Unearthing Every NFL Team's Early Hidden Gem
The NFL is a results-driven league, and when a player has the talent to yield results, he's not going to remain a secret for long.
Take Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson. The undrafted free agent out of Illinois State was virtually unknown coming into the regular season. But 339 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns later, he is one of the early breakout stars of the 2020 season.
While not every team can have a hidden gem explode the way Robinson did, each has at least one unheralded role player who could be headed for bigger things and a brighter spotlight.
Here, we'll examine one player from each team who is set to break out or has already started doing so. We'll look at former castoffs, middle- to late-round rookies and others who have been overlooked until now.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Chase Edmonds
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While Kenyan Drake has taken hold of the Arizona Cardinals' starting running back job, third-year back Chase Edmonds is beginning to carve out a role as a reliable pass-catcher. He's caught eight passes on 11 targets for 49 yards, three first downs and a touchdown. He's also returned six kicks for 132 yards.
"He can catch it, run it, block, play special teams, and he's really bright football-wise," head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters in August. "He's everything you want."
Though Edmonds has been a solid contributor before, his previous high in receptions was 20 in 2018. He's on pace for 43. Drake, DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and, of course, Kyler Murray are the stars of Arizona's high-profile offense, but Edmonds is a quietly valuable piece of the proverbial puzzle.
Atlanta Falcons: RB Brian Hill
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Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Hill has shown flashes over the past two seasons. Specifically, he started two games in 2019 and logged 78 carries. However, Hill has largely resided in the shadow of Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and, now, fellow back Todd Gurley.
Hill is a dangerous ball-carrier, though, and showed in Week 3 that he deserves a few more opportunities. Against the Chicago Bears, Hill ripped off 58 yards and a touchdown on nine carries while adding 22 yards on a reception.
The Falcons have yet to uncover a win—or any semblance of a fourth-quarter defense—but they may have uncovered a high-end complementary back and future starter in Hill.
Baltimore Ravens: OG Tyre Phillips
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The Baltimore Ravens used a late third-round pick (No. 106 overall) on Mississippi State left tackle Tyre Phillips. He has since gone from being a late Day 2 pick to a starter for one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.
And Phillips has not appeared to be in over his head.
"To start on the offensive line as a rookie at a position that you didn't play in college, it's pretty remarkable," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the season opener. "He's got a long way to go; he can improve so much. But I look at that as a real positive."
According to Pro Football Focus, Phillips has been responsible for just one sack and zero penalties in 121 snaps heading into Week 3. He got his third start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
In drafting Phillips, Baltimore may have unearthed its long-term replacement for Marshal Yanda.
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Buffalo Bills: WR Gabriel Davis
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Thanks to the maturation of quarterback Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills have one of the more prolific passing attacks in the NFL. While Allen, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and John Brown headline the attack, rookie fourth-round pick Gabriel Davis has been a sneaky good clutch contributor.
The former UCF standout has caught all seven passes thrown his way for 103 yards, four first downs and a touchdown. He had four catches for 81 yards in Week 3 alone. He also drew a pass interference penalty on 4th-and-8 to help set up Buffalo's game-winning touchdown.
"He's just done an incredible job to this point being ready when his number's been called," head coach Sean McDermott said, per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.
While Allen has plenty of other pass-catchers he can go to, don't be shocked if he starts calling Davis' number on a more consistent basis.
Carolina Panthers: DT Bravvion Roy
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The Carolina Panthers notched their first win of the season in Week 3, thanks in no small part to a defense that held the Los Angeles Chargers to just 16 points. One underrated piece of that defense is rookie sixth-round pick Bravvion Roy.
Roy is not a constant presence along the line—he's played just 27 percent of the snaps—but he's made an impact. The 330-pound tackle clogs running lanes, and he's capable of taking down ball-carriers by himself.
Of Roy's five tackles, four have been solo.
No. 7 pick Derrick Brown was the prize of Carolina's defense-only draft class, but the Panthers seem to have found a keeper in Roy as well.
Chicago Bears: WR Darnell Mooney
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After the Chicago Bears benched Mitchell Trubisky on Sunday, Nick Foles mounted a comeback against the Falcons, giving them a tough decision at quarterback—or maybe not so tough, as Matt Nagy named Foles the starter for Week 4 on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The Bears don't have a tough decision to make at receiver, as rookie fifth-round pick Darnell Mooney is becoming one of the team's most reliable pass-catchers.
