No dynasty manager needs to be informed or reminded about the impact and excitement of the NFL rookie draft. Rookie draft picks remain the coin of the realm in the format and unless you’ve traded away all future selections, you will have choices to make as the event nears.

I want to get to the players quickly so I’ll dispense with exceedingly long commentary as to the depth and talent of the 2024 rookie class. Instead, I’ll simply give you my high-level thoughts about the class, talent level and potential impact. Perhaps in the coming weeks I’ll further lay out my strategy of how I’m approaching the next few months in preparation.

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In short, I don’t think it’s hyperbole to suggest this may be one of the most exciting and deepest rookie classes we’ve had in a long time. In fact, at receiver specifically, the talent and depth is unlike anything I’ve seen. What makes 2024 so interesting is that we may not see a running back selected until selection 1.06 or 1.07. That is not to say we don’t have exciting prospects at the running back position but, instead, this next year’s receiver class possesses such great size and dynamic ability that the rush will be on at the position in dynasty drafts.

Also working against the running backs is the NFL’s continual devaluation of the position, injury history, increased committee usage and, something I’ve been pounding the table about for months now, the 2024 running back free agent tsunami we’re about see. Stay tuned for an article on this!

Two quick notes about the mock draft that follows. A lot is yet to be decided and this is simply an MIT (Moment in Time) assessment, as I call it. Players could choose to return to school, drafted situation could be less than ideal, and the injury bug could still bite. A lot can change over the next six months. Lastly, this mock draft represents not my assessment of talent but, instead, a representation of how I believe the players will be selected by the dynasty community.

Let’s get to my first 2024 dynasty rookie mock draft!

ROUND 1

1.01 — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

• Size: 6-foot-4/205 pounds — Rank: WR1

Clearly the top overall selection for 2024. Dynasty managers have been more willing to select a receiver No. 1 overall following the success of Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Harrison Jr. is a near-lock for that honor in 2024.

1.02 — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

• Size: 6-foot/200 pounds — Rank: WR2

There are bigger receivers with arguably higher ceilings in the 2024 draft class but Nabers is the top producer and may be the safest option in dynasty. LSU has been a machine of production at the position and Nabers could be the next Ja’Marr Chase.

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1.03 — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

• Size: 6’3/215 lbs.  Rank: WR3

Size, speed, dynamic athleticism and catch radius will make Odunze a top target in the NFL and in dynasty drafts. Any minor fall during the NFL draft could make for a better quarterback situation and better first-year production.

1.04 — Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Size: 6-fot-4/215 pounds — Rank: WR4

Coleman is more raw than the other prospects but he may have the highest ceiling. He’ll be a tremendous upside selection in the early-to-middle picks of dynasty rookie drafts.

1.05 — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

• Size: 6-foot-4/240 pounds — Rank: TE1

Make no mistake, the hype surrounding Bowers is reaching Kyle Pitts levels when he was a rookie. Bowers could be selected higher in drafts if dynasty managers haven’t learned their lesson about drafting a rookie tight end highly. The good news here is that I have Bowers graded higher than Pitts was as a rookie.

1.06 — TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

• Size: 5-foot-10/212 pounds — Rank: RB1

There won’t be any running backs selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and you won’t hear me say “won’t” very often. With many good backs in this draft, one will go in the middle of the first round in dynasty. My money is on Henderson.

1.07  — Troy Franklin, WR Oregon

• Size: 6-foot-3/187 pounds — Rank: WR5

Franklin profiles similarly to Keon Coleman above. He’s long, dynamic and can win at all levels. He’ll need to add strength at the next level but he has a high ceiling and should be drafted into a better situation than some above him.

1.08 — Brian Thomas, WR LSU

• Size: 6-foot-4/205 pounds — Rank: WR6

Another LSU prospect who isn’t the WR1 in his offense. Thomas is no slouch and has an NFL body with the knowledge of how to use it. He may slip out of the NFL first round, but not by much.

1.09 — Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas

• Size: 6-foot/207 pounds — Rank: RB2

Only an ACL tear hurts his standing as, potentially, the top back in this draft. He’ll be a steal for a patient dynasty manager picking near the end of the first round.

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1.10 — Caleb Williams, QB, USC

• Size: 6-foot-1/215 pounds — Rank: QB1

Dynasty managers are starting to elevate top quarterbacks in rookie drafts. Williams has been called a generational talent. I’m not necessarily in that camp yet but I think he’s a first-round selection in dynasty.

1.11 — Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

• Size: 5-foot-8/213 pounds — Rank: RB3

Corum is a difficult study for the NFL. A nose for the end zone with a powerful and compact body, he’ll be a first-round dynasty rookie selection. Where he ultimately lands in the NFL will be key.

