The NFL Draft is a huge part of every team’s roster-building process… but sometimes, let’s face it, the teams get it wrong when it comes to drafting players.
They either take a player who doesn’t pan out—or… conversely… the teams miss on a guy who is ready to make an impact right away!
Let’s take a look at this year’s crop of undrafted rookies and pick out the 10 that are most likely to make a big splash in 2024!
Which undrafted NFL players are you most excited about to watch in 2024?
New Orleans Saints: TE Dallin Holker
Don’t look now, but when the 2024 season comes to a close, we might see rookie tight end Dallin Hooker not just standing out amongst the undrafted crop but the entire rookie class.
Dallin Holker landed in a great spot for him to have an impactful rookie season with the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans has traditionally done a good job of developing young NFL players and the Saints’ offensive scheme under head coach Dennis Allen is should bode well for Holker’s success… not to mention that he’ll be catching passes from a veteran quarterback in Derek Carr, who has made a couple of other tight ends over the years… cough, cough—I’m looking at you, Darren Waller—look really good and helped them earn a lot of money.
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Between the coach and quarterback’s history of utilizing tight ends effectively, Holker’s skill set should align perfectly.
He stands 6’5″ and 240 pounds and possesses an ideal combination of size, speed, and agility that makes him a challenging nightmare for defenses.
Holker is also extremely versatile. During his college career at BYU, Holker showcased his ability to line up in various positions, namely the slot, and split out wide like a receiver, in addition to the traditional tight end duties… This will enable the Saints to run a number of different formations and variations of plays out of those formations.
New York Giants: DL Casey Rogers
Despite coming out of Oregon undrafted, Casey Rogers has a real chance at making an impact for the New York Giants this year. Rogers brings a blend of size, strength, and tenacity to the defensive line. At 6’4″ and 300 pounds, he has the physical attributes to make an immediate impact in the trenches.
New York is very excited about his athleticism coming out of the draft, as he posted a 9.80 relative athletic score during the pre-draft process, according to Pro Football Network.
His knack for getting into the backfield and disrupting plays will be a valuable asset for the Giants, who are looking to bolster a defensive front that leaves a lot to be desired beyond Dexter Lawrence.
The good news for New York and Rogers is that the young D.T. has experience playing in a rotational system, which the Giants would likely leverage to get him up to speed at the beginning of the season.
Arizona Cardinals: WR Xavier Weaver
The Arizona Cardinals have clearly dedicated their 2024 draft class to building up the weapons around their newly resigned quarterback, Kyler Murray. Not only did they take Marvin Harrison Jr., who is widely regarded as the best wide receiver prospect of the last decade, but they also acquired Xavier Weaver, out of Colorado, as an undrafted free agent out of the draft.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Weaver be one of the breakout NFL players for Arizona in the 2024 season. Obviously, Marvin Harrison Jr. will be a central focus for the offense, and Weaver will have to do some climbing in the depths charts, but with the way that the Cardinals’ offense looked last year, it is hard to deny that they are in need of more weapons.
Weaver has the ideal frame for a modern wide receiver. His quickness off the line and sharp route-running make him a tough matchup, both coming out of the slot and out wide. Arizona is hoping that he’ll develop into playing a similar role that he played for the Buffaloes last year, where he often served as quarterback, Shedeur Sanders’s security blanket, so much so that he quietly ended up leading the team in receiving.
Arizona has its work cut out for it in a highly competitive NFC West, but the acquisition of Weaver should bode well for them—as he projects to be one of the most impactful undrafted free agents in the game this year.
Denver Broncos: RB Blake Watson
The running back position as a whole may be under intense scrutiny on draft day, but the narrative actually favors undrafted backs like Blake Watson out of the University of Memphis.
This is because teams— particularly contending teams—are less interested in investing their precious picks towards the top of the draft on running backs and would rather scour the later round and even the undrafted free agency pool to try and find a hidden gem of NFL players on the cheap like Arian Foster back then.
During the 2023 season at Memphis, which was his first as a Tiger after transferring out of Old Dominion… Watson proved to be one of the most impactful running backs in the game—both carrying the football and catching passes out of the backfield.
He had some impressive splits, turning his 192 carries into 1152 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground—in addition to another 53 catches for 480 yards and three scores through the air.
That versatility is part of the reason that the Broncos gave him a chance. Watson should fit very well in Sean Payton’s offense, which is very well suited for a pass-catching back… Think back to what Alvin Kamara did his first season after being a third-round pick!
Obviously, he is still far from a guarantee, but Blake Watson could be one of those names that we hear a lot of as the year progresses and the breakout star that the Broncos—and their fans—have been waiting for.
Cincinnati Bengals: LB Aaron Casey
Alright, Bengals fans, let’s talk about Aaron Casey… This rookie linebacker out of the University of Indiana is ready to make some noise in Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Bengals have a show an impressive knack over the last few seasons for staying ahead of the curve, especially when it comes to filling future needs. Three of the team’s four most experienced options at linebacker will either be a free agent after the upcoming season or the 2025 campaign—only Logan Wilson is signed long-term.
So they were wise to take a flyer on a guy like Casey, who put up some impressive numbers during his time with the Indiana Hoosiers. This first-team All-Big Ten performer racked up 195 total tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks over the last two seasons. The guy’s a tackling machine and knows how to get behind the line of scrimmage to disrupt plays.
