2019 NFL Draft: Defensive Rookie of the Year sleepers
Rock Ya-Sin, Cornerback, Indianapolis Colts
After beginning his college football career at Presbyterian before transferring as a grad student to Temple, Rock Ya-Sin quickly grabbed the attention of his coaches and scouts around the league. His long body and physical nature could make him a nightmare for opposing receivers.
At Temple, Ya-Sin recorded 12 passes defended and 47 combined tackles. He was also given a single-digit number as one of the nine toughest players on the team. His two state championships as a wrestler in high school may have helped instill that toughness and a wrestling background is something that football coaches everywhere love to hear about their potential players.
Ya-Sin barely fell out of the first round before the Colts snatched him up. He enters a secondary that is still building and has a legitimate chance to be the best corner on the roster this season. He is already listed as the starting nickel corner and could soon become an anchor on the outside for an improving Colts defense.
Byron Murphy, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals
Picked one spot ahead of Ya-Sin was former Washington Husky Byron Murphy. Far from a true sleeper as the first pick of the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but outside of the first nonetheless. Murphy was the first selection made by the Arizona Cardinals after tabbing quarterback Kyle Murray with the number one overall pick.
Like Ya-Sin, Murphy steps into a situation where we will be relied upon right away. After owning the worst record in the league last season, Arizona could clearly stand to improve each and every aspect of their football team, including the secondary.
Murphy would likely have contended for a starting spot as a rookie regardless, but it seems inevitable that Murphy will be out there opening day with the suspension of All-Pro corner Patrick Peterson. With Peterson out the first six games of the season, Murphy will surely be thrown out there to prove what he can do.
After a strong season in 2018 at Washington totaling four interceptions, 13 passes defended and 58 combined tackles, Murphy was the top corner on a lot of big boards this Spring. Although he wasn’t the first corner taken and fell out of the first round, the Cardinals will be looking for big things from Murphy right away in 2019.