Players drafted outside of the top rounds always make a splash in their rookie year’s in the NFL. Here are 10 players who could be major contributors in their first season in the league due to a combination of their talent and a good situation.

RB Devin Neal- Saints (6th round, pick 184)

Source: @_devinxneal

Former Kansas Running Back Devin Neal fell to the 6th round in the draft, but he ended up in an interesting situation that could lead him to being an immediate contributor. First, Neal’s resume is impressive for a 6th round pick. He ran for over 1,000 yards for each of the last 3 years, and at least 8 touchdowns for every year of his college career, averaging 5.7 yards per rush attempt in the Big 12. He was also a major factor in a significant turnaround for Kansas football, one that saw them go from a program that hadn’t won more than 3 games since 2009 to a 9-win team in 2023. Neal is not just a talented player though, he is also stepping into a situation that benefits him due to a number of reasons.

The biggest limiting factor for him will be playing behind an established lead back in Alvin Kamara, who has been durable and productive throughout his career. Being 29 though, the durability can’t hold up forever for Kamara. That said, Neal’s opportunity is less about Kamara’s availability, and more about the rest of the backfield. The Saints current roster has 5 RBs other than Neal and Kamara: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims, Marcus Yarns, and Xazavian Valladay. Edwards-Helaire, Miller, and Mims saw minimal action and production despite being on last year’s roster, and Yarns and Valladay are completely unproven. Neal seems like the clear candidate to step in behind Kamara and spell him in an offense that could see a heavy workload for its runners.

The Saints come into the season with 3 QBs fighting for the starting spot with the retirement of veteran Derek Carr being announced recently in early May. Rookie Tyler Shough and second year signal callers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener will be in a QB competition. No matter who ends up being the starter though, New Orleans will likely have to rely on the run to help support a young QB. Rattler and Haener both showed some promise but struggled when they got action last year, and Shough, though older and more experienced than most rookies, hasn’t played a snap in the NFL. New head coach Kellen Moore also has a propensity for running the ball, evidenced by his reliance on Saquon Barkley as the Eagles Offensive Coordinator last year, and it doesn’t make sense for him to stray from that identity, especially given the current situation in New Orleans.

WR Kyle Williams- Patriots (3rd round, pick 69)

Source: @k.mmoneyyy

Washington State product Williams will be stepping into what has been one of the worst receiver rooms in the league over the last few years, with an opportunity to develop immediate chemistry with Drake Maye and become one of his favorite targets for the foreseeable future. The Pats did upgrade their pass catchers this offseason by bringing in veteran star Stefon Diggs, but he’s coming off tearing his ACL, and could struggle to begin with even if he can get back to being a great player. They also added veteran Mack Hollins, who is still a solid option, but far from a dominant receiver. Guys like Pop Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and Kayshon Boutte will also return for New England, but none of them have been special in the NFL.

Williams finished his college career with a fantastic senior season, totaling 1,198 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. With 4.40 40 yard dash speed, Williams plays even faster, and often breaks off big plays, which is much needed in the New England offense. He could see the field as a starter right away with a good camp, and from there easily could end up as the Patriots first or second option in the passing game.

RB Jaydon Blue- Cowboys (5th round, pick 149)

Source: @jaydonblue_

Texas product Blue is stepping into what may be the single best situation in the league for a rookie runner. Dallas had a brutally bad rushing attack last year, and with a team who has loved to build their identity around running the ball under Jerry Jones with guys like Ezekiel Elliot, DeMarco Murray, and Marion Barber over the last 20 years, the Cowboys likely have an interest in getting back to running the ball effectively. Especially with QB Dak Prescott needing support to maximize the passing attack, rushing will be crucial for Dallas this year.

The Cowboys have a few veterans in the building in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but Blue has a real chance to step into a big role. At Texas, he caught 42 passes for 368 yards and 6 touchdowns while working in a split backfield with fellow RB Quintreveon Wisner. Catching the ball out of the backfield could get him on the field early in his career, and his demonstrated ability to be a change of pace back could also lay the groundwork for his role as a rookie. He will ultimately have to either beat out one of Williams or Sanders, or one of them will have to get injured for him to really grasp that role, so it may not be immediate, but playing behind two inconsistent vets with some injury history, it makes sense that Blue will carve out a bigger role by the end of the season.

