NFL Rookies Who Will Be Household Names by Season's End
Oftentimes, a player's success after the NFL draft is more about landing in the right opportunity than who has the most talent. The 2018 class will prove that again, as there are playmakers who fall past the first two rounds every year.
We've scoured through the picks and depth charts to find eight rookies who will end up as household names by season's end and were taken no earlier than the third round. It's all about the situation and who can maximize his moment when it comes. Each of these players has proved he has what it takes to earn a role in the NFL, and each path to find early success is unique.
Whether for fantasy purposes or as part of a long-term audition for a starting job, watch for these eight rookies in training camps. They'll establish themselves throughout the course of the year and have everyone wondering why their teams passed on them earlier in the draft.
Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys
1 of 8
With Dez Bryant released April 13, the Dallas Cowboys knew they had to add a young, talented receiver to help third-year quarterback Dak Prescott's continued development. They were gifted an underrated technician at No. 81 overall with enough size and athleticism to become a solid starter quickly. Former Colorado State star Michael Gallup is joining a mediocre pool of talent led by Allen Hurns and slot specialist Cole Beasley.
He will earn a starting job over Terrance Williams by the end of the season. While Williams hasn't shown considerable growth since Dallas drafted him in 2013, Gallup brings a refined skill set to the group. He's a great route-runner, as he showed last September against Atlanta Falcons second-round pick and former Colorado defensive back Isaiah Oliver.
Gallup's 6'1", 205-pound frame boasts enough juice in and out of cuts to keep cornerbacks on their heels. He was Pro Football Focus' top-rated receiver, via Luis Medina of The Ten-Yard Line, after finishing his senior season with 100 catches, 1,418 yards and seven touchdowns. His ability to help immediately will lead Prescott to favor him in clutch situations, and his collegiate career proved he'll be up to the task.
Shaquem Griffin, LB, Seattle Seahawks
2 of 8
One of the biggest storylines during the predraft process was Shaquem Griffin's record-breaking 4.38 time for linebackers in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. While Griffin rightfully earned headlines for that feat and for the fact that he's overcome the odds as a player with one hand, he's set to showcase his great talent on the grandest stage.
Griffin's performance at UCF was far from a gimmick, as he tallied 195 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks throughout his career. He plays blazingly fast and is dangerous as a pass-rusher. The Seattle Seahawks nabbed him with the 141st overall pick, reuniting him with his twin brother, Shaquill, on their defense.
While he has to improve his ability to drop into coverage and play more instinctively against the run, his main competition for playing time is journeyman edge-rusher Barkevious Mingo. Griffin offers more explosiveness and upside than Mingo, and throughout the season, he'll prove to be at least an efficient rotational pass-rusher.
That'll ensure everyone will learn about Griffin and his ability to be a difference-maker at this level.
Tre'Quan Smith, WR, New Orleans Saints
3 of 8
There's an influx of receivers every year who stand between 5'11" and 6'1" but lack the explosiveness to create consistent separation from defenders, causing them to wash out quickly. It takes a blend of speed, leaping ability and refined skill to find space in the NFL, and few have that combination like New Orleans Saints third-round pick Tre'Quan Smith.
The Central Florida product took a major step forward in his production and consistency in 2017 as the Knights offense caught fire. He was a catalyst to its downfield passing attack, notching 19.8 yards per catch for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. His ability to create after the catch was especially eye-opening for his 6'2", 203-pound frame.
He dominated the competition and looked every bit as dynamic as his 4.49 40-yard dash and 130-inch broad jump indicated at the combine. In many ways, he looked like the receiver former Knights wideout Breshad Perriman was supposed to be when the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft.
Smith will immediately challenge for playing time like Kenny Golladay did with the Detroit Lions in 2017, as the Saints have a hole after established playmakers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr.
Watch for him to make his biggest plays as a slot receiver who can dominate on deep crossers and dig routes. Safeties will struggle to disrupt him at the catch point, and his large stride length will creates issues for corners trailing in coverage.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos
4 of 8
College football fans will undoubtedly know former Oregon running back Royce Freeman, but those who stick to the NFL will soon find out how talented he is. The 6'0", 229-pound back is a solid athlete despite his large build, and he's ready-made for the Denver Broncos' rushing attack.
He totaled 6,435 yards from scrimmage and 64 touchdowns at Oregon in the same scheme the Broncos use. What makes Freeman unique is he's a smooth mover despite his powerful frame. He's as much of a threat to make defenders miss in space as he is to run them over. He plays a lot like Eddie Lacy, one of his top athletic comparisons from the combine.
