An NFL rookie’s first-year contributions aren’t capped by his draft standing.
Of course, being taken early does tend to provide an easier path to a starting role, or at least substantial playing time. But ending up with a landing spot in the middle or even late rounds doesn’t necessarily relegate a player to the bench for most of their debut season, with the likes of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still needing little time to acclimate before leaving their imprints.
Identifying the leading candidates who are positioned to make a similar mark this year can be tricky. But in assessing the rookies selected after their first two rounds of the 2025 NFL draft who could make a surprising Year 1 impact, these five stood out:
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Taking left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick served New England’s stated offseason goal of boosting Drake Maye’s comfort level in Year 2. But with high-end receiver talent in short supply in this year’s class, the vision for electrifying what had been one of the league’s most stagnant attacks got considerably foggier. On Day 2, however, it cleared up with the selections of running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round and Williams in the third. While Henderson could infuse the ground game with a necessary big-play element, it could be Williams who separates himself – both figuratively and literally. In averaging 17.1 yards per catch last season at Washington State, the 5-11, 190-pound target regularly raced past coverage to haul in downfield shots. Even if he doesn’t see a high volume of targets from the get-go, bringing that missing dimension to the aerial attack should endear him to Maye, who might finally have the target capable of cashing in on his deep strikes.
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta’s draft will be defined by how transformative first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. prove to be for a pass rush that has long floundered as one of the league’s worst units. But the Falcons also invigorated another problem area by tabbing Watts to patrol deep in the secondary. The 6-0, 205-pound ballhawk notched 13 interceptions in the last two years for Notre Dame, leveraging his coverage savvy to repeatedly get himself in position to make a play despite his pedestrian speed. While it remains to be seen how new defensive coordinator balances the types of zone coverage that accentuate Watts’ strengths with the man looks that highlight his weaknesses, Atlanta should be eager to unlock the full scope of his instinctive style.
Nick Martin, LB, San Francisco 49ers
An offseason exodus of talent hit the 49ers’ defense at every level. After attacking its front with first-round defensive end Mykel Williams and second-round defensive tackle Alfred Collins, San Francisco took a swing at replacing Dre Greenlaw with Martin, whom Lynch even likened to the former standout linebacker. At 6-0 and 221 pounds, Martin wasn’t a fit for every defensive scheme, but coordinator Robert Saleh should be able to leverage the explosive burst that enabled him to rack up 140 tackles in 2023. His all-out approach and unreliable instincts could take him out of several plays, particularly in coverage. But getting to work alongside perennial All-Pro Fred Warner could prove instrumental in his development.
Quincy Riley, CB, New Orleans Saints
With work to do across the board to overhaul a roster with few young building blocks, New Orleans took some time before addressing a secondary now without both of last year’s starting outside cornerbacks in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo. Yet in adding Riley in the fourth round, the Saints might have found someone who can be an asset in coverage immediately. After recording 15 interceptions in five years, the Louisville product and Middle Tennessee State transfer stands out as a promising playmaker for a defense nearly devoid of any. With good recovery speed and solid all-around athleticism, the 5-11, 194-pounder should give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley a boost of flexibility on the back end.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
By waiting until the fifth round to select a running back, Jerry Jones reinforced his comfort level with a committee that figures to be led by free-agent signings Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. But even if Blue doesn’t figure to see a sizable workload right away, he can make a sizable mark on the offense. The 5-10, 196-pound ball carrier blazed the seconded-fastest 40-yard dash (4.38 seconds) of any running back at the NFL Scouting Combine, and Dallas could count on him to provide a change of pace from Williams, who only had one of 139 carries reach 20 yards last season. And with the Cowboys also lacking a true complement to four-time Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb, Blue could factor heavily into the passing game given his ability to create mismatches out of the backfield and when split wide.
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