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The first round of rookie drafts is going to be fun, and the end result will probably look drastically different than others. The second round is a great place to add another piece that could contribute to your team in the future, but this year, the amount of talent coming to the NFL will make it that much more important. Forget players who may help in the future; there will be instant impacts.
Let’s go over ten of the best available options after the top 12 players are selected and gone- Get familiar with these guys, as you’ll need to be in the know come draft time.
(I have a longer piece on the receivers in this list on my Substack, check it out for a more in-depth scouting profile)
For this piece, we will assume these players are GONE:
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Marvin Harrsion Jr, Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, JJ McCarthy, Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas Jr, Adonai Mitchell, Jonathon Brooks, Troy Franklin. If anybody on this list is available after 12 picks in your league, consider them before anybody else.
THIS IS NOT A MOCK DRAFT- IT IS BASED ON MY OVERALL PROSPECT BIG BOARD, NOT FACTORED FOR POSITIONAL OR MARKET VALUE- USE THIS IN TANDEM WITH MOCK DRAFTS/ADP TO GET THE WHOLE PICTURE.
Keon Coleman
Keon Coleman is a divisive prospect to some, but I don’t have many qualms with his profile. Coleman is a 20-year-old early declare who put physically dominant reps on tape. Coleman was used primarily vertically but also as a motion man, kick returner, and screen weapon. Florida State left a lot on the table for both him and Johnny Wilson production-wise, and he could have first-round draft capital (Bills at 28, anybody?). I can understand the knocks on Coleman's separation, but that is simply not his game. Let’s try not to punish talented players for making difficult catches consistently, alright?
Ladd McConkey
Ladd McConkey has great tape, advanced metrics, and buzz from NFL teams. McConkey should be one of the first receivers off the board at the top of the second in the NFL. McConkey can play flanker or in the slot and has more than enough polish to play right away. McConkey's ability to stretch the seam and run intermediate routes with timing is huge. McConkey should be gone before pick 15 or 16 in your rookie draft.
Ja'Lynn Polk
Ja'Lynn Polk is slightly less explosive than McConkey but has all the technique and more. Polk has fantastic internal timing and attention to detail. On top of that, Polk is more than willing to fight for jump balls or absorb a big hit to bring in an off-target throw. Polk can slot in as a flanker for half the teams in the league right now. I don’t think Polk will be a consistent producer of electric RAC plays, but he will be a consistent producer. Polk is a pretty safe pick to make, and if you’re actively looking to take on risk in the later rounds of the draft, then pick someone else- he is not a boom/bust guy.
Ricky Pearsall
Ricky Pearsall can excel in a unique NFL role- a slot man who can stretch the seam and run efficient medium routes. Jayden Reed has shown ability in the same vein (they are physically and technically different, to be clear). Pearsall is also more than willing to get up for a ball and has the traits to back up growth in the vertical game. At this point in time, Pearsall could come into the NFL and get slot snaps (or, at the very least, contend for them). With time, I can see Pearsall becoming more consistent and able to play on the boundary. Pearsall's median case is that of a solid contributor in the NFL.
Trey Benson
Trey Benson is a violent runner who showed capability in the power run scheme at Florida State. Benson is my RB2, and we are assuming the RB1 is Jonathon Brooks, who then gets taken at the end of your first round. Running back is super situationally dependent, so Benson may end up in a bad situation but the tape tells me he is RB2 in talent. Benson is very functionally strong, and his naturally low build shows up in his contact balance and his explosiveness. Benson had a major knee injury in college, but his acceleration is still there.
Benson was never a jumpy or flighty back who relied heavily on a jump cut and an eye for the outside, so the injury did not change how he played. Benson is a one-cut-back who has just enough to play on passing downs and can, at the very least, give whoever drafts him a solid two-down option until he can get more settled as an NFL back. The Cowboys would be a DREAM selection (that’s kind of true for any back, but whatever).
