As the 2025 NFL offseason gets underway, many are taking a look back at the 2024 rookie class for the Detroit Lions. Unfortunately, the class is receiving a rather lackluster ranking, one year in.
According to a recent article by Pro Football Focus (PFF), the Lions’ 2024 rookie class ranks 24th out of 32 teams in terms of overall performance. This ranking is based on the cumulative grades of each rookie player, taking into account their playing time, production, and overall impact on the team.
While the ranking may seem disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected. The Lions’ 2024 draft class was not considered to be one of the strongest in the league, and many of the team’s rookies faced significant challenges in terms of playing time and development.
One of the few bright spots in the Lions’ 2024 rookie class was defensive tackle, Brodric Martin. Martin, a 5th-round pick out of Western Michigan, played in 14 games and recorded 2.5 sacks, earning a respectable 63.2 grade from PFF.
However, the rest of the class struggled to make a significant impact. Wide receiver, Antoine Green, a 3rd-round pick out of North Carolina, played in just 6 games and recorded only 10 receptions, earning a 51.2 grade from PFF.
Linebacker, Darius Harris, a 4th-round pick out of Middle Tennessee State, played in 10 games but struggled to make a significant impact, earning a 48.5 grade from PFF.
Overall, while the Lions’ 2024 rookie class may not have lived up to expectations, there are still some promising young players who could develop into key contributors in the future. However, for now, the class will have to settle for a lackluster ranking.
Here are the top 5 and bottom 5 rookie classes from the 2024 NFL draft, according to PFF:
Top 5:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (92.1 grade)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (88.5 grade)
3. Baltimore Ravens (86.3 grade)
4. San Francisco 49ers (85.2 grade)
5. Green Bay Packers (84.5 grade)
Bottom 5:
28. Atlanta Falcons (55.2 grade)
29. Carolina Panthers (53.5 grade)
30. New York Giants (52.1 grade)
31. Chicago Bears (49.5 grade)
32. Houston Texans (47.2 grade)
The Lions’ 24th-ranked rookie class falls squarely in the middle of the pack, a reflection of the team’s mixed results from the 2024 draft.