RB RJ Harvey- Broncos (2nd round, pick 60)

Source: _rjeeezy

There were rumors that Sean Payton was interested in moving up in the draft for Ashton Jeanty, but he instead opted to stand pat and select the explosive UCF runner Harvey in the second round. A former college QB who dominated after making the switch to RB, Harvey ended up in a situation that should give him an opportunity to shine. Last year Denver struggled to find a primary ball carrier, which really hampered their overall offensive attack, and it’s clear that Payton wanted to change that this offseason by prioritizing the RB position in the draft. Last year, Javonte Williams led the team with 513 yards on the ground, but he has since departed for Dallas. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime also carried some of the load, but neither broke out, totaling 496 and 310 yards respectively.

With Quarterback Bo Nix going into his second year, it will be especially important to take pressure off of him by running the ball more effectively, and also giving him more options in the passing game. The Broncos hope Harvey will help solve both problems. A highly productive rusher at UCF, he topped 1,400 yards and 15 TDs in both of the last two seasons (1,416 yards and 16 TDs as a junior, and 1,577 yards and 22 TDs as a senior). He also caught the ball with some effectiveness, topping 200 receiving yards each of the last 3 seasons in college. Nix, who is known for often throwing the ball short and mixing in a great deep ball, will welcome the help from Harvey through screens and check downs.

Given the strength of the overall team, Harvey will also have more opportunities than he could in a different situation. Denver was a playoff team with a rookie QB last year, and while they play in a tough division, they had an excellent defense and strong offensive line last year, and that isn’t changing. The defense will keep Harvey on the field and give him chances to close games, and the offensive line is more than good enough to open up holes for him. He could definitely be a sneaky pick to be one of the absolute best rookies in the class.

TE Elijah Arroyo- Seahawks (2nd round, pick 50)

Source: @elijaharroyo__

While Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland dominated Tight End conversations for the 2025 draft class, Miami’s Elijah Arroyo flew under the radar as perhaps the most complete prospect at the position. A vicious blocker and athletic pass catcher, Arroyo could quickly become a starter in Seattle and end up getting a lot of work for a rookie. Noah Fant is the current starter for the Seahawks, a veteran who has put together some solid seasons in the league, but never topped 700 yards or 4 TDs. Arroyo is good enough to make the Seahawks consider running more two Tight End sets immediately to get him on the field, and he has the potential to overtake Fant as the number one option at the position as a rookie.

Arroyo was not a dominant producer in college, finishing with 590 yards and 7 TDs as a senior, but his 6’5, 250 lb frame, high-level athleticism, and constant aggression make his potential exciting. In a Seahawks offense that is lacking in big body, physical targets after losing DK Metcalf to the Steelers, that kind of production could come from Arroyo at the TE position.

WR Jack Bech- Raiders (2nd round, pick 58)

Source: @jack.bech

TCU wideout Bech lands in a revamped Vegas offense under Pete Carroll, where veteran QB Geno Smith and fellow rookie, RB Ashton Jeanty, make this group immediately much more explosive than they were last year. There are two pass catchers who are likely to get more targets than Bech this year, second-year TE Brock Bowers, who is already one of the best pass catchers in the league, and WR Jakobi Meyers, but Bech has a fantastic opportunity to start in what could be a really good offense. Bech put up 1,034 yards and 9 TDs as a senior last season, acting as a highly reliable target capable of creating big plays. There simply aren’t a lot of great options in the Vegas receiver room, with Meyers and Tre Tucker being the only returners who got significant playing time last year, so Bech was clearly brought in to play a big role.

Being the third option in a strong offense with a really good QB and a wildly talented rookie RB is a great situation for a rookie receiver. A versatile option able to play inside in the slot or outside, and a strong route runner with reliable hands, Bech has the fundamental strengths that will earn him playing time early in his career, and keep him on the field in a variety of looks. While he may not be the most explosive player on the Raiders offense, he should be a very reliable target for Geno Smith, which could help him build great chemistry with the veteran signal-caller.

RB Jordan James- 49ers (5th round, pick 147)

Source: @jordanjames2_

James was a fantastic runner at Oregon, and he’ll be thrust into an offense run by one of the best minds in football, Kyle Shanahan. Obviously, All-Pro Christian McCaffrey’s presence will cap his opportunities, but given his injury history, chances might open up, and James will have a real opportunity to compete with Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor to get work. A fantastic runner for a phenomenal Oregon team last year, James put up 1,267 yards and 15 TDs as a junior, somewhat quietly delivering one of the most impactful RB seasons in the nation. In a deep RB draft class, he is more talented and explosive than the average 5th round selection, and could truly thrive if given the opportunity.

