Summary

  • Zay Flowers brings much-needed talent to the Baltimore Ravens offense, with his speed and solid hands making him a valuable asset.
  • Christian Gonzalez's skills in man coverage and press coverage, along with his high jump rating, make him a key piece in the New England Patriots' defense.
  • Jahmyr Gibbs has the talent and speed to become a key player for the Detroit Lions, with his high speed and acceleration ratings setting him up for big plays.

Each season, a new group of promising prospects achieves the dream of reaching the NFL. In most cases, these rookies transition from being one of the best players on their respective collegiate teams to simply being “one of the guys” in the pros.

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It’s rare for most rookies to make immediate impacts on their teams, but these young players are the most likely to do so. Whether it’s the position they play or how the team plans on using them, the following players are the best rookies in Madden 24. We’ll take a look at how these rookies project in their first season in the NFL and beyond.

9 Zay Flowers - 77

Lamar Jackson is finally receiving some help on offense. For years, the Baltimore Ravens offense has been bogged down by lackluster performances from their wide receivers, but hopefully, that will be a thing of the past with Zay Flowers.

The receiver from Boston College saved the best for last, as he finally cracked the thousand-yard threshold in 2022. He’s a speedy (93) receiver with solid hands (80) for a rookie. Although Flowers doesn’t have the highest overall rating for a rookie receiver, he does boast the highest deep route (80) and release (75) ratings.

8 Christian Gonzalez - 77

The New England Patriots hope to inject new young talent into their defense and that begins with Christian Gonzalez. The former Colorado and Oregon cornerback was snatched up by the Patriots, and he projects to be a key piece in the eleventh ranked defense from last season.

As a cornerback, Gonzalez prefers man coverage (76) over zone (71) but he’ll need to focus on improving those vital categories. He specializes in press coverage (81) and knocking receivers off their intended routes, giving his defensive line more time to get after the quarterback. Gonzalez also possesses an extremely high jump rating (95) that will help him defend taller receivers in the red zone.

7 Jahmyr Gibbs - 77

After spending two seasons with Georgia Tech, Jahmyr Gibbs transferred to Alabama where he truly shined. In his lone season with the Crimson Tide, Gibbs was a dual threat, gaining 926 yards on the ground and 444 yards through the air with 10 total touchdowns.

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In a shocking move, the Detroit Lions selected Gibbs in the first round and subsequently traded incumbent starter D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles. Gibbs is expected to instantly become the workhorse for the Lions, and he certainly has the talent to lead their backfield. He has the highest speed (94) and acceleration (93) ratings among rookies, so once he breaks free there’s a good chance it’ll end in a big play.

6 Paris Johnson Jr. - 77

If the Arizona Cardinals hope to have any success with Kyler Murray, they’ll need to beef up their offensive line. The organization began the rebuilding process by selecting Paris Johnson Jr. as the sixth overall pick. Coming out of Ohio State, Johnson Jr. is the highest-rated rookie

Johnson Jr. will slot in as the right tackle and most likely start when the season begins. He has decent block ratings for passing and running plays (79). When he’s blocking, Johnson Jr. utilizes finesse moves (82) more than power (76), and also specializes in lead blocks (88). An underrated part of Johnson Jr.’s game is his ability to remain healthy (93), which is important in keeping the quarterback healthy.

5 Jaxon Smith-Njigba - 78

The wide receiver position has been experiencing a massive influx of talent and teams are deployed three to four high-end pass catchers. The Seattle Seahawks hope to take a big step in their aerial attack by adding Jaxon Smith-Njigba to their receiving core of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Although Smith-Njigba only appeared in three games last year because of a hamstring injury, the former Buckeye wideout collected 1,606 yards and 95 receptions in 2021. Smith-Njigba has high agility (94) and decent release (74) to get into his routes, specializing in short (83) and medium (81) routes. The young wideout has above-average hands (87) that lead to more spectacular catches (86) and snagging passes in traffic (85).

4 Devon Witherspoon - 78

Joining Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the Pacific Northwest is cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The fifth overall pick out of Illinois collected a career-high three interceptions in his final season with Illinois and the Seattle Seahawks hope Witherspoon will eventually become another all-time defensive player in their franchise history.

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Witherspoon uses his high acceleration (93) to quickly pick up speed (91) in guarding in man coverage (78) and zone (72). He’s fairly decent at pressing receivers (77) and possesses quality power (80) to cause fumbles. Witherspoon is an incredibly tough player (96) with high stamina (93) who should thrive in Seattle’s team culture.

3 Will Anderson Jr. - 78

At one point, Will Anderson Jr. was discussed as possibly being drafted as the first overall pick. Ultimately, he was picked third overall by the Houston Texans, though he was the first defensive player selected as the first two choices were quarterbacks. The Texans traded up to third to select Anderson Jr., who the team thinks could become the NFL’s next greatest pass rusher.

Anderson Jr. collected 34.5 sacks during his three years in Alabama, so he can certainly get after the quarterback. The left end favors finesse (77) moves over power (73) but Anderson’s power hits (88) can be highly effective. He’ll need to work on improving his overall tackling (79) skills but Anderson Jr. has the qualities of being a dominant force in the league.

2 Jalen Carter - 79

Coming out of Georgia, Jalen Carter was considered one of the best collegiate prospects but an off-the-field incident impacted his draft stock. The Philadelphia Eagles elected to select the defensive tackle with the ninth overall pick. After falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the Eagles hope Carter can help the defense generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Only 22 years old, Carter might be the strongest (94) player on the Eagles. He’s extremely difficult to block against (88) with his power moves (79). Carter is already an above-average tackler (82) so expect him to attack the ball-carrier at the line of scrimmage. When you factor in his quality speed (81) and acceleration (88), it’s clear why Carter is the highest-rated defensive rookie in the game.

1 Bijan Robinson - 81

For the third season in a row, the Atlanta Falcons used a high first-round draft pick on an offensive playmaker. Atlanta selected running back Bijan Robinson out of Texas, forming a big three offensive unit with Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and now, Robinson. The halfback gained 3,410 yards and scored 33 touchdowns in his three-year college career, earning the title of the best overall and offensive rookie in Madden 24.

Although the NFL is becoming more pass-happy, running backs still play a vital role. Robinson has a very high carry rating (90) that helps him secure the ball and break through tackles (86). In the open field, Robinson is extremely gifted as a runner, capable of juking (86) and spinning away (79) from defenders. The Falcons may not be a championship-caliber team, but their offense should be exciting with the addition of Robinson.

NEXT: Madden 24: Best Cornerbacks, Ranked