Biggest Late-Round NFL Draft Steals from 2019 Class So Far
It's only Year 1 for the 2019 NFL draft class, yet that hasn't stopped steals from emerging.
The headline act in this regard is a certain mustachioed quarterback in Florida. But he's far from the only late-round rookie who has waltzed onto the field and made plenty of personnel in front offices smack their heads for passing on him multiple times.
Late-round steals span from Day 3 onward, meaning Rounds 4-7, and have either posted notable stats or provided their respective teams with usage earlier than expected.
These are the biggest late-round steals from the 2019 draft with half the season in the books.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints traded up to get C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round, and the decision already looks like a good one.
Gardner-Johnson got pushed down the board in a deep class for secondary players, but the Saints sure aren't complaining. The Florida alum stepped in as a starter in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears and allowed just 18 yards on seven catches while accounting for shifty players like Tarik Cohen, according to Pro Football Focus. He now has a grade of 78.7 on the season.
Before the draft, it seemed opinions were split on whether Gardner-Johnson would be a slot corner or safety in the NFL. At this point, why not both?
With the former Gators star, the Saints have a versatile hit on their hands who can blossom into more as his young career continues.
Blake Cashman, LB, New York Jets
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Blake Cashman wasn't expected to play much of a role for the New York Jets as a rookie outside of perhaps special teams.
But injuries to the linebacker corps forced the team's hand, and Cashman has responded in a big way.
In the absence of C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson, Cashman has burst onto the scene and through seven games has 40 combined tackles, five pressures and misses on just 7 percent of his tackle attempts.
At this clip, the fifth-round rookie out of Minnesota is making a case for staying on the field no matter what happens. This unexpected draft win means the Jets perhaps have more options for the long term than they initially thought.
Editor's note: Since publishing this article, New York Daily News' Manish Mehta has reported Cashman will miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum.
Cole Holcomb, LB, Washington Redskins
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While the jury remains out on Dwayne Haskins, the 2019 draft haul for the Washington Redskins should go down favorably in hindsight.
Receiver Terry McLaurin is a big reason why, but don't discount later-round picks like North Carolina's Cole Holcomb, a fifth-round selection.
Shoved into notable action early in his career thanks to the spring release of Zach Brown and injury to Reuben Foster, Holcomb has responded well. Over the course of eight games, he's recorded four pressures and 53 total tackles, missing on just 8.6 percent of his attempts.
While Holcomb has struggled when targeted through the air (144.0 QB rating), strong situational usage by coaches and his continued development could let him quietly have a lengthy career. That would help solve a positional problem the Washington front office has struggled to address for the last few seasons.
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Austin Seibert, K, Cleveland Browns
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Hey, kickers count too—and the Cleveland Browns are getting more out of their fifth-rounder than most teams.
Austin Seibert was the 170th pick in the draft and thrust into a prominent role on a team that hoped to contend. The latter part hasn't happened for the Browns, but the Oklahoma product has responded well to the challenge.
Through the first half of his debut season, Seibert has converted all 10 of his field-goal attempts, four of those from 40 to 49 yards. Granted, he's oddly sitting on an 11-of-13 mark on extra points.
That blemish aside, Seibert was drafted late into an important role. With one pick, the Browns have potentially shored up a position they won't have to think about for years.
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Oakland Raiders
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Hunter Renfrow seemed like a late-round steal in the making after his college career largely went overlooked in the draft process.
Imagine this—a guy with 2,100-plus yards and 15 touchdowns over four seasons at a program like Clemson is making the most of his chances in the pros.
Renfrow fell to the 149th pick and then was an afterthought while the Oakland Raiders dealt with Antonio Brown. But with AB gone and Tyrell Williams hurt, he has caught 18 of 30 targets for 203 yards and a touchdown.
Keep in mind Renfrow has only had five or more targets in two games. His touchdown went for 65 yards after he broke a tackle and raced to the end zone. The early flashes are there, and he's well on his way to slotting on "top draft steals" year-end lists.
Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis Colts
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Khari Willis has already shown to be one of the top steals of the 2019 draft.
Given the superb draft record of the Indianapolis Colts of late, it should've been a sign when the team moved up in the fourth round to draft Willis out of Michigan State at No. 109.
Willis got some playing time early with injuries to Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers, and there isn't a big reason for his role to diminish. He's appeared in seven games, starting three, and has 32 combined tackles with just 137 yards allowed through the air.
A Hooker-Willis combo seems set to play out just how the Colts envisioned when they drafted him. It's a testament to the Day 3 pick's ability to realize his potential quickly when thrown into the fire.
Gardner Minshew II, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
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The man hinted at in the intro, Jacksonville Jaguars sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew II has not only created hype around the team—he's also potentially solved a long-term problem many teams can't fix even when they pick a quarterback in the top 10.
Yet here is Minshew with the Jaguars, completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 1,976 yards with 13 touchdowns against two interceptions. More important than baseline numbers, Minshew has displayed the improv and play-extending ability necessary to excel in today's NFL.
This creates some questions for the Jaguars after the front office paid up to bring Nick Foles to town. But for now, Minshewmania has created a fun storyline for a team that was hoping to get back into playoff contention but saw its big investment go down early.
NFL defenses might adapt to Minshew and force him to adjust and evolve, which could create some issues. But for now, he's the shining beacon of a late-round steal.
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