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Diamonds in the rough heading into the 2019 NFL Draft
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Diamonds in the rough heading into the 2019 NFL Draft

To succeed in the draft, teams not only need to hit on their early-round picks but also on their later-round selections. Here's a look at 20 diamonds in the rough who could provide great return for teams later in the draft.

 
1 of 20

Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware

Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

Adderley could fall in the draft because he didn't face top competition at Delaware, but the profile is there for him to be a strong NFL performer. He's capable of playing either safety or cornerback and performed well at the Senior Bowl and NFL combine. Likely to be drafted on the second day (Rounds 2-3), he could produce Round 1 value.

 
2 of 20

Ben Banogu, DE, TCU

Ben Banogu, DE, TCU
Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports Images

Not only was Banogu highly productive in two seasons at TCU (17 sacks), but he's also proved to be a physical freak after his performance at the combine. Banogu ran a 4.62 second 40 time,  adding a 40-inch vertical, 134-inch broad jump and 7.02 second three-cone. That performance could push him up to the second day of the draft, but his upside is even greater.

 
3 of 20

Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State

Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State
Reese Strickland / USA Today Sports Images

Barnes had a strong junior year at K State with more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage, but he especially excelled at the combine. He has just average speed but nearly lapped the field with 34 bench press reps and also finished in the top five at running back in the vertical and broad jumps. It all translates to a potential third-down and short-yardage back for a third-day pick.

 
4 of 20

Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
Reese Strickland / USA Today Sports Images

There aren't many NFL wideouts in the history of the game with Butler's physical gifts. Standing at 6-foot-5, Butler ran a sub-4.5 second 40 time at the combine. He had 60 receptions for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but questions about his hands and route running could drop him to the second day of the draft.

 
5 of 20

Michael Deiter, OG, Wisconsin

Michael Deiter, OG, Wisconsin
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

There's value in versatility when drafting offensive linemen, and Deiter certainly has that. He's played every position on the line in college, and his run blocking is considered NFL-ready. For a second-day investment, he has a chance to be an immediate starter.

 
6 of 20

Joe Dineen, ILB, Kansas

Joe Dineen, ILB, Kansas
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Dineen has been a tackling machine on a bad Jayhawks defense over the last two seasons, and he led all FBS players with 109 solo tackles last season. His lack of physical tools could push him to the late rounds or even outside the draft entirely, but he has a chance to be a solid depth and special teams contributor in 2019.

 
7 of 20

Greg Dortch, WR, Wake Forest

Greg Dortch, WR, Wake Forest
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

Undersized at 5-foot-7, 173 pounds, Dortch has still been highly productive over the last two seasons at Wake Forest as a wideout and return specialist. He found the end zone twice on punt returns last season and also finished with more than 1,000 receiving yards. As an immediate slot contributor, Dortch looks like a quality, early third-day pick.

 
8 of 20

Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech

Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Steven Erler / USA Today Sports Images

Ferguson is now the all-time FBS leader in sacks, yet he wasn't allowed to participate in drills during the NFL combine due to a past legal issue. He has the size and speed to excel at the NFL level, but there's a good chance he will fall out of the first round due to the extreme depth at defensive end in this year's draft.

 
9 of 20

Will Grier, QB, West Virginia

Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

Grier has a complete track record of production at the college level at both Florida and West Virginia, and he's also been extremely accurate. He completed 67 percent of his passes for the Mountaineers last season with an impressive 9.7 yards per attempt. Grier isn't considered to be in the top tier of quarterbacks but has a chance to be a solid pocket passer drafted in Rounds 2-4 a la Andy Dalton.

 
10 of 20

Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri

Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

If not for injuries, Hall would likely be a first-round pick. He had more than 22 yards per reception in each of the last two seasons and tore up the combine, leading the wideout field in the broad jump and vertical jump while running a 4.39 second 40-yard dash. He's likely a third- or fourth-round pick who could produce immediately, if he can avoid the trainer's table.

 
11 of 20

Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis

Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
Justin Ford / USA Today Sports Images

No running back in the draft has produced anything close to what we've seen from Henderson. He's averaged 8.9 yards per carry in consecutive seasons and finished last year with more than 2,200 yards from scrimmage. The big knock on Henderson is his lack of size (5-foot-9), but he could still be a solid three-down back.

 
12 of 20

Khalil Hodge, ILB, Buffalo

Khalil Hodge, ILB, Buffalo
Jesse Johnson / USA Today Sports Images

Hodge will attract attention more for his college production than for his physical tools. He had a whopping 419 tackles in three seasons at Buffalo, and his poor Pro Day could push him to late in the draft. However, his production in college was undeniable and should be more than enough for draft consideration.

 
13 of 20

Amani Hooker, S, Iowa

Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
Matthew O'Haren / USA Today Sports Images

Coming off a great junior season at Iowa, Hooker's stock has been rising over the last year. He has excellent coverage skills and picked off four passes for the Hawkeyes last season. Despite a second-day draft grade, Hooker is likely to see some starts in his rookie season.

 
14 of 20

Andy Isabella, WR, UMass

Andy Isabella, WR, UMass
Bob DeChiara / USA Today Sports Images

If a team is looking for the next Cooper Kupp, Isabella is the best candidate in this year's draft. The 5-foot-9 wideout ran an amazing 4.31 second 40-yard dash and sub-7.0 second three-cone, and he also has the college production to support his elite testing. Isabella finished last season with 102 catches for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns.

 
15 of 20

Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State

Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Minshew came out of nowhere to lead Washington State last year as a grad transfer. As is common in Mike Leach's Air Raid offense, he completed more than 70 percent of his passes but has a strong enough arm to play at the next level. A likely late-round pick, he could develop into a solid No. 2 quarterback.

 
16 of 20

Taylor Rapp, S, Washington

Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
Jennifer Buchanan / USA Today Sports Images

Rapp will be an interesting draft test case after running a 4.7 40-yard dash at Washington's Pro Day, a time that made scouts scoff. However, his college production is impossible to overlook, including his 58 tackles, four sacks and two picks for the Huskies last season. He plays much faster than the 40 time would suggest, yet it will probably push him out of the first round.

 
17 of 20

Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State

Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Sanders replaced Saquon Barkley at Penn State last season and finished his final season with more rushing yards than Barkley had in 2017. That's not to say Sanders is as good as the Giants star, but he does have great vision and three-down ability. There's potential for Sanders to become an immediate starter for a second-day pick.

 
18 of 20

Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois

Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Saunders has uncommon athleticism for a defensive tackle, with the ability to do backflips in a 320-plus-pound frame. He has the quickness to be a strong interior pass rusher, but his status coming from a small school could push him to the third day of the draft.

 
19 of 20

Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia

Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

Thornhill not only led college football with six interceptions last season, but he also had one of the best combines of any defensive back with a 4.42 40-yard dash, 44-inch vertical and 141-inch broad jump. He can play either cornerback or safety and his 13 picks over the last three seasons show a rare nose for the ball. There's a lot of upside for a player likely to fall out of the first round.

 
20 of 20

Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion

Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion
Raymond Carlin III / USA Today Sports Images

Ximines had quite a career for the Monarchs with 32.5 sacks, including 11.5 sacks last season. He has good edge quickness, but playing for a smaller school and a strong year for edge rushers has likely decreased his perceived value on draft day. He's a solid prospect for Rounds 3 or 4.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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