The Broncos have a wide-open depth chart for Freeman to quickly establish himself. The 71st overall pick is a three-down back, and Denver benefitted from the deep class of runners, as Freeman fell further than he should've. Fantasy owners, fans and opponents will be well-aware of Freeman after he grabs the starting job and runs away with it.
Oren Burks, LB, Green Bay Packers
5 of 8
A three-year starter at Vanderbilt, linebacker Oren Burks flew under the radar until he broke out with an incredible combine performance. The 6'3", 233-pounder ranked in the 80th percentile or above in all athletic drills except the bench press. The Green Bay Packers wisely grabbed him with the 88th overall pick.
He's an ideal modern-day linebacker who can play next to Blake Martinez in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's base 3-4 alignment and has tremendous potential to become a weapon in nickel. He'll be a massive upgrade over incumbent Jake Ryan in terms of physical gifts and will give the defense a new ceiling.
Translating some of those gifts has been an issue for Burks, which is why such a physical athlete went lower than even his former teammate Zach Cunningham (No. 57) in 2017. He's slow to diagnose plays and can be caught hedging instead of smoothly reacting, thus removing his athletic advantage. That's not atypical for a third-round pick, but it's an area that a coaching staff will need to iron out.
Asking him to focus first on coverage responsibilities will help keep his mind clearer than a traditional middle linebacker. The two-time captain was compared to Tahir Whitehead by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. Like Whitehead, Burks is prone to being his own biggest weakness, but if he can become more of a consistent player mentally, he can quickly blossom into a high-end contributor in his career.
The Packers will benefit from their newfound athleticism, and fans will enjoy Burks' versatility as he grows into his new role.
Nick Nelson, CB, Oakland Raiders
6 of 8
Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson was one of the better sleepers of the secondary group. Overlooked because of his 5'11" stature and torn meniscus that'll keep him out until training camp, the Oakland Raiders were able to take him in the fourth round. As long as he fully recovers, he'll have earned rotational snaps or potentially a starting job in Oakland by the end of the year.
Oakland is the perfect opportunity for the springy and physical corner. He will clearly start the year behind Gareon Conley and Rashaan Melvin but will fight for the starting nickel corner position and the third boundary job. He'll be good enough to hold his own on the exterior of a defense as long as he reduces his penalties at the catch point.
The path to the slot job is much easier. The Raiders signed veteran Leon Hall but they'd be best off using him as a pseudo-coach more than a role player considering his age (33) and declined skill set. Nelson is quicker and capable of performing in both zone and man assignments.
He may be this year's version of Nate Hairston, who was a fifth-round steal as a slot corner in the 2017 draft for the Indianapolis Colts.
Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals
7 of 8
Sometimes a player falls into the right situation for his career to be fully maximized, which looks to be the case for new Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds. The fourth-round pick enters a depth chart lacking any veteran presence behind superstar back David Johnson, who is coming off wrist surgery.
The 134th overall pick is the favorite to garner backup touches, while Johnson has finished two consecutive years on the injured reserve. Edmonds is only 5'9" but is 205 pounds and extremely quick in space. He's reminiscent of former Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison and current New England Patriots back James White. He's strong enough to withstand contact and fall forward yet quick enough to make defenders whiff on tackles.
Edmonds is an experienced player, too. With 938 carries, 5,862 rushing yards and 67 rushing scores in college, the Fordham product should have no issues with confidence when he gets his name called. He'll also be a name to remember for fantasy considerations.
J'Mon Moore, WR, Green Bay Packers
8 of 8
Now that the Packers will have quarterback Aaron Rodgers back as their starter, they knew their receiver room needed an injection of young, explosive talent. The loss of Jordy Nelson stings, but their three-headed rookie trio will battle for roster spots. The one to watch closest as a potential early starter is former Missouri receiver J'Mon Moore.
Green Bay selected Moore in the fourth round before taking Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth and Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth. Moore brings more explosiveness and reliability as a route-runner than his competition. He's going to give young veterans Geronimo Allison and Trevor Davis all they can handle for the starting spot across from Davante Adams.
The 6'3", 207-pounder ran only a 4.6 40-yard dash but was otherwise dominant in his testing. It showed on the field, too, as he's a solid intermediate route-runner with sharp cuts and short-area burst, and his consistency translated to 127 receptions, 2,094 yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two years at Missouri.
You can be sure that Rodgers will give Moore plenty of opportunities to make plays. He is the surest bet outside of Adams and slot Randall Cobb.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
