Ever since the NFL condensed the NFL Draft to seven rounds, players selected in the seventh round have typically had a tougher time earning a roster spot. However, some teams in the NFL have been able to have seventh-round picks become key contributors in recent seasons.
Most recently, Chris Carson of the Seattle Seahawks was taken in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. In his rookie season with the Seahawks, Carson rushed for 208 yards and zero touchdowns in four games.
Then, over the past two seasons, Carson has rushed for 1,000+ yards and has combined for 18 total touchdowns for Seattle. Without knowing it when they took him with the No. 249 pick in 2017, Carson was the perfect replacement for Marshawn Lynch.
While Carson is an outlier, there have been quite a few players in NFL history to defy the odds and carve out a successful career in the league, despite being taken in the seventh round. Which seventh-round players in the 2020 NFL Draft should fans keep an eye on next season?