1.12 — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

• Size: 6-foot-1/206 pounds — Rank: WR7

OSU has been Wide Receiver U of late and while Egbuka doesn’t have the size or athleticism of Marvin Harrison Jr., he combines a gritty attitude with plus-level route running similar to previous OSU standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

ROUND 2 

2.01 — MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

• Size: 5-foot-9/210 pounds — Rank: RB4

Lloyd is a bit of a wild card for the 2024 NFL Draft and drafted situation will be key. He’s built for the NFL but with less of a collegiate workload.

2.02 — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

• Size: 6-foot-4/230 pounds — Rank: QB2

Maye has it all and may be a better prospect than Caleb Williams. The “flash” of Williams will win the hearts of dynasty managers but don’t sleep on Maye’s upside. It’s not out of the question that he’s selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.

2.03 — Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington

• Size: 6-foot-1/192 pounds — Rank: WR8

Some professional scouts believe McMillan possesses better skills and a higher upside than Huskies teammate Rome Odunze. I’m not ready to hop onto that bandwagon, but I may be able to get there in time.

2.04 — Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

• Size: 6’4/243 lbs.  Rank: TE2

Those dynasty managers not willing to invest highly again in a rookie tight end will get a tremendous player in Sanders. I’ll be watching to see if he’s drafted into a plus-level tight end scheme.

2.05 — Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

• Size: 6-foot-1/223 pounds — Rank: RB5

Fantastic size and three-down ability in a player who is somewhat underrated and lost in the shuffle. I expect he’ll be yet another upside fantasy second-round back for patient dynasty managers.

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2.06 — Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

• Size: 6-foot-2/215 pounds — Rank: QB3

The athleticism and intrigue are too much to ignore with Sanders, though he may have the most risk of any of the would-be rookie quarterbacks. Most believe he’ll return to school in 2024, but it’s not yet official.

2.07 — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

• Size: 6-foot-4/210 pounds — Rank: QB4

Could be the rookie quarterback with the highest ceiling. His blend of accuracy and mobility will be coveted at the next level and he should be a first round NFL selection without much question.

2.08 — Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame

• Size: 5-foot-11/227 pounds — Rank: RB6

Somewhat below the radar but a standout due to size and production. Not a prolific receiver but not without upside either. Drafted situation will be key as it is for most running backs.

2.09 — Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

• Size: 6-foot-2/245 pounds — Rank: RB7

Allen has already indicated that he will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a huge specimen with production and established three-down potential.

2.10 — Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

• Size: 6-foot-4/196 pounds  Rank: WR9

Only production inconsistency sinks Mitchell’s draft stock, but there’s no questioning his NFL size and skill set.

2.11 — Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington

• Size: 6-foot/218 pounds — Rank: RB8

A bit of a one-year wonder, Johnson is a candidate to scream higher on draft day or fall into anonymity based on drafted situation. He possesses legitimate three-down size and ability.

2.12 — Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

• Size: 6-foot-1/175 pounds — Rank: WR10

The success of receivers such as DeVonta Smith and Jordan Addison help the draft stock of slight receivers like Worthy. He’s crafty and elusive, with significant upside given the right situation. I’ll be watching quarterback quality as an indicator of Worthy’s potential early-career success.

SuperFlex Adjustment

For all you SuperFlex managers (of which I am one), here is a quick adjustment to the first round when considering the quarterback class. Mel Kiper is on record for his belief that there are only two first-round graded quarterbacks in this class. While that may be true, there’s a huge need across the NFL for young talent at the position and I believe we will see four, and maybe even five, quarterbacks selected in the first round. Because of the skill position depth in this draft, there’s going to exist a lot of variability in the rankings when raising the quarterbacks. The main push-pull consideration will exist between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Drake Maye. Given the impact of quarterbacks in SuperFlex, I’m still giving the nod to Maye. This could change after we see where these players end up landing in the NFL draft. Here is the first round when considering quarterback inclusion for the SuperFlex format:

1.01 — Caleb Williams, QB, USC
1.02 — Drake Maye, QB, UNC
1.03 — Marvin Harrison, Jr. WR, OSU
1.04 — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
1.05 — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
1.06 — Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
1.07 — Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
1.08 — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
1.09 — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
1.10 — TreVeon Henderson, RB, OSU
1.11 — Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
1.12 — Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

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Bo Nix and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy remain wild cards whose values will fluctuate wildly. At this juncture, I have Nix ranked more highly than McCarthy, with McCarthy just outside the first round, similar to Will Levis (TEN) in 2023.

Once again, much variability exists at this early juncture and these rankings will look very different as more time passes and more information is learned

(Photo of Marvin Harrison Jr.: Jason Mowry/Getty Images)