Top 4 Candidates for 2024 NFL Rookie of the Year

The transition from college football to the National Football League (NFL) is difficult, but many standout players have excelled in their first professional season and gone on to have great careers. Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, and Randy Moss are among the many Hall of Famers to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, which is awarded by the Associated Press (AP). Below are four first-year players with some of the best odds to be named 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

1. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

The Chicago Bears drafted University of Southern California (USC) quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft and made subsequent moves to ensure he has plenty of weapons at his disposal in his first season as the face of the franchise. Chicago also drafted University of Washington receiver Rome Oduze, who had a record-breaking year in 2023 with 1,640 receiving yards, breaking the school record for most yards in a season by almost 200.

Before the draft, the Bears acquired six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers. They also have D.J. Moore, who led the team with a career-high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.

Williams, meanwhile, won the Heisman Trophy as the top player in college football in 2022 and finished the 2023 season with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He has the shortest betting odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

2. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)

Selected second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback with five seasons of college experience, split between Arizona State and Louisiana State University (LSU).

He won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 after recording 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, and 50 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Daniels rushed for at least 10 yards on more than 40 snaps last season and could give NFL defenses fits with his elite athleticism.

3. Marvin Harrison, Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)

Considered the best wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison, Jr., was a dominant force at Ohio State, recording at least 1,200 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. He also has family pedigree: his father, Marvin Harrison, is a Hall of Famer and eight-time Pro Bowl receiver who played 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

4. Malik Nabers (New York Giants)

Selected sixth overall by the New York Giants, Malik Nabers was an All-American wide receiver at LSU in 2023. He finished the season with 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and has a good chance to lead the Giants in targets in 2024.

3 Standout NFL Stars Who Retired after the 2023 Season

There's typically a flurry of activity during the National Football League (NFL) offseason as teams look to improve their rosters via the draft, trades, and free agency. This offseason was no different, as several marquee players changed teams, including Kirk Cousins signing with the Atlanta Falcons and Stefon Diggs joining the Houston Texans in a trade from the Buffalo Bills.

Several players, including three likely future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, also announced their retirement.

Jason Kelce

While his brother Travis might be known more outside of football, Jason Kelce is a well-respected center who will be remembered as one of the best players at his position. The 36-year-old native of Ohio announced his retirement in March 2024 after 13 seasons, all of which were with the Philadelphia Eagles. He ranks seventh all-time among centers in ProFootballReference.com's Approximate Value metric and is one of only three centers with at least six All-Pro selections. Moreover, Kelce was among the best at his position up until the end of his career, earning three consecutive All-Pro selections in his final three years.

Kelce was an unheralded sixth-round pick of the University of Cincinnati in the 2011 NFL Draft, but started all 16 games in his rookie season and was a beacon of consistency for the Eagles, starting all 193 games in which he played over 13 seasons. He won the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017.

Aaron Donald

Kelce's retirement was somewhat expected, but few people anticipated that Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald would call it quits during the offseason. Donald, a three-time Associated Press (AP) Defensive Player of the Year, was just 32 years old when he announced his retirement in March, stating he was "burnt out" and "satisfied with what [he] was able to do in 10 years." Donald was the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history in 2018 when he signed a six-year, $135 million contract extension with the Rams.

Selected 13th overall by the Rams, Donald finished his career with 111 quarterback sacks, 543 tackles, and 24 forced fumbles in 154 games. He won the Super Bowl with Los Angeles in 2021 and, like Kelce, is a future Hall of Famer.

Fletcher Cox

Another all-time great Eagle, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement on March 10. Like Kelce, he spent his entire career in Philadelphia, recording 70 sacks, 519 tackles, and 16 forced fumbles in 188 games. Only Donald, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones recorded more sacks than Cox from 2012 to 2023. Cox was first-team All-Pro in 2018, played in six Pro Bowls, and was included on the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team.

