5 Underrated NFL Rookies Who Deserve More Attention

As the 2024 NFL season continues to churn along, a new wave of first-year talent has begun to make their presence felt. While much of the attention is often focused on the first few picks, the quarterbacks, or high-flying pass-catchers, a group of lesser-known rookies is quietly turning heads across the league. 

Let’s dive into a few under-the-radar rookies that have stood out during the first few months of their NFL tenure who look to be pieces for both the now and future within their current organizations.

Beaux Limmer, IOL, Los Angeles Rams

Why Limmer was benched on Monday night against the Dolphins remains a mystery, but when on the football field, Limmer has done an excellent job as a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas. A stout and physical ballplayer who has showcased the footwork and technique to counter some of the league’s best already this fall, expect Limmer to continue to thrive should the necessary snap count be awarded to him at the pivot spot.

Mike Sainristil, DB, Washington Commanders

A standout from Michigan, Sainristil has been everything for the Commanders’ secondary through the first few months of the campaign. Drafted to live in the slot, Sainristil was arguably  Washington’s top perimeter corner before Marshon Lattimore’s arrival. He’s played inside, he’s bumped to the outside, he tackles his tail off, and he plays with the fire and physicality (see clip below) that defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. desires in his starting 11. While much of the attention has centered around quarterback Jayden Daniels in D.C., and rightly so, Sainristil has done a heck of a job himself in his debut NFL season. 

Beanie Bishop Jr., DB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Undrafted out of West Virginia, Bishop Jr. deserves a huge tip of the cap for the job he’s done through 10 weeks. A starter in each of the last three weeks after bouncing back and forth between a starting and rotational role, Bishop Jr. has continued to evolve and improve as the snaps continue to accrue on the perimeter. A tough and physical defender that fits the exact mold of what head coach Mike Tomlin desires in his young players, Bishop Jr. allowed just one catch on four targets for -11 yards in his most recent appearance against Washington. He also recorded as many interceptions (3) as touchdowns allowed in coverage so far this fall.

Jaylen McCullough, DB, Los Angeles Rams

Like Bishop, McCullough also went undrafted from a Power Four program. A former standout in the SEC at Tennessee, there isn’t another rookie in football with more interceptions (4) than the 6-foot McCullough. But what makes his ball production so special has been his snap count. McCullough has appeared on just 87 total coverage snaps for the Rams, in comparison, Texans safety Calen Bullock—who also has four picks—has accrued 323. And each of the next two defenders in interceptions, Houston’s Kamari Lassiter and the aforementioned Bishop, each have more than 260 snaps in designated passing situations. Without a start to his name yet, McCullough has become the first player (of any experience level) since 2010 with 4+ INTs and 0 starts, as well as the first rookie UDFA with 4+ INTs since Brandon Browner all the way back in 2011. Who knows what lies ahead with more snaps expected?

DeVaughn Vele, WR, Denver Broncos

The 33rd wideout taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Vele currently ranks 10th among all first-year pass-catchers in receiving yards through 10 games (215). While the Broncos will look to add talent out wide as the years progress, Vele, a seventh-round selection out of Utah, looks like a piece for both the now and the future. Second among wideouts for Denver in receiving yards behind only Courtland Sutton, the 6-foot-5 Vele is a player to keep an eye on as the team improves around quarterback Bo Nix.