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How non-first-round rookies are faring this NFL season: Denzel Boston among the leaders of the pack

As the NFL approaches the one-quarter mark of the schedule, attention is turning toward rookie contributors drafted outside the opening round. Among the eighteen players who have logged over one hundred fifty snaps on either side of the ball through four weeks, standout performances include Dallas linebacker Jaishawn Barham and Cleveland wide receiver Denzel Boston.

Barham, selected ninety-second overall in the third round, brings rare athletic versatility to the Cowboys under defensive coordinator Christian Parker, though run-defense consistency remains a work in progress. Meanwhile, Browns second-round pick Denzel Boston has put together historic early production, ranking seventh among rookies in receiving yards over the past decade through four games and drawing comparisons to star wideouts like Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Puka Nacua.

Boston has secured his targets efficiently with zero drops credited by TruMedia while establishing himself as a polished route-runner capable of stretching the field. Alongside Barham and Boston, the group of non-first-round contributors features six players from the second round, six from the third, three from the fourth, a pair from the fifth, and undrafted Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Kahlil Benson.

Although some early hurdles remain—such as occasional missed connections with quarterback Deshaun Watson for Boston and pass-rush refinement for Barham—these rookies are proving vital to filling out team rosters beyond the initial draft selections.

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