A Look at Some of the Best NFL Players in September 2024

The first month of the 2024 National Football League (NFL) season featured a few notable surprises, including impressive starts by the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings and a 0-3 start for the Cincinnati Bengals. Here's a look at the best NFL players in September.

Josh Allen (AFC Offensive Player of the Month)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen won his third AFC Player of the Month award in September and first since the 2020 season. Playing in his seventh season, Allen led Buffalo to a 3-1 record and was first among AFC quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (7) and passer rating (116.5). He also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Allen completed 69.3 percent of his pass attempts for 814 yards and rushed for 106 yards in four games during September. He had his best game in Buffalo's 47-10 Week 3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 23 of 30 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns.

Sam Darnold (NFC Offensive Player of the Month)

The Vikings faced uncertainty at quarterback, the most important position in football, prior to the 2024 season. Last year's starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, and 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in his first preseason game. Veteran Sam Darnold, signed by Minnesota in March, has stepped up and is having a career renaissance.

Selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold was just 21-35 with three teams as a starting quarterback during his first six years in the league. He led the Vikings to a perfect 4-0 record in September and threw a league-best 11 touchdowns while completing 68.9 percent of his pass attempts to 932 yards.

Kyle Van Noy (AFC Defensive Player of the Month)

An 11-year NFL veteran, linebacker Kyle Van Noy won AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September after recording a conference-best six sacks, eight tackles, and a forced fumble. Van Noy, in his second season with the Baltimore Ravens, had two sacks in three consecutive games, including a 35-10 win over the Bills in Week 4. This was his first Player of the Month honor, although he is a two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Week winner.

Aidan Hutchinson (NFC Defensive Player of the Month)

The second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Aidan Hutchinson is building upon his impressive sophomore season in 2023. The Detroit Lions defensive end earned his first Pro Bowl nod last year after recording 11.5 sacks and 51 tackles. He had a league-best 6.5 tackles through the first three games of the season, including 4.5 in the Lions' 20-16 Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

4 Players with the Best Odds to Win 2024 NFL MVP

Football is a team game, but in the NFL, quarterbacks receive the bulk of the credit for their team's success and, in some cases, undeserved criticism for their failures. Quarterbacks have won the Associated Press (AP) NFL MVP in all but one season since Tom Brady won in 2007. That QB dominance isn't likely to end in 2024, judging by the odds to win the award at most major sportsbooks.

Here's a look at the four quarterbacks who have the shortest odds to win AP NFL MVP in 2024.

Patrick Mahomes (+400)

A two-time MVP, Patrick Mahomes opened the 2024 season as the favorite to win the award, with +400 odds at BetMGM. The 28-year-old former first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs first won the award in 2018 after leading all quarterbacks in touchdowns (50) and leading the Chiefs to a 12-4 record in the regular season. He won again in 2022, when he finished first in touchdowns (41), passing yards (5,250), and yards per game (308.8).

Mahomes is already the most decorated current quarterback in the NFL and has drawn comparisons to all-time great Tom Brady since winning his third Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2023. He is also a three-time Super Bowl MVP and has a much better receiving corps this season than he did in 2023.

Josh Allen (+550)

Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson have each won two MVPs since Josh Allen made his debut in 2018. The Buffalo Bills quarterback has been in the same conversation as those players, but has yet to win the award. He finished second in MVP voting in 2020 and has thrown for at least 29 touchdowns and 4,283 yards in each of the last four seasons.

A two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Allen is also a threat to run every time he touches the ball. He scored a career-best 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023 and had two in the Bills' Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He opened the year with +550 odds to win MVP.

C.J. Stroud (+900)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has third-shortest odds to win MVP at +900 on BetMGM. The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year last year after leading Houston to a 9-6 record under center while throwing for 23 touchdowns and 4,108 passing yards. He also had just five interceptions, leading all quarterbacks in interception percentage (1.0).

Jalen Hurts (+1,000)

Also a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles has the fourth-shortest MVP odds at +1,000 on BetMGM. The 26-year-old native of Houston, Texas, selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was MVP runner-up in 2022 and finished last season with 38 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.

