Projecting how an NFL Draft pick will fare during their career is difficult enough, much less as an early contributor.
Some are expected to hold a tablet for a season or two, while others are needed immediately to help turn around a near winless franchise. Seasoning is not only in the eyes of the player but also the state of the franchise. Not to mention, a key contributor on a struggling team could likely be a role player on a championship contender.
Yet given that 12 SEC players were taken in the first round, there will be expectations to contribute early. Of the dozen, six stand out as having the best chance to have immediate success in 2017.
One trend with this group is the recurring theme of “high character” players who seemingly should stay clear of legal trouble that often trips up young players, particularly in the offseason.
Here are impact NFL rookies across the SEC:
Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
The former LSU star safety, who was a freshman captain at LSU, has been in this position before. But by some indications, including from NJ Advance Media, Adams has already turned heads.
“It was near impossible to watch rookie minicamp and not notice safety Jamal Adams,” Connor Hughes wrote. “He was the best player on the field — and it wasn’t close — whenever he was on the field.”
Adams was the No. 6 overall draft pick. The Jets are expected to get a physical safety with speed, already noted in that minicamp, who should add leadership if his LSU tenure is any indication. Sports Illustrated’s MMQB even noted that Adams’ presence goes beyond the field, to knowing everyone in the building, from the secretary to the janitor. “There’s so many people there that I talk to, to this day,” he says.
“It was near impossible to watch rookie minicamp and not notice safety Jamal Adams. He was the best player on the field — and it wasn’t close — whenever he was on the field.” — Connor Hughes, NY Advanced Media
Jarrad Davis, LB, Detroit Lions
Davis, the No. 21 overall pick, fills a glaring need for the Lions, who had a leaky run defense last year and were exposed despite making the playoffs. Seattle rushed for 177 yards in January on a defense that was a main reason Detroit was outscored by 12 points overall last season. Like Adams, Davis started at Florida as a freshman, and he’s expected to do so this season for the Lions.
In the days following the draft, Davis’ position was solidified in Detroit as Lions GM Bob Quinn said he would play middle linebacker and call the defense “we hope for many years.”
Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
Another example of a glaring need raising the odds of an early impact.
The Giants had a paltry 7.7 yards per catch from tight ends last season, last in the NFL. Engram, the No. 23 overall pick, has routinely been called a modern day tight end similar to the Washington Redskins’ Jordan Reed.
The one knock on Engram is his blocking ability, or seemingly slight size (6-3, 234). But he’s expected to make up for that in the Giants’ spread passing attack. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine only weeks after a season where he led Division I tight ends with 65 catches at Ole Miss.
O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Howard, the No. 19 overall pick, finds himself playing for a coach who for two seasons drew up plays for one of the best tight ends of all time, Tony Gonzalez. Tampa’s Dirk Koetter considers passing to tight ends a priority in the offense.
The Bucs looked for a top tight end after they cut Austin Seferian-Jenkins following a DUI arrest. Howard, who starred for Alabama, is also expected to share some blocking load with H-back Cameron Brate.
He’s entering an offense that already features blossoming star Mike Evans and a proven deep threat in DeSean Jackson.
“The true Y tight ends are a dying breed in college football,” Koetter said of the more traditional in-line role, according to ESPN. “There’s not that many teams left that utilize a player like O.J. while in the NFL. I think it’s still one of the best weapons that you can have.”
Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The former LSU star has drawn comparisons to Fred Taylor, the former Jacksonville running back. And he’s expected to take some pressure off the improving defense that drew high marks at the end of last season.
Jacksonville has finished 22nd, 27th, 21st and 31st, respectively, in NFL rushing the past four seasons. The Jags haven’t had a 1,000-yard running back since 2011 (Maurice Jones-Drew), and from an NFL perspective, Fournette is linked to SEC legends like Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker.
Fournette was taken No. 4 overall for a reason. He fills a glaring need. Not only can Fournette contribute from the backfield, he has talent to add value to the passing game and special teams returns.
Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
The former Texas A&M star has a lot to overcome, most notably the draft history of the Browns, but he also drew plenty of critics. And the Browns have had just one player with double-digit sacks in the past 10 years.
Still, the No. 1 overall pick has a chance because he’ll be given repeated chances to make an impact.
He’s being mentored by Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, who played for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Washington. Given the limelight Garrett was already under as the presumptive No. 1 pick, he improved on his Combine times at his pro day to prove a point.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
