Late-Round Rookies Who Could Be Steals of the 2024 NFL Draft

May 7, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

The conversation around the NFL draft is always about the first few rounds.

Everyone knows about the star quarterbacks and the top players at the forefront of each position group’s depth chart. But each autumn, we learn about the biggest steals of the draft, young players who were selected on Day 3 and immediately became important players for their respective teams.

But who are those guys this time around? Who fits the bill in terms of talent, fit and opportunity?

Here are five players to keep your eyes on as the 2024 season develops.

Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

If there’s any position to bet on with late-round choices, it’s running back. And with as much as the Eagles are willing to pound the rock, Shipley is a logical choice.

The fourth-rounder won’t see the majority of carries considering D’Andre Swift is the entrenched starter, but he was a three-year contributor at Clemson, running for 2,748 yards and 31 touchdowns. Look for him to play as a rotational back for Philadelphia.

Brenden Rice, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Rice was one of the draft’s stunning developments, falling to the seventh round before he was finally scooped up by the Chargers. Yet, considering Los Angeles’ receiver room, Rice might have a chance to play a ton of snaps.

The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen this offseason, replacing them with second-round pick Ladd McConkey and little else. At USC in 2023, Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. The son of first-ballot Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, he has ample upside.

Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards in his two best seasons.

HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA

Much like Shipley and the Eagles, we’re talking about a running back with a run-heavy team. Although Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are ahead of the fifth-rounder on the depth chart, the Ravens run enough so Ali could see touches, especially if Henry is managed to an extent.

At Marshall, Ali was extremely productive when healthy. In his two best seasons of 2021 and ’23, Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. At 206 pounds, he provides a bit of youth for Baltimore’s backfield.

Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers

There’s no reason to think Sanders won’t see starter-level snaps for the Panthers in 2024. While Tommy Tremble is a veteran ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, he’s long been a backup-level piece.

The fourth-rounder started two years for the Texas Longhorns, catching 99 passes for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns. At the scouting combine, Sanders ran a 4.69 40-yard dash time at 6’4″ and 245 pounds. Expect the rookie to be a security blanket for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.

Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots

Baker had 108 catches in his two seasons at UCF.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Baker might prove to be one of this draft’s steals. Projected as a Day 2 pick out of Central Florida, the Atlanta native was selected in the fourth round.

At UCF, the 6’1″ and 202-pounder was a two-year starter after transferring from Alabama, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 12 touchdowns. In New England, he’s going to have ample opportunity to play alongside fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk with No. 3 pick Drake Maye as his quarterback.

30 Apr 24 Jimm Sallivan

Conference USA 2024 NFL Draft Recap

The weekend of the 2024 NFL Draft was a productive one for Confefence USA. In particular, it was something of a historic draft for the UTEP miners with not one, but two selections. Three total players from Conference USA schools heard their names called. With those three selections, CUSA has now seen 62 players chosen in the NFL Draft since 2016.

Here are the important things to know about the latest batch of Conference USA NFL talent.

Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky WR) - New York Jets, #65 Overall

Corley spent all four of his college seasons at Western Kentucky where he hauled 259 receptions for 3,035 yards and 29 touchdowns. Corley was also impressive in Senior Bowl practices, helping him land an opportunity in a Jets offense that needs help to reach rejuvenation.

Tyrice Knight (UTEP LB) - Seattle Seahawks, #118 Overall

Over the previous four seasons, nobody in Conference USA had more tackles than Tyrice Knight. He had 140 in 2023 alone. Knight was the first UTEP player to be drafted since 2018. He finished his college career with 32 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Elijah Klein (UTEP OL) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, #220 Overall

Klein started games at four different offensive line positions this season alone. He made a whopping 50 consecutive starts for the Miners over the last several seasons. With Klein's selection, 2024 marks the first time since 2008 that multiple UTEP players were selected in the NFL Draft.

1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

AAC Football 2024 NFL Draft Recap

The American Athletic Conference had yet another productive NFL Draft weekend this year. The league may not have had any selections in the first two rounds, but the AAC saw many of last season's best players get picked up from #100 on through the final day.

These are the names of the five players from the AAC in 2024 who were selected during the festivities in Detroit.

Luke McCaffrey (Rice WR) - Washington Commanders, #100 Overall

A converted quarterback, the younger brother of Christian McCaffrey took to the wide receiver position very well. He had 126 receptions for almost 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons for Rice. He'll now likely be catching passes from 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels in Washington.

Jordan Magee (Temple LB) - Washington Commanders, #139 Overall

Over the course of his four seasons in Philadelphia, Magee totaled 235 tackles with 31 for a loss and eight sacks. He had over 80 tackles in each of the last two seasons. Magee was, by far, Temple's biggest defensive piece last season, but their loss is the NFL's gain.

Jha'Quan Jackson (Tulane WR) - Tennessee Titans, #182 Overall

Through five seasons with the Greenwave, Jackson hauled in 109 receptions for 1,743 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jackson was an important piece of a two-year stretch at Tulane that included an AAC championship, a win over Caleb WIlliams and USC in the Cotton Bowl, and a record of 23-5.

Tejhuan Palmer (UAB WR) - Arizona Cardinals, #191 Overall

Palmer had 47 receptions, 858 yards, and seven touchdowns for the Blazers in 2023. He becomes the first UAB wide receiver to be drafted since longtime Atlanta Falcon Roddy White in 2005. Palmer measured 6’1”, and 210 pounds with the Blazers.

Michael Pratt (Tulane QB) - Green Bay Packers, #245 Overall

Throughout his four years with the Green Wave, Pratt threw for 9,611 yards, 90 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. The seventh round was admittedly much farther than most thought Pratt would fall, however, getting to backup Jordan Love and learn from Packers' quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is a good spot to be in.

1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

FIU’s Alex Nobles invited to Miami Dolphins Rookie Minicamp

Former FIU linebacker Alex Nobles has received and accepted an invite to Miami Dolphins' Rookie Minicamp, a source told G5 Football Daily. After spending two years at the University of North Carolina, Nobles entered the transfer portal and had two productive seasons at FIU. He appeared in three games over two seasons with the Tar Heels.

Through his two years with the Panthers, Nobles had 74 total tackles, 50 solo tackles, 24 assisted tackles, 6.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Standing at 6’2,” 245 pounds, Nobles' ability to get to the quarterback stands out, especially with both Bradley Chubb and Jaylen Phillips out for some time with their respective injuries. Chop Robinson (Penn State) and Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State) were also drafted by the Dolphins in last weekend's NFL Draft.

Nobles will have to work his way to a contract, but his stature and quick speed stands out, allowing a Dolphins defense to see something that they currently don’t have.

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