A Look at 4 Standout NFL Players in October

Every month, the National Football League (NFL) honors players who have had the best offensive and defensive performance in both the AFC and NFC. It also gives monthly awards to the top offensive and defensive rookies. Here's a look at some of the winners for October 2024.

1. Lamar Jackson (AFC Offensive Player)

A candidate to win NFL MVP for the second consecutive season, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a standout month in October, leading his team to a 3-1 record with wins over the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a completion percentage above 60 in each of Baltimore's four games in the month and threw for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 193 yards.

Jackson had his best game of the month against the Buccaneers, throwing for a season-high five touchdowns with 281 passing yards and 52 rushing yards. This was his fourth AFC Offensive Player of the Month honor. He also won in December 2023, September 2022, and November 2019.

2. Jared Goff (NFC Offensive Player)

The Detroit Lions finished October with a perfect 3-0 record due in part to the impressive play of quarterback Jared Goff. The first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft threw for a season-high 315 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys on October 13 and finished the month with 680 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions. He had just 13 pass incompletions.

3. Bo Nix (Offensive Rookie)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, selected 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 66.7 percent of his passes in four games and had 870 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception. He also rushed for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Nix is only the third Bronco to win Offensive Rookie of the Month and first since Clinton Portis in 2002. His performance in October was much better than during September, when he had just one touchdown and four interceptions.

4. Chris Boswell (AFC Special Teams)

Chris Boswell, the kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, won his second consecutive AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award in October. Boswell won the award following a perfect month in regard to field goal attempts. He made all 12 attempts, including one from beyond 50 yards and converted all 10 of his extra points. Through the end of October, the 33-year-old Pro Bowl kicker had missed just one field goal and was a perfect 16-for-16 in extra point attempts.

The Last 4 Non-QBs Selected First in the NFL Draft

The National Football League (NFL) Draft has taken place every year since 1936. At the event presents NFL teams with an opportunity to improve their rosters by selecting the top college players in the United States. Unlike some other professional sports leagues in North America, the NFL doesn't have a draft lottery. Instead, the team that finishes in last place in the prior season is awarded the first overall selection. 

Most franchises choose a quarterback with the first overall pick. Since the first-ever draft, teams have drafted a quarterback first overall 39 times, including in 19 of the last 26 drafts. Below are the last four non-quarterbacks selected first overall. 

1. Travon Walker - DE (2022) 

The Jacksonville Jaguars held the first overall pick for the second consecutive year in 2022 and selected Georgia defensive end Travon Walker. The team drafted quarterback Trevor Lawrence first overall in 2021. Walker, the 13th defensive end chosen first in the draft since 1967, recorded 33 tackles, six quarterback sacks, and one fumble recovery in his junior year with Georgia in 2021. The 6-foot-5, 272-pound native of Thomaston, Georgia, finished his rookie season in the NFL with 49 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. 

2. Myles Garrett - DE (2017) 

Myles Garrett, a 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive end, was the last non-quarterback selected first overall prior to Walker. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Garrett spent three seasons at Texas A&M. While there, he accumulated 141 tackles, 31 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and one interception in 34 games.  

Now in his seventh season in the league in 2023, Garrett is a four-time Pro Bowl player and finished fifth in Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022. He finished that season with a career-best 60 tackles and 16 sacks.  

3. Jadeveon Clowney - DE (2014) 

The Houston Texans selected defensive end Jadeveon Clowney first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6, 274-pound All-American, who also played defensive lineman in college, spent three seasons at the University of South Carolina and accumulated 129 tackles, 24 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. The three-time NFL Pro Bowl player spent his first five seasons in Houston and has since played for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens. 

4. Eric Fisher - T (2013) 

One of only five offensive tackles to ever be selected first overall in the NFL Draft, Eric Fisher played seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He retired in 2021 after one year with the Indianapolis Colts. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2019 and participated in the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2020. 

