Lofty expectations for late round picks and undrafted free agents often come with a price tag, and that price you pay for summer hype and big belief is the heavy coin of disappointment. Over the years, we’ve gotten excited for late round pass rushers, undrafted Atlanta Falcons free agent wide receivers, and the occasional offensive lineman with a great name, but rarely does our excitement translate into roles and results.
DeMarcco Hellams will go down as an exception, no matter what his career holds from here. A hard-hitting safety out of Alabama, Hellams arrived as an intriguing seventh round selection in Atlanta and then proceeded to capture hearts and minds with an impressive training camp and preseason.