It has been a great season for NFL rookies. For the first time in league history, four rookies have 1,000+ receiving yards. Those players are Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Brian Thomas Jr., Giants Wide Receiver Malik Nabers, Raiders Tight End Brock Bowers, and Chargers Wide Receiver Ladd McConkey.
Robinson Jr. leads the NFL rookies as he is 4th in the league with 1,179 receiving yards. Bowers is 7th in receiving yards, Nabers is 8th, and McConkey is 14th. With 178 receiving yards in Week 18, Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. can become the fifth rookie with 1,000+ receiving yards this season. Will these NFL rookies be able to parlay their success this season into solid professional careers?
NFL Rookie’s Success Has Not Led To Success On the Field
They made it look easy in year 1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/7cGOYKqaUu
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2025
Of the four rookies with over 1,000 receiving yards this season, McConkey is the only one set to make the NFL Playoffs this year. It has helped the young rookie receiver that Justin Herbert is his quarterback. The other three NFL rookies have dealt with a revolving door at quarterback this season. Thomas Jr. has had a standout season for a Jacksonville Jaguars team that has fallen short of expectations.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been sidelined for over a month with a shoulder injury. Thomas Jr.’s performance has not been impacted by Lawrence’s injury as the star receiver has four receiving touchdowns over his last three games. Bowers has been the lone bright spot for a Las Vegas Raiders team that has done nothing well this year. He has caught passes from three different quarterbacks, and has been a steadying presence for the team.
Nabers has also had a tough rookie season as a member of the New York Giants and has seemingly grown more disgruntled as the season has worn on. Even while being a boisterous locker room presence, he has maintained consistency as an NFL rookie. He has mustered 50+ receiving yards in all but one game this season.
Final Thoughts
This crop of NFL rookies has gotten off to a historic start. The NFL world will wait with bated breath to see if they will be able to carry their hot start into successful NFL careers. The league has never had more talented pass catchers than it does now, and these four players have added their names to the talented position group.
