The jersey’s are being printed for your team's first round pick as we speak, but who could break the mold as a day 2 or 3 rookie to cement themselves as a big time player at the next level? Who could be a household name by December? We saw Tank Dell and Puka Nacua lead the hype train last season, and something tells me we’ll get similar production from late round players in 2024.

Roman Wilson (WR) – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Roman Wilson ascension feels similar to what we saw from Michael Wilson before last year's season. They both dominated the Senior Bowl, had productive long college careers without eye popping numbers, and were selected in the 3rd round to a WR needy team. Opportunity is usually the name of the game for later round WR’s and this situation for Roman Wilson fits the bill. The Steelers are transitioning into a new QB era with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, giving the rookie an equal opportunity to form a connection in camp. Roman Wilson is a route technician, something this team doesn't seem to have at the moment. We’ll see how the rest of the offseason shakes out as Pittsburgh has been linked heavily to potential trade candidate Brandon Aiyuk. As of today Wilson seems like a prime candidate to have a 600+ receiving yard season in the AFC North.
Kamren Kinchens (S) – Los Angeles Rams
A couple months ago we were looking at Kam Kinchens as a very early day 2 pick. He ended up slipping all the way to the end of the 3rd round to the Rams, who in my opinion had an excellent offseason. Kinchens didn’t have the combine he hoped for but the on field speed is undeniable and his ability to be a playmaker in the secondary was on full display at Miami with 11 total interceptions in his last two seasons. He’s not a top tier athlete but his instincts and ability to read the QB’s eyes will help him separate himself early on. His ability to play deep as a “center fielder” should allow for some scheme versatility as well. Barring a major setback, I would be surprised if Kinchens wasn’t seeing regular playtime by late October.
Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE) – Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are a wild card offensively, which means a player with as much upside as Ja’Tavion Sanders should see some meaningful reps early. The big tight end out of Texas was selected in the 4th round after Carolina invested in two other offensive skill positions before him. Sanders has an extremely athletic frame with fluid body control and the ability to change direction quickly. This makes him a solid YAC threat at the next level after compiling 346 yards after catch on 45 receptions last year. He also didn’t drop a pass in 2023, making him a comfortable target for a young QB adjusting to the NFL. Sanders is an exciting threat in the redzone as well, with a notable ability to highpoint the football. The blocking can improve and his 40 time at the combine was slightly disappointing, but the upside far outweighs the negatives for Sanders.
Troy Franklin (WR) – Denver Broncos
Franklin was drafted to the same team as fellow Oregon Duck Bo Nix; as cliche as it is, this makes him an instant first thought for our list. After the obvious you look at the potential opportunity with Jerry Jeudy shipped off to Cleveland and question marks surrounding Courtland Sutton, delivering a promising outlook for Denver’s 4th round selection. As far as his skillset I do think he can make an impact in year 1 for Denver. He saw 9+ targets in 9 games last season for Oregon, leading the team in receiving yards and TD’s in 2023. His release package and elite speed are specifically impressive, keeping opposing DB’s off balance in press coverage and exploiting mismatches across the field. His frame is lanky and he struggles breaking out of arm tackles but the 4.3 speed and ability to lineup anywhere will make it difficult for Sean Payton to keep him off the field.
Junior Colson (LB) – Los Angeles Chargers
If you’re looking for a player with a feel good story that has the chance to succeed at the pro level, Junior Colson is your guy. (See Here)
Colson was a coveted asset for the Michigan Wolverines from the jump, seeing playing time as a freshman and not letting the opportunity go to waste. He finished his 3 year college career with over 1,900 defensive snaps and a leader of one of the country's top defenses. His ability to drop back in coverage is seamless, making for a versatile anchor in the middle of the field. He’s a strong tackler and can rifle through traffic in the trenches. His tape not only showcases a quick processor and 3 down leader qualities but also hints at there being a lot of untapped potential. Getting drafted to Harbaugh and the Chargers was the best case scenario in my opinion, he’ll have a great shot to start right away in LA.
- Ryan Mobley // Upside Play
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