Non-1st Round NFL Draft Picks Who Are Expected to be Impact Players from Day 1

The NFL draft doesn't end after the first round. Sometimes, it feels that way with the amount of expectations placed on those top choices. For a team, though, its entire class is important to maturation of the roster.

Day 2 picks are vital, because they're often early contributors as well. Expectations vary for these selections, because projections and situations differ. Training camp serves as a barometer for where they are in their development and how much they can contribute in Year 1.

Through the early portions of training camp, a handful of picks in this year's second and third rounds already look to be more than contributors at the onset of their professionals careers. Each has a legitimate opportunity to be an impact player at the onset of the 2025 regular season.

LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Phil Long

We might as well start with the initial selection outside of this year's first round, where the Cleveland Browns selected linebacker Carson Schwesinger.

The organization already knew of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's situation prior to the draft. The former Pro Bowl linebacker suffered a neck injury last season, and the team placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list in May.

Thus, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry invested the top pick of the second draft in Schwesinger.

Jordan Hicks' abrupt retirement at the onset of training camp was probably more of a surprise. He was the Browns' defensive leader last season, as the group's wearer of the green dot and play-caller.

Jerome Baker can step in and fill the role after starting 90 games during his career. Schwesinger can as well.

"I think Carson's uniquely situated," head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters. "If we need him to do that [calling defensive play], he's capable of doing that."

Whether Schwesinger is handed the defensive reins from the onset of his career has yet to be determined. But he's almost certainly going to be on the field and starting. His movement skills are outstanding, and he has a nose for the football to amass a significant amount of tackles.

OG Jonah Savaiinaea, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

The left side of the Miami Dolphins' offensive line has been rebuilt. It's talented, but a rookie will need to finalize the front five.

Left tackle Terron Armstead retired in April. The team already invested a second-round pick in his eventually replacement, Patrick Paul, last year. Left guard Robert Jones left in free agency to join the Dallas Cowboys. Liam Eichenberg will compete with veteran James Daniels to start at right guard, with the latter holding an obvious advantage after signing a three-year, $24 million free-agent contract.

Miami used this year's 37th overall pick to make sure it had talent along the interior. Jonah Savaiinaea is making the transition to left guard after primarily playing offensive tackle in college. He's already building a bond with the Dolphins' left tackle.

“Having Pat [Paul] here all summer, we got to build that chemistry, especially playing next to him," Savaiinaea told reporters. "Just building chemistry, not only on the field but off the field, you know, just being able to trust each other."

For the Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa's protection is the utmost concern. Savaiinaea understands the assignment.

"Tua's like an older bro of mine," the rookie said when asked about the quarterback. "Right when we connected, it felt like we knew each other for a long time. I’ve been hanging out at his house over the break."

RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Think back to when the New England Patriots were rolling, with Bill Belichick as the head coach and Josh McDaniels calling the offensive plays.

Those Patriots never featured an elite running back, but they had multiple versatile weapons that were difficult to defend.

TreVeyon Henderson, who was drafted with this year's 38th overall pick, may or may not be New England's lead back as a rookie. But he's too valuable to keep off the field.

Henderson has home run capabilities as a ball-carrier. He was the best pass-blocking back among this year's class. While he wasn't a huge threat as a receiver as part of Ohio State's offense, everyone should expect him to be a notable part of the Patriots' ariel attack.

"[McDaniels] loves to get the playmakers out into space," Henderson told reporters when asked about his fit in New England's scheme. "I feel like that's one of my strengths in my game, getting out into space in those 1-on-1 matchups."

Rhamondre Stevenson may be built more like a traditional lead back, but he lacks the juice of Henderson. He also experienced his fair share of ball-security issues.

Henderson is going to eat into Stevenson's playing time and become New England's biggest threat out of the backfield.

Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Micah Parsons is one thing when an opponent is preparing for the Dallas Cowboys defense. It'll be something entirely different this fall, with Parsons prowling to exploit the biggest mismatch while Dante Fowler Jr. and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku are screaming off the edges.

Ezeiruaku is a natural and advanced pass-rusher coming out of college. Last season, he led all Power Four defenders with 16.5 sacks. The Cowboys plan to keep it simple. The coaching staff wants this year's 44th overall pick to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.

"It's not a lot of thinking," Ezeiruaku said. "Some coaches can overcomplicate things sometimes. (In this defense), there's not a lot of thinking. We're going straight, and we're attacking the ball."

Even as a second-round selection, the Cowboys viewed the Boston College product internally as a much higher-rated talent, which serves as an indicator of how much he'll be used.

“I give [defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton] credit," executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters. "He was on the table for him at [Pick 12 in the first round]. He was jumping up and down saying this guy is the 12th pick, let's get him."

Expect plenty of packages with Dallas' top three pass-rushers on the field and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

TE Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The Los Angeles Rams haven't had a significant threat at tight end since Sean McVay became head coach. But they should have one now in this year's 46th overall pick, Terrance Ferguson.

Tyler Higbee has been rock solid throughout his career, but he's now 32 years old after missing all but three games last season.

Ferguson is a better athlete and more natural receiver upon entering the professional ranks. He caught 85 passes for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Oregon Ducks. Furthermore, the professional game doesn't appear to be too big for him.

"[The NFL is] just not too big for [Ferguson]," Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur told reporters. "He just has that look in his eye and [he's a] real smart kid schematically. Picked [the offense] up no problem in the spring. And then just kind of the review as we've done these last few days, really picked up right where he left off in terms of schematics."