The Tulane produce has caught eight of 11 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. He's also shown an ability to get open more consistently than 2018 second-round pick Anthony Miller.
While both Miller and Mooney can fill valuable roles behind No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson II—Miller caught the game-winner against Atlanta—Mooney is the receiver few expected to shine.
Cincinnati Bengals: WR Mike Thomas
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No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have receiving talent. Between Tyler Boyd, A.J. Green, John Ross III and second-round pick Tee Higgins, Burrow has several quality targets. Former Los Angeles Rams wideout Mike Thomas didn't seem to factor into the equation before the season.
The 2016 sixth-round pick had just 10 career receptions, but he's proved to be one of Burrow's most reliable targets. He's caught eight of nine targets for 57 yards and a touchdown.
While Thomas has played just 27 percent of the snaps, he has the highest catch rate on the team among players with more than one target. While opposing defenses shouldn't expect a heavy dose of him, they should be aware of Thomas when he's on the field.
Cleveland Browns: RG Wyatt Teller
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After the Cleveland Browns added Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin in the offseason, fans would have been hard-pressed to expect arguably the team's most impressive lineman to be right guard Wyatt Teller. A fifth-round pick of the Bills in 2018, Teller was traded last August and started nine games.
He was serviceable, but he's been impressive this year. He hasn't allowed a sack in 194 snaps, though he has been whistled for three penalties, according to Pro Football Focus, and he's been a mauler in the running game. He's a big reason why Cleveland entered Week 3 ranked third in yards per play when running inside (5.8 yards), according to Football Outsiders.
While many teams wouldn't be excited about another team's castoff, the Browns and running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should be thrilled to have Teller.
Dallas Cowboys: TE Dalton Schultz
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The Dallas Cowboys made tight end Dalton Schultz a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft. However, the Stanford product didn't play much in his first two seasons—even with Jason Witten away from the team during Schultz's rookie year.
Schultz caught just 13 passes for 122 yards. This season, however, Schultz has played a significantly increased role. While he played just 28 percent of the snaps as a rookie and 10 percent last year, he's up to 69 percent this season. He ranks fourth on the team in targets (20) and receptions (14).
Schultz is on pace for 75 catches and 784 yards. Those are impressive numbers considering Dak Prescott is also throwing to Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Ezekiel Elliott.
Opposing defenses had been able to ignore Schultz before this year, but that's not the case anymore.
Denver Broncos: LB Malik Reed
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Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed is not a household name. An undrafted free agent out of Nevada, Reed worked his way into a significant rotational role as a rookie and has played the same role this year.
Though he started eight games in 2019, he played just 44 percent of the snaps. He's played at that same clip this year, but he's on pace for even better numbers. He finished last season with 27 tackles, one pass defended, two sacks and six quarterback hurries. While he has yet to produce a sack, he has one quarterback hurry, one pass defended and seven tackles.
"He's showing the value of what he learned last year," head coach Vic Fangio said, per Kyle Newman of the Denver Post.
Expect the fans of Denver's AFC West rivals to become plenty familiar with Reed in the coming months.
Detroit Lions: WR Quintez Cephus
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Star wideout Kenny Golladay returned from a hamstring injury Sunday and helped lead the Detroit Lions to their first victory. While the Lions missed him, his absence helped them get a good look at rookie fifth-round pick Quintez Cephus.
Cephus, an unheralded pass-catcher out of Wisconsin, caught three passes in each of the first two games, totaling 97 yards and an impressive 16.2 yards per catch. While he didn't log a target against the Cardinals in Week 3, Cephus has shown he can be a productive complementary receiver.
Expect him to get more opportunities as the season progresses and to potentially be a significant piece of the offense's future. Golladay, Danny Amendola and Marvin Jones Jr. are all scheduled to reach free agency next offseason.
Green Bay Packers: TE Robert Tonyan
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Signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2017, tight end Robert Tonyan has spent the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. If you're not familiar with him, though, you're probably not alone.
Tonyan had caught only 14 passes for 177 yards entering this season, though he did snag two touchdowns. This season, though, it's starting to look like Tonyan will be a much bigger part of the offense.
He didn't get a target in Week 1 but has seven receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns since. He had five for 50 yards against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, including the game-winning touchdown.
