Now that we’re nearly three-quarters of the way through the current football season, we’re starting to get a better idea whether or not the 1st rounders from the 2014 NFL Draft class were worth the hype or not. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still early in their careers and you shouldn’t assume a prospect has reached the pinnacle of their development, but we at least have an idea. So how are the top dogs looking? We already looked at the first round (links here), so now we’ll break down the second rounders.
After looking at picks 33 through 37 (here), we’ll now take a look at picks 38 through 42, starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking up TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Seferian-Jenkins has struggled with consistency this year but much of that needs to be attributed to the unsettled QB situation. On the season he’s caught 21 balls on 37 targets for 221 yards with 2 TD’s and 2 dropped passes. He’s a physical marvel and while he may not be a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, he’s shown many positive signs of development.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took WR Marqise Lee with the 39th overall pick to provide QB Blake Bortles a weapon to grow with. Lee has seen his rookie campaign hindered by nagging injuries and has only seen 225 snaps in a razor-thin Jaguar receiving corps. On the year he’s caught 16 balls on 29 targets for 193 yards in the 8 games he’s appeared in. Despite being the first receiver the Jags targeted in this draft class, he’s only been the third best behind Allen Robinson (61st overall) and Allen Hurns (undrafted). He needs a big offseason to work with Bortles and get his timing down.
OLB Kyle Van Noy was the 40th pick overall, taken by the Detroit Lions. Not much to say here considering he’s been hurt all year and played only 26 snaps the past four games. He’s a raw but very athletic, high upside edge rusher playing alongside a plethora of talent in Detroit’s front four, so there’s a luxury of allowing him to take his time developing. Still, the more weeks that pass and the more snaps he gets should will only increase with the playoffs looming.
The St. Louis Rams made DB Lamarcus Joyner the 41st pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. Joyner has also seen his share of struggles staying healthy throughout his rookie campaign, particularly of late with a groin injury. So far he’s graded below average overall, especially in pass coverage, but has looked very encouraging against the run, something some analysts thought he might struggle with considering his 5-foot 8, 184-pound frame. The Rams will need him to have a strong offseason to beat out Rodney McLeod for the starting FS role next year.
WR Jordan Matthews was picked 42nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. Matthews had an average first half to his rookie campaign but has really turned it on the past few weeks. In the last four games alone, Matthews has racked up 22 receptions for 373 yards and 4 TD’s, putting him on pace for the season to register 72 receptions for 915 yards and 9 TD’s. His 7 TD’s so far are third most among all rookie WR’s. Could wind up being the best receiver from this draft class.
Rick Stavig is an NFL Draft Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @rickstavig or add him to your network on Google+.
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