2024 NFL Draft Hidden Gems: December Edition

By Hayden Shapiro

My Big Board is now published, so before you read this, take a look at that.

Every year, the draft has a handful of players picked in round 2 or beyond that exceed expectations. In this year’s ever-so-deep class, I think many players are deserving of a first round pick, but there are only 32 slots. So, with that being said, here are some guys that rank outside my top 25, on my Big Board, that I think can end up being high end starters at their respective positions. Whether it is a late round signal caller or powerful edge rusher, these guys may be projects, but have all the upside in the world. I love focusing on the players that other analysts don’t, and that is exactly what this piece will do. As always, leave your feedback, enjoy, and Stay Cool.

Now, here are ten players I think are undervalued at the moment. It is only December, I know, but let’s take a look at why I think these players will succeed at the next level, and how they will make an impact in the league.

J.T. Tuimoloau, ED Ohio St.

The Ohio State product has really impressed in big games, which is important because those are the ones people are watching. He has the versatility to line up all over the defensive line, plus he can drop into coverage on select plays and packages. He is a master at setting the edge on run plays and has a nose for the ball, consistently sniffing out screens + avoiding trap blocks. He needs to polish his pass rushing skill, only registering four sacks this season as a Buckeye, but with his 6’4 270 lb frame, this should be somewhat easy to teach. We saw the same thing with Montez Sweat in college, who plays a different brand of football (more speed and swim), but had similar skepticisms. The fact that Tuimoloau wasn’t as successful at rushing the QB should not scare teams away because his intangibles make up for it is my point. He could very well shoot up boards after the combine, but if he falls out of the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone pull the trigger on him early in the second.

Kamari Lassiter, CB Georgia

This Bulldog was without a doubt one of my favorite players to watch this season. He plays so much bigger than he is and quite frankly, it’s so fun. He talks so much trash and is clearly confident on the field, but teams have shied away from this attitude in the draft recently. I think this will change, especially after Seattle rookie Devon WItherspoon has made this hot-headed, stud tackling, slot CB a position and player teams truly need. Lassiter plays a very unique brand of football for his position, blowing up runs and screens, but he is fast enough to take these risks because he can quickly turn his hips and get back into coverage. He reminds me of guys like Kenny Moore and Daron Bland, corners who take risks, but are able to make up for it because of how often they hit the home run. I have no doubt that whoever takes Lassiter will be happy with their selection. Plus, for my next mock, I may put him into my top 25 because of how impressed I have been with his tape. The guy has unreal football IQ and length. He is a wildcard to be selected as CB 1,2,3, or 4, but whoever passes on him could end up regretting it pretty quick.

Xavier Worthy, WR Texas

The junior wideout has arguably been the most consistent player in the big 12 ever since he stepped onto the field as a Longhorn. He has had upwards of 950 yards twice and 60+ catches each of his three years in college. I am a big fan of numerous things that Worthy does, but his speed is undeniably awesome to watch. Once he gets to the second level, and kicks his motor into high gear, there’s no stopping him. His weight would be a problem, but with the separation he creates, it simply doesn’t worry me because of how far he is from his marker at the top of his routes, or should we say the bottom. He had the most scrimmage yards off of WR screens in the country this year. To whoever drafts him, he also provides electric return ability. His hands need some work and he does need to put on some weight, but his style of play can negate the fact that he is only 172 pounds. He plays a lot like Kadarious Toney, his ability to make defenders miss after the catch is something that you don’t see from rookie wideouts and his elusiveness just brings another scary option for whatever team decides to draft him. I am higher on him than most, placing him exactly one spot above his partner in crime, Adonai Mitchell, but in my opinion Worthy is the pinnacle of a game changer. He can make the big plays teams need and whoever passes up on him in the draft is going to be kicking themselves when he burns that team for a 75 yard touchdown, remind you of someone? I also like the comparison of him to Aiyuk I have been seeing on social media, they both run great routes, but are threats on short passes and down the field. If you can’t tell, Worthy is one of my favorite players in this WR heavy class.

Graham Barton, OL Duke

Barton has the ability to play all over the line. This is something scouts drool over. Whether a starter gets hurt or he lights up training camp, they can place him wherever they wish on the line and he will succeed. Ranked #5 in the ACC’s top 25 players of the 2023 season, Barton played most of his snaps at Left Tackle, but in the pros, his versatility will be so valuable, for the reasons I just stated. He’s a phenomenal run blocker. He paves the way for his backs, often pushing edge rushers and blitzing LBs way down the field and even into the dirt. His pass blocking ability is a little rough around the edges, but when he is able to set his stance and stand up, defenders really had a hard time getting around this guy, and they definitely couldn’t get through him. He was so good at blocking in the run game that he allowed Duke’s running backs to average 5.3 YPC (Yards Per Carry), which ranked 3rd in the ACC. The guy has polished footwork and is a prospect that teams are going to like. He is a smart football player, rarely gets called for penalties, and does his job. One of those guys that if you hear his name during a broadcast, it is a good thing, you know he is doing his job. He may crack the first round down the line, but he struggles against faster defenders, something the NFL has plenty of. SO, we will see where he ends up, but his ability to shift all over the line and speed for his position are things that front offices are going to like, alot, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him climb once this draft process heats up a little.