Tonyan is on pace for 37 receptions and 400 yards. While those aren't outlandish numbers, they're close to what Jimmy Graham (38 catches, 447 yards, three touchdowns) gave the Packers last season.
Houston Texans: DE Charles Omenihu
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The Houston Texans don't have much to feel good about after falling to 0-3 and looking like a non-playoff team. They should, however, be thrilled with second-year defensive end Charles Omenihu.
The fifth-round pick has already logged two sacks after producing three sacks as a rookie. He has a sack in each of his past two games and is tied with J.J. Watt for the team lead.
While Omenihu isn't likely to become the second coming of Watt or even former Texans edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, he's shaping up to be a productive situational pass-rusher. If Houston can improve its pass rush—it has just seven sacks—perhaps it can start slowing opposing offenses and start compiling wins.
Indianapolis Colts: TE Mo Alie-Cox
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Before long, Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox may be less of a hidden gem and more of an offensive regular. He's already beginning to gain the attention of fantasy football enthusiasts after back-to-back impressive outings.
The former VCU basketball standout signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017. However, he was rarely utilized during his first two seasons (he didn't play in 2017). He caught a combined 15 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in 2018 and 2019.
Over the past two weeks, however, Alie-Cox has caught eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. This recent opportunity has come with starting tight end Jack Doyle coming back from an ankle injury, but it's going to be difficult to justify taking Alie-Cox off the field after he's flashed a rapport with quarterback Philip Rivers.
Expect Alie-Cox to keep racking up receptions.
Jacksonville Jaguars: DT DaVon Hamilton
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The Jacksonville Jaguars parted with several key players in the offseason, including running back Leonard Fournette, defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue and safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. Yet Jacksonville was surprisingly competitive before its Week 3 meltdown against the Miami Dolphins.
We've already mentioned how running back James Robinson has boosted the offense. Well, rookie third-round pick DaVon Hamilton has helped give the team a jolt on the other side of the ball. The Ohio State product has played 44 percent of the snaps and has seven tackles.
While losing Campbell and Ngakoue hurt the defense, Hamilton can rotate with Abry Jones and Taven Bryan to give the unit a lot to work with on the interior.
Kansas City Chiefs: DE Mike Danna
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While the Jaguars have gotten a notable boost from DaVon Hamilton, the Kansas City Chiefs have gotten a major one from rookie fifth-round pick Mike Danna. The Michigan standout has quietly been one of the team's better frontline defenders.
Through the first two weeks of the season, Danna racked up six tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit and three pressures. He added a tackle Monday night against the Ravens.
Danna would likely be getting more attention if not for running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and defensive back L'Jarius Sneed. Edwards-Helaire and Sneed have been two of the league's most impressive rookies, leaving Danna as more of a secret.
Las Vegas Raiders: LG John Simpson
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Las Vegas Raiders rookie left guard John Simpson was thrust into action in Week 2 when starter Richie Incognito exited with an Achilles injury. The fourth-round pick out of Clemson had an up-and-down showing his first time out.
"His biggest issue came in pass protection, where he ended the game with a lowly 11.8 PFF grade after surrendering five total pressures," Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus wrote. "The volume of pressure wasn't as big a problem as the type of pressure allowed, with multiple decisive and near-immediate losses causing problems for the Raiders offense."
However, Simpson has shown promise and has been far from a disaster. Through 128 snaps, he has allowed just one sack but has been whistled for two penalties, according to Pro Football Focus.
Simpson will likely cede the starting job back to Incognito when he returns from injured reserve. However, he looks like a future mainstay for Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Jalen Guyton
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Is receiver Jalen Guyton destined to be a centerpiece of the Los Angeles Chargers offense? Probably not. However, he's shown he can be a complementary piece, and the 2019 undrafted free agent out of North Texas has already been more productive than he was last year.
Guyton finished his rookie season without a reception, but he already has four. He's made at least one catch in each game and tallied 53 yards, three first downs and a touchdown.
While Guyton is going to take a back seat to Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and tight end Hunter Henry, don't be surprised to see more of him when L.A. puts three wideouts on the field.
Los Angeles Rams: DT Morgan Fox
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Morgan Fox has been with the team since 2016—when he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State-Pueblo—but he has never been a high-profile member of the squad.
