The 2024 NFL draft is now a few weeks behind us, which means two important things. First, the preparation for the 2025 draft is on. And second, we can dive deeper on prospect impact now that we know each player's NFL home.
We know plenty of first-rounders will see significant starting time right out of the gate, but considering the depth of this class, I expect plenty of players taken outside Round 1 to also play key roles this coming season.
With that in mind, let's dive in on 20 players drafted on either Day 2 or Day 3 -- Rounds 2-7 -- who can make an immediate rookie season impact for their pro teams. There are certainly more than 20 candidates for these two lists (especially from Day 2), but I decided to rank the top 10 on each side of the ball. I also included two bonus longer shots out of the seventh round who could make a mark.
Offensive players
1. Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills (No. 33)
Coleman was the first pick in the second round and the only wide receiver taken by a team that had as big of a need there as anyone in the league. His massive 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame and wide catch radius should make him a red zone favorite for quarterback Josh Allen, and he could certainly lead the Bills in touchdowns this season. Coleman scored 11 of them last season at Florida State.
2. Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 34)
In a recent roundtable about this rookie class, my bold prediction was that McConkey would lead all rookies in receptions this season. He's an elite route runner and speed demon who has a shot to be Justin Herbert's No. 1 wideout from Day 1. Without Keenan Allen or Mike Williams in the fold, McConkey joins Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark Jr. on the depth chart, suggesting some real opportunity.
3. Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 44)
Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Award last season as the best center in college football, but he was announced during the draft as a guard and has the skill set to win a starting spot there even after the recent veteran additions of Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat in Las Vegas. Coach Antonio Pierce has never been shy about wanting to control the game offensively through a power-rushing attack, and JPJ's mauling nature will fit that seamlessly.
4. Roger Rosengarten, OT, Baltimore Ravens (No. 62)
Rosengarten was a college right tackle and will stay on the right side in the pros, as Baltimore had a major need at that position coming into the draft. He has very good length and smooth footwork to handle some of the top-notch edge rushers who he'll face almost weekly in the AFC North. Rosengarten never allowed a sack in college over 28 starts.
5. Christian Haynes, G, Seattle Seahawks (No. 81)
Haynes has a real shot to earn a starting gig from Day 1, as the feisty tone-setter out of UConn should help fill one of Seattle's more notable gaps at one of the two guard spots. His tenacity on a snap-in and snap-out basis is infectious, and he fits very well in a zone-blocking scheme rushing attack. Seattle signed Laken Tomlinson this offseason, and Haynes could compete with Anthony Bradford for the other slot.
6. Roman Wilson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 84)
Wilson is a slick route runner with excellent speed and incredible hands, traits that will translate to the NFL. He has the lateral agility and suddenness to play a starting slot role right away, something the Steelers need as they reshape their receiver room after the Diontae Johnson trade. Pittsburgh's well-established track record of getting the most out of second- and third-round receivers makes me feel that much more confident Wilson will be a quality pro. He caught 12 TDs in 2023 and averaged 16 yards per catch over four seasons at Michigan.
Check out some of the top college highlights for new Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson.
7. Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots (No. 37)
The Patriots don't have an incumbent player on the roster who profiles as their clear-cut top wideout, leaving the door wide open. And I think Polk -- who had 1,159 yards and nine scores last season -- will take over a prominent role sooner rather than later. His route running, reliable hands, great body control and overall toughness should make his transition to the NFL easier than it is for most rookie receivers, and he can immediately help whoever is under center.
8. Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 66)
Benson was my top-ranked running back in the class, as I felt he had starting-caliber traits (speed, tackle-evading ability and pass-game skill) as long as he landed in the right spot. James Conner is coming off a very good season in Arizona, but Benson will find his way into a second-back role. Conner has also never played a full season, and Benson is now the next man up. No Cardinals back besides Conner had more than 284 yards last season, and Benson is coming off two straight seasons with more than 900.
9. Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 125)
Tampa Bay relied a ton on Rachaad White last season, as he was tied for second in the NFL in carries (272 with Christian McCaffrey) and was fourth among all backs in catches (64), playing an indispensable role for the Bucs. But the addition of Irving will offset some of White's work and likely make him a more efficient player. Irving is a star receiver -- his 56 catches last season were the most of any FBS running back -- and he averaged 7.1 yards per rush on runs between the tackles. The Buccaneers were last in the league in rushing (1,509 yards) and could use his juice in the backfield.
10. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants (No. 166)
Tracy was one of the more unique prospects in the class; after four seasons as a wide receiver at Iowa, he transferred to Purdue for two seasons and became a running back. That versatility gives him a chance to be on the field and deployed early and often, especially amid a thin Giants backfield led by Devin Singletary. Tracy scored eight times last season and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
Bonus seventh-rounder: Nathan Thomas, OT/G, Dallas Cowboys (No. 233)
The Cowboys needed to reinforce the offensive line at the draft and did so early with the selections of offensive tackle Tyler Guyton at No. 29 and guard Cooper Beebe at No. 73. But the work continued into the seventh round with the selection of Thomas, who has great play strength, a ton of strength and the versatility to kick inside to guard.
