Although it began with relatively few surprises, the 2024 NFL Draft took a turn after the Atlanta Falcons made the shocking pick of Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall.

Penix was far from the only prospect considered a reach during the event. There were plenty of other questionable decisions sandwiched between Atlanta's much-derided selection and the New York Jets' Mr. Irrelevant pick at No. 257 overall. Due to these head-scratching choices, quite a few teams wound up securing some incredible values when they were on the clock.

Whether they landed a player in the latter rounds who many draft analysts foresaw going far earlier or secured a prospect who fits in perfectly with their system, many clubs are now well positioned to get great production from some members of their rookie class.

With that in mind, here are six first-year players who are poised to outperform their 2024 draft slot:

CB Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2 – No. 40 Overall)

Cooper DeJean was projected to be one of the first defensive backs off the board during the 2024 draft. Even though the Bleacher Report Scouting Department ranked the Iowa product No. 27 overall on their final big board and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had him all the way up at No. 14 overall on his list, DeJean ultimately did not hear his name called until the eighth pick of the second round.

The rest of the league's loss will be the Philadelphia Eagles' gain.

Philadelphia landed one of the most versatile and athletic defensive players in the entire class, a player who could have gone early on Day 1 and no one would have batted an eye. DeJean displayed immense skill during his tenure in Iowa City, participating in 30 games and recording 120 tackles, seven interceptions—including three returned for touchdowns—and 13 pass defenses in that span.

DeJean is an instinctive defensive back who covers well and hits hard. He's shown the skill to bait quarterbacks and use this athleticism to come away with picks they didn't see coming. He'll be an asset on special teams as well given his ability to serve as a gunner and returner.

While there are some doubts about DeJean's ability to play man coverage at a high level due to his slower hips and poor release on the press, he's going to find a role somewhere on the football field.

Whether the Eagles deploy him at corner or safety or some combination of the two, he'll almost certainly contribute as a rookie on defensive while also making his mark in the special teams game.

DT Kris Jenkins, Cincinnati Bengals (Round 2 – No. 49 Overall)

The Cincinnati Bengals landed one of the very best defensive tackles in the 2024 class and they didn't even need to use a Day 1 selection to do so. By nabbing Kris Jenkins at No. 49 overall, the team scored one of the strongest value picks of the draft and gained an instant contributor in the defensive trenches.

Jenkins is coming off a standout career at Michigan, having started 37 games for program over the last three years. In that span he recorded 113 tackles—including 8.5 for a loss—and 4.5 sacks. Jenkins even snatched an interception as a senior, a testament to the 6'3", 299-pounder's athleticism and feel for the game.

If Jenkins' name sounds familiar, it's because his father was one of the league's better defensive tackles during his 10-year tenure in the league. The elder Jenkins was a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, giving his son an NFL pedigree to add to his national championship resume.

Cincinnati was shocked that Jenkins was still available midway through the second round. According to CLNS Media's Mike Petraglia, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo joked that he "was squinting for an hour" hoping that the Wolverines product wouldn't come off the board before the team got back on the clock at No. 49 overall.

Jenkins will be a major asset in Anarumo's system not only for his strong run-stuffing skills, but also due to his versatility to line up in multiple spots along the defensive line. As a rookie, Jenkins should see plenty of action in a DT rotation that also features veterans Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill before emerging as a starter by Year 2.

RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (Round 2 – No. 66 Overall)

The Arizona Cardinals may already have one of the more reliable running backs in the league in James Conner, but the team lacked depth behind the aging veteran going into the 2024 draft. Arizona's brass deftly addressed that issue by bringing in Trey Benson, one of the most high-potential talents in the class, with the No. 66 overall pick.

Benson was a force at Florida State, amassing a ton of scores in short order. Although his yardage numbers don't jump off the page—he did finish his two seasons with the Seminoles having tallied an efficient 1,896 yards on 310 totes across 26 contests—he punched in 24 touchdowns on the ground, including 14 in 2024 alone. Benson also developed his pass-catching skills steadily, resulting in 227 yards and a score on 20 receptions in his final collegiate season.

While Benson will have value as a change-of-pace and backup from the jump, he likely wouldn't see a huge workload as a rookie as long as Conner remains healthy. That hasn't been a guarantee in recent seasons, however, as Arizona's incumbent RB1 has missed four contests in each of the last two years and has never suited up every game in any of his seven NFL campaigns. Now a year shy of 30 with 1,125 carries under his belt, wear-and-tear could be an even more significant concern for Conner going forward.

Injuries were also a concern for Benson prior to transferring from Oregon to Tallahassee, but his output for the Seminoles should assuage any doubts about his ability to hold up in the NFL. Given he measured up at six-foot, 216 pounds at the combine, Benson has the size to shoulder a massive load at the next level.

If Conner is sidelined or limited, Benson will be able to slot in and immediately pick up the slack. He has the speed, athleticism and size teams covet in three-down backs and Benson should get deployed as one as soon as Arizona is ready to lean on him for the role.

TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (Round 4 – No. 101 Overall)

By taking Ja'Tavion Sanders in the 2024 draft, the Carolina Panthers added a prospect who could end up as a critical piece of their rebuilding efforts.