Johnny Wilson, WR FSU

Wilson is so unique. He is not a flashy player by any means, but can help an NFL squad in so many ways. He stands at 6’7, yes, you read that right. He also weighs 237 pounds. This type of size at WR is something I am sure teams will value, whether he runs a 4.8 forty or 5.1, his strong hands and blocking ability are showcased every time the Seminoles take the field. He shows flashes of Alshon Jerffery in his game and I’m here for it. He literally looks like a giraffe on the field. Going back to what I like about his game, he has very strong hands. If the ball touches even his finger tips, he seems to bring it down. He also is an extraordinary blocker. If a team runs a lot of sweeps and end-arounds, take the Dolphins for example, he can set the edge and allow for the ball carrier to take the rock outside. Wilson is a unique prospect to say the least, but his upside is through the roof. We’ve also seen teams take project receivers and turn them into superstars, 3rd picks and later to be more specific. Still don’t know who I am talking about? Hint: he wore number 86 for the Steelers and became one of the greatest possession receivers in football history. Hines Ward. Yes, Wilson’s possession catch and his ability to track balls thrown outside the numbers really do remind me of the Steelers legend. It may be a reach, but I feel my argument is valid. If you disagree, (shameless plug!), hit me up on Twitter/X and we can chat. @HaydenShap49.

Jaylin Simpson, DB Auburn

Looking at their record, you may not expect this Tigers defense to be as good as they are, but they were one of the best units in the SEC this year. The Tigers made Alabama fight all the way down to the wire and were the only team that I saw Jayden Daniels visibly struggle, somewhat, against. Simpson was the leader of this secondary. He is listed as a corner, but he is going to play safety in the NFL. He has a nose for the ball. He is really special in zone coverage, no joke, this guy may have the best zone instincts in the class. The repertoire he possesses is simply one of an NFL safety. His ability to jump routes, especially inside the numbers, is something you don’t often see from college safeties. He definitely fits best at FS, given his skill to cover down the field and how smart he is when taking risks. He knows when to jump the inside routes/curls, but is often fast enough to get back to his zone if he bites early. That is something you often see young ball-hawks struggle with because they always want the ‘home-run”, but Simpson realizes how valuable he is down the field, so he only steps up if he knows he can make the play, which quite frankly he often does. He had 4 picks this year, which is impressive, given some of the QBs he had to face. I really like SImpson and scouts will too, just a shame that Auburn couldn’t pull off that Bama victory, because this Tigers secondary played close to perfect up until the very last play of the game. Simpson will succeed at the next level, whether he is a day 2 or 3 pick, his ball skills and football IQ make him a top-tier prospect who is somehow still flying under the radar.

Chris Braswell, ED/OLB Alabama

Braswell plays the game with so much force and power. He lines up all over the field, but in the NFL would definitely be most effective on the edge. Once he puts his head down and gets a one on one matchup against a tackle, QBs roll the other way, which wasn’t a great solution facing this Bama defense as Dallas Turner was often lurking on the other side. Braswell is rough around the edges, but in the right system, this dude can be a real game wrecker. He leaves everything on the field and plays harder than a lot of dudes I’ve seen this CFB season. I am excited to watch how he performs in the CFP, but right now he certainly is on my radar, given his strength and unteachable ability to force fumbles. He has 3 forced fumbles this year and they have all come at very big moments in games.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT BYU

This guy has continued to impress me the more I watch his BYU tape. I first saw him in BYU’s game against Texas Tech, but the more I looked more into the heavy handed sophomore, the more I liked. His hands are so strong, I cannot even put it into words. Edge’s swiping or swimming over this guy simply won’t go anywhere. His stance is unbelievably strong as well, meaning he won’t get pushed back into the pocket, which is so valuable at the next level. He is only a sophomore, but he plays like he has years of experience. Whenever BYU would run a gadget or outside run, it would go to left side because they knew no one was getting past Suamataia. He wasn’t in my top 50, but after looking more into his tape, he will almost certainly be featured on my next Big Board. He could benefit from sitting behind a vet in the NFL, but he really does pose day 1 ability. Pure brute strength and a strong base, two things scouts drool over from a tackle prospect, especially this young.

Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina

He makes mistakes, as all college QBs do, but his talent is undeniable. He makes some ridiculous plays. His offensive line was only the same for THREE games this year, yes, THREE! He had to constantly adjust and really only had two options for the majority of the season in Xavier Legette and Mario Anderson. If he has time in the pocket, he delivers a really nice ball a lot of the time. His transfer to the Gamecocks led many to forget that he was once a true Heisman candidate, and even was considered a first round pick. He has had one of the most interesting journey’s in CFB. His main ability is his deep ball. He drops 30–40+ yard throws right in the breadbasket, and not to mention, most of his games were played against the best defenses in the country (SEC). Rattler poses very similar abilities outside of the pocket to Brock Purdy, an extremely accurate passer when he has time, which he did not have this season. Whenever he is selected, if he is at all, I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a roster. The dude can really ball. (Not Gamecock Bias!)

Max Melton, DB Rutgers

His tape is so interesting. In Man-to-Man, he gets beat, but in Zone he may have the best instincts in the Big 10. He has a really unique ability to almost get “lost” in the play. This means that QBs just don’t see him, and he somehow has the acceleration to jump the route. He is the definition of a risk taker because some of his film is not pretty, but when he makes a play it is really impressive. Rutgers uses him all over, somewhat like what the Eagles did with C.J. Gardner Johnson during their playoff run in 2023. If Melton declares, which is very questionable given that the Scarlet Knights are starting to make some noise, he gives the team that drafts him a flexible secondary piece and a great special teamer.

Watch out for these guys on Day 2, and even Day of the draft, because they could be impact players from the get-go. We’ve seen skill position players be found in the middle rounds and even lineman nowadays, so keep an eye on these names. Thanks for tuning in, and as always, leave your feedback!

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