Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he highlights 10 NON-first-round rookies who made an impression in August ...
The NFL is a meritocracy, with roster spots and playing time earned through exceptional performances in practice and games. Though draft position often determines pole position at the beginning of training camp, the depth chart reflects the daily production of hardworking players who shine under the bright lights.
With the 53-man rosters finally decided after contentious debates between executives, scouts and coaches, this is the perfect time to identify rookies selected outside of the first round who popped in game action over the last month, showing the potential to make an immediate impact on their squads. Here are 10 first-year players acquired after Day 1 -- including some who weren't drafted at all -- to keep an eye out for once the 2025 NFL season gets rolling.
Drafted: Round 5, No. 144 overall
A disappointing performance in the preseason finale showcased the warts that led to a draft weekend slide, but it didn't erase the flashes that suggest Sanders has the talent and potential to develop into an effective NFL quarterback in a traditional pro-style system. The 144th overall pick demonstrated impressive touch, timing and accuracy when playing with the No. 1 unit in the preseason opener against Carolina. Moreover, Sanders displayed poise, patience and precision as he worked through his progressions to drop dimes on a handful of tight-window throws that prompted kudos from coaches, scouts, ex-players and casual observers (like LeBron James). Though his five-sack fiasco against the Los Angeles Rams likely squashed his chances for the QB2 job, he did lock up a roster spot, ultimately making veteran Kenny Pickett expendable. And while Sanders is behind Dillon Gabriel for the moment, we know from past history that Cleveland tends to present ample opportunities for every QB in a uniform to see the field.
Drafted: Round 2, No. 38 overall
The Ohio State product is as explosive as advertised with the ball in his hands. Henderson housed a 100-yard kickoff return in his preseason debut and added another score on an 8-yard scamper in Week 2, showcasing his explosive speed, quickness and burst on the edges. With the Patriots focused on upgrading the talent and playmaking potential around Drake Maye, the electrifying running back with blazing speed (he clocked a 4.43-second 40-yard dash) is poised to play a major role as a multidimensional playmaker slotted in as the RB2 behind Rhamondre Stevenson.
Drafted: Round 2, No. 47 overall
After suffering through a draft-day slide, Johnson quickly proved any naysayers wrong with impressive performances throughout the preseason, which likely cemented his spot as a starter in the Cardinals' sub-packages. The Michigan product has shown outstanding footwork, fundamentals and instincts when blanketing receivers and attacking the ball in man and zone coverages. As a natural CB1 with superb ball skills, Johnson displays the talent and potential to thrive on the island as a playmaking specialist in a "see ball, get ball" defense built for ballhawks in the back end.
Drafted: Round 6, No. 186 overall
Loop was tasked with replacing Justin Tucker, a seven-time Pro Bowler who was released after violating the NFL's personal conduct policy -- and the rookie appears to be well on his way to becoming a household name as a long-distance scorer with unlimited range. During the preseason, the rookie nailed 81.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, converting a 61-yarder against the Commanders. With a perfect mark on his eight PATs, Loop enters the regular season as a model of consistency, which is exactly what the Ravens and John Harbaugh -- who cut his teeth as a special teams coach -- expect in a kicker.
Drafted: Round 3, No. 70 overall
The big-bodied pass catcher has silenced skeptics who questioned his selection as the 70th overall pick. TeSlaa torched defenders throughout the preseason, snagging 10 receptions for 146 yards and three scores. As a polished route runner with outstanding speed (4.43 40) and length (6-foot-4, 214 pounds with 31 1/8-inch arms), the Arkansas product is a valuable weapon for Jared Goff as a chain-mover with mismatch potential in the red zone.
Drafted: Undrafted
If a rookie's performance is worthy of being featured on "Baldy's Breakdowns," he certainly deserves a spot on this list. Huntington is a high-motor defender with polished pass-rush skills and a disruptive game. Though his small stature (6-1, 281 pounds) could make it hard for him to crack the lineup as an every-down player in Jim Schwartz's defense, Huntington's relentless effort and infectious energy could lead to a key role as a situational pass rusher in the Browns' sub-packages.
Drafted: Round 5, No. 143 overall
The East-West Shrine Bowl standout has been one of the NFL's most impressive defenders throughout the preseason. Phillips' explosiveness, heavy hands and leverage could make him a disruptive force at the point of attack, as the former wrestler overwhelms blockers ill-equipped to deal with his strength and power. Though his production does not pop on the stat sheet, the 6-3, 305-pounder looks like the destructive force the Dolphins need on the interior to control the trenches.
Drafted: Round 3, No. 84 overall
Todd Bowles' aggressive scheme needs high-IQ defensive backs to create the kind of chaos that induces opposing QBs to commit game-changing blunders. Parrish fits the bill as an instinctive playmaker with superb instincts and diagnostic skills. After a stellar preseason that has featured three passes defensed in limited action, the Buccaneers' third-round pick could crack the lineup as an inside or outside corner in the team's sub-packages. Given how Bowles leans into pressure in crucial moments, Parrish could emerge as a difference-maker in a turnover-obsessed defensive backfield that attacks the ball at every turn.
Drafted: Round 6, No. 179 overall
The Dolphins might have snagged a hidden gem in the sixth round, based on Gordon's play in training camp and the preseason. The 6-2, 225-pounder is an old-school RB1 with the rock in his hands, as he showed during Miami's final preseason game, when he rushed for 43 yards on eight carries as the starter -- a performance that earned praise from head coach Mike McDaniel. From his rugged running style between the tackles to his soft hands on the perimeter, the Oklahoma State product looks like the dynamic weapon who finished seventh in the 2023 Heisman Trophy race. Though his play dipped during his final collegiate season, Gordon suddenly appears poised to deliver on the expectations of scouts who saw him developing into a dominant force as a pro.
Drafted: Undrafted
To make a team as an undrafted prospect, a player must exhibit elite traits in practices and games. Collins might have a paltry stat line (one catch, though it went for 80 yards), but the 6-3, 206-pounder's spectacular play throughout offseason workouts and training camp has suggested he could develop into a key contributor down the road. As a big-bodied pass catcher with natural playmaking ability, the ex-Clemson and Notre Dame standout possesses the size and strength to carve out a spot as a special teams player until he earns a role as a WR3/WR4.
