With The First Pick
Fansided

NFL: The biggest steals of the 2017 NFL Draft

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown by eating Airheads candy on the sideline during the game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown by eating Airheads candy on the sideline during the game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next

5. Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars

Drafted: Undrafted
Position: Wide Receiver
Season Statistics: 16 games played, 42 receptions, 748 yards, 3 touchdowns, 32 first downs
Pro Football Focus Grade: 78.4

There may be other options worth considering here, but it’s hard to overlook the undrafted rookie who became a prominent receiving option on a contending team. That’s exactly what transpired with Keelan Cole, who became a significant threat for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Considering the Jaguars experienced significant inconsistency under center, the former Kentucky Wesleyan star was even more of a bargain.

Cole ranked No. 10 amongst rookie wide receivers in both receptions and receiving yards. He checked in at No. 3 amongst rookies in both 20-yard and 40-yard receptions, and accumulated an insane average of 17.8 yards per reception.

Amongst the wide receivers who pulled in at least 40 receptions during the 2017 regular season, only Marvin Jones averaged more yards per reception than Cole.

Cole received at least 47 receiving yards in seven of the final 10 games of the season, including five with at least 60 yards. He recorded at least 99 receiving yards in three of the final four weeks, including a 186-yard eruption against the Houston Texans in Week 15.

Despite being an undrafted player who had to fight to simply get on the roster, Cole turned in an explosive rookie campaign—with Blake Bortles under center.

Home/NFL Draft News