Which rookie from the 2020 NFL Draft will be a surprise gem for each team?
There’s nothing quite like a rookie player coming from nowhere and taking the NFL by storm. Sure, first-round picks are supposed to contribute right away but when a team gets someone later on that is able to not only earn snaps but also prove to be a hidden gem, that’s when the real fun begins.
We have seen this happen in recent seasons like when Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick in 2016, took over for the Dallas Cowboys and led them to the playoffs. It’s hard for a rookie quarterback to find success and a mid-round pick doing so is even rarer.
For Prescott, his ascension was a shock considering he was supposed to be a project player yet he came into the league and won the NFL Rookie of the Year award as he led Dallas to a 13-3 record.
There’s also the occasional undrafted star who comes in and contributes for his team. One example here is Phillip Lindsay. Undrafted out of Colorado in 2018, Lindsay was a stud out the gate for the Denver Broncos, racking up 1,037 yards and nine touchdown passes as a rookie.
Another solid example of a rookie coming from nowhere and proving to be a gem came in 2019 with Maxx Crosby. A fourth-round pick for the Raiders, Crosby recorded 10 sacks and put his name in the mix for the best rookie defender.
With all that being said, we look at one 2020 NFL Draft candidate from all 32 teams to prove to be hidden rookie gems during the NFL 2020 season, starting with the Arizona Cardinals.