In most cases, players picked on the third day of the NFL draft tend to make contributions mostly in a reserve capacity, or on special teams, when they play their first NFL season. However, the number of rookies making a more significant contribution last year was higher than expected.
In total, 14 of the 154 day-three picks made eight or more starts. This is higher than the average over the last 10 years. Talent was one factor that came into play when determining how many times a rookie started. Another factor was injuries to veteran players.
The same considerations will come into play this year and many experts believe that several rookies for this year’s day-three picks will make a significant contribution. As one NFL expert working as a new jersey based sports journalist said:
“It’s entirely possible that we will see this year’s rookies having a similar impact to those from last year. This is particularly likely to happen if injuries to seasoned players occur.”
So, which day-three rookies are likely to make the most impact? Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
Perrion Winfrey at Cleveland Browns
Winfrey has arrived at the Browns at exactly the right time. Both Malik McDowell and Malik Jackson have left for pastures new so Winfrey will be a welcome addition to a team that needs a decent 3-technique.
In this situation, Winfrey stands a good chance of making several starts in his first year with the Browns.
Keaontay Ingram at Arizona Cardinals
Last year, James Conner shared time in the backfield at the Cardinals with Chase Edmonds. Now that Edmonds has departed there is an opportunity for rookie Ingram to make a name for himself.
Conner only started on six of eight times he appeared last year so sharing at least some time with Ingram seems likely. Exactly what this means for Ingram and the number of games he plays will only become clear once the season starts.
Cordell Volson at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals had the potential to achieve a lot last year but were let down by unimpressive guard play. The performances of Jackson Carman and Hakeem Adeniji often featured costly lapses.
Alex Cappa arriving is seen to be part of the solution, but Volson may have a more significant role to play than may usually be expected of a rookie. This is especially the case if his abilities as a blocker impress during training camps.
Coby Bryant at Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks fans and have some questions about their team’s strength in depth at cornerback. This is especially the case given the recent knee injury issues experienced by Tre Brown.
Rookie Bryant certainly has the talent to step up and fill any potential gaps. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2021. This award is given to the top defensive back in college football and Bryant now has the opportunity to take this talent forward into his NFL career.
Kingsley Enagbare at Green Bay Packers
The Packers suffered last season when Za’Darius Smith’s back problems caused him to miss several games. Now that Smith has departed, the main focus as all-round edge rushers falls on Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
It’s likely that they will be starters but there is also a chance for rookie Enagbare to feature, especially given his strength and ability to put pressure on. He will certainly be first in line to cover should Gary or Smith succumb to any injuries.
These rookies all stand a good chance of featuring for their teams this year and upping the starter average for day three picks.
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