Finding value in NFL draft
Cowboys fill gaps on offense
In the immediate aftermath of the NFL draft, it can be difficult to define the event beyond the first-round picks.
Yet as crucial as the highest rookie investments are, history has repeatedly shown that what can truly set a team up for long-term success is finding breakout players on the second and third days. Although it can take years to determine which ones outperformed their draft slots, several taken over the weekend already appear to offer value well beyond where they were selected.
Connor Williams, G-T, Cowboys (second round, No. 50 overall): Jerry Jones said Dallas was driven to this pick in part by the memory of then-Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn terrorizing backup left tackle Chaz Green last year as he racked up six sacks in one game. Williams might not project as the blindside protector he showed promise of becoming while at Texas, but he can handle the responsibility in a pinch. He could end up having a better career than several of the first-round linemen.
Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys (third round, No. 81): He might not make fans forget about Dez Bryant in his prime, but he’s what the offense needs right now. At Colorado State, the acrobatic pass catcher showed a penchant for creating separation with precise route running. Gallup could form a quick rapport with Dak Prescott, which might be important given how inconsistent Terrance Williams and Allen Hurns have been throughout their careers.
Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers (third round, No. 76): The first-round hype was neither accurate nor fair, as teams revealed the Oklahoma State standout’s stock wasn’t on the same level as that of the five quarterbacks taken on Day 1. Still, Rudolph could develop into a fine successor for Ben Roethlisberger if he can take advantage of his deep passing prowess by learning to go through his progressions comfortably.
Deadrin Senat, DT, Falcons (third round, No. 90): Three years after Thomas Dimitroff found a fifth-round gem in Grady Jarrett, Atlanta takes a squat but disruptive force in the middle. Sound familiar? The South Florida bulldozer doesn’t have the same burst or pass-rushing ability as Jarrett, but with time the two could become one of the NFL’s more formidable defensive tackle duos.
Harrison Phillips, DT, Bills (third round, No. 96): Consistent if not flashy, he is a reliable run stopper who should generate a consistent push. After Buffalo traded away its two second-round picks to move up for Josh Allen, coach Sean McDermott had to be thrilled the Stanford product was still available with the team’s lone Day 2 selection. Phillips should instantly aid the 29thranked run defense as a reserve and eventually take over for Kyle Williams.
Josh Sweat, DE, Eagles (fourth round, No. 130): In a league that puts a premium on pass rushers, the defending champions found one Saturday with first-round traits. Teams were wary of a high school knee injury that nearly caused Sweat to lose his left leg, but the Eagles were confident in his outlook after he showed plenty of promise at Florida State. As part of an already loaded rotation, he can chase down quarterbacks in short stretches as he adjusts to the rigors of the NFL.
Maurice Hurst, DT, Raiders (fifth round, No. 140): Maybe medical concerns and inconsistency were enough to drop him further than most thought he would fall. But no other interior defender in this class can match the ability to shoot gaps and snake into the backfield that Hurst showed at Michigan. After gambling repeatedly earlier in the draft, Oakland found a top-50 caliber talent waiting on Day 3.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB, Rams (fifth round, No. 160): Los Angeles’ draft capital amounted to spare change after a series of trades that turned up the wattage on the team’s star power. Yet the depleted edge rusher rotation found a late-round pick-me-up in Okoronkwo, Oklahoma’s fluid threat who was likely overlooked by many due to his height (6-1).
Jamarco Jones, OT, Seahawks (fifth round, No. 168): On a perpetually short-handed Seattle front, the former Ohio State protector shapes up as a starter in the near future. Not bad given that he was taken with the last of the Seahawks’ four fifth-round selections and had to wait while several less-polished offensive linemen were picked ahead of him.
Christian Sam, LB, Patriots (sixth round, No. 178): Of course a Bill Belichick selection would find its way onto this list. New England didn’t address its linebacker corps until Day 3, but it landed a rangy and hyperactive tackler (127 last season at Arizona State) in Sam. He should help solidify the unit even as a backup while also contributing on special teams.