bay, Caleb and the Trojans will be looking to spread that California love all season. The junior QB returns to USC to try to keep things rockin’ in 2023.
1.02 – WR1 Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
Harrison is the son of the former route-running savant and Indianapolis Colt, Marvin Sr., but the younger Harrison looks more like he’s from Randy Moss or Julio Jones’ gene pool. He physically dominates DBs all over the field and has no glaring weaknesses to speak of. He is the textbook definition of an “alpha” wide receiver. He’s the easy 1.02 for me at this stage.
1.03 – QB2 Drake Maye (UNC)
Last name, Ever. First name, Greatest. We all love Caleb but don’t forget how good Drizzy Drake Maye is.
1.04 – TE1 Brock Bowers (Georgia)
Much like the Kanto Elite Four, the top four prospects in this 2024 class stand alone atop their own Indigo Plateau. Bowers rounds out this top tier with the size/speed/athleticism combination of a Level 99 Machamp.
Bowers gives defenses fits on crossing routes and can destroy teams down the seam. He can highpoint the ball and win contests. But his run-after-the-catch ability might be his most exciting trait of all.
1.05 – WR2 Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
If the Ohio State offense was Hogwarts, Harrison Jr. would wear the scar and glasses. The general hype surrounding Egbuka — you could call him “Weasley” — is dwarfed by the immense gravitational pull of his superstar teammate. Egbuka, a former five-star recruit himself, put up the quietest 1,100/10 season ever in 2022. If he can repeat that level of involvement, NFL teams will be forced to take notice.
1.06 – RB1 Raheim Sanders (Arkansas)
I think it’s gonna be a long, long time before another RB prospect like Bijan Robinson comes along … but the Rocket Man, Sanders, is burning out his fuse up here alone at the top of my 2024 RB rankings. He’s not quite the transcendent prospect that Robinson was last year. But Sanders offers similar three-down potential in a hulking, 230-pound+ package.
1.07 – RB2 TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
Henderson’s 2022 season was marred by a foot injury. It bothered him for much of the year, and it eventually got so bad that he elected to have surgery. By all accounts, Henderson is back healthy and poised to regain his freshman form in what should be a strong offense. He rushed for 1,248 and 15 touchdowns in 2021.
1.08 – WR3 Rome Odunze (Washington)
Odunze offers the best blend of size, athletic gifts, and separation skills out of the non-Ohio State receivers in this class. There’s room for some of those other receivers to move up, but if I were drafting rookies today, I’d bet on Odunze’s profile. He will need another big season to maintain this ranking.
1.09 – WR4 Xavier Worthy (Texas)
Worthy had a down season in 2022, but his electric speed and big-play ability will surely buoy his draft stock. This will be especially true if he performs well at the 2024 NFL Combine as expected.
Worthy makes DeVonta Smith look like Shaq, but despite his small stature, Worthy can use his speed in a myriad of ways. He can take the top off, he can explode in and out of breaks, and he can run after the catch.
1.10 – RB3 Trey Benson (Florida State)
While it wasn’t quite Al Bundy rushing for four touchdowns for Polk High in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson; Benson ended the 2022 regular season on a strong note with 162 total yards and three touchdowns against Florida.
Benson is bursty. He’s got the size you look for as well. If he can develop as a receiver/blocker, I see him as a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft.
1.11 – RB4 Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)
At 17, I still had my learner’s permit and slept with a stuffed animal. Allen as a 17-year-old? He was brushing off tacklers and dominating Big Ten defenses to the tune of 1,300 yards and 12 scores as a freshman. 2023 will be key for Allen to show his growth as a complete back.
1.12 – QB3 Quinn Ewers (Texas)
I anticipate that a third quarterback will ultimately go higher than this once 2024 rookie drafts actually get underway next year. The mystery right now is which QB will ascend to that spot (or possibly higher).
Even though he no longer features his glorious mullet, Ewers is my QB3 bet right now. He has the raw tools that NFL front offices typically gravitate towards. Xavier Worthy, AD Mitchell, and Ja’Tavion Sanders are an elite trio of weapons, providing Ewers a prime opportunity to improve his stock.
SECOND ROUND
2.01 – QB4 Michael Penix (Washington)
When I was a kid, my dad’s old insurance agent went by the name “Lefty Haroldson.” He sounded like a 1950’s baseball player, and oddly enough, he was not left-handed (according to my dad).
How cool would it be for Penix — who is actually left-handed —to adopt a nickname like that? Lefty Penix would simply be an elite quarterback name, one of the best in NFL history.