Defensive players
1. Braden Fiske, DT, Los Angeles Rams (No. 39)
The Rams had an Aaron Donald-sized hole to (try to) fill at defensive tackle, and Fiske should help fill that void immediately. He lives behind the line of scrimmage as a disruptive force, cruising to six sacks over his final five college games and then crushing the pre-draft process. The Rams' confidence in his skill set was confirmed by trading up via a package that included a 2025 second-round pick.
2. Tyler Nubin, S, New York Giants (No. 47)
Following the departure of safety Xavier McKinney to Green Bay, the Giants had a major need to add an impact safety in the draft. Enter Nubin, a football magnet with incredible ball skills, field vision and instincts. He picked off 13 passes in college, including five last season.
3. Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills (No. 60)
It's a new era at safety in Buffalo after longtime starter Jordan Poyer was released (and signed by Miami) and with ongoing uncertainty around whether Micah Hyde will resume his playing career. Bishop landed in a perfect spot, set up to play a big role alongside Taylor Rapp and/or Mike Edwards. His speed, blitizing ability and man-to-man coverage skills will get him on the field. Bishop had 189 tackles and 7.5 sacks over three college seasons.
4. Junior Colson, LB, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 69)
It was impossible to not imagine Colson winding up with the Chargers, reuniting with his former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh; few players encapsulated the DNA of that national championship-winning team quite like him. Colson is exceedingly tough, physical and instinctive, and he goes full tilt every play. He posted at least 90 tackles in each of the past two seasons.
5. Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 40)
This might seem a little low for DeJean, given that I viewed him as a first-round talent. But the Eagles also have a hypothetical top-three cornerback trio of Quinyon Mitchell, James Bradberry and Darius Slay, which of course would impact his role if he plays there exclusively. That being said, DeJean could take over a slot corner role right away and also contribute at safety. His skill set is too good and versatile for him to sit for long. His seven interceptions over the past two seasons point to early production in the pros.
Check out some of the top college highlights for new Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean.
6. Kamren Kinchens, S, Los Angeles Rams (No. 99)
Part of what I admire about the Rams' draft strategy is their willingness to compromise on testing thresholds when a player's tape is too good to ignore. That was the case with Kinchens, despite some teams' pause over his 4.65-second run in the 40-yard dash at the combine. His overall tape was excellent -- 11 picks over the past two years -- and he could start next to Kamren Curl from Day 1.
7. Max Melton, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 43)
Arizona just kept crossing off needs at the draft, nabbing two corners on Day 2, starting with Melton (Elijah Jones went 97th). Melton is a confident man-to-man coverage player who has the versatility to handle both perimeter and slot cornerback duties. He has awesome ball skills to make quarterbacks pay when the football is thrown in his area -- he had eight picks at Rutgers.
8. Payton Wilson, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 98)
One of my favorite players to study in this entire class lasted until the final few picks of the third round because of medical concerns (he had knee and shoulder injuries in college), but Pittsburgh could reap major rewards. Wilson has great speed and versatility, as he can be an instant starter at inside linebacker (alongside Patrick Queen) and also rush off the edge in obvious passing situations. There's not much in the linebacker playbook that he can't handle.
9. Bralen Trice, EDGE, Atlanta Falcons (No. 74)
I could have chosen any of Atlanta's Day 2 selections to address their front seven, but I'll go with Trice. I would not have forecasted him to still be on the board at pick No. 74, but an average combine performance perhaps contributed a mini slide. Atlanta was desperate for pass-rushers in the draft, as the team's two leading sackers from 2023 are both unsigned free agents and managed just 6.5 sacks last season (Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree). Trice could be a starter from jump street -- or at the very least have a significant third rusher role. He had seven sacks in 2023.
10. Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Denver Broncos (No. 145)
Abrams-Draine's path to play time isn't as clear as others on this list, considering his new team's depth chart, but I do feel like his game opens the door to early contributions even so. He has elite route identification and ball skills, logical traits given he was a wide receiver during his first season at Missouri. Abrams-Draine's size (179 pounds) probably means a slot role, but that's supremely valuable in today's pass-heavy NFL.
Bonus seventh-rounder: M.J. Devonshire, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 229)
The Raiders aren't afraid to challenge opposing wideouts at the line of scrimmage, making Devonshire a really good fit. From 2021-23, he played 464 snaps of press coverage, second most in the FBS during that time. He has a nose for the ball, too, as he had eight interceptions and three pick-sixes over three seasons at Pitt.