Through three seasons—he missed 2018 with a torn ACL—Fox had appeared in 36 games but logged just 42 tackles and 4.5 sacks. While he remains a reserve, he's already produced five tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback pressures—all while playing just 37 percent of the snaps.
Fox is a versatile and valuable rotational piece, albeit an underrated one.
Miami Dolphins: RG Solomon Kindley
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Casual fans might be familiar with Miami Dolphins rookie left tackle Austin Jackson, who was the 18th pick in the April draft. They're far less likely to know rookie right guard Solomon Kindley, who wasn't selected until the fourth round.
However, Kindley emerged as a starter by Week 1 and has played well. According to Pro Football Focus, he's responsible for two penalties and zero sacks in 198 snaps.
While the interior of the offensive line isn't exactly gashing holes in defensive fronts—the Dolphins rank 18th with 4.2 yards per inside rushing attempt, per Football Outsiders—Kindley is playing like a permanent fixture.
Minnesota Vikings: LG Dakota Dozier
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Though former Furman left tackle Dakota Dozier spent five seasons with the New York Jets before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in April 2019, he remains a hidden gem. The 2014 fourth-round pick had made only 11 starts entering the season. The Vikings, though, gave him a chance to be the team's starter at left guard in the offseason.
"He's always been a good player, trying to battle to become a starter," offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said in early September, via Lindsey Young and Eric Smith of the team's official website.
Dozier took the job and has run with it. He has started all three games and been responsible for just one sack and zero penalties in 171 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He's one of the few bright spots for a disappointing offense.
New England Patriots: OL Mike Onwenu
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While Solomon Kindley and Dakota Dozier have established themselves as surprise starters at guard, New England Patriots rookie Mike Onwenu has been more of a utility piece along the offensive line. The sixth-round pick out of Michigan has lined up at various spots, including as an extra lineman and blocking tight end.
"Mike's a very flexible player. I don't think he's played tackle since high school, but he played a number of positions for us in training camp—guard, tackle, we saw tight end there in the game [Sept. 13]," head coach Bill Belichick said after Week 1, per Steve Lorenz of 247Sports. "Similar but different than [Nate] Solder—when Solder was drafted, of course he was a first round pick, but came in and played the majority of his rookie year at right tackle and the jumbo tight end position."
Onwenu has played 120 snaps and has not allowed a sack or been flagged, according to Pro Football Focus. Expect him to be one of Belichick's favorite chess pieces moving forward.
New Orleans Saints: DT Malcolm Roach
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Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach has gone from being an undrafted afterthought out of Texas to a regular contributor on the New Orleans Saints front. With a terrific combination of size (6'3", 290 lbs), quickness and technique, Roach didn't give New Orleans much choice but to keep him and play him.
"He's a strong player. We think he's got good movement skills, and he was one of those guys who picked up, obviously, what we're doing very quickly, and he was one of those guys that made an early impression," head coach Sean Payton told reporters before Week 1.
Roach has played 39 percent of the snaps and has seven tackles and two tackles for loss. While those aren't eye-popping numbers, Roach is proving he can be a valuable piece of the line rotation.
New York Giants: WR C.J. Board
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Not much has gone right for the New York Giants, but they seem to have uncovered a complementary receiver in C.J. Board.
Signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2017, the Tennessee-Chattanooga product also spent time with the Browns, Jaguars and Tennessee Titans before landing with the Giants. However, Board had appeared in only four games, all with Jacksonville in 2019.
With New York, he has played 30 percent of the snaps and has hauled in six of seven targets for 58 yards. Board is tied for fifth on the team in receptions with injured running back Saquon Barkley.
New York Jets: RB La'Mical Perine
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When the New York Jets placed starting running back Le'Veon Bell on injured reserve, it gave Frank Gore more opportunities to add to his ever-growing mountain of rushing numbers. However, it also opened the door for rookie fourth-round pick La'Mical Perine.
The Florida product has appeared in two games and logged just 10 carries, but he's shown a solid burst and a feel for allowing blocks to develop. While Bell averaged 2.3 yards per carry and Gore has posted 3.4, Perine is at 4.1 with a long run of 11.
