First- and second-round draft picks are supposed to see plenty of time in the lineup during their rookies years, likely as starters sooner rather than later. The same can’t be said about mid-to-late-round draftees. Yet, a handful always emerge in Year 1.
Last year, the likes of Harold Fannin Jr., Darien Porter, Dylan Fairchild, Jacob Parrish, Jared Wilson, Xavier Watts, Upton Stout, Craig Woodson, Woody Marks, Barrett Carter, Elic Ayomanor, Francisco Mauigoa, Oronde Gadsden II, Jackson Hawes, Bill Croskey-Merritt, etc. all made significant contributions during their initial campaigns. None of them were selected before last year’s 67th overall pick.
A handful of rookies drafted outside of this year’s first two rounds already turned heads in organized team activities and minicamps. They appear to be well on their way to contributing significantly more than initially anticipated.
