The Top 5 NFL Undrafted Rookies to Watch in Training Camp

Thomas Rawls & Malcolm Brown, Running Backs

In the introduction, I mentioned that it takes a perfect mix of both talent and situational factors for undrafted free agents to thrive in the NFL. These two running backs are included here together because they each have the talent to play at the highest level in the pros, but they both are in tough situations. If either player is cut in training camp or preseason, they could wind up on great depth charts.

Thomas Rawls is a bruising back out of Central Michigan who has the kind of athleticism that shouldn’t be possible for a player of his thickness. Standing 5’ 9”, weighing 215 pounds, he runs a 4.50 forty-yard dash, and has immense explosiveness. He runs with a mean streak in him and has the agility needed to play the finesse game as well. If he was on the Cowboys, I’d be all over him as the breakout sleeper rookie of the year. As is, he’s on the stacked Seattle Seahawks and won’t likely touch the ball any time soon.

Malcolm Brown is a taller player at 5’ 11”, but he weighs a stout 225 pounds, and plays with a similar style to Rawls. He plays a more finessed game than the bowling ball style of Rawls, but that means he is a quality pass-catcher and protector out of the backfield as well. This former Texas Longhorn could start this year on almost any other team, but he’s on the St. Louis Rams, who just selected the first Round 1 runner since 2012 in Todd Gurley.