Ten Underrated Rookies Fighting For Big Roles This Season
Tarik Cohen | RB | Bears
In my last article, I mentioned Bears RB Tarik Cohen as someone who is lighting up training camp and that hype is continuing to show at Bears camp. Cohen is a small yet quick RB who flashes elements of RBs his size including Darren Sproles and should certainly be a good complementary RB behind power RB Jordan Howard.
Jamaal Williams | RB | Packers
Throughout the draft process, one RB that I have continued to monitor and mention on a consistent basis is Packers fourth round pick Jamaal Williams. Williams was a standout at BYU and when the Packers drafted him back in April, I knew it was a great spot for Williams. Green Bay got a nice surprise at RB last season from converted WR Ty Montgomery but with Montgomery’s continual transition to a full-time RB, Williams should be able to step and compete for starting reps early. Montgomery will most likely start the season for the Packers but it wouldn’t shock me to see Williams take over at some point in the season like Jordan Howard did in Chicago.
Dan Feeney | OG | Chargers
The Chargers made big improvements to the interior of their offensive line in the draft by drafting OGs Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney but recently suffered a big loss when Lamp went down with an injury potentially ending his rookie season. In light of this terrible news, this situation opens the door for Feeney to take Lamp’s spot in the lineup. Feeney was a force on Indiana’s offensive line and if the Chargers plan on protecting QB Philip Rivers and RB Melvin Gordon, Feeney may be their guy for one of the starting OG spots come week 1.
Isaac Asiata | OG | Dolphins
Coming off a playoff season, Miami has continued to make improvements on both the offensive and defensive lines and one underrated name to watch is OG Isaac Asiata. The fifth round prospect from Utah is a good interior blocker and with the Dolphins moving Laremy Tunsil outside to LT, that leaves a hole in the interior of the offensive line. Right now, veteran OGs Anthony Steen and Ted Larsen are projected to get first crack at the starting gig, but neither are standouts so if Asiata impresses early, he may see starting reps when the regular season rolls around.
Derek Rivers | DE/OLB | Patriots
One of my favorite small school prospects from this drat is Patriots DE and former Youngstown State star Derek Rivers. The Patriots are known for getting the best out of their young talents and Rivers should without a doubt be included in this list. Last season, New England traded their star DE Chandler Jones and when many questioned the move, in came 2015 fourth round pick Trey Flowers to replace Chandler in the lineup and ended the season with 7 sacks on only 8 starts. Rivers may see time at LB for New England along with a pass rushing specialist role but regardless of where he is on the field, Rivers should thrive with the Patriots in his rookie season.
Dawuane Smoot | DE | Jaguars
Jacksonville made some big upgrades this season on defense including free agents signings of DE Calais Campbell and CB AJ Bouye but an underrated draft pick that could yield some early production is third round pick DE Dawuane Smoot. Two years ago, Smoot was considered one of college football’s best pass rushers but after an up and down 2016 season, he fell to the third round and is looking at a rotational role with the Jaguars. That being said, Smoot may see more playing time due to the lack of production from former first round pick Dante Fowler Jr. and the Jaguars ability to slide Campbell inside to DT allowing Smoot to see more time on the field. Jacksonville does not a definitive starting DE group just yet so if Smoot can shine early, he may just be able to edge out more reps in the Jaguars young and inexperienced pass rushing rotation.
Raekwon McMillan | LB | Dolphins
Entering the draft most the hype in the LB group was centered around first round picks Haason Reddick and Reuben Foster yet one LB who may be featured more than the others to start the season is Dolphins second round pick Raekwon McMillan. Now McMillan may not have been the flashiest or quickest LB at Ohio State but he was a leader of their defense and a consistent playmaker in the middle of the field. Miami has two LB spots locked up in Kiko Alonso and veteran Lawrence Timmons but McMillan looks to be the third guy in that LB group. Not only will McMillan see starting reps early but he will get to learn from a veteran like Timmons who has been of the most underrated LBs in the NFL over the last few seasons. Foster and Reddick may get more notoriety, but McMillan will get just as much playing time and potentially more if the Dolphins have a comparable season to 2016.
Anthony Walker | LB | Colts
Another LB to keep an eye out for is Colts fifth round pick Anthony Walker. Walker was a tackling machine the last two seasons at Northwestern and looks to continue that in Indianapolis and much like McMillan in Miami, Walker may see the field sooner rather than later. The Colts inside LBs consist of Antonio Morrison, Sean Spence and Jon Bostic and if there is a time for Walker to fight for a starting LB spot, it’s now. Walker has some good intangibles teams look for in starting LBs and by the time the regular season starts, look for Anthony Walker in the Colts starting defense.
Josh Jones | S | Packers
The Packers are one of those teams that have one of the more explosive offenses in the league yet are held down at times by their struggling defense. Green Bay tried to address this issue in the draft when they drafted CB Kevin King in the second round but one of the more interesting picks was S Josh Jones. The second round pick from NC State is a big, physical S who has good closing speed and is a swish army knife type of defender in the secondary. Green Bay does have their S spots covered already with Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and Morgan Burnett but with the departure of S Micah Hyde, Jones could step into Hyde’s role on the defense which could result in Jones receiving a good amount of starting reps in his rookie season.
Eddie Jackson | S | Bears
Another name to watch in Chicago is S Eddie Jackson. The former Alabama defender was highly touted until an unfortunate leg injury cost him his season which led to the S falling to the Bears in the fourth round. In camp, Jackson has shown some promise intercepting a few passes, including one from first round pick QB Mitchell Trubisky, and considering the Bears lack of stars in the secondary, don’t be surprised if Jackson starts across from S Quintin Demps.