The Bengals coaching staff will definitely look to get him involved early and often to try and get a sense of what kind of fit he will be in their system long term. And based on the talented front that Cinci has in place, there should be a really strong opportunity for the former Hoosier to stand out and make an impact.
What he lacks in raw athleticism, he certainly makes up for in football IQ and his top-notch instincts on the field. It isn’t flashy, but he knows how to get the job done.
Also Read: 10 NFL Players You Won’t Believe Were Traded For A First-Round Pick
New York Jets: DL Leonard Taylor III
Alright Jets fans, we have some good news for you amid the offseason chaos of your stars not showing up to OTAs…
Leonard Taylor III, the defensive lineman that the team picked up as an undrafted free agent, is a name you’re going to want to remember. This guy was pegged as a future first-round pick heading into the 2023 season. But as the year went on, that hype faded, and he ended up sliding right out of the draft entirely.
Obviously, there is cause for concern there, but getting a player with his raw physical abilities as an undrafted player should be very exciting.
Imagine adding Taylor to the Jets’ already formidable defensive front that was one of the best units in the league last year—bar none.
This is a team that loves to bring the heat, and Taylor could be another weapon in their arsenal. He’s got the size and the strength, and if he can work on that pad level to help his game translate to the next level, he’s going to be a problem for offensive lines.
So, keep an eye on Leonard Taylor III. He might have slipped out of the draft, but he’s landing in a spot where he can develop and make an impact for a team with playoff aspirations. The Jets’ defensive line just got a lot more interesting with this addition. Don’t sleep on this guy—he’s got the potential to be a game-changer among the new crop of NFL players.
Minnesota Vikings: Edge Gabriel Murphy
Keep an eye on Gabriel Murphy, the undrafted edge rusher coming out of UCLA.
He might not have been the biggest name on draft day, but he’s got the potential to be a game-changer for the Vikings. With his explosive play style and relentless pursuit, Murphy is ready to make his mark in Minnesota and become a key piece of the Vikings’ defense.
The man knows how to get after the ball carrier. During his last season as a Bruin, he notched 16 tackles for a loss and eight sacks.
The Vikings’ defensive scheme under head coach Kevin O’Connell is designed to maximize the potential of their pass rushers, and Murphy fits right into that plan.
And with a huge hole to fill following the departure of veteran edge rusher Danielle Hunter, Murphy has a unique opportunity to get in the mix early for the Vikes to develop his skills and refine his technique in real time!
Carolina Panthers: WR Jalen Coker
Panthers fans have not had a lot to smile about in recent years, but their team… against all odds… may have found a diamond in the rough in former Holy Cross standout wide receiver Jalen Coker.
In his final season on campus, he racked up over 1,000 receiving yards and scored ten touchdowns.
His ability to stretch the field and make big plays was a constant headache for defenses—and he showed a propensity for coming up clutch in crucial moments, which was part of what caught the attention of NFL scouts and coaches alike.
His 40 time wasn’t blazing fast at 4.57, but at 6’ 1” with a 41.5-inch vertical jump—the guy can go up and get it.
A physical, security blanket-type receiver could be exactly what the Panthers’ second-year QB, Bryce Young, needed.
Don’t be surprised if we see the two put up some impressive numbers together this year as the Panthers try to right the ship.
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have clearly put an emphasis on developing a young and athletic defensive secondary… Four of their big names, Joey Porter Jr., Ryan Watts, Cory Trice Jr., and Darius Rush, have played two or fewer seasons.
And now they are looking to add to that young, dynamic bunch of NFL players with Beanie Bishop Jr.
Bishop had a busy college career. He started at Western Kentucky, then stopped at the University of Minnesota before becoming a West Virginia Mountaineer. There, he became a second-team All-American and led the FBS with 24 passes defended and his team with four interceptions.
He is slightly undersized for the modern NFL game, but that kind of playmaking ability can’t be taught. Plus, Bishop loves to play a physical brand of football and won’t be afraid to rise to the challenge.
Bishop also has the good fortune of playing for a top head coach, Mike Tomlin, who knows how to get the best out of his players.
This one looks like a match made in heaven!
Baltimore Ravens, S Beau Brade
The Ravens have earned a reputation for developing defensive talent over the years… and Brade fits right into that mold.
Baltimore’s defensive scheme is perfect for a player like Brade, who can be used in multiple roles—whether it’s playing deep, coming up in the box, or covering the slot. With veterans like Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton to learn from, Brade is in an excellent environment to develop his skills and grow as a player… Not to mention the fact that he’ll be playing for one of the most experienced and accomplished defensive-minded head coaches in the game today, John Harbaugh.
Standing at 6 feet tall and 205 pounds, Brade has the ideal frame for an NFL safety. He’s got the size and physicality to match up against tight ends and running backs while also possessing the speed and agility to cover ground in the secondary.
Brade is a physical safety with a nose for the football. He’s aggressive in run support and has the instincts to make plays in coverage, which is exactly what you want from your safety in the modern NFL.
He’ll obviously need to make some adjustments to the way he reads and understands the game as the NFL moves at a completely different pace… but with the right coaching, he can become a reliable contributor, no doubt about it.
Also Read: 10 NFL Players Who Could Save Their Careers With These Position Changes