Sanders has been regarded as one of the top tight end talents in the class, making his availability on Day 3 rather surprising. While the gulf between consensus No. 1 TE Brock Bowers and the rest is quite vast, the B/R Scouting Department still had Sanders ranked as their No. 78 overall prospect and third-best tight end. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. was also quite high on Sanders, placing him behind only Bowers and Ben Sinnott at the position and No. 75 overall on the big board.

There's plenty to like about Sanders' game, including the proven production he generated after emerging as a starter ahead of the 2022 campaign. He racked up 1,295 yards and seven scores in that span, with Bowers being the only tight end in the nation who can claim more than the 99 catches Sanders reeled in for Texas over the last two seasons.

Sanders' size and athletic abilities are on par for a modern NFL tight end. After measuring up at 6'4", 245 pounds in Indianapolis, the tight end went on to run a respectable 4.69-second 40-yard dash and finished a 20-yard shuttle in 4.32 seconds. While the Panthers will want to see him add more muscle onto his frame, he has the athleticism and skills to succeed in the NFL.

Although Sanders doesn't project to be an elite blocker and could struggle against strong, athletic linebackers in coverage, he'll be in the mix for a Year 1 role as Carolina's top pass-catching tight end. The competition against Tommy Tremble shouldn't be too fierce, as the incumbent has just 548 yards and seven scores on 62 catches over his first three professional seasons.

If Sanders can beat out Tremble, he'll be in line for a notable role early in his career. Expect him to work as Bryce Young's safety valve and become a go-to red area target for a quarterback desperately hoping to get back on track following an abysmal rookie season.

WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (Round 4 – No. 102)

Troy Franklin, the Oregon wideout who the Denver Broncos selected near the top of the fourth round, stands out for his chances of providing an immense amount of bang for the buck. The cash-strapped franchise could use all the help it can get after it's pricy decision to part ways with Russell Wilson this offseason.

Franklin was unstoppable for the high-flying Ducks offense in 2023, generating 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns on 81 catches. It was a strong follow-up to his breakout 2022 campaign, one in which he reeled in 61 passes for 891 yards and nine scores.

Despite this sizzling production, Franklin didn't come off the board until Day 3 due to doubts about his ability to withstand the rigors of the NFL game as well as how deep and talented the 2024 class of wideouts was. Still, getting Franklin at No. 102 overall represents an immense value for a player the B/R Scouting Department ranked No. 76 on their final big board.

While the 6'2", 176-pound wideout's frame is certainly a worry, athleticism and speed simply aren't. He posted a 4.41-second 40-yard dash time, leaped an incredible 39 inches vertically and went 10'4" in the broad jump. He's going to be able to burn defensive backs in space but there is concern he could struggle against the press and find it difficult to battle for contested catches.

Those fears have a good chance to go unfounded, especially now that Franklin has been reunited with Bo Nix—a move that brings one of the college game's most formidable QB-WR tandems to the pros together. The battery dominated in Eugene and has a good chance to continue thriving at the highest level.

With clubs like the Cincinnati Bengals (who reunited Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase following their LSU days) and Miami Dolphins (who re-linked Alabama stars Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle) finding success with this formula, the Broncos could hit the ground running in 2024 if Nix wins the starting job and Franklin plays a big part in the receiving corps.

It shouldn't be too difficult for Franklin to earn playing time, especially after Denver dealt away Jerry Jeudy this offseason. With Courtland Sutton being the only proven wideout returning to the fold this season, Franklin could carve out a key role quickly—returning huge dividends on the No. 102 pick the Broncos utilized to acquire him.

QB Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints (Round 5 – No. 150 Overall)

After trying out utility player Taysom Hill as a full-time quarterback, turning to the polarizing Jameis Winston for a stretch, kicking the tires on Andy Dalton and executing a thus far unfruitful trade for Derek Carr following his demotion to backup duties for the Las Vegas Raiders, it's become painfully clear that the New Orleans Saints won't be able to take shortcuts when it comes finding a stable long-term quarterback.

While New Orleans lacked the premium first-round pick required to land one of the top signal-callers in the 2024 class, it did come away from the draft with a potential solution to its quarterback woes. By utilizing a Day 3 pick on Spencer Rattler, the Saints finally have a developmental prospect with the ceiling of becoming a quality NFL starter.

Rattler's journey to the pros was a rocky one. He once appeared to be fast-tracking a Day 1 selection after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns for Oklahoma as a freshman in 2020, but his career began taking a downward turn the following season. Rattler was supplanted as the Sooners' starter by Caleb Williams—who in an interesting twist of fate wound up becoming the No. 1 overall pick this year—and transferred to South Carolina ahead of the 2022 campaign.

While Rattler fared decently for the Gamecocks, he never regained the potentially elite form he showed in Norman. His two-year tenure with SC ended with him completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 6,212 yards and 37 touchdowns against 20 interceptions—decent but not world-beating numbers.

Although it's somewhat telling that Rattler didn't come off the board until the fifth round in a draft where so many teams were downright desperate for quarterback talent, he could still end up becoming a capable starter if he's able to hone his mechanics and decision-making abilities.

Spending time getting brought up to speed and polishing his game behind a former Pro Bowler in Carr—whose contract expires following the 2026 season but has a potential out after 2025—could do wonders for the prospect. Even if Rattler would still lack the prototypical size and arm strength teams generally covet in NFL quarterbacks, he may end up becoming a serviceable starter in the Big Easy in exchange for what amounts to a throwaway pick.