Denver running back Royce Freeman. Houston safety Justin Reid. Philadelphia cornerback Avonte Maddox. Three players who provided excellent value to their teams as 2018 rookies despite the fact that they were selected in the third day of the draft—between the fourth and seventh rounds. The year before, we saw Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Tarik Cohen, Eddie Jackson, and George Kittle far outstrip their draft positions with starter-level production. And how about 2016, when Dak Prescott, Tyreek Hill, Jordan Howard, and Kevin Byard became stars over time as third-day selections?
Who will be the secret stars of the 2019 draft? We don’t yet know, but here are 13 players who seem to have the right attributes in the right situations for production and success beyond their perceptions before they’re drafted.
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
There are reasons we’re not talking about Rypien in the same breath as Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Drew Lock. The nephew of former Redskins Pro Bowl and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien is a bit slight at 6’2” and 210 pounds, he’s not always mechanically sound, and some personnel guys will worry over his small hands, but he’s a smart, resourceful quarterback who threw 10 touchdown passes and just three interceptions under pressure last season, and his 19 touchdown passes of 20 air yards or more led all draftable quarterbacks. Over time, he could elevate himself from backup to spot starter in the NFL.
Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
I recently did a tape study piece with Henderson, and given the recent successes of backs like Hunt and Kamara, I’m a bit stunned there isn’t more second-round buzz about him. Perhaps it’s the devaluation of the running back position, but you’d think teams would want a guy who’s averaged 8.9 yards per carry in each of the last two seasons, and forced 57 missed tackles on just 214 rushing attempts in 2018. Yes, he’s a bit on the smaller side at 5’8” and 208 pounds, but he can also be a home run hitter as a moving chess piece in a complex NFL offense.
Andy Isabella, WR, UMass
A highly productive target for the Minutemen, especially over the last two seasons, Isabella caught 102 passes for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2018, and he has 23 receiving touchdowns over the last two seasons. You may look at the 5’9”, 188-pound Isabella as a prototypical slot receiver based on size, but there’s more to his game—he ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, and he caught 14 deep passes for 705 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. He’s more Victor Cruz than Wes Welker.
Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Potentially elite pass-protectors are in demand at the NFL level regardless of their school size, and Howard fits the paradigm. He’ll have work to do at the next level with his leverage and hand movement before he’s able to contend with the best speed rushers, but Howard has an intriguing combination of size (6’5”, 322-pounds) and quickness, and he held Auburn’s defense without a single pressure allowed last season.
Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia
At 6’5” and 312 pounds, Cajuste shows the quickness around the edge and agility to adjust to counter moves common among the best developmental pass-protectors. Last season, he allowed no sacks, two quarterback hits, and 10 quarterback hurries in 394 pass-blocking snaps. Cajuste might need a year with an NFL-level offensive line coaching staff to work out some of the messiness in his sets, but when his leverage is clean and he gets his hands on a defender, he really impresses with his ability to erase potential pressure.
Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College
Lindstrom isn’t for every NFL team—he’s more athletic than powerful, so if you’re looking for a gap-scheme guy who can demolish defensive tackles with pure strength, you may want to look elsewhere. But the 6’4”, 308-pound Lindstrom is technically adept and outstanding when working to the second level and pulling around the edge. There are elements of Eric Steinbach and Jahri Evans to his game—he’s just going to be best-served on a line that values movement over might.
Ronheen Bingham, EDGE, Arkansas State
Only Kentucky’s Josh Allen and Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson had a better pass-rushing rate last season than Bingham, who amassed nine sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and 38 quarterback hurries in just 273 pass-rushing snaps. Bingham is a bit smaller than you’d like at 6’2” and 227 pounds, and he’s coming off a torn MCL, but he could thrive in a four- or five-man front as a speed rusher off the edge. Bingham plays with great hand technique, surprising strength, and excellent agility, and he had some pretty nice reps against Alabama’s Jonah Williams last season.
Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
Of the lesser-known draft prospects I’ve watched leading up to the draft, few have impressed me as much as Saunders has. At 6’0” and 324 pounds, he’s going to come under the height requirement for some NFL teams, but smarter teams who understand how leverage works will give Saunders a good look. The Senior Bowl star had 35 run stops and 35 total pressures last season, and he moves with alarming speed and agility for his size. As a one-gap nose tackle, he can do everything from soaking up double teams to moving through the pocket to get after the quarterback.
Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida
There’s been talk about Hill landing in the doghouse with his UCF coaches, and that’s the only plausible reason he started just one game last season and was a non-factor in his team’s Fiesta Bowl loss to LSU. But when you watch him on the field, it’s clear that the 6’3”, 308-pound Hill projects as an outstanding three-tech defensive tackle, with some traits (snap quickness, agility) to play some big end. Hill got washed out a lot at nose tackle, which may have been the root of his frustration.
Germaine Pratt, LB, North Carolina State
Modern NFL linebackers have to be able to do a lot of things—patrol half the field in nickel sets and expand that in dime schemes, cover curl/flat, move down to attack run fits, and rush the passer. Pratt isn’t getting the attention he deserves with his ability to do all these things, but this safety convert certainly has the speed and agility to cover, he amassed 47 total stops last season, and he had 26 total pressures. Built like a small pass-rusher at 6’2” and 240 pounds, Pratt can bring a lot to any defense.
Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan
At 6’0” and 195, Bunting fits the physical paradigm of the bigger, aggressive cornerback in the modern NFL. He plays press coverage well, and while he may have to bulk up a bit to deal with the releases of bigger NFL receivers, there’s no questioning his lockdown ability. Over four seasons with the Chippewas, he allowed a 51.1% catch rate (73 receptions on 143 targets) and picked off nine passes. In 2018, Bunting didn’t allow a single touchdown on 37 targets. He’s a talent on the rise.
David Long, CB, Michigan
You don’t see a lot of cornerbacks Long’s size (5’11”, 196 pounds) playing as physically as he does against top-level receivers and getting away with it from a coverage perspective, and that’s what makes him so intriguing as an NFL prospect. A twitched-up athlete with the trail speed and footwork to stay with receivers all over their routes, Long may run into issues when asked to play off and zone coverage but the basics are there. He’s also not a natural transition to the slot, which may blur the lines for some teams.
Juan Thornhill, DB, Virginia
Thornhill’s versatility is his calling card—he’s shown the ability to play everything from outside cornerback to deep safety to slot to linebacker depth. A bit of a hybrid player at 6’0 and 205 pounds, Thornhill nonetheless possesses the recognition ability, instincts, and body control to be an outstanding pass defender at the next level. With 13 interceptions through his three years as a full-time player and 30 stops in 2018, Thornhill is a raw clay player who can become just about anything his defensive coaches want him to be.
