Every year we are flooded with information regarding the top guys to draft for each position. Rankings, followed by rookie rankings, and then everyone’s favorite sleepers. What about the other guys, the hidden gems? I want to take a look at a guy that should outperform expectations and can be found in the later rounds, or possibly go undrafted entirely.
That player is Carl Granderson, DE, of the New Orleans Saints. He finished the 2022 season ranked 4th on the Saints roster with career highs in both sacks (5.5) and QB hits (9). He also put up a respectable 53 tackles with 30 being solos. The 5th year edge rusher is also entering the final year of his contract and over the past few seasons, he has watched guys like Trey Hendrickson, Kaden Ellis, and Marcus Davenport cash in. With a potentially huge payday around the corner, expect Granderson to put up career numbers again this year.
I see several things going Granderson’s way this season. Playing opposite Cameron Jordan should create plenty of 1 on 1 opportunities. Now that Marcus Davenport has moved on to Minnesota in free agency and Payton Turner has done next to nothing in his first 2 years, we could easily see Granderson’s snap share go from 45% to the 50-60% range. Granderson is the type of player being overlooked and undervalued in fantasy drafts. He has the opportunity, the motivation, and the talent to be a hidden gem of the later rounds.
