Top NFC veteran QB-rookie WR connections to watch in the 2024 NFL season

Two of the top wide receivers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft will showcase their talent in the NFC.

The talent of both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers will be on display as both players look to rejuvenate the careers of young veteran quarterbacks.  As players who dominated at the college level, the big question entering the 2024 NFL season will be whether that dominance will translate to the NFL level.

Along with the top two wide receiver studs in the draft, there are other receivers selected later in the draft who will form fascinating connections with established quarterbacks.  Who will have the biggest impact?

Top NFC quarterbacks with exciting rookie receivers in 2024

In looking around the NFC, these rookie wide receiver-veteran quarterback combination have complimented each other well on and off the field through training camp and the preseason.

Let’s look at which combinations will ignite excitement in the upcoming 2024 NFL season.

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy to Ricky Pearsall

With the recent reports regarding the 49ers rookie wide receiver being shot, this is a connection that will be delayed a bit.  While the status of Ricky Pearsall in the 2024 NFL season is unknown, he has been hampered by injuries even prior to the gunshot wound.  If he does return during the season, his skillset as a receiver fits Brock Purdy.

Coming out of Florida, Pearsall was touted as a slot receiver who excels with his route running and soft hands.  In an offense with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, a rookie wide receiver like Pearsall working out of the slot gives Purdy another quick outlet once he is on the field.

Earlier in camp, Pearsall praised Purdy for his leadership.

“He’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league right now,” Pearsall said. “Going into a system with a quarterback like that, it’s a great blessing for myself. It’s made everything easier just chopping it up with him each and every day.”

Eventually, this connection will shine in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield to Jalen McMillan

One under-the-radar connection to watch in the NFL this season is down in Tampa Bay where rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan is turning heads through the first game of the preseason.

In the team's first preseason game, McMillan followed up a strong training camp with two catches for 23 yards in a Buccaneres’ 17-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the preseason with 4 catches for 57 yards.  As he has solidified the No. 3 wide receiver spot behind veteran receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the connection he forms with Baker Mayfield will be something to watch. 

As a third option for Mayfield, the exciting rookie out of the University of Washington will have the opportunity to flourish and give the Buccaneers quarterback another reliable option to get the ball to as a receiver who has already shown reliability with his route running.  In all, it will be all about earning trust and the more the Mayfield to McMillan connection builds chemistry, the more interesting the Buccaneers offense will be in 2024, especially with how the duo has already meshed in camp.

“One of my biggest goals for camp is to make Baker trust me with everything in his body,” McMillan said during camp. "Whenever he throws the ball my way I just want to be able to bring it in, and make myself be a target for him."

Looks like McMillan is already trending as the team’s third wide receiver and an elevating target for Mayfield.

New York Giants: Daniel Jones to Malik Nabers

All eyes will be on the Big Apple more to see if Daniel Jones can live up to his contract and establish himself as the Giants quarterback.  Coming off a season-ending injury, it could take a few games for Jones to regain his footing in the NFL, but a talent like Malik Nabers should help.

It will take chemistry, but if the Jones-to-Nabers connection finds consistency and injects the Giants’ offense with some excitement, perhaps the team won’t be in the running for one of the top QB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.  Coming out of LSU, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has the type of talent to transcend any quarterback, but the question in New York will be whether Jones can get the ball to Nabers.

In all, the veteran QB knows he has a tremendous talent now in the offense.  It’s up to him to be able to exploit that talent.

“He can be a tremendous weapon for us,” Jones said back in June. “He can do everything, there isn’t much that he can’t do from a route-running standpoint. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well, yeah he does a lot well.

“I think he’s had a really good spring, he looked good out there and made a lot of plays. You know, it takes time to make it work and get the timing down, and we’ll put that in.”

If Nabers is to be the biggest weapon offensively since Odell Beckham Jr., Jones will need to find his footing and be the QB he was in 2022 when he earned the contract extension in March of 2023.

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray to Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Cardinals decision to stick with Kyler Murray and draft a stud wide receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr. could pay off big time for a team coming off a 4-13 season.  Along with Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride, Harrison Jr. gives Murray another weapon to get the ball to and Cardinals fans, this connection should be special in 2024.

Coming off a fantastic collegiate career in which he accomplished just about every accolade possible, this Ohio State product has not just impressed with his talent on the field, but also his pro-level demeanor and what he brings to the Cardinals’ offense as a complete football player.

While he didn’t get to display much in the preseason, Murray loves what the exciting rookie brings to the NFL.

"I think that takes us to another level," Murray said back in June, via ESPN. "When you got a guy out there that is capable of winning one-on-ones, obviously he's got to go do it and he knows that. We all know it, but as far as manipulating coverage and stuff like that, you got a guy out there that can do that and even if he's not open, he's open.

"I'm excited to be able to build that with him, but when he does what he does, yeah, I fully expect our offense to be top of the league."

A lot of pressure on the rookie, yet not too much pressure for a player who has set the football field on fire with his poise and playmaking ability just like his Hall-of-Fame dad Marvin Harrison Sr.  This connection will be intriguing to watch.