Who might be this year’s DeMarcco Hellams?

Figuring out which rookie might surprise.

Last year, DeMarcco Hellams went from special teamer with a promising future to summer star to starter, all in the span of less than a year. That kind of meteoric rise for a seventh rounder is incredibly cool to watch, and Hellams earned it by being a far more advanced and talented player than his draft status would suggest. Now he is, at worst, a key reserve and special teams cog for a team with playoff aspirations.

Who will be this year’s Hellams? There is no shortage of candidates among this rookie class, but figuring out which one is most likely to see what kind of leap is a bit trickier. Here are a few names to watch this summer.

WR Casey Washington

This is partly circumstances, partly team fit. Washington comes into the league with solid size (he’s right in line with Cooper Kupp) and excellent hands, but he was a late bloomer who really only began producing in his final collegiate season. Projecting him to be more than a deep reserve in year one is probably a fool’s errand, given the lack of track record and the lack of standout traits. It’s still not difficult to do.

Why? Washington is athletic enough and a good enough route runner to think he could pry himself open for pintpoint passes from Kirk Cousins, and if he can he certainly has the contested catch ability and hands to reel those balls in. The lack of compelling outside options in front of him—it’s Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge at this point, and only Mooney figures to have a major role—could lead to opportunities later in the season if Washington fares well this summer. That’s especially true if Rondale Moore doesn’t thrive in the slot, as it could lead the Falcons to experiment with Mooney operating inside and Hodge or Washington working outside.

He’s a longshot to be starting by year’s end, obviously, but there’s a path to relevance for Washington. If he can produce with any opportunities he gets, it’s great news for the Falcons offense and the young receiver’s long-term outlook.

DL Brandon Dorlus

Dorlus is the obvious choice, right? As a day three selection not expected to start right away, he fits the rough contours of this list, but he’s probably the player here with A) the best ability to contribute right away and B) the most immediate path to a decent-sized role.

A tweener if you’re feeling negative and a wrecking ball at any spot if you’re feeling generous, Dorlus should get work at defensive end and inside, especially on obvious passing downs where his fairly polished quarterback chasing toolkit can be brought to bear. It’s not difficult to imagine Dorlus essentially starting if injuries crop up, and it’s extremely difficult not to imagine him having an effective rookie season if all goes well. It feels like cheating to put him on this list because the expectations are already so high, but Dorlus is the obvious choice for a reason.

LB JD Bertrand

“Get your little Captain America ass up and let’s go to work,” Raheem Morris told Bertrand on their draft day call, and that appears to be a nickname that will stick for the rookie out of Notre Dame. Atlanta’s interest in and appreciation for Bertrand is obvious given the way they’ve talked about him and that Morris nickname. Can he carve out a year one role?

The short answer is yes, but it would take a bummer scenario for that to happen. Troy Andersen is in a critical third season, and if he falters or gets hurt again, Bertrand is a player the Falcons may call upon to fill him for him. That’s despite the presence of Nate Landman, who did fantastic work filling in last year, and has everything to do with the fact that the new staff seems so fond of him.

A rock solid tackler with good instincts, Bertrand has one of the trickier paths to value here, because of Andersen and/or Kaden Elliss, Landman, and the fact that he’s a late round rookie. If he does see the field, however, I can see him sticking there.

WR Isaiah Wooden

I’m not just plugging Wooden because he was kind enough to speak with our own Evan Birchfield. There’s something intriguing here, and it concerns the fact that Wooden can both flat out fly and is quite rugged for his size. That combination could open a role on special teams, but it could also see him stick and carve out a small role on offense, as well.

The Falcons showed their clear appreciation for speed when they signed Mooney and Moore, and if Moore doesn’t thrive, there will be an opening for Washington to work outside with Mooney kicking into the slot as well as an opportunity for slot snaps for someone else. If Wooden looks good this summer, the fact that he’d make a compelling returner with the new kickoff rules and could be an occasional deep threat with his speed might turn him into something interesting in year one. He has an uphill battle to just make the roster, which is why he’s lower on this list, but the skillset at least makes him intriguing.

CBs Jayden Price/Anthony Sao/Trey Vaval

The cornerback depth chart is basically begging for an undrafted guy to impress and make the roster. The Falcons have four guys locked in and appear to be fond of Mike Hughes, which leaves only one slot for a sixth cornerback if they choose to carry that many. With a defensive backfield-minded coaching staff and some interesting undrafted types this year, one may very well make if A) Kevin King isn’t able to stick on the roster and B) someone impresses.

All three have solid size—Sao is the biggest of the group by an inch of height and about 15 pounds—and one will need to stand out in a big way to actually land a roster spot as opposed to just a practice squad slot. Sao’s physicality, Price’s ball skills, and Vaval’s versatility (he returned kicks and punts in college, and was pretty damn good) will likely help them stand out, and with the team’s depth certainly a question mark, one does have a shot to make it.

DL Zion Logue

This is a final mention because it’s so situational. There exists a world in which Logue is the beneficiary of Eddie Goldman’s Triple Retirement Challenge and injuries to a line that features players over the age of 30 and steps in as a logical nose tackle candidate, serving as a space eater and run stopper while he works on his overall skill set on the field.

The problem with that scenario is that it requires Goldman to hang them up again and injuries, because the path to a roster spot isn’t very clear otherwise. The Falcons have Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, Goldman, Zach Harrison, Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Ta’Quon Graham, Kentavius Street, and LaCale London all vying for spots this summer, and every one of those guys has a proven level of value at the NFL level. Logue likely needs luck to make the roster and be anything but an inactive early on, but if he gets that luck, it’s possible he also gets a role.

Are there any other late round rookies or undrafted players you have your eye on?