Flip a Second-Round Rookie Pick: KJ Hamler

Each off-season brings an opportunity to dive through dynasty rosters and determine which players are being tossed into oblivion. Whether due to injury or circumstance, plenty of talented players can be forgotten due to the power of perception. You can offer to toss a pick at a boring yet productive veteran and get some traction, yet there are also younger players with promise whose careers have not yet taken off who make for excellent targets. This brings us to KJ Hamler.

It was not too long ago (2020, to be exact) that Hamler was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos, a key piece of their rebuilt passing attack. His value was immediately deflated by the fact Denver had taken Jerry Jeudy in the first round and had the young and talented Courtland Sutton already on the roster. This made Hamler a great value from day one, and it has only been depressed since. The full rundown on Hamler is below.

AS A PROSPECT

Hamler’s full profile as a prospect was clouded by a hamstring injury that caused him to withdraw from Combine drills, but there is zero doubt Hamler can fly as he showcased his speed throughout two seasons at Penn State. His projected low 4.3’s 40 time would make him one of the faster receivers in the league and the ultimate lid-lifter who can press defenses with raw wheels. The blazing speed created first-round buzz for Hamler before he ultimately settled with Denver in the first half of round two.

Of course, you have to have more than just speed to be so highly coveted. After missing 2017 with an ACL tear, Hamler immediately made an impact for the Nittany Lions. He posted a 42-754-5 line as a redshirt freshman before piling up a 56-904-8 line as a sophomore. He was immediately one of the B1G’s most explosive weapons and one of the nation’s best receivers.

The combination of athleticism and production helped curtail concerns about Hamler’s size. At 5’9” and 178 pounds, Hamler obviously does not fit the receiver prototype yet possesses the ultimate trump card in speed, allowing teams to dream on his upside as an explosive downfield threat. It allowed him to be the tenth receiver and 46th overall player off the board in 2020. His draft pedigree is strong.