Jalen McMillan
The last of the trifecta of Washington receivers. Jalen McMillan is a smooth, quick, and efficient deep route runner. McMillan possesses a lot of detail on deep sails, posts, and double moves. McMillan was used like a flanker who was opened up by the routes of the other receivers but also pressed zones and caused decisions to be made by safeties. McMillan would be an awesome three to have, one that can reliably get deep and back it up with stack and track ability.
McMillan can run any route and I think the NFL will use him as a specific type of player. McMillan's downfall is his inability to generate explosivity after the catch, but as long as he can reliably catch it, who cares? Tyler Lockett comes to mind, but he is/was fantastic, which is a lofty projection.
MarShawn Lloyd
MarShawn Lloyd is a unique running back. Lloyd is a hair under 5’9 and 220 pounds- Insanely compact. Lloyd bounces around like a pinball when tacklers try to go too high. Lloyd can get uprooted from his base, though he doesn’t stay super low and bowl forward like Zamir White; he picks and chooses his gaps.
Lloyd shows good explosion when he finds a crease and can get in and out of gaps pretty smoothly. Lloyd processes in a pretty one-dimensional way, though- D-line, then Linebackers, then safeties- it is not all connected in his brain. Whenever Lloyd gets to the next level, he has to rediagnose.
Regardless, I think Lloyd can be a contributor in the NFL on at least the first two downs. Lloyd's passing ability is pretty bad, though I know some people say he is willing. Lloyd is a higher-risk, higher-reward player to get. Lloyd has the ability to create explosive plays more than other backs in the draft, but he also may get Tank Bigsby’d—brutal in the pass game—and struggles mightily getting put in the position where he has to do just that.
Malik Washington
Every year, we see a slot guy be the focal point of his college offense and post 100+ receptions for 1200+ yards. Yet every year, we overlook them for size. This year, the guy is Malik Washington. Washington is quick, smart, balanced, and explosive. Washington is built low and stays low, which can give tacklers a tough time.
Washington also has very strong hands and a knack for using his body to shield short-middle throws for the quarterback. Washington is a fantastic safety valve and dependable option in the middle of the field and will be a strong presence on the right offense. Washington is older and does not have the speed to pull away in the open field. Even so, Washington could totally start right away, but he needs to go to a three-wide set-heavy team.
Malachi Corley
Malachi Corley is another unique player. And that, in and of itself, is a bit dangerous. On one end of the spectrum, you have Deebo Samuel. On the other end, Laviska Shenault. Corley is his own man, and I will make no comparison. Corley is built low like a running back and capably plays receiver like one- he gets schemed screens that basically give him an offensive line out wide to run behind. Corley also runs crossers, hitches, and lots of stuff around the LOS.
Corley will pull and push through tackles more than he makes people miss, and I see him as a third-down glue guy. If you need someone to get tough yards, give Corley the ball. Give Corley the ball if you need some electricity to spark your offense. I mean, damn, just give it to Corley in general!
Corley's lack of ability to uncover deep means he won’t and shouldn’t be lining up for vertical routes outside, and so his role will not be one with tons of deep field, valuable targets. That said, short-yardage targets are fine! Third down and red zone touches generate fantasy points. Corley is still young and a fun guy to take a stab at drafting. If Corley can get round 2 draft capital (which looks pretty realistic), he may go EARLY in the second round. So watch out!
Javon Baker
If you’re looking for a guy that will take some time to develop into a more complete player but has enough on tape to be excited about, Javon Baker is your guy. Baker is already a smooth operator on vertical routes, where he stays calm, keeps his eyes on the ball, and is very deceptive with his eyes and hands so as to not give away how close the ball is. If Baker can get stronger and more consistent down to down, he can run every route and stay on the field in two wide sets. I like Baker's game, and he is probably worth a pick later in the second round if you do, too.
There you have it—ten players to look for and learn more about before your big draft. I’ll be coming out with another ten players soon because I didn't get to Michael Penix Jr, Roman Wilson, Braelon Allen, and many others. I’ve got to hit the tape some more before I can start spreading the gospel. Again, check out my Substack if you want more!