The Rams should look a little different this fall, with a heavier emphasis on 12 personnel so both Higbee and Ferguson can be utilized. The latter can help create mismatches over the middle of the field, while Puka Nacua and Davante Adams dominate reps at wide receiver.

WR Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Tre Harris' career with the Los Angeles Chargers may have gotten off to a somewhat rocky start after he didn't initially report to this year's training camp over a contract dispute. He's signed now, though, with an open runway to be a massive part of their passing attack.

A year ago, the Chargers reworked their wide receiver room. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were out. Ladd McConkey came in, with Quentin Johnston expected to take on a bigger role. The rookie emerged as a tremendous target for quarterback Justin Herbert, while Johnston didn't quite live up to expectations as a former first-round pick.

Thus, Los Angeles needed to add to its wide receiver room again this offseason. The team re-signed Williams, who subsequently retired, and drafted Harris with this year's 55th overall pick.

Harris should immediately step in as the Chargers' primary X-receiver, where he can be critical on third downs and in the red zone.

"He uses his body and play strength well to handle contact from defensive backs," Bleacher Report scout Dame Parson wrote in the wide receiver's scouting report. "Harris understands how to box out defenders and position himself at the catch point. With the ball in flight, he displays the body control and ball skills to make difficult, contested catches. He is a strong red zone threat for fades and back shoulder fades. His play strength shows in his ability to break tackles and create yards after the catch. Harris has good short-area quickness to square up defenders and make them miss in space."

OG Tate Ratledge, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Tate Ratledge won't be handed a starting job by the Detroit Lions, not when the team features one of the league's best rosters.

Ultimately, though, he should emerge as Week 1 starter, even though the collegiate guard is currently cross-training at center.

"You're getting it all at once," Campbell said of Ratledge's potential at the start of training camp. "It's everything, it is. It's the mental and it’s the technique of it. So, yeah, look we're putting a lot on him. He's drinking out of a fire hose right now.

"But there are things that we saw with him in college at Georgia that we felt like, 'You know what? We think this guy can play center.' We knew it was going to take some time. When that's something you haven’t done in games, it’s going to take a minute. But he has practiced it and he’s gotten a lot of reps at Georgia playing center against some really good competition out there in the spring and stuff, so."

The importance of Ratledge learning and getting more comfortable at center increased with Frank Ragnow's retirement, though veteran Graham Glasgow remains on the roster and is an adequate option.

If Ratledge grows rapidly, he could take over snapping duties. Otherwise, he should be earmarked as Kevin Zeitler's replacement at right guard as part of an elite offensive line.

CB Trey Amos, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

The Washington Commanders secondary will look significant different this fall, particularly at cornerback.

Marshon Lattimore is healthy now after being a trade deadline acquisition from the New Orleans Saints during the 2024 campaign. Mike Sainristil should shift to his more natural position as a slot defender. That move will be propelled by Trey Amos' inclusion to the lineup.

The Commanders chose Amos with this year's 61st overall pick. His skill set has starting outside corner written all over it. The 6'1", 194-pounder was arguably the best press-man defender in the class. He has the right attitude to be placed on an island.

"I love guarding any receiver at any day...just having that mindset where nobody catches the ball on you," the rookie told reporters.

David Harrison of Locked on Commanders noted: "[Head coach] Dan Quinn says he's really enjoying Trey Amos' play at the line of scrimmage and the confidence he's showing in the process and in doing what the coaches are asking him to do on the field."

A trio of Lattimore, Amos and Sainristil will allow Quinn and his defensive staff to be aggressive and play complementary football to a burgeoning offense behind led by quarterback Jayden Daniels.

CB Darien Porter, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Darien Porter makes this list almost by default.

The Las Vegas Raiders pass defense was marginal at best last season, and the team didn't completely overhaul the unit despite Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs and Tre'von Moehrig departing.

To be fair, they did sign veterans Eric Stokes and Jeremy Chinn in free agency. However, those moves can be viewed as treading water more than anything else.

Porter has the perfect build and play-style for Pete Carroll's preferred defensive approach. Granted, the NFL has evolved since the Legion of Boom days, but the chance to field a physically imposing and long cornerback, who has the strength and aggressiveness to reroute wide receivers while shrinking throwing lanes, never goes out of style.

According to Levi Edwards of the Raiders official site, Porter has consistently worked with Las Vegas' first-team defense and Carroll has been adamant about his willingness to play rookies. Porter invokes comparisons to the previous success the coach had with Richard Sherman, as 6'3" wide receiver converts playing in his system.

The Raiders need their initial third-round draft pick (68th overall) to step up early in his career, and Porter appears to be well on his way in doing so.

CB Justin Walley, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Indianapolis Colts' Justin Walley rounds out this list and the trio of cornerbacks included. He was easily the biggest Day 2 surprise among those mentioned.

Everyone else previously listed was expected to fall within that range, while Walley tended to be viewed as a Day 3 prospect, whom the Colts fell in love with throughout the draft process.

Over the last two seasons, the Colts leaned heavily on the draft-and-develop approach to their group of cornerbacks. It didn't go well. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was relieved of his duties.

General manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen now find themselves on the hot seat, hence the organization's newfound aggressiveness in free agency to sign proven veterans Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum to be their No. 1 corner and top safety.

Ward's inclusion wasn't enough. The Colts drafted Walley with this year's 80th overall pick to compete with the other young corners already on the roster. The rookie continues to impress with his natural and fluid coverage skills.

"He's shown me he can be a dog," Ward said. "He can cover real well. ... I think he got it in him. He got that it factor in him. He's confident in himself. He's not scared. … I've been proud of him so far."

It will come as no surprise if Ward and Walley are the Colts' Week 1 starters at outside corner.