The 2024 NFL Draft class could look even stronger in 2025. With J.J. McCarthy returning from a season-ending injury, the quarterback class has a chance to be even more influential with both Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. entering the season as starting quarterbacks.
All eyes will also be on Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix to have strong sophomore seasons, but the impact of the draft class doesn’t stop at the quarterback position. Some of the top defenders have emerged from that draft as well as offensive playmakers who already look like the best at their positions.
In Week 1 of the NFL Power rankings of the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Mocks rank Year 2 players based on their impact in 2024. In a class so deep, it was hard to pick just 10, but here we are.
Top 10 players entering Year 2 in the NFL
No. 10: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, No. 23 overall – 2024 NFL Draft)
Malik Nabers got all the buzz coming out of LSU, but Brian Thomas Jr. was WR 2 on that LSU team and had his own success in the NFL as a rookie. Selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas Jr. brought that deep threat pizzaz to the Jaguars’ offenses as an instant top target for Trevor Lawrence.
In 2024, Thomas Jr. flashed with 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2025, the Jaguars will be looking at him and rookie Travis Hunter to form an intriguing wide receiver duo who will hopefully help propel Lawrence back into a top 10 QB talent.
No. 9: Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2, No. 40 overall – 2024 NFL Draft)
Selected with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Cooper DeJean proved he should’ve been a first-round pick with his rookie performance in 2024. Capped off by a pick-6 in the teams win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, DeJean was a valuable contributor defensively all season long.
COOPER DEJEAN PICK-SIX 😱
— ESPN (@espn) February 10, 2025
On his birthday too 🥳
(via @Eagles)pic.twitter.com/XVc2iM03IJ
In fact, his solid play that included 51 tackles and 0.5 sacks earned DeJean a spot in the NFL Top 100 players. Debuting on the list at No. 60, DeJean increased his value as a top defensive back in the league. He is a player who will just get better.
No.8: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 22 overall – 2024 NFL Draft)
Coming in at No. 49 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 list, Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell proved to be one of the best young defensive backs in the league. Selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Toledo product helped stabilize the Eagles’ secondary enroute to a Super Bowl championship.
Michell had 46 tackles, and 12 passes defensed in his rookie season, but what jumps out is how he played against star wide receivers as a rookie. While DeJean got most of the accolades, the silent dominance of Mitchell will continue to shine in 2025 as his coverage skills become even stronger.
No. 7: Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 4, No. 125 – 2024 NFL Draft)
The running back out of Oregon proved to be a mid-round gem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024. In solidifying the Buccaneers’ running game, Irving rushed for 1,122 yards and 8 touchdowns on 207 attempts. His 47 receptions also enhanced his value as a rookie as he gave Baker Mayfield another weapon to get the ball to and a reliable running back to hand off to in a proficient Tampa Bay offense.
Bucky Irving looking like a WR on this TD 🙌
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xV1L135kA8
In Year 2, the production of Irving will be influential in the Buccaneers playoff chances and how far they go in the playoffs. With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka at wide receiver, Irving running the rock gives Mayfield and company a balanced attack that will be hard to defend.
No. 6: Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (Round 1, No. 12 overall -2024 NFL Draft)
Bo Nix proved to be the second-best quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Can he continue that momentum in Year 2? With the possible breakout of the other quarterbacks selected in that draft (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy), the challenge for Nix is just to continue being proficient and playing within Sean Payton’s system.
In 2024, Nix threw for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns with a 66.3 completion percentage. He also showed off an ability to make plays with his legs. With higher expectations in Denver, Nix will have the challenge of finding different ways to help his team win in 2025.
No. 5: Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 34 – 2024 NFL Draft)
Ladd McConkey is a name that will haunt New England Patriots fans. In trading the No. 34 pick to the Chargers, the Patriots handed Los Angeles a change to draft a player who was a force offensively in 2024.
The Georgia product emerged as a key weapon for Justin Herbert with 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and 7 touchdowns in his rookie campaign. While the Patriots got barely anything out of Ja’Lyn Polk, fans are wondering how a Drake Maye to McConkey would’ve been in Foxboro. Chargers fans are reaping the benefits of watching the shifty wide receiver produce, produce and produce even more in 2025.
No. 4: Jared Verse, OLB, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, No. 19 – 2024 NFL Draft)
The 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is just getting started in the NFL. Selected with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jared Verse stepped up to the pressure and created pressure consistently on quarterbacks. The timing was just right as Verse entered the league just as Aaron Donald retired giving the Rams’ defense another kind of dominance in the front seven.
In 2024, Verse earned his rookie of the year status with a total of 66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, 77 pressures and 56 hurries. With a year under his belt watch for those sack totals to be higher and his impact on the game to be even more ferocious.
No. 3: Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants (Round 1, No. 6 – 2024 NFL Draft)
The LSU product proved he was the best receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. With 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns, Malik Nabers quickly became the guy in the New York Giants’ offense. More impressively, he did it with the quarterback position in shambles. With veteran quarterback Russell Wilson starting the season under center, Nabers will have a chance to flourish in Year 2.
The challenge for Nabers is producing with opposing defensives locked in on him. His production and success in 2025 will depend on other playmakers stepping up to take some of the pressure off the second-year receiver.
No. 2: Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, No. 13 overall)
The Brock Bowers selection in the 2024 NFL Draft started off as a headscratcher as far as the Las Vegas Raiders needs went, but Bowers quickly proved he was the right addition for the Raiders. An NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist, Bowers broke tackles and records in Vegas with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and 5 touchdowns. Can he continue his dominance in Year?
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: @Raiders TE Brock Bowers makes his debut at No. 24! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/BcSBWOE3oa
— NFL (@NFL) August 21, 2025
With a proven quarterback in Geno Smith under center, along with the addition of Ashton Jeanty and veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Raiders have the makings of an explosive offense where defenses won’t be able to lock in on Bowers. As long as he is healthy, Bowers will be in the driver’s seat to establish himself as the best tight end in the NFL.
No. 1: Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 2 overall – 2024 NFL Draft)
The 2024 NFL Rookie Offensive Player of the Year award-winner will enter the season ranked no. 1 here. But like CJ Stroud who took the NFL by storm in 2023, the challenge for Daniels will be how he performs in his sophomore season with the spotlight on him and his team.
Already proclaimed as a top 5 quarterback, Daniels will have a bullseye target on him. What Daniels has in his favor is his top target, Terry McLaurin, signing a contract extension and the trade in the offseason that brought Deebo Samuel to the Commanders. That’s two top receivers from the 2019 NFL Draft now playing in tandem from the best quarterback of the 2024 NFL Draft class. Daniels could have an even better performance in 2025 if everything clicks offensively in Washington.