The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the high draft picks have understandably dominated the news cycle. After all, it’s players like Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley and Sam Darnold who seem to excite the masses.
However, championship are won in the late rounds, Hall of Famers are found like needles in a haystack, and the majority of NFL rosters are made up of Day 3 picks and undrafted free agents.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 late-round NFL rookies who could surprise in 2018.
10. Bo Scarbrough, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott will carry the load for the Cowboys in 2018, but don’t sleep on Bo Scarbrough having a legitimate impact. He has a good combination of size (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) and speed, and could thrive as a rookie in a complementary role. Scarbrough is a downhill runner who could spell Elliott in almost any situation, and will likely see increased touches as the season moves along. It was a surprise to many that he lasted until the seventh round (No. 236 overall), but he could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.
9. Braxton Berrios, WR, New England Patriots
Braxton Berrios seemed destined for the Patriots even before they called his name, which eventually happened in the sixth round (No. 210 overall) of the NFL Draft. After losing Danny Amendola in free agency, New England found themselves in need of a small slot receiver with good hands who could also contribute on special teams, and that’s exactly what they found in Berrios. At Miami, Berrios got to play against solid ACC competition, and while his skill set is very specific and limited to the slot role, the Patriots have found ways to make stars out similar players.
8. Tim Settle, DT, Washington Redskins
The Redskins have a bit of an issue at nose tackle, and it’s quite possible that fifth-round pick (No. 163 overall) Tim Settle is the man who, no pun intended, settles it. At 6-foot-3 and 329 pounds, he certainly has the size for the role, but he also possesses quickness and a good initial burst that can catch his opponents off guard. The biggest issue facing Settle is the ability to keep his weight within a reasonable range as he works to adjust to the NFL game. So long as he can do that, he should fit right in on Washington’s defense and make an impact out of the gate.
7. Tyrell Crosby, OT, Detroit Lions
Entering the NFL Draft, many experts assumed Tyrell Crosby would be off the board over the first two rounds. Instead, he slipped all the way to the fifth round (No. 153 overall) where he was scooped up by the Lions. Why Crosby fell so far is still a bit of a mystery, but that’s good news for Detroit, who struggled along their offensive line a season ago and now have a quality tackle who will enter the league with a large chip on his shoulder. Crosby could very well start for the Lions out of the gate and even play at a Pro Bowl level in Year 1.
6. Josh Sweat, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Josh Sweat acknowledges that he didn’t put up the numbers in college that he would have liked to, and that’s potentially why he fell to the fourth round (No. 130 overall) and the world champion Philadelphia Eagles. However, there’s no denying his fierce athleticism and ability to create chaos on the edge, which led many to believe he’d be selected earlier in the draft. Instead, the Eagles, who rode their defensive line to a Super Bowl title in 2017, get even deeper at the position with Sweat’s addition. And so long as he’s not hampered by the torn ACL he suffered in 2014 — an injury that concerned some– Sweat could enter the league and immediately produce as a pass rush specialist.
5. Armani Watts, S, Kansas City Chiefs
In 2015, Armani Watts broke out and could have easily been a early-round pick had he been draft-eligible, but injuries in 2016 and a down year in 2017 led to him falling to the fourth round (No. 124 overall). However, with obvious talent and a wide-open opportunity at free safety in Kansas City, Watts may have landed in the ideal situation. With a need for a ball-hawking safety to play alongside Eric Berry, who could be the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2018, the Chiefs could be in good hands with Watts, who recorded 10 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries during his college career.
4. Ian Thomas, TE, Carolina Panthers
Until 2017, Ian Thomas wasn’t on the radar of most NFL scouts and wasn’t even considering a professional football career. However, his athleticism couldn’t be ignored and once the realization hit that he could actually warrant being drafted, Thomas kicked things into high gear. And despite his inexperience — he had only 28 career receptions in college — Thomas displayed good route running ability, soft hands and a willingness to block. Seeing that, Carolina selected him in the fourth round (No. 101 overall) of the NFL Draft and will now put him on the depth chart behind Pro Bowler Greg Olsen.
3. Deon Cain, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Sometimes the ability of a late-round rookie to succeed hinges upon whether their skills fit the needs of a team. For Deon Cain and the Colts, that’s exactly what happened. Cain was widely considered one of the best deep-threat receivers in the 2018 class, and as fate would have it, that’s precisely what Indianapolis is missing at the position. Paired with quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has a very strong arm, Cain has a chance to secure the team’s No. 3 role and serve as their field-stretching wide receiver alongside T.Y. Hilton and Ryan Grant. Not a bad position for a sixth-round pick (No. 185 overall) to find himself.
2. Maurice Hurst, DT, Oakland Raiders
Maurice Hurst could have been a relatively early selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, but a heart condition discovered during the NFL Combine caused some teams to shy away despite the 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman having been medically cleared. As a result, the Raiders got themselves a steal in the fifth round (No. 140 overall) after trading up for Hurst. A versatile defender, Hurst will make an immediate impact for Oakland. He can play both 3-technique and 5-technique, so expect to see him to get a hefty dose of snaps early on.
1. Micah Kiser, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Micah Kiser is arguably one of the most refined and well-rounded late-round prospects taken in the NFL Draft. Winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy (sometimes called the “Academic Heisman”) in 2017, Kiser was selected in the fifth round (No. 147 overall) and now joins a Rams defense where he could very well start on Day 1. A tackling machine, Kiser finished his college career with an impressive 408 tackles, but adds the speed and athleticism necessary for coverage at the NFL level. Kiser can do a little bit of everything and sports a very high football IQ, so the Rams certainly landed themselves a potential star on Day 3 of the draft.
