A season ago, , , , and were NFC rookies picked after the first round but played like first-round picks during their rookie seasons. And you, NFL fan starved for football, know all about your favorite team's first-round pick in the 2020 draft. It's time to reallyget acclimated with the non-Round 1 selection who has the talent -- and situation -- to flourish in his debut season in the NFL.While the COVID-19 shortened offseason will negatively impact many rookies acro s the league, we'll still get some mid-to-late round picks who'll easily acclimate to the pro game and become key pieces on their respective team. On Tuesday, I identified my favorite . Below is the NFC version.NFC EastDT Impre sive stat to know:32 quarterback pre sures on 320 pa s-rush snaps in 2019 at OklahomaGallimore dropped significant weight before his final season at Oklahoma, and he morphed from a space-eating run defender into a lightning quick, one-gap penetrator. Finally freed from the nose tackle role, Gallimore was a menacing disruptor with a fun blend of first-step explosion and an array of pa s-rushing moves. Dallas' defense was ravaged in free agency, and the 6-foot-2, 304-pound Gallimore has the perfect size and skill set to fill the vacancy created by the departure of on the Cowboys' defensive front.LB Impre sive stat to know: 18 tackles for lo s and six pa s breakups in 2018 and 2019 combined at ColoradoTaylor is relatively new to the game of football and played just two seasons at Colorado but produced in a big way.Everything about Taylor's game translates ideally to the NFL as we know it today. At 6-0 and 228 pounds with blistering 4.49 speed, he as range for days and plays with zero hesitation. Taylor's coaches trusted him as a slot cornerback often. In fact, , 294 of his snaps in 2019 came at that position, more than his 251 snaps in the box as a traditional linebacker. For being a raw second-level defender, Taylor took on and dispatched blocks decently well and his electric burst keeps him close to the football frequently. Taylor's in a perfect situation in Philadelphia, because the Eagles desperately needed more athleticism in their linebacker group.WashingtonWR Impre sive stat to know: Over 70 receptions and 1,000-plus yards with 10 touchdowns in each of his two seasons at LibertyGandy-Golden went the junior college route then dominated at Liberty for
Matisse Thybulle Jersey two seasons with an intimidating combination of size, rebounding prowe s, and deceptive yards-after-the-catch capabilities. Though most of his games were against le ser competition, he was remarkably steady in 2019 regardle s of opponent. At a legitimate 6-4 and 223 pounds with nearly 10-inch hands, Gandy-Golden towers over most cornerbacks and he plays to every inch of his frame with an a sertive "my ball" mentality. While not overly fluid to create separation on routes with multiple cuts, he's explosive enough to generate just enough to create a bubble with his box-out skills and catch radius and is a load to bring to the turf.Washington is in dire need of secondary options behind Terry McLaurin in its receiver group, and Gandy-Golden will be a nice complement to him because the rookie is completely different stylistically than McLaurin.CB Impre sive stat to know:Eight interceptionsand 17 pa s breakups in three seasons at UCLAHolmes is the rookie featured in this article in which I'm least confident. His play is wildly up and down, so it's nearly impo sible to pinpoint which version of the defensive back you're going to see each game. Son of former NFL running back Darick Holmes, Darnay has bloodlines teams love and he ran 4.48 at the combine.There's nothing from an athletic standpoint that's too challenging for him on the field. Holmes can just be much too aggre sive biting on breaks in a receiver's route or simply allow too much separation. The latter is a strange occurrence because he's so athletic. Anyway, Holmes enters a Giants secondary in dire need of springy, playmaking ability, and he undoubtedly has that. NFC NorthRB A.J. DillonImpre sive stat to know: Two seasons of 1,500-plus rushing yards at 5.3 yards per attempt (2017 and 2019) at Boston CollegeDillon is a train with some bounce in his step, and he laughs off weak arm-tackle attempts in the open field. At 6-0 and 247 pounds, Dillon has tree trunks for legs, and they're loaded with explosivene s, as evidenced by his 4.53 in the 40, a 41-inch vertical, and 131-inch broad jump. There's just enough lateral burst in his running style to make one defender mi s per run, and that's usuallly
Derrick Walton Jersey all he needs to do to break a long run. While not as nationally regarded, Dillon's 1,589-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2017 as a 19-year-old freshman was Adrian Peterson-esque. is, of course, the No. 1 back in Green Bay, and is quite the flexible athlete in his own right. But Dillon's modern-day power back vibe will add a punishing element to the Packers' ground game in 2020.LB Impre sive stat to know:Averaged just under 98 tackles per season in his four-year stint at OregonDye has the awesome linebacker pairing of and in front of him in Minnesota, but Dye has the experience, length, and particularly the coverage savvy to get on the field early in his career with the Vikings.A rare four-year starter and high-level producer, Dye isn't flashy, he just glides to the football on outside runs and flies down the seam with tight ends then finds the football. He dealt with injuries in his final season at Oregon but played through them. He has the well-rounded game Mike Zimmer will absolutely adore.EDGE Impre sive stat to know:19.5 tackles for lo s and 13 sacks acro s his final 22 games at Notre DameOkwara is a dude at 6-4, 252 pounds with nearly 35-inch tentacles. His power is effortle s, and it looks like he could add more weight to his frame, which should be a scary thought for offensive linemen who struggle to anchor against bull rushes. While never totally dominated in college, Okwara did have some long stretches without much pa s-rushing production. His high-level play is of first-round caliber because his hands are so powerful, and he's an effortle s athlete around the corner.After , Detroit has to get more pa s-rushing help, and Okwara has the game and NFL veteran caliber strength to make an impact as a rookie.WR Impre sive stat to know:Accounted for a whopping 41.7% of Tulane's receiving yards in his Age 20/21 season at Tulane in 2018Mooney was easy to overlook during the pre-draft proce s. He never caught more than 48 pa ses in a
