8 NFL Rookies with Potential to Outperform Teammates Drafted at Same Position
Brent SobleskiMay 15, 20248 NFL Rookies with Potential to Outperform Teammates Drafted at Same Position0 of 8
New England Patriots wide receiver Javon BakerJonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Whenever an NFL franchise has a significant need among a specific position group entering the draft, a tendency exists to double- or even triple-dip with their selections.
Not all squads do so, and the board doesn’t always align to make such an approach feasible. Still, multiple organizations saw where they had weak spots and attacked them during this year’s event.
In specific cases, those who play the same position but are taken later can outperform the more highly regarded prospect. For instance, Kirk Cousins was chosen by Washington long after Robert Griffin III heard his named called with the second overall pick in the 2012 draft.
To be fair, Griffin became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that following season, but injuries derailed the early portion of his career. Yet Washington drafted two quarterbacks in the same class and the later selection became the better professional.
An individual landing on a new squad after seeing another player at the same position drafted before him provides motivation. Those who take every little slight can turn the situation to their advantage. As an example, the Indianapolis Colts’ Adonai Mitchell was the 11th wide receiver drafted in this year’s class. He now wears No. 10 to remind himself of the wide receivers selected before him.
The following eight situations have the potential for the lesser-regarded prospect to supersede the higher-drafted option when all is said and done.
Arizona Cardinals CB Elijah Jones over Max Melton1 of 8
Elijah JonesMichael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Arizona Cardinals needed a boost to their secondary and got it with the second- and third-round selections of cornerbacks Max Melton and Elijah Jones, respectively.
Both should be able to help the team immediately, though the latter may ultimately end up being the better draft pick.
The biggest differences between the two involve Melton’s explosive athleticism and Jones’ pure coverage skills.
Melton was the higher draft pick at No. 43 because his athletic profile is impressive.
The 5’11”, 187-pound defensive back posted a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical and a 11’4″ broad jump. The latter two both ranked among the top-five cornerbacks. Interestingly, the same can be said of Jones, who didn’t run quite as fast with a 4.44-second 40 but beat Melton with a 42.5-inch vertical.
The issue with both is they were a little tight regarding predraft change-of-direction drills.
Over the last two seasons with the Eagles, Jones intercepted seven passes and defended 28 more. He beat Melton in both categories, though the latter still managed five and 21, respectively.
Melton does have some technique issues that may require time to refine.
Whereas Jones developed into the highest-rated man-cover corner among the draft-eligible cornerbacks, according to Pete Bukowski of Locked on Packers. The sixth-year senior allowed a 32 percent completion rate and 18.1 passer rating when targeted during the 2023 regular season, per Pro Football Focus.
For comparison, Melton allowed a career-best 65.7 quarterback rating when targeted last season.
Atlanta Falcons DL Brandon Dorlus over Ruke Orhorhoro 2 of 8
Brandon DorlusBrandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
In what turned out to be a fascinating sequence of events, the Atlanta Falcons chose Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro over Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton near the top of the second round and then doubled back with the selection Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus two rounds later.
The addition of both will create significant defensive front depth, which had been lacking on the Falcons’ roster. Calais Campbell remaining unsigned certainly doesn’t help matters.
Orhorhoro presents significant upside, as someone who came into the game late and needed time to become a starter at Clemson.
The No. 35 pick presents significant raw athletic traits, though. In fact, the 6’4″, 294-pound prospect posted the 15th-best relative athletic score among defensive tackles over the last 37 years, according to Pro Football Network’s Kent Lee Platte.
As of now, Orhorhoro’s is at his best when defending the run. Dorlus is different.
First, Dorlus is no slouch regarding raw traits, either. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman the 6’3″, 283-pound lineman posted a 685-pound back squat, a 685-pound sumo deadlift and a 345-pound power clean, while hitting 20.75 mph on the GPS at one point.
The No. 109 pick is a more natural pass-rusher capable of playing up and down the line of scrimmage. He can even stand up and play off the edge if necessary. That versatility, coupled with the explosiveness, can help elevate the entire Atlanta defensive front.
