The 2024 NFL regular-season campaign begins on Thursday with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens. On Friday, the league will play its first-ever contest in Brazil with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles partaking in history. Those matchups serve as worthy appetizers to Sunday's 13-game schedule.
We're particularly excited to monitor the official debuts of the 2024 NFL Draft rookie class. Several first-year players project as immediate contributors this weekend. We've identified three rookies in particular who appear primed for big-time performances in Week 1.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
There's no need to avoid the obvious. Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is the most hyped-up signal-caller in franchise history. A tortured fan base when it comes to quarterback play, the Bears believe their No. 1 overall selection is the organization’s long-awaited savior.
This Sunday's matchup versus the Tennessee Titans is low-key one of the more intriguing games on the Week 1 schedule. Both teams are relative unknowns heading into the contest due to all the change they experienced in the offseason. That layer of mystery could benefit Williams.
Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is expected to utilize his exotic blitz packages against the inexperienced signal-caller. That should provide Williams with opportunities to make the off-script plays he's so capable of making. Soldier Field is going to be a raucous atmosphere once Williams proves worthy of the pre-draft hype.
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
The New York Giants allowed a league-high 85 sacks last season. It wasn't particularly close, with the second-worst offensive line allowing 20 fewer sacks (Washington Commanders, 65). That stat is music to the ears of Minnesota Vikings rookie EDGE Dallas Turner.
Has Giants general manager Joe Schoen done enough to upgrade his offensive line? New starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is a league-average starter who should be better than Evan Neal was last season. Turner's foot speed should threaten Eluemunor's outside shoulder though, and quarterback Daniel Jones is prone to mistakes.
Turner is officially listed as a backup on the Vikings' unofficial depth chart, but the reality is he'll be tasked with replacing a good bit of the production lost by Danielle Hunter's departure. Turner is a twitched-up rusher. Expect defensive coordinator Brian Flores to unleash him this weekend.
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted tight end Brock Bowers highly to be the offense's second passing-game option behind elite receiver Davante Adams. Bowers has a pass-happy quarterback in Gardner Minshew. Expect Minshew to pepper his rookie playmaker with targets.
The Raiders didn't see the need to play Bowers much throughout the preseason, especially since he was a bit banged up. The former Georgia standout totaled just 11 snaps during the exhibition, and all of them occurred in the first game. Bowers will carry a sizable workload throughout his rookie campaign.
I also love Bowers’ matchup versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is tasked with improving a 30th-ranked pass defense that allowed 249.8 yards per contest last season. Off-ball linebackers Denzel Perryman and Daiyan Henley are question marks in coverage. Bowers should find plenty of success in the middle of the field.
