The 2024 NFL Draft was impacted by recent changes made to special teams. The landmark rule change that now prevents defenders from moving until the ball is received by a kickoff returner is designed to increase the number of kickoff returns per game. General managers drafted accordingly with extra emphasis being placed on game-changing returners.
The NFL reported that nearly 2,000 touchbacks occurred on 2,698 kickoff plays throughout the 2023 campaign. That's going to change drastically in 2024. Plenty of rookies will be tasked with returning kicks and punts this season in search of creating explosive plays that weren't available in 2023. We've identified three rookies who could especially make a sizable impact.
XAVIER WORTHY, WR, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Make no mistake, the Chiefs traded up to draft Xavier Worthy in the first round due to his abilities as a wide receiver. Given Rashee Rice's off-field incident, it's within the realm of possibility that Worthy becomes Patrick Mahomes' go-to receiver in 2024. Despite a large role being projected for Worthy on offense, the Chiefs should also take advantage of his dynamic return game capabilities.
Worthy displayed rare speed by running a 4.21 at the NFL Combine, the fastest-recorded time in history. Worthy surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for an explosive Texas offense in 2023, but he also was the Longhorns' primary punt returner. Worthy returned a career-high 22 punts for 371 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 74-yard score in a victory over BYU. Worthy could be a Pro Bowl returner in 2024.
DAEQUAN HARDY, DB, BUFFALO BILLS
The Bills drafted former Penn State defensive back Daequan Hardy in the sixth round. The Nittany Lions standout is an undersized player with elite athleticism. The 5-foot-9 Hardy ran a 4.38 40 with excellent splits of 2.56 and 1.53. Hardy also had a 42.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad.
Hardy was Penn State's full-time punt returner throughout the 2023 campaign. He averaged 14.6 yards per return. Hardy returned two punts for touchdowns of 56 and 68 yards against UMASS. The Pittsburgh native became the first player in program history to score multiple punt return touchdowns in a single game.
Hardy should replace Ty Johnson and Deonte Hardy (who is now with the Baltimore Ravens) as Buffalo's chief return man.
JHA’QUAN JACKSON, WR, TENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans averaged a 25th-ranked 20.7 yards per kickoff return, and 26th-ranked 7.9 yards per punt return last season. They have a new special teams coach in Colt Anderson after making a midseason change. General manager Ran Carthon addressed the future of both return positions by drafting Tulane wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson in the sixth round.
Jackson returned 25 kicks for 551 total yards (22 yards per return) in 2021. A multi-year experienced punt returner, Jackson totaled 58 punt returns across five seasons at Tulane for 664 yards and one touchdown, a highlight-worthy 90-yard score against Memphis that was the second-longest in both program and conference history. Jackson will take full advantage of the new kickoff rules.
