NFL Analysis
9/27/24
8 min read
Under-the-Radar NFL Rookies Impressing Early in 2024 Season
It’s hard to make too many judgments about any rookie after just three games, but it’s safe to say that the 2024 NFL Draft will be one of the better classes in recent memory.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers are already off to fantastic starts, and Brock Bowers might be the league’s best receiving tight end already. It appears that we have several franchise tackles from this class, with Joe Alt and JC Latham living up to expectations.
But what under-the-radar rookies have stood out so far? Here are five players that have outperformed expectations through three games:
Under-Appreciated Rookie Standouts
Zach Frazier, OC, Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier, OC, Pittsburgh SteelersBecoming a Week 1 starter on the offensive line for any rookie is impressive. But holding up well at the center is incredibly difficult, and the list of rookie centers that have had success right away in the last decade is incredibly small. Zach Frazier is already on that list.
A second-round pick from West Virginia, Frazier has played every offensive snap for the Steelers this season. You can already make a case that he’s their best offensive lineman. He is a perfect fit in Arthur Smith’s wide-zone rushing attack and has moved defenders off the ball consistently.
What makes his start even more impressive is that he missed most of the pre-draft process and offseason workouts recovering from a broken leg. Yet, he is already a big reason why Pittsburgh has been so successful running the ball this season.
Frazier is already one of the league's best centers, and it’s only a matter of time before he starts racking up the honors. Pittsburgh hit a home run with Frazier, and he is the next in line for a franchise with quite a storied history with centers.
Andru Phillips, CB, New York Giants
Andru Phillips, CB, New York GiantsA third-round pick from Kentucky, Andru Phillips, won the starting slot cornerback position for the Giants right away. And it’s become apparent he is already the best defensive back on the roster, and that is not a shot any of the other talented players for the Giants.
Phillips started the first three games of the season (he missed Week 4 against the Cowboys due to an injury) and was lights out. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed just 15 total yards on 89 defensive snaps during that stretch.
What makes Phillips such an impressive player is how well-rounded he is as a slot defender. He has no problem taking on much bigger players in the run game and has already racked up three tackles for a loss. Here are some of his best plays from Week 2 against the Commanders, and you can see that his speed, instincts, and toughness jump off the screen:
Phillips is also an outstanding blitzer, which allows the Giants to send some unique pressure packages against opposing quarterbacks. On top of his three tackles for a loss, he’s already racked up a sack, a forced fumble, and 17 total tackles.
He is the total package, and the Giants got a steal early in Round 3 in their secondary.
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Braelon Allen, RB, New York JetsIt might be a stretch to say that Braelon Allen is an “under-the-radar” rookie, but he did fall all the way to the bottom of Round 4 (pick No. 134) in the 2024 NFL Draft. In a weak running back class, there were 10 backs selected ahead of him, including a safety (Sione Vaki) who is making the transition to running back in the NFL.
However, the good news for Allen is that it appears he landed in the right spot with a coaching staff willing to give him work right away. It’s not uncommon for running backs drafted on Day 3 to get buried on the bench until they can improve as a pass blocker, receiver, etc.
Instead of letting him waste away on the sidelines, the Jets have figured out a way to utilize him in the offense right away, and it’s working extremely well.
Just how well? He has racked up 96 rushing yards on 19 carries (5.1 YPA) and added six receptions for 45 yards. He's scored two touchdowns, both against the Titans in Week 2. But the raw stats don't even show how impressive he is.
According to Pro Football Reference, Allen has racked up 68 yards after contact. He's averaging a whopping 3.6 yards after contact per rush, which is a good bit higher than Hall (2.2). Another encouraging sign is that he has a success rate of 58 percent on the ground, which is, again, higher than Hall (43.5%).
This isn't to say that Allen is the better player, but there hasn't been a drop in production or efficiency when Hall is off the field. That's fantastic news for the Jets.
With the Jets wanting to be a balanced offense that can grind teams down, it makes sense to have two capable backs. When the weather starts to turn in New Jersey, Allen could become an even more important part of the offense. He's looked fantastic in his first three games, giving the Jets another dynamic player on offense.
Dominick Puni, OG, San Francisco 49ers
Dominick Puni, OG, San Francisco 49ersIt can be really hard to make the 53-man roster of a Super Bowl team because there is so much talent and depth already on the sidelines. It’s even harder to crack the starting lineup as a rookie. But that’s what Dominick Puni did this year despite being a third-round pick from Kansas.
Puni was viewed as a middle-round prospect entering the draft. His biggest knock was his general lack of power. However, one of the reasons why he was such an intriguing prospect was his overall athleticism. He posted an 8.08 Relative Athletic Score, and his 4.40 20-yard shuttle was an elite score that matched several other top offensive linemen in the NFL.
He fell to the bottom of the third round but landed in the perfect situation in Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking offense. This has allowed Puni to utilize more of his athleticism and quick feet, minimizing his lack of power. Through three games, he has been arguably their second-best offensive lineman, behind only Trent Williams.
Puni has played every snap for the 49ers (213 offensive snaps) and has not committed a holding call or false start. It’s also worth noting that he has not allowed a quarterback hit or sack, according to TruMedia.
While he hasn’t been perfect, Puni has played well above expectations for a mid-round offensive guard from Kansas. The hope is that he continues to improve by the time the playoffs roll around. Still, the 49ers must be thrilled with Puni's production so far.
T'Vondre Sweat, NT, Tennessee Titans
T'Vondre Sweat, NT, Tennessee TitansT’Vondre Sweat being drafted at pick No. 38 was one of the most surprising selections of the weekend.
It had nothing to do with his talent level after he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, it had everything to do with his position (nose tackle) and a DWI arrest just weeks ahead of the draft.
Sweat had a horrible pre-draft process. He did not weigh in for scouts at the Senior Bowl and then tipped the scales at the NFL Combine at 362 pounds. Combined with the arrest and other off-field concerns, it seemed like a given that he would fall well into Day 3.
The Titans saw Sweat as a unique talent that was worthy of gambling on early in Day 2. With how he’s played so far, it’s hard to disagree with that assessment.
Sweat is a fantastic complement to Jeffery Simmons. Together, they have formed one of the league's better defensive tackle duos.
The Titans have allowed the fifth-fewest yards per game, and a big reason why is their defensive tackle play. How will those defensive tackles hold up against the Miami Dolphins' speed in Week 4? That should be a lot of fun to watch in primetime on Monday night.
