Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he highlights 10 NFL newbies who might not have received their proper due leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft ...
The preseason provides rookies an opportunity to move up or down the depth chart with standout performances piquing the interest of coaches seeking to put the “best 11” on the field at every turn. It's an especially important time for first-year players without a first-round pedigree. With cutdown day in the books, it’s the perfect time to look back and identify rookies picked outside of the first round who showed the potential to make an immediate impact on their squads this preseason. Here are 10 such newbies who popped in the spotlight of game action.
Drafted: Round 5, No. 150 overall
The fifth-rounder might have played his way into “super sub” consideration with a solid preseason performance that has him in a position to win the QB2 job on the Saints’ roster. Although Rattler only connected on 52.6 percent of his passes and finished the preseason with a 76.9 passer rating, he displayed composure, poise and command directing the offense. While his competition against Jake Haener for the backup spot will continue into the regular season, the rookie has surprisingly worked his way into a position that few envisioned when he was selected with the 150th overall pick.
Drafted: Undrafted
The hard-charging runner out of UCLA could earn some snaps in the Chiefs’ running back rotation after shining in the preseason. Steele averaged 7.9 yards per carry (11 attempts for 87 yards), displaying a combination of strength, power and explosiveness that enabled him to rumble through the tackle-to-tackle box like a bull in a china shop. Given Andy Reid’s willingness to utilize a running-back-by-committee approach behind Patrick Mahomes, the rookie’s rugged running style adds a dimension to Kansas City’s offense.
Drafted: Round 4, No. 120 overall
It could be challenging for Wright to crack the rotation in a crowded Dolphins backfield, but Mike McDaniel must find a way to tap into the speedster’s potential during the regular season. The former Tennessee standout is a blur with the ball in his hands, exhibiting “score from anywhere” potential as a playmaking specialist in the backfield. Whether attacking between the tackles or running past defenders on runs directed to the edges, Wright gives the Dolphins’ track squad another option for their perimeter relay team.
Drafted: Round 3, No. 80 overall
The third-rounder has quickly settled into his role as a big-play specialist. Burton averaged almost 20 yards per catch (19.6) and scored a pair of touchdowns as a designated playmaker in the Bengals’ high-powered offense. With defenses expected to utilize double-coverage tactics to neutralize Ja’Marr Chase -- assuming Chase and the team break through their contract impasse -- and Tee Higgins, the rookie could put up robust numbers as a downfield threat with a healthy Joe Burrow at the helm of the attack.
Drafted: Round 2, No. 63 overall
It appears Andy Reid may have discovered a hidden gem in Suamataia. The second-round pick has quickly earned the trust of his head coach and Patrick Mahomes with his steady work protecting the quarterback’s blind side. As a heavy-handed mauler/brawler with enough balance, body control and agility to shadowbox pass rushers, the former BYU standout looks like a keeper for an offense accustomed to competing at a championship level.
Drafted: Round 3, No. 73 overall
The Cowboys’ playoff chances hinge on the performance of an offensive line that is expected to include two rookie starters, with Beebe at center and first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle. Beebe is a big part of the team’s plans to play “bully ball” on the ground while providing fortress-like protection around Dak Prescott. The rookie has shown impressive skills controlling the point of attack from the pivot. With a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber blockers (guards Tyler Smith and Zack Martin) around him, Beebe could play like an all-star in Year 1.
Drafted: Round 5, No. 144 overall
As a freak athlete with a high-revving motor and exceptional first-step quickness, Booker was viewed as a perfect match for Matt Eberflus’ scheme when the Bears traded into the fifth round to draft him in April. Booker did not disappoint with a stellar preseason that saw him register 2.5 sacks while providing persistent pressure off the edge. As he acclimates to the pro game and settles into his role as a “see ball, get ball” defender off the edge, the Bears might have discovered the perfect pass-rushing complement for Montez Sweat.
Drafted: Round 2, No. 47 overall
The defense will need to carry Brian Daboll’s squad to wins, relying on splash plays and takeaways to get the job done. Nubin is a ballhawk with superb instincts, awareness and range playing behind a front line that will make quarterbacks uneasy within the pocket. As a potential rookie starter with a game that perfectly fits the way the Giants want to play under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Nubin is a star-in-waiting in New York.
Drafted: Round 6, No. 212 overall
Little crushed it for the Jaguars this preseason, exhibiting the consistency and range the team needed at the kicker position. He made six of his seven field-goal attempts (85.7%) -- with his lone miss a 62-yarder -- and all seven of his extra-point tries, suggesting he will give head coach Doug Pederson the sure points he expects when the offense reaches the opposition’s 35-yard line. In a league where games are routinely decided by eight points or fewer, Little’s efficiency and effectiveness could be a game-changer for the Jaguars.
Drafted: Round 4, No. 122 overall
The ability to flip the field with the kicking game is a top priority, especially for defensive-minded coaches. Matt Eberflus has a dangerous weapon at his disposal with Taylor handling the punting duties in the Windy City. He flashed by posting an average distance of 58.6 yards on his five preseason punts. As the fourth-round pick settles into his role as a key component of the Bears’ complementary football strategy, Taylor -- the only punter drafted this year -- could be the team’s X-factor on a playoff run.