These 4 NFL Players Earned Monthly Honors in September 2023

The 2023 National Football League (NFL) season began on Thursday, September 7, with a showdown between the Detroit Lions and defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs. Three weeks later, on September 28, the league announced the top performers of the first month of the season. The following are the four winners of the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Month in the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC). 

1. Christian McCaffrey (NFC Offensive Player) 

A two-time Pro Bowl running back from Castle Rock, Colorado, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers was the most impressive offensive player in the NFC in September. The 27-year-old Stanford alumnus, selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2017 NFL Draft, led all running backs with 423 scrimmage yards through the season's first three games. 

McCaffrey, who is in his first full season with the 49ers after a midseason trade in 2022, averaged 5.9 yards per carry (353 total rush yards) and scored three touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 70 yards. 

2. Tua Tagovailoa (AFC Offensive Player) 

Selected fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft, fourth-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looked like an MVP candidate through the season's first three games, leading the Dolphins to a 3-0 record with a league-leading 130 points. Tagovailoa finished September with a league-best 121.9 passer rating to go along with 1,024 passing yards and eight touchdowns. 

Tagovailoa was particularly impressive in Miami's 70-20 Week 3 win over the Denver Broncos, recording 309 passing yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. 

3. Micah Parsons (NFC Defensive Player) 

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons placed immense pressure on himself before the 2023 NFL season, saying he wants to be remembered as "one of the greatest Hall of Famers" in the sport. His impressive play in September proved that may be possible. The 24-year-old native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, already a former AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Pro, recorded 12 tackles, five of which were for a loss, and four quarterback sacks in three games in September. He also forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery. 

4. T.J. Watt (AFC Defensive Player) 

A three-time All-Pro linebacker and 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt remains one of the best players at his position in his seventh year in the league. Watt played just 10 games last season due to injury and recorded only 5.5 sacks. He surpassed that already with a league-leading six sacks in his first three games. He also forced and recovered two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown. 

The Last 4 NFL AP Defensive Players of the Year

In 1972, National Football League (NFL) defensive tackle Alan Page made history as the first-ever winner of the Associated Press (AP) Defensive Player of the Year award and the first defensive player to win NFL MVP. Only one other defensive player, Lawrence Taylor in 1986, has since won both awards in the same year. Page, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, finished the 1971 season with 109 tackles, nine quarterback sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two safeties. 

Below are the four most recent winners of the AP Defensive Player of the Year award. 

1. Nick Bosa 

San Francisco 49ers EDGE rusher Nick Bosa won the 2022 AP Defensive Player of the Year award with 46 of the 50 first-place votes for 237 total vote points. Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys was the runner-up with 101 vote points. Bosa, who also finished sixth in MVP voting, recorded a season-leading and career-best 18.5 sacks in the 2022 season. He also had 51 tackles and two forced fumbles. 

This wasn't the first time the AP recognized Bosa for his on-field achievements. Selected second overall by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bosa won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 after finishing his first season with 47 tackles, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one interception. He signed a five-year, $170 million contract extension with the 49ers ahead of the 2023 season, making him the highest-paid defensive player in league history. 

2. TJ Watt 

TJ Watt, brother of three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year winner JJ Watt, won the award for the first time in 2021. A five-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, TJ finished the season with a season-leading and career-best 22.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss of yards. He also had five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Watt received 42 of the 50 first-place votes. 

3. Aaron Donald 

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald won his third AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020, beating out runner-up TJ Watt by seven first-place votes. Donald, who also won the award in 2018 and 2017, recorded 45 tackles, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 2020. An alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, he won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first nine seasons. 

4. Stephon Gilmore 

One of only two cornerbacks or safeties to win AP Defensive Player of the Year since 2010, Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots received 21 of 50 first-place votes in 2019. He finished that season with 53 tackles and a league-best six interceptions and 20 defended passes.