He has an intriuging combination of elite quickness and an aggressive, physical running style, traits that 49ers brass are likely quite excited about using. He’s not an absolute burner with elite top-end speed (he ran a 4.55 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine), but he has enough speed to get the job done, and finishes runs strong. We saw Jordan Mason step into a major role last year in San Francisco as an undrafted RB who was relatively unknown beforehand, and see great success. James is capable of a similar ascension as a rookie, and even if McCaffrey stays healthy, he could still carve out an important complimentary role. San Francisco’s choice to trade Mason away to Minnesota this offseason also signals a belief that they will be covered at RB without him, and while James wasn’t on the roster at the time, they clearly selected him to fill a need.

WR Xavier Restrepo- Titans (undrafted)

Source: @xavier7restrepo

Restrepo fell out of favor during the draft process after running a poor 40 yard dash time, but his college production was undeniable. That production, coupled with him being signed by the same team who selected his college QB, Cam Ward, first overall, puts him in an excellent position to succeed. While Tennessee did invest draft capital in two wideouts, Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, Restrepo still has a good opportunity to make the team with a WR room that is subpar overall, and if he finds his way onto the roster, he could shine.

A back to back 1,000 yard receiver in the ACC who had 1,127 yards and 11 TDs as Ward’s number one option last year at Miami, Restrepo can clearly compete against high-level competition even though many question his athleticism. The real concern for Restrepo was just how slow his unofficial 40 time reportedly was (4.83 seconds), but he looks faster on tape, and may have been fighting an injury that limited his time. The Titans will have the chance to figure out how much of a concern his speed really is when they see him on the field, and he will have the chance to prove his doubters wrong in camp.

RB Ollie Gordon- Dolphins (round 6, pick 179)

Source: @woah_ollie

Ollie Gordon was a very productive college player at Oklahoma State, but he fell down draft boards when his last college season didn’t live up to the previous one, and he faced challenges off the field, as he was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence. Miami already has a star in their backfield in De’Von Achane, and Jaylen Wright has shown promise, but Mike McDaniel loves to run the ball and get his RBs involved, and if he gets his chance, Gordon is more talented than the average 6th round pick. A Doak Walker winner as the nation’s best RB as a Sophomore, Gordon tallied 21 TDs and 1,732 yards on the ground.

As a Junior last season, his production was reduced to 880 yards and 13 TDs, but he was playing behind a struggling offensive line, Oklahoma State’s QB play wasn’t strong, and every defense he played centered their game plan around stopping him. Taking all of that into consideration, and looking at his specialized skillset as a big, bruising, downhill runner, he becomes an interesting option as a rookie. Even if he doesn’t show much improvement from his college days, making him somewhat limited because of his agility and short area quickness, he is capable of breaking off long runs through contact, and pounding the ball into the end zone. A very different player from Achane, who at his small size relies on quickness, speed, and pass-catching, it could be interesting to see how Gordon would fit with Miami’s lead back. Second year runner Jaylen Wright will likely limit his opportunities, but Gordon could still be an interesting specialist with potential to grow his role through strong production.

WR Tory Horton- Seahawks (round 5, pick 166)

Source: @toryhorton_

Seattle’s offense will be completely different this year after they lost two stars, QB Geno Smith and WR DK Metcalf, and brought in QB Sam Darnold and WR Cooper Kupp, but the intrigue for Horton lies in the overall quality of their receiver room. Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Kupp will be the top two options for Darnold, but the third spot in the starting lineup seems pretty wide open, with veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling currently occupying that spot in the depth chart. At 30, MVS is past his prime, and only had 385 yards last year for the struggling Saints.

At Colorado State, Horton had two straight 1,000 yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before a knee injury forced him to miss a majority of his senior season. He looked strong coming back from that injury at the NFL Combine, running a 4.41 40-yard dash. A speedy, lanky receiver with quickness and sure hands, he is a different kind of pass catcher than Kupp and Njigba and could compliment them well, although he is quite different from former Seahawk Metcalf, who is known for being a big, physical X receiver with a massive frame. Horton is not a big body receiver despite measuring in at 6’2 1/2, as he’s quite slim and has some problems with aggressive press coverage, but the idea of using motion and layered route concepts to get him open as a compliment to the current receiving corps sounds tantalizing.