The NFL’s Most Underrated Draft Picks of 2024 Draft class has already made significant impacts across the league, but while first-round selections dominate headlines, several late-round picks are quietly outperforming their draft positions. These overlooked rookies are providing starter-level production at bargain rookie contract prices, giving their teams unexpected competitive advantages.
Defining an Underrated Draft Pick
Before revealing our selections, let’s establish the criteria:
-
Selected in Round 3 or later
-
Currently starting or playing key rotational snaps
-
Outperforming players drafted earlier at their position
-
Providing surplus value versus draft capital invested
According to scouting data from NFL Newsz, true draft steals typically share:
-
68% were team captains in college
-
82% tested in top-25 percentile athletically for their position
-
91% played multiple positions/special teams in college
1. Javon Baker, WR – New England Patriots (4th Round, Pick 110)
Why He’s a Steal:
-
Team-leading 427 receiving yards
-
18.9 yards per reception (3rd among rookies)
-
11 catches of 20+ yards
-
84.6% catch rate on contested targets
Draft Day Crime: 21 WRs drafted before Baker, including 7 with <150 yards
Advanced Metric: 2.93 yards per route run (would rank top-15 if qualified)
2. Mason McCormick, G – Pittsburgh Steelers (4th Round, Pick 119)
Immediate Impact:
-
0 sacks allowed in 283 pass blocks
-
Key to Steelers’ improved run game (4.9 YPC when running left)
-
Played every offensive snap since Week 3
Scouting Miss: Projected as 2nd-rounder, fell due to small-school bias
Pro Comparison: Similar rookie year to All-Pro Quenton Nelson
3. Cedric Gray, LB – Tennessee Titans (4th Round, Pick 106)
Defensive Catalyst:
-
67 tackles (leads all rookies)
-
3 forced fumbles
-
Calling defensive signals for top-10 unit
Combine Snub: 4.52 40-time at pro day would’ve been LB best at Combine
Impact Play: 4th-down stop percentage (85%) leads all LBs
4. Jaden Hicks, S – Kansas City Chiefs (4th Round, Pick 131)
Versatile Weapon:
-
3 INTs, 1 sack, 1 TD
-
Playing 92% of defensive snaps
-
Allowing 4.3 yards per target (best among rookie DBs)
Draft Slide: Fell due to perceived coverage limitations (since disproven)
Chiefs Value: Highest-graded rookie safety since 2018 per PFF
5. Tanner McLachlan, TE – Cincinnati Bengals (6th Round, Pick 194)
Red Zone Threat:
-
4 TDs on 22 catches
-
87.5% catch rate
-
9 first downs on 3rd/4th down
Athletic Oversight: 9.68 RAS score (elite TE athleticism)
Historical Context: Most productive rookie TE drafted this late since 2009
6. Brennan Jackson, EDGE – Los Angeles Rams (5th Round, Pick 154)
Pass Rush Spark:
-
5 sacks (T-2nd among rookies)
-
18 QB pressures
-
Playing 68% of defensive snaps
Draft Crime: 23 edge rushers drafted earlier, 19 with fewer pressures
Efficiency Metric: Pressure on 15.1% of pass rushes (higher than Will Anderson Jr.)
7. Jowon Briggs, DT – Cleveland Browns (7th Round, Pick 243)
Run-Stuffing Phenom:
-
2.1 yards per carry allowed when engaged
-
14 run stops (T-6th among DTs)
-
Playing 61% of defensive snaps
Analytical Gem: 94.1 run defense grade leads all rookie D-linemen
Browns Value: Best 7th-round DT find since 2012
Why These Players Were Overlooked
Combine/Pro Day Factors
4 of 7 didn’t receive Combine invites
3 tested poorly in specific drills that overshadowed game tape
College Program Bias
5 played at non-Power 5 schools
2 were buried on depth charts behind NFL draft picks
Age Concerns
3 were 24+ year old rookies
1 had injury history that scared teams
Coaches & Scouts Sound Off
Anonymous quotes from NFL personnel:
“Baker’s route-running was NFL-ready. The production matched the tape.” — NFC East WR Coach
*”McCormick is the steal of the draft. Already a top-15 guard.”* — AFC North OL Coach
“Gray would start for 28 teams right now. His football IQ is rare.” — NFC South Scout
Fantasy & Betting Implications
Waiver Wire Targets
-
Javon Baker (WR3 with WR2 upside)
-
Tanner McLachlan (Red zone streamer)
Prop Bet Opportunities
-
Cedric Gray OVER 7.5 tackles (hit in 6 of last 7)
-
Brennan Jackson ANYTIME sack (+350 value)
Historical Precedent for Late-Round Success
Studying past draft steals shows these players could have bright futures:
| Player | Draft Position | Career Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | Round 6 | 7 Super Bowls |
| Antonio Brown | Round 6 | 7x Pro Bowl |
| Richard Sherman | Round 5 | 5x All-Pro |
2025 Impact Projections
Where these steals could rank at their positions next year:
-
Javon Baker: Top-30 WR
-
Mason McCormick: Top-10 G
-
Cedric Gray: Top-15 LB
How to Identify Future Draft Steals
Scouts recommend looking for:
-
College Production (Did they dominate their competition?)
-
Athletic Testing (Are there untapped physical tools?)
-
Scheme Fit (Does their skillset match their NFL team’s system?)
-
Football IQ (How quickly do they learn NFL concepts?)
Why This Matters for NFL Teams
Finding draft steals:
-
Creates cap flexibility to spend elsewhere
-
Extends championship windows with cheap talent
-
Builds organizational depth for injury contingencies
-
Reflects superior scouting compared to competitors
Read More: NFL’s Most Underrated Defensive Schemes of 2024: Innovative Systems Dominating Without Recognition
Final Verdict: Teams That Won the 2024 Draft
NFL’s Most Underrated Draft Picks of 2024, While the Bears (Caleb Williams) and Patriots (Drake Maye) made splashy first-round picks, these seven franchises found franchise-altering value in the draft’s later rounds. Their scouting departments deserve as much credit as their coaching staffs for developing this talent so quickly.
For more draft analysis and rookie development tracking, bookmark NFL Newsz—your premier source for NFL insights beyond the box score.
Which 2024 draft steal has impressed you most? Did we miss any hidden gems? Let us know in the comments!
No comment