Your draft position is never indicative of your ability to make an impact on your NFL team. Over the last few years, Dak Prescott, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, David Johnson, Alvin Kamara, Trey Flowers, Kevin Byard, and Shaq Mason are among the cornerstone players who earned that status despite the fact that they were selected in the third round or lower. Of the later-picked players in the 2019 draft class, here’s 21 players who could make similar waves.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Selected with the second pick in the third round out of Toledo, Johnson caught 135 passes for 2,235 yards and 23 touchdowns over three collegiate seasons. With the departure of Antonio Brown, the Steelers are in desperate need of a downfield threat who can get open consistently with pure speed and agility. Johnson isn’t the biggest receiver at 5’10” and 183 pounds, but the same could be said of Brown, and Johnson does show some of the same skills in an embryonic sense.
Jalen Hurd, WR/RB, San Francisco 49ers
Hurd started his college career ahead of Alvin Kamara on Tennessee’s running back depth chart, and he gained 2,635 yards and scored 20 touchdowns on the ground for the Vols before transferring to Baylor. In 2018, he caught 69 passes for 946 yards and four touchdowns as a re-patriated receiver, leading 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan to say that the third-rounder is the most versatile player he’s ever drafted—saying that he would have considered Hurd as a running back, receiver, or even as a tight end. Shanahan is one of the best offensive minds in the business, and you can bet he’ll find interesting ways to use Hurd as an ultimate moveable chess piece.
Chase Winovich, EDGE, New England Patriots
Though Rashan Gary was selected with the 12th overall pick by the Packers, it was actually Winovich—taken by New England in the 14th pick in the third round—who was the more productive pass-rusher for the Wolverines. Winovich lasted longer in the draft because of his athletic limitations—he’s not the same run-and-chase player Gary is, but in Bill Belichick’s defense, Winovich has the ability to go inside and outside on offensive tackles, play the run credibly, and work his way into the stunt game.
David Long, CB, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are set at outside cornerback with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters… if you cast aside age concerns about Talib and consistency issues with Peters. Long, taken with the 16th pick of the third round, has a perfect physical and aggressive style for Wade Phillips’ defense, and he’s versatile enough to fit whether Phillips is calling zone or man coverages. Long allowed just 16 catches on 60 targets in his college career, and don’t be surprised if he starts getting outside reps the next time Peters has a run of allowing too many touchdowns.
Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Perhaps the best pure outside-zone runner in his draft class, Henderson is certainly an ideal fit in Sean McVay’s offense.
When I did a tape piece with Henderson pre-draft, he spoke about the speed and agility that allowed him to gain 8.9 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons at Memphis, and as far as I can tell, the only reason he lasted until the third round was a general concern about his size. Henderson probably won’t replace a healthy Todd Gurley as the Rams’ main back, but his satellite potential could make him a home-run hitter in a creative system.