2.02 – WR5 Troy Franklin (Oregon)
Bo Nix’s favorite target comes in at WR5/2.02 of my 2024 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft. Franklin reminds me of D.J. Chark. Long and lanky, with good body control and contested-catch ability down the field.
The pedigree is there. Franklin is a former five-star recruit. He’s got the deep speed to go along with plus athleticism and change-of-direction swiftness. He will need to develop his release skills and improve his overall play strength, but he is a playmaker, plain and simple.
2.03 – WR6 Malik Nabers (LSU)
J. Cole’s neighbors think he’s selling dope, while LSU’s Nabers is selling hope, both for the Tigers’ offense in 2023 and hopefully dynasty managers in 2024.
Nabers secured 72 catches for over 1,000 yards last season. He will once again be Jayden Daniels’ go-to receiver, and a strong season could catapult him into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Such draft capital would immediately make him attractive early on in rookie drafts.
2.04 – TE2 Ja’Tavion Sanders (Texas)
A former five-star recruit, Sanders is simply a playmaker. He can separate easily against collegiate linebackers and safeties. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands as well. Like most receiving tight ends at his level, Sanders needs work in the blocking game, but he has the athleticism and seemingly the work ethic and versatility (he played receiver and pass rusher at the HS level) to improve.
2.05 – RB5 Donovan Edwards (Michigan)
Mario gets the princess and all the hype while people sleep on Luigi, who is actually the more talented plumber. That’s sort of the situation in Ann Arbor with Blake Corum and Edwards.
Corum seems to make more of the highlight reels. He is mentioned more often in the pre-season Heisman conversations. In general, Corum is just more of a household name and recognizable face across the college football world. It’s not even undeserved. Corum is an electric playmaker for the Wolverines.
That being said, Edwards is just the better NFL prospect. He’s got the vision, contact balance, and shiftiness in space to be a high-volume, modern NFL running back. The vision and instincts especially are very apparent on tape. Edwards seems to possess the pace and acceleration to spring big plays as well. Landing spot and draft capital could move Edwards way up come Draft Day.
2.06 – RB6 Will Shipley (Clemson)
The comp for Shipley I keep coming back to is Kenneth Gainwell coming out of Memphis. He has lots of production on the ground, but most likely will make his money in the NFL as a pass-catcher. Shipley is probably more dynamic and better in terms of downhill running and big-play ability, though. His eventual fantasy value will all depend on where he lands.
2.07 – QB5 Bo Nix (Oregon)
Nix had become something of a punchline over his three seasons at Auburn. But after a 3,600-yard, 29-touchdown season in which Nix set career highs in seemingly every QB stat imaginable, it appears as though Nix could get the last laugh if he can replicate his 2022 success.
If Nix comes good again this season, he could be an early first-round pick. If he reverts back to some version of the Auburn-Nix, he could fall a long way in the draft. I’ll split the difference here in terms of risk and take Nix in the mid-second round.
2.08 – RB7 Blake Corum (Michigan)
I imagine mocking Corum as a mid-to-late second-round rookie selection will be seen as controversial by many. While I do recognize that he is very instinctive and able to set up defenders in space, I question if he can physically handle a heavy-volume role at the next level.
Yes, Corum is sturdy for his height at 210 pounds. But at 5’8″, he is still a small running back, and he doesn’t play with a lot of power or ability to move a pile consistently. Couple that with poor pass protection skills, and there are questions about what role he would fill in an NFL offense.
2.09 – WR7 Johnny Wilson (Florida State)
Wilson is the sort of early-2000s throwback that makes me want to fire up MySpace and add him to my Top 8. Wilson has the elite size and contested catch ability that NFL teams used to drool over in the Moss/T.O./Calvin/Julio era.
In today’s NFL, the prototype has changed: 6’1″ and 190 lbs., able to get in and out of breaks with lightning quickness. But despite Wilson’s 6’6″, 240-pound size, he actually shows flashes of very good get-off and lateral mobility. If he can prove that’s for real, and he can actually be more than a red zone fade option, Wilson could prove to be special.
2.10 – QB6 Jordan Travis (Florida State)
If Florida State’s offense remains as explosive and dominant as they were to end last season, Travis might mess around and wind up in the Heisman conversation. That sort of notoriety could ultimately help his draft stock. I’ll gladly take a chance on him in the late-second round of (mock) rookie drafts at this stage.