As Perine continues to get further removed from the ankle injury he suffered in training camp, expect him to become a bigger piece of the puzzle.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Greg Ward
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Philadelphia Eagles wideout Greg Ward isn't an unknown—at least, not to Philadelphia fans. After spending two years on the practice squad, the undrafted former Houston quarterback and receiver got his chance late in 2019. He appeared in seven games and caught 28 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown.
This year, however, Ward appears to have taken another step and has been a fixture in the offense.
Ward has started two games and has caught 14 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. He's been targeted 19 times, behind only tight end Zach Ertz (24) and DeSean Jackson (20). Those outside of Philadelphia should get to know Ward's name soon enough.
Pittsburgh Steelers: RG Kevin Dotson
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The Pittsburgh Steelers' Kevin Dotson didn't play in Week 3 with the return of David DeCastro, but the fourth-round rookie out of Louisiana has still stood out this season.
Longtime starting guard Ramon Foster retired in the offseason, and with DeCastro and Stefen Wisniewski injured, Dotson was forced into the starting lineup in Week 2. He played so well against the Broncos that he received the game ball from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"I was just so happy that he got out there and got the play," Roethlisberger said, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I gave the ball to him afterwards and told him to give it to his old man."
Kelcy Dotson is a lifelong Steelers fan.
Dotson has not been responsible for a sack or penalty in 71 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. While he may not have a permanent role this season, he's showed he has the goods to be a future fixture.
San Francisco 49ers: RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
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Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He logged just 93 carries and 15 receptions during his first two seasons, though he did score five touchdowns last year.
With Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman injured, Wilson and Jerick McKinnon are likely to lead the backfield, and that showed in Week 3 against the Giants.
McKinnon had 17 touches, and Wilson had 15. McKinnon finished with 77 yards and a touchdown, while Wilson posted 69 yards and two touchdowns.
Look for the former North Texas star to shine as long as he gets the opportunity.
Seattle Seahawks: WR David Moore
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Former East Central (Okla.) wideout David Moore joined the Seattle Seahawks as a seventh-round draft pick in 2017. However, he's never been a major piece of the offense. His most prolific season was 2018, when he caught 26 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns. This season, though, he appears to be emerging as the team's No. 3 wideout.
Moore has started two of three games and has played 48 percent of the snaps. He's made seven receptions for 78 yards, three first downs and a touchdown—an incredible 38-yard grab over Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty. Moore has caught every one of his targets.
While Moore isn't going to put up Pro Bowl numbers in an offense that heavily utilizes its tight ends and running backs in the passing game, he is on pace for a career-high 37 receptions with 416 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Scotty Miller
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Tom Brady has made a career out of turning hidden gems into high-profile receivers. He might be doing the same this year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Scotty Miller.
Drafted in the sixth round out of Bowling Green State last year, Miller got only occasional opportunities behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Breshad Perriman. He appeared in 10 games and caught 13 passes on 26 targets for 200 yards and a touchdown.
He's already had more opportunities this season—in part because Perriman departed in the offseason—and he's hauled in 10 of 14 targets for 167 yards. He's been targeted at least three times in each game this season.
While opposing defenses won't be concerned with Miller the way they are Evans and Godwin, he cannot be ignored.
Tennessee Titans: WR Kalif Raymond
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Wideout Kalif Raymond has spent time with four different franchises. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2016, Raymond was utilized as a return specialist by the Broncos, Jets and Giants. He had just 10 career receptions, 182 yards and touchdown entering Week 3—including nine for 170 and the score last year with the Titans.
He got a chance to shine Sunday against Minnesota, however, catching three passes for 118 yards, showing he can add an explosive downfield element to the Tennessee passing attack.
While Raymond isn't likely to be a fixture of the run-heavy offense, he should supply the Titans with plenty of mismatch potential.
Washington Football Team: S Kamren Curl
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The Washington Football Team is still in the early stages of rebuilding, but it has the skeleton of what could be a dominant defense.
The talent on the front is no secret—it's loaded with first-round picks such as Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen and Chase Young—but there are some intriguing pieces on the back end as well. Rookie seventh-round pick Kamren Curl is one of them.
The unheralded rookie out of Arkansas has played just 33 percent of the snaps, but he's produced seven tackles and two tackles for loss. While he has allowed five receptions on seven targets, those catches have gone for just 14 yards.
Curl, who played strong safety and cornerback in college, is a versatile player who could become a building block for Washington's future.
Advanced statistics via Pro Football Reference.
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