Al Horford Jersey single season in his collegiate career and stands 5-10 and 176 pounds. But his quarterback play was average at its absolute best at Tulane, which hindered his production a great deal.If you're going to be that small in the NFL, you better be fast, and Mooney is. He ran 4.38 at the combine and had 37-inch vertical. On film, he demonstrated awesome concentration when tracking the football down the field and played bigger than his size because of his leaping talents. is an underrated star in Chicago, and flashed in his second season, but if has lot a few steps, Mooney can be the deep-ball specialist for the Bears as a rookie. He's very polished in that role.NFC WestWR Impre sive stat to know: Forced 30 mi sed tackles in 2019 at Tenne see, the most among any draft-eligible receiver, per PFFJennings was a dual-threat quarterback recruit when he joined the Tenne see program in 2015 but was flipped to receiver almost instantly and never looked back. Jennings is magical with the ball in his hands, and each time he starts carrying the football after the catch, you're reminded he was a dual-threat quarterback out of high school.At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Jennings has quality size but is a lower-level athlete and won't run by many NFL cornerbacks. He shields with his body well and is a raging bull after the catch. No play caller schemes receiver production better than Kyle Shanahan, and his offense is predicated on skill-position players' ability to run after the catch.TE Impre sive stat to know: Led all draft-eligible tight ends with 14 contested-catches in 2019 at Stanford, according to PFFParkinson is the latest in basically the same type of tight end to enter the league from Stanford during the David Shaw era -- except he wasn't utilized in line as a blocker really at all. That doesn't really matter though. But like , , , and before him, Parkinson is towering and unreal bringing in the football with defenders draped on him. has loved targeting big-bodied tight ends during his fun tenure in Seattle, and Parkinson's 6-7 frame and rebounding mastery will be a welcomed additions to the Seahawks' pa s-catching contingent. RB Impre sive stat to know: Caught 77 pa ses over the past two seasons at Arizona StateBenjamin had no busine s lasting until the seventh round. None. But explaining the immense value he represented is not the point of this article. A super-bouncy feature back in college -- who averaged 5.5 yards-per carry on 300 attempts (!) in 2018 -- with above-average contact balance, a fine athletic profile and soft hands, Benjamin is ready to produce in the NFL right away.However, he'll begin his pro career behind and second-year runner . But we all know how quickly a
Wilt Chamberlain Jersey team can move through a running back committee. Keep an eye on Benjamin. He's good.CB Impre sive stat to know: 81 tackles, 7.5 tackles for lo s, and five pa s breakups in 2019 at UtahBurge s is well-equipped to be a slot defender in the NFL. He's part nickel corner, part safety, part linebacker, and we're starting to see more of these types not just pop up but excel on Sundays.While somewhat pushed out of the spotlight by other secondary stars at Utah, he repeatedly flashed on film while I watched his teammates. Then, at the combine, Burge s rocked his workout with a 4.46 time in the 40 at 5-11 and 202 pounds. The Rams lost elite coverage linebacker in free agency, and Burge s, e sentially comfortable in any situation defensively, will help fill the void from the veteran's departure.NFC SouthS Impre sive stat to know: Nine interceptions in his last 26 games at California was the Cal safety who received the most hype this past draft cycle, and while watching his film, Hawkins consistently made plays. I love his combination of quality range and quickne s in his feet to close on the football in front of him at the intermediate level. He's unafraid to throw his weight around against the run, and is decently effective in the box too.Hawkins actually has an uphill climb to get on the field with and in front of him, but he's one of those players who, thanks to instincts more than anything else, is involved in the action often.S/LB Impre sive stat to know: 13 interceptions and 31 pa s breakups in four years at Southern IllinoisI was flabbergasted watching Chinn's film. He just didn't look like he belonged in the FCS level, and, frankly, I'm not sure I've ever watched a safety that big (6-3, 221) move as fast with as much acceleration (regardle s of level).Chinn ran 4.45 with a 41-inch vertical and a 138-inch broad jump, meaning his radius to breakup pa ses is larger than your garage door. His click-and-close
Ben Simmons Jersey is incredible, and his range is outstanding. While not a deft block-defeater, he's typically ahead of pulling guards at the second level. And I thought Chinn's change-of-direction skills were more impre sive than that of . For real. I can't wait to watch him in Carolina's young defense.TE Adam TrautmanImpre sive stat to know: 23 touchdowns in his last 22 games at DaytonEvery year, a small-school prospect (or two or three) pop out of nowhere at the Senior Bowl and prove they can play "up" in competition. Trautman was one of those players this year. After dominating the Pioneer League, Trautman freed himself in one-on-ones against linebackers and safeties with good regularity.He snaps out of his breaks at each level of the field but is probably best underneath and after the catch because Trautman isn't a tremendous athlete. But working the short levels of the pa s game is fine in New Orleans with , and with now 33 years old, Trautman could get run early.WR Impre sive stat to know: Back-to-back 70-plus catch, 1,100-plus yard, 10-plus touchdown seasons at MinnesotaThere were some mysterious character concerns with Johnson that floated around during the pre-draft proce s, which have to be the reason he fell to the fourth round. Because his film was ultra-clean for the past three years at Minnesota.Slippery and fully aware of how to shake pre s at the line -- mostly from the slot -- Johnson is a short-area separation creator and is a running back after the catch. He plucks wayward pa ses in his vicinity with ease too. Yes, he's on a team absolutely loaded with pa s-catchers, but if there are any injuries, or if Tampa Bay wants to cater to love for reliable slot receivers, Johnson will get on the field and produce.
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