Cincinnati Bengals TE Tanner McLachlan over Erick All3 of 8
Tanner McLachlanKevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals weren’t happy with the tight end position last season. Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson remain on the roster, but the two combined to snag 61 passes for 515 yards and three touchdowns.
The organization made multiple investments to upgrade, starting with the free-agent signing of Mike Gesicki, as well as the respective fourth- and sixth-round draft selections of Erick All and Tanner McLachlan.
Consider the following: Gesicki signed a one-year deal, Hudson is a pending free agent after the upcoming season, and All has a significant injury history.
The pathway for McLachlan to eventually emerge as the Bengals’ TE1 isn’t just possible, it may even be probable.
Let’s backtrack a moment and look at All’s medical concerns. The Bengals chose the athletically gifted prospect at No. 115 despite playing in only 10 games over the last two campaigns because of a season-ending neck injury during his last season at Michigan and a torn ACL during his one year with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
McLachlan showed consistent improvement while transitioning away from the basketball court to the gridiron, while also transferring from an FCS program to the Pac-12 Conference.
Over the last two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, the No. 194 overall pick caught 79 passes for 984 yards and six touchdowns. His totals from each of the major statistical categories improved across the board between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Green Bay Packers S Kitan Oladapo over Javon Bullard, Evan Williams4 of 8
Kitan OladapoKevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department graded Kitan Oladapo as an early Day 2 talent and a top-three safety prospect in this year’s class.
However, the Oregon State product fell all the way to the fifth round, where the Green Bay Packers selected him with the 169th overall pick.
What happened?
The defensive back quietly suffered a broken toe during the on-field portion of the NFL Scouting Combine, per Paul Bretl of the Packers Wire. As a result, his acclimation period into the professional ranks has been delayed since he can’t participate during the on-field portions of minicamps.
“Just staying in the training room, getting the swelling down, getting my range of motion back,” Oladapo told reporters last week. “And then just staying locked in, mental reps on the sideline, and then meet with the coaches after, make sure I get the game plan.”
The organization still saw value in Oladapo’s selection, though, even after drafting fellow safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams earlier in the process.
The rookie trio, alongside the free-agent acquisition of Xavier McKinney, provides a revamped safety room. Bullard will likely take plenty of reps working over the slot. The 6’2″, 216-pound Oladapo, meanwhile, fits more of a “traditional safety role.”
“I’m comfortable anywhere on the field,” Oladapo said. “Whatever the team needs me to do: be in the box, be in the post, blitz, guard tight ends, guard slots. I can do it all. I feel comfortable just having my two feet on the grass.”
With the fifth-rounder’s size, playing style and overall talent level despite the recent injury, he can become a primary component in the Packers’ defense when he’s ready.
Los Angeles Chargers WR Brenden Rice over Ladd McConkey5 of 8
Brenden RiceMichael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As if it’s not enough being the son of the GOAT, the chip on Brenden Rice’s shoulder has grown into a boulder after falling into the seventh round of the NFL draft.
“My dad was hot,” he told reporters on Friday. “First words he said were, ‘Time to go to work.’ He said, ‘I will be with you every step of the way.’ He said, ‘I’m going to be involved with all your workouts from now on, and we got a lot of people to prove wrong.'”
The Los Angeles Chargers even passed on the USC product seven times, including the selection of second-round wide receiver Ladd McConkey, before finally drafting Jerry Rice’s kid at No. 225 overall.
The younger Rice has a lot of overcome: Name recognition, expectations and draft status. He’s more than capable of doing so, though. His competitiveness should provide an edge, because it can be seen in his game.
The 6’2″, 208-pound target is physical and regularly bodies off wide receivers. He’s going to overwhelm smaller defensive backs. As a result, he’s an excellent red-zone target, who also happens to have good body control and strong hands. He can be an excellent power slot to fill some of the void left by Keenan Allen.
McConkey is a different type of weapon, with the speed to be a vertical threat and sudden enough to create separation on underneath routes.
While this piece is built around one outperforming the other, the Chargers could use both after trading Allen to the Chicago Bears and releasing Mike Williams.
