Which late-round draft picks could be game-changers?
The success rate of players drafted on Day 3 pales in comparison to the 100-ish NFL prospects drafted before them. Years of scouting have defined a pretty reliable hierarchy of players who’ll go on to the most fruitful careers. Almost all of those guys hear their names called in the first three rounds.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t still value out there. Rounds four through seven are a place to find inexpensive depth and, hopefully, a few potential starters among the chaff. In the past five seasons, players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Trey Smith, Darnell Mooney, Maxx Crosby, and Eddie Jackson emerged from Day 3 to become trusted starters for needy teams. 2022 will provide more of the same.
Who fits that bill? It’s tough to surmise just which players will exceed expectations on Sundays and which slide to the later rounds for good reason. Here are the players who landed in the best possible spots to make an impact – and some of the sleepers we may just inexplicably love after three-plus years of watching them make plays in college.
