Sudden Impact: 32 Second-Day NFL Draft Picks Who'll Play on Opening Weekend

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

NFC EAST

Stephen Hodge, SS, Dallas Cowboys (Round Six, Pick 24, TCU)

The 6'0", 234-pound former Horned Frog lacks the requisite speed, quickness, and agility to play in space, spending most of his time at TCU in the box defending the run. Therefore, the Cowboys defensive staff will most likely ask him to put on a few pounds and convert him to linebacker.

In the meantime, Hodge will make his initial impact on special teams, something he did quite well early in his TCU career.

Travis Beckum, TE, New York Giants (Round Three, Pick 36, Wisconsin)

Faced with the reality of entering the 2009 season without the services of veteran wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants brass hopes its third-round selection, Wisconsin pass-catching tight end Travis Beckum, will mitigate the losses.

A former linebacker, Beckum not only provides immediate help on special teams but also a speedy downfield option in the passing game that will take some of the pressure off the Giants’ young receiving corps.

Cornelius Ingram, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (Round Five, Pick 17, Florida)

If not for the torn ACL that he suffered in fall camp, causing him to miss the entire 2008 season, Ingram surely would have been selected on Day One of the 2009 Draft. Instead, the former Florida tight end fell to the fifth round, where the Eagles snatched him up with hopes that he can recapture his 2007 form, when he caught 34 passes for 508 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.

A terrific athlete with soft, natural hands and good speed, Ingram will give quarterback Donovan McNabb a vertical threat who will draw safeties away from receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

Kevin Barnes, CB, Washington Redskins (Round Three, Pick 16, Maryland)

The Redskins selected a local product, Maryland cornerback Kevin Barnes, with their third-round selection in the 2009 Draft. In need of depth at the cornerback position, the tall (6'0"), hard-hitting defensive back will immediately step onto the field as Washington’s nickel or dime back, with the potential to be a starter by 2010.

Had he not missed the last six games of the 2008 season with a shoulder injury, Barnes may have heard his name called on Day One.

NFC WEST

Rashad Johnson, FS, Arizona Cardinals (Round Three, Pick 31, Alabama)

A former walk-on at Alabama, Johnson is accustomed to having the odds stacked against him, which is what he’ll face as he attempts to secure playing time in Arizona’s crowded defensive backfield.

What Johnson has going for him, however, is the intellect to help him quickly digest the playbook and a defensive scheme that sometimes incorporates three or four safeties into its dime package. Look for head coach Ken Whisenhunt to find a place on the field for Johnson, a playmaker who intercepted 11 passes during his Alabama career, including two for touchdowns.

Glen Coffee, RB, San Francisco 49ers (Round Three, Pick 10, Alabama)

In an effort to reduce Frank Gore’s touches (he’s averaging nearly 278 per season), the 49ers selected Alabama tailback Glen Coffee with the 10th pick of the third round. Like Gore, Coffee is at his best when running between the tackles, where he can lower his pads and utilize his strong lower body to break tackles, and will get plenty of carries as a rookie.

As the season progresses and Coffee becomes more comfortable with the playbook, the former Crimson Tide running back should see his touches increase.

Deon Butler, WR, Seattle Seahawks (Round Three, Pick 27, Penn State)

Overshadowed during his Penn State career by teammate Derrick Williams, wide receiver Deon Butler made a name for himself by posting one of the fastest 40-times at the Combine (4.38), which, when combined with his natural hands and crisp route-running ability, makes him an instant threat in the Seahawks’ passing game.

Due to his small stature (5'10", 182), Butler is destined for the slot when offensive coordinator Greg Knapp goes to three- and four-receiver sets.

Brooks Foster, WR, St. Louis Rams (Round Five, Pick 24, North Carolina)

Like Seattle’s Deon Butler, Foster took a backseat to his more high-profile teammates, wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, but the former Tar Heel has the size (6'1", 211) and speed (4.45) to step in as the Rams’ third or fourth receiver, as well as to immediately contribute as a “gunner” on special teams.

Due to the fact that he never put up huge—albeit consistent—numbers at North Carolina despite his tremendous athletic ability for a big man, Foster possesses perhaps the most upside of any pass catcher in the draft.

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