Miami Dolphins Edge Mohamed Kamara over Chop Robinson6 of 8
Mohamed KamaraPeter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A healthy competition has already started between Miami Dolphins rookie edge-rushers, Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara.
“He always talks trash,” Robinson told reporters when asked about his new teammate after the two worked out together during the predraft process. “Everything we were doing in training, whether it’s the get-offs or the slip or we in the weight room, he always wants to compete. That’s just him competing. I was fine with it because it’s pushing me and pushing him.”
Meanwhile, Kamara said: “Most of the time, we were just competing. We have a friendly-hate relationship. But that’s my guy right there. We’re always going to help each other in any aspect. Most of the time, it was just realizing how good he is and how good I can be, because he’s a hell of a talent. So I’m just trying to get there. He went first round for a reason.”
Robinson’s get-off and fluidity off the edge was the class’ best, but he wasn’t the most effective rusher. The true junior prospect managed a total of 11.5 sacks during his three collegiate seasons.
Yes, the Dolphins’ first-round pick is packed with potential, but Kamara comes into the league as the better rusher.
The No. 158 overall pick is a stoutly built edge-defender who can explode through blockers. He is an older prospect (24) and didn’t play at a Power Five program. Still, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year amassed 21.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
With Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips coming off season-ending injuries, the opportunity to impress early is available to Miami’s first- and fifth-round selections.
New England Patriots WR Javon Baker over Ja’Lynn Polk7 of 8
Javon BakerMichael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Second-round wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk is a reliable target to help in the maturation of the New England Patriots’ rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Yet, he was arguably the third-best wide receiver on his collegiate roster, with Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan also playing for the Washington Huskies.
Furthermore, the Patriots also chose UCF’s Javon Baker, who previously transferred from Alabama, in this year’s fourth round.
Polk and Baker have similar athletic profiles, but they’re very different receivers in how they win. The second-rounder is tremendous when it comes to winning contested catches. Baker does a better job creating separation down the field, which is exactly why he can thrive when playing alongside someone with the natural arm talent of Maye.
B/R scout Cory Giddings, who doubles as the director of player personnel at UFC, has seen Baker up close and understands what he brings to the table. He predicted the No. 110 overall pick can develop into a WR1-type of target:
“He posted a whopping 21.9 yards per catch in 2023, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in a run-heavy UCF offense. He thrives when contested, pairing supreme body control, strong hands and the ability to elevate and attack the ball.
“However, he’s not just a red-zone threat, as he’s consistently proved to be a real threat after the catch. Baker’s catch radius and skill set will make him a popular target at the next level, so don’t be surprised when the 22-year-old challenges the 1,000-yard mark early in his professional career.”
San Francisco 49ers WR Jacob Cowing over Ricky Pearsall8 of 8
Jacob CowingChris Coduto/Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers chose a pair of wide receivers in this year’s draft, starting with Ricky Pearsall in the first round and Jacob Cowing in the fourth.
Some may see these acquisitions as insurance since Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel’s names have both come up in trade rumors. Plus, Aiyuk is a free agent after this season and the organization may not want another massive contract at the position.
Even with all of that in mind, varied skill sets for Kyle Shanahan’s offense help the scheme evolve.
Pearsall adds a legitimate vertical presence, who also happens to be a stellar route-runner. However, B/R’s evaluators saw the selection as a tad rich after evaluating him as a mid-to-late Day 2 talent because of a slight frame and some inflexibility when asked to snap off quicker, shorter routes.
The 5’8″, 168-pound Cowing has similar concerns from a physical standpoint, but he is also explosive and has experience serving as a vertical and underneath threat.
“Even at his size, it’s hard to find players with that kind of twitch,” B/R scout Derrik Klassen wrote. “With that said, Cowing’s lack of size, strength and polish will be limiting, both early on and down the road. Cowing needs a spread-out passing offense that can give him space.”
What passing game is as good or better than any when it comes to creating space for its receivers? Oh, that happens to be Shanahan’s system.
Cowing can be the creative playmaker the 49ers head coach loves, while the first-round receiver gets pigeonholed slightly into a specific role to stretch the defense.
