• CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants: The Giants needed cornerback help opposite Deonte Banks, and they got it in the form of Phillips. The 70th overall pick saw 57 targets a season ago, the fourth-most in the SEC, but he surrendered only 38 catches. He tied for 10th among all FBS corners with 23 defensive stops.
• WR Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers got terrific value by picking Wilson 84th overall, a full 42 slots below his PFF big board ranking. Wilson’s surehandedness makes him particularly appealing: his 2% drop rate tied for 11th-lowest among FBS receivers with 65 or more targets. He’s also a tenacious blocker in the run game.
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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
After 257 selections, the 2024 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror. Now, attention shifts to rookie minicamps, OTAs and, eventually, training camp.
Players picked in the first round, such as quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., will be expected to maintain their collegiate stardom and hit the ground sprinting in the pro ranks. Even many who were taken between Picks 33 and 64 face high expectations in Year 1.
Every season, though, players who may not have been premier draft selections emerge as contributors down the stretch. These Day 2-3 additions could very well fit that bill.
CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants
The Giants needed cornerback help opposite Deonte Banks, and they got it in the form of Phillips. The 70th overall pick saw 57 targets a season ago, the fourth-most in the SEC, but he surrendered only 38 catches. He tied for 10th among all FBS corners with 23 defensive stops.
Although Giants cornerback Nick McCloud played well last year, earning a 74.8 overall grade and 80.7 coverage grade, he played just 312 snaps. As a result, Phillips could be in for a bigger share of responsibilities right away, largely because of how few bodies can man the outside for the Giants.
WR Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers got terrific value by picking Wilson 84th overall, a full 42 slots below his PFF big board ranking. Wilson’s surehandedness makes him particularly appealing: his 2% drop rate tied for 11th-lowest among FBS receivers with 65 or more targets. He’s also a tenacious blocker in the run game.
Although his 5-foot-10 frame likely limits him to the slot, Wilson will almost definitely serve as Pittsburgh’s starting Y receiver after the departures of Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson II. While the Steelers may sign or trade for a veteran to complement George Pickens on the perimeter and run more in-breaking routes, Wilson will be expected to get open right away—namely on crossing routes, his specialty—for Russell Wilson.
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Arizona Cardinals
Taylor-Demerson is a do-it-all defensive player who can impact the game from several alignments. He was one of 11 FBS safeties to tally four-plus interceptions and four-plus pass breakups last year, and he gave up a measly 58.4 passer rating across 2022 and 2023.
Further, during his five years at Texas Tech, Taylor-Demerson aligned as a true free safety (52.1%), in the slot (28.6%), in the box (15.7%) and even outside an offensive tackle (28 snaps) from 2022 to 2023.
Arizona has its two projected starting safeties in star Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson, but Baker will be a free agent at the end of the year and would cost under $4 million in dead cap if traded. If he can’t stick at safety, Taylor-Demerson should get a chance to play right away in the slot, where former third-rounder Garrett Williams (56.7 overall grade last year) is currently the favorite.
Overall, Taylor-Demerson feels like a player Jonathan Gannon will covet early in the offseason, making it hard to keep the versatile defensive back off the field.
LB Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks
Knight had a spectacular 2023 campaign for UTEP, featuring an 83.0 overall grade, 75 stops — the most in the country by any FBS defender — five sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. The linebacker also seldom came off the field, leading the Miners in defensive snaps played each of the last three seasons.
Seattle overhauled its inside linebacking corps, moving on from Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush by signing Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. But Baker, a seven-year vet, has earned just two 70.0-plus overall grades. Plus, there’s little depth behind the two signees.
New head coach Mike Macdonald could easily fall in love with the playmaking Knight, whose athletic makeup compensates for his 6-foot frame.
Edge Austin Booker, Chicago Bears
It was shocking to see Booker, ranked 88th on PFF’s big board, slide all the way to the fifth round. Yet the Bears ended his fall by trading back up to nab the Jayhawk pass-rusher at 144th overall. Booker’s baseline measurables — 6-foot-4 ½, 240 pounds and just 21 years old — make him intriguing enough, but his production was also terrific in Lawrence. Booker totaled 38 pressures and nine sacks on only 237 pass-rush snaps, adding 25 run stops.
While Booker played a measly 505 career snaps across Kansas and Minnesota, there’s little denying his potential, which could manifest in Chicago. The Bears are still seeking secondary edge rushers to play alongside star Montez Sweat, especially after ranking 32nd in team pass-rush grade last season. Don’t be shocked if Booker beats out veterans like Jacob Martin or Dominique Robinson.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
A bit of a hybrid running back and receiver, Tracy has a wide-ranging skill set — but simply put the ball in his hands. As a running back with Purdue last year, he averaged 6.3 yards per attempt and 4.44 yards after contact per attempt. He also forced 46 missed tackles, the third-most in the Big Ten. Tracy made contributions as a receiver, too, averaging 6.8 yards after the catch per reception in both of the last two years.
While he’ll need to clean up drops (11.1% career rate), the 6-foot-1 Tracy has every opportunity to compete to be Devin Singletary’s backup in New York. The fifth-rounder could prove especially valuable on third downs or even lined up in the slot, where he lined up 32.2% of the time in West Lafayette.
Tracy feels like a dream player for coaches Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka to leverage to create mismatches.
WR Cornelius Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers
Johnson proved a solid asset in Michigan’s run to a national championship last year. He amassed 31 first downs on only 47 catches, and his 11.5 aDOT was 11th among Big Ten receivers last year (minimum 65 targets).
Johnson really shines in contested scenarios: his 81.8% contested catch rate (hauling in nine of his 11 targets) was second in the country among all receivers with 50 or more total targets.
The Chargers added Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, who should see the field instantly alongside 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer. Yet Jim Harbaugh is familiar with Johnson, having coached him for six seasons, and LA will need to replace Mike Williams’ patented go-ball dominance.
If Johnson reduces his drops and makes the Chargers’ roster, he could certainly emerge as an asset for Justin Herbert.
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