The first round of the NFL Draft always garners the most attention, but what truly makes a Draft class great isn't its talent at the top, but its overall depth. In 2018, 32.2% of NFL players weren't even drafted, and another 32.2% were Day 3 selections, according to Over The Cap. Stars are found early on, but rosters are built on Day 3. Here are 10 lesser-known prospects who will have big roles on their new teams.
10. James Williams, RB, Washington State
Receiving backs are all the rage nowadays, and Williams is one of the best to enter the Draft in recent years. He's basically an extra wide receiver in the backfield; his routes and ball skills are that good. He doesn't have the best speed or vision when running between the tackles, but his receiving and pass blocking ability will earn him a role as a third down back right away.
The added dimension he gives an offense is very similar to what Duke Johnson has done for the Cleveland Browns over the past few seasons. Williams will likely be a sixth or seventh round pick, but he will give his new team quite a bit of value that late.
9. Tre Watson, LB, Maryland
Because he wasn't invited to the Senior Bowl or Scouting Combine, Watson is a very under-the-radar name this year. A graduate transfer from Illinois, Watson finished with 108 tackles and five interceptions for the Terrapins in 2018. He plays hard and fast against the run, and is adept in pass coverage. He can play inside or outside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, and will at worst give a team a solid depth player who can make an impact right away on special teams.
8. Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
In four seasons, Moreau totaled 52 catches for 629 yards and six touchdowns. Not great production by any means. However, LSU is not known as a passing team, and while Moreau didn't get many chances to show off his receiving ability, there is some upside there. He's not going to be a dynamic pass-catcher, but as a second tight end, he will be more than capable.
Moreau's blocking prowess makes him a very attractive option for any team, and he even posted some very nice athletic numbers at the Combine, including a 36.5″ vertical (third of all TEs), and ran the fastest 20-yard shuttle in the TE class at 4.11 seconds.
7. Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State
Another underutilized weapon, Warring is a solid blocker who is surprisingly quick and agile for being 6'5″ 252lbs. He runs very good routes and gets open quite well. He isn't the fastest player and will need to expand his route tree, but he has all the makings of a good backup with the potential to develop into a solid starter.
6. Chuma Edoga, OT, USC
NFL teams obviously want their offensive lineman to be able to block well while running and throwing the football, but if forced to make a choice between the two, most teams will prioritize pass blocking. Edoga is a good road grader for the run game, and although he allowed just six pressures in 2017 and posted a 98.4 pass-blocking efficiency grade (second in this class) according to Pro Football Focus, his technique, both with his hands and feet, must be improved in order for him to be effective in the NFL.
He must also improve his core strength, but there is a lot of potential here. He is a very fluid athlete, and it's impressive that he was able to keep the pocket clean at such a high rate even while lacking in refinement. Edoga is a project, but in a year or two he could be a very solid starter at either tackle spot.
5. Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor
Hurd began his career in 2014 as a runningback at Tennessee, but after a falling out with former Vols coach Butch Jones, Hurd transferred to Baylor, where he played 12 games as a wide receiver. Hurd entered college as a large RB, but he has since grown to 6'5″ 226lbs, and is a sensational athlete for his size. He caught 69 passes for 946 yards and four touchdowns in 2018, and displayed traits that make NFL teams salivate.
He is still extremely raw, given he hasn't been a WR for very long, but he shows flashes of great route running and knows how to use his body to put himself in the best position for a catch. His potential is off the charts and that alone could get him drafted in the 3rd round.
4. Nik Needham, CB, UTEP
This cornerback class is very weird, as even though there isn't an elite can't-miss prospect, it is very deep, and players drafted on Day 3 will be pushing for starting spots. Needham is just one of those guys. A four-year starter in college, he owns the Miners career record for passes defended with 33. He displayed good coverage in both man and zone, great ball skills, and fluid hips to turn and run with WRs.
He isn't a dominant run defender, but he is by no means a liability, and will lay the hammer on a runner if given the chance. Needham didn't get a Combine or Senior Bowl invite, and because of the school he played it, is not getting much buzz. He stands 6′ 203lbs and reportedly ran in the 4.3s at UTEP's Pro Day. He should definitely be getting more talk.
3. Ronheen Bingham, EDGE, Arkansas State
At 6'2″ 242lbs, Bingham doesn't have the size of a prototypical EDGE, but he just gets pressure. He finished 2018 with nine sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, and according to PFF, won a ridiculous 31.4% of his pass-rush snaps, along with a 26.6 pass rush productivity grade, which ranked second in the class. 63 pressures in 594 snaps is very impressive, and yet most people have never heard of him.
He didn't face great competition, but Arkansas State did play Alabama, and Bingham had a nice game against top OT prospect Jonah Williams. Bingham's speed, explosiveness, and quickness is apparent, and he should be a big part of a team's pass rush rotation as a rookie.
2. Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois
The only player to top Edoga's pass-blocking efficiency in 2017 was Scharping, who finished with a 99.2 grade. He is strong and shows good hand technique. He needs to improve his foot movement, as they aren't fast to begin with, which is a problem that, if not fixed, will cause him to struggle against speed rushers. Scharping likely won't play LT in the pros, but could start on the right side as a rookie if he isn't moved inside to guard. His size and athleticism makes him an intriguing developmental prospect early on Day 3.
1. Michael Dogbe, DT, Temple
This defensive tackle class is fantastic, and has the potential to legitimately be the best of all time. There are the top tier prospects like Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver, along with a second tier of first round guys like Jeffrey Simmons, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence. Day 2 is filled with starting-caliber players, and Day 3 also has some gems like Dogbe. At 6'3″ 280lbs he is a but thin, but his anchor is extremely impressive for his size.
He has great burst and is able to penetrate the offensive line consistently with a mix of finesse and power moves. He is a super disruptive player, which is what teams are looking for from their three-tech DT.
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