2.11 – WR8 Keon Coleman (Florida State)
Have we mentioned the Seminoles’ offense is going to be loaded in 2023? Coleman offsets the skill set of the big-bodied Wilson with quick-twitch athleticism across all three levels. He caught 58 for 798 last season with Michigan State, and much more could be in store in 2023.
2.12 – WR9 Ja’Corey Brooks (Alabama)
It would be sacrilege not to include an Alabama wide receiver in a mock draft, so here you go.
THIRD ROUND
3.01-3.05 – QB7-QB11 J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Shadeur Sanders (Colorado), Riley Leonard (Duke), K.J. Jefferson (Arkansas), Joe Milton (Tennessee)
Once we get into Round 3, I am happy to take a gamble on any of the remaining QBs. I would not argue either if you like any of these guys enough to take in the second round. There’s just so much projection involved at this point.
I could see any of these quarterbacks putting together a magical 2023 season and skyrocketing themselves up unexpectedly into the top of the first round, like Zach Wilson or Joe Burrow.
Conversely, I would not be shocked if any or all of them just sort of underwhelmed in 2023 and fell in the draft. Right now, we just have to wait and see how 2023 goes. If we were drafting today, I’d be targeting this tier of QB in this range.
In Superflex, the premium on QBs is such that even with the good chance that none of these players ever become franchise QBs, dynasty managers have to shoot their shot, especially in an August mock draft. Ultimately, I doubt there will be this many QBs taken in real-life 2024 rookie drafts.
Out of this group, I see McCarthy with the highest floor and Milton with the lowest floor. In terms of ceiling, I see Milton or Sanders with the highest ceiling and Leonard with the lowest. There’s a lot of football still to be played, though!
3.06 – TE3 Michael Trigg (Ole Miss)
Trigg fits the bill as your typical athletic freak of a tight end possessing all the physical tools to be elite. We all know by now that elite fantasy production from a tight end requires way more factors to swing in your favor than just athleticism, but at least Trigg checks that box. Where he winds up remains to be seen, of course. He has the potential to move way up as well, depending on how the next six months go.
3.07 – WR10 Adonai Mitchell (Texas)
Mitchell is that new main character that appears at the beginning of Season 2 of any high school-aged Netflix drama. The old leading man from Season 1 has moved on, and so the show needs new blood to step in along with the remaining cast to keep the show going.
3.08 – TE4 Ja’heim Bell (Florida State)
Bell feels like the 30th Seminole we’ve featured in this mock. He’s a transfer from South Carolina, and despite being a new arrival, he’s on many people’s lists as a top TE heading into 2024. At 6’3″, 230 pounds, he’s perhaps a little undersized to be an elite fantasy tight end. He gives me Irv Smith vibes.
3.09 – WR11 Jalen McMillan (Washington)
The other talented target that Lefty…err… Michael Penix has at his disposal. He doesn’t have the same level of hype as Odunze, but McMillan has YAC ability and can make contested catches routinely. McMillan will really help himself with a good performance at the NFL Combine.
3.10 – RB8 Jarquez Hunter (Auburn)
Hunter ended 2022 with three 100-yard games against the likes of Texas A&M and Alabama. He has good size at 5’10”, currently listed at 212 pounds. Hunter has good versatility as well. He’s got a great chance to be a draft riser this season.
3.11 – WR12 Dorian Singer (USC)
The Arizona transfer had a breakout season of over 1,000 yards last year. Singer now brings his talents to Southern California, where he will catch passes from Caleb Williams. With Jordan Addison now playing in Singer’s home state of Minnesota, Singer has the opportunity to take on a lot of Addison’s vacated production.
3.12 – RB10 Bucky Irving (Oregon)
A bit undersized, Irving is very elusive with the ball in his hands. He is at his best in space. His future is likely as a passing-down specialist. Irving dances a bit too much to be considered anything close to a north-south runner between the tackles.
Other names to watch in 2023:
QBs
Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Tyler Van Dyke (Miami)
Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
Cam Ward (Washington State)
Sam Hartman (Notre Dame)
RBs
Miyan Williams (Ohio State)
Jace McClellan (Alabama)
Frank Gore Jr. (Southern Miss.)
Alton McCaskill (Colorado)
Carson Steele (UCLA)
WRs
Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse)
Beaux Collins (Clemson)
Antwane Wells Jr. (South Carolina)
Jacob Cowing (Arizona)
TEs
Cade Stover (Ohio State)
C.J. Dippre (Alabama)
Erick All (Iowa)
Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota)
Arik Gilbert (Nebraska)
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