2012 NFL Draft Prospects | Page 28 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

2012 NFL Draft Prospects

[h=1]NFP Sunday Blitz[/h]
As the NFL has changed the way player with concussions are treated, many teams are changing the way they view draft prospects with concussion histories.
Those players ultimately could less value to their teams, and they subsequently are being downgraded more harshly than ever before on many draft boards.
“The sense of awareness has been heightened for concussions,” Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told me. “So we talk about it a lot.”

chrisicon18460188-1.jpg
Chris Owusu on the sidelines is not an unfamiliar sight.
It will be interested to see where Stanford receiver Chris Owusu is drafted. He suffered three documented concussions in 13 months, including two last season. He has been cleared to play by a neurosurgeon, but it is inconceivable that his medical file will not affect his draft stock.
Before the injuries, Owusu was an outstanding kick returner and a dynamic receiver. At 6-0, 196, ran a 4.31 40 yard dash at the combine. But his play dropped off significantly last year. One scout said something was missing in his route running and separation. Some suspect the head traumas had something to do with how he performed.
“If he was the player he was three years ago, I’d be excited,” an NFC general manager said. “This year I didn’t see it. I don’t really know who he is.”
There is a chance he could develop into a fine starting wide receiver in the NFL. But there also is a chance many NFL teams will not be willing to take a gamble on Owusu.


My Sunday Best: Small School Prospects
If we were drafting only players who went to small schools, this is the order in which they could go off the board, according to front office men I’ve spoken with. Here are my best small school prospects.
1. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama. Round: second.
The transfer from Florida is a first round talent, but some teams have crossed his name off their boards and others have downgraded him because of character concerns. Jenkins is athletic, tough and has ball skills but is considered a wildcard in the draft.

2. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana. Round: second.
Teams that run a zone scheme and prefer big, physical corners who can break up passes will love Johnson. He is a bit inconsistent and green, but the skill set is there.

3. Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina. Round: second.
This is a tall, athletic corner who can run and play some man-to-man or zone. He helped himself at the East-West game. He might be difficult to teach, but if a coach can get through to him, Norman can be a fine pro.

4. Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State. Round: second.
He was a dominant left tackle at his level but is probably going to be moved inside by an NFL team. Silatolu is a little raw and needs technique work, but he is athletic and has as much potential as any guard in the draft.

5. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State. Round: third.
His athleticism and size bodes well for his NFL future, but he will need some time to get used to the competition. Quick never was asked to run complex routes in his team’s offense, so he has a lot to learn. One scout said, “The sky is the limit, but will he take the jump?”

6. Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly. Round: fourth.
One scout said he looked better during the season than he did against better competition in the Senior Bowl. But Jackson does have good quickness. He could be able to have a quick impact as a punt returner.

7. B.J. Coleman, QB, Tennessee-Chattanooga. Round: fourth.
Strictly a developmental prospect, some teams think the Tennessee transfer has to mature as a player and person. He did play impressively at times. He can throw for distance and with accuracy.

8. Tom Compton, G, South Dakota. Round: fifth.
He has come on during the postseason, in part because he performed well at the East-West game. Compton might have positional versatility to play outside or in. He has the size and athleticism it takes to develop into an NFL player.

9. Ryan Steed, Furman. Round: fifth.
He has some of the traits NFL teams look for, but scouts I spoke with are split on him. Steed needs to show he has the movement skills to match up with NFL wide receivers.

10. Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State. Round: fifth.
This Tennessee transfer may be able to play cornerback or safety in the NFL. He has the speed, explosiveness and hitting ability to succeed at the next level. The off the field issues that were behind his transfer may prevent him from ever reaching his potential, however.



Things I Didn’t Used To Know
One of the players who has risen the most in recent weeks is South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. At one point he was considered the third cornerback behind Dre Kirkpatrick. Now he not only has passed Kirkpatrick, but he also has risen to the point where he could be a top 10 pick.
Teams looking for a physical running back in the draft will be drawn to the likes of Trent Richardson, Doug Martin and Chris Polk. But perhaps they should not discount David Wilson. Because the Virginia Tech RB is 5-9, 206, he has been considered a change of pace back or third down specialist by some. Little known fact: he had more yards after contact than any runner in the country.
A team that doesn’t get a starting caliber guard in the draft might have a nice consolation prize in Eric Steinbach. The former Browns guard missed the 2011 season after having surgery to remove a disc fragment from his spinal nerve and was cut earlier this offseason. Steinbach is expected to be ready to work out for teams in about a month or so, which could be perfect timing.

Scout Talk: Pro Day Revelations
Brandon Brooks, Miami of Ohio G.
He inexplicably was not invited to the combine, and he showed what a mistake that was by lighting up his pro day workout. At 346 pounds, Brooks showed he is athletic as any guard in the draft.

Leonard Johnson, Iowa State CB. After running a 4.71 40-yard dash at the combine, Johnson was in danger of falling to the bottom of the draft, or out of the draft. But he saved himself with a 4.51 40 yard dash at his pro day.

Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech WR. He followed up an outstanding combine workout by impressing scouts and coaches in his positional drills at his pro day. This was critical for Hill because he was allowed to run pro style routes that he never had a chance to run in Georgia Tech’s triple option offense. One front office man said Hill showed an ability to get in and out of breaks that he had never seen on tape.

Whitney Mercilus, Illinois DE. By moving smoothly in linebacker drills, Mercilus opened up his market to include 3-4 teams as well as 4-3 teams. He also improved his time in the three cone by .14 seconds.

Kendall Wright, Baylor WR. He stabilized his draft stock after his speed came in question at the combine. Wright improved his 40 yard dash to 4.42 seconds at his pro day.

Jerel Worthy, Michigan State DT. With the pecking order of defensive tackles not yet clearly defined, Worthy took full advantage with a solid pro day workout. He might have even cemented a spot in the first round.

Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin G. A really strong positional workout probably locked in Zeitler as the No. 2 guard, and even gave him an outside chance of going in round one.
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-4214.html
 
Draft team needs: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins need help, a lot of it. This is their chance to find it.
QB:
Matt Moore says he just wants "a fair shot" at starting, and he'll get it. In fact, with Garrard the competition, he'll not only get a "fair shot," he should win the job. Moore stepped in last season after starter Chad Henne bowed out and did a credible job, compiling a 6-6 record for a struggling club. That makes him 13-12 as a career starter in Carolina and Miami, and it makes him the favorite here. Once upon a time, the Dolphins wanted Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn for this position, but Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn didn't want them. Now they have Moore, and, in an odd way, they might be better off. They know they need someone to groom as a future franchise quarterback, and that someone may be in this year's draft -- high in this year's draft. Is Tannehill the answer, and will he be there at No. 8?
RB: Reggie Bush was a pleasant surprise, producing career highs in several categories, including rushing attempts, rushing yards and longest run from scrimmage (76). More important, he stayed healthy, proving that he can be a featured back in the right offense. Charles Clay is a decent pass receiver, averaging 14.6 yards per catch, while CFL-arrival Jerome Messam was the league's Most Outstanding Canadian Player after rushing for 1,057 yards with Edmonton. Daniel Thomas flashed at times, though his play was inconsistent. The Dolphins could use another back, particularly a lead blocker or short-yardage option, but it's not a high priority.
WR: With the departure of Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess becomes the principal receiver -- and that's an issue. He's not a No. 1, and his numbers last year were the worst of his four-year career. I guess that's another way of saying the Dolphins need someone dynamic at this position, and they'll have their choice. Justin Blackmon could be on the board, while Stephen Hill and Michael Floyd definitely will be there. Without them, we're looking at people like Brian Hartline, Clyde Gates, Julius Pruitt and Marlon Moore -- which means we're looking at a substantial draft need. Philbin has made it clear he wants to "spread the wealth" on offense, which is another way of saying he wants to make use of all his weapons with multiple formations and sets -- much as he did in Green Bay. That's a nice idea, but it helps to have Green Bay's talent.
TE: Anthony Fasano is the starter here, and while he struggled early last season, he wound up with 32 catches and five touchdowns. Jeron Mastrod, Will Yeatman and Les Brown are young, raw and inexperienced -- which is another way of saying there's not much beyond Fasano.
OL: Miami allowed 52 sacks, one short of the franchise record, so it's clear help is needed here, too. Starters Jake Long, Mike Pouncey, Vernon Carey and Marc Colombo each were taken in the first round, so you'd think they'd be OK. They weren't, with Colombo the worst of the four. He struggled all season, making right tackle a position of need and Iowa's Riley Reiff -- who can play the right side -- a potential target. Dating back to 2008, the Dolphins made 51 moves involving offensive linemen -- including the draft -- and they have three starters to show for it: Long, Pouncey and guard Richie Incognito. They're rebuilding the right side, with Lydon Murtha a possibility at right tackle and John Jerry and Nate Garner the lead contestants at guard. Philbin is a former offensive line coach who wants this unit to be more athletic, capable of running zone-blocking schemes. The feeling is that he should be able to straighten these guys out -- but that's what we said about another former offensive line coach, Tony Sparano.
DL: One of the team's first offseason moves was to re-sign defensive tackle Paul Soliai, and that was smart. He's the linchpin to a defensive line that ranked third vs. the run, and the Dolphins not only kept him off the free-agent market, they got him at a hometown discount. With the loss of Kendall Langford to St. Louis, Soliai should be teamed with Randy Starks and Jared Odrick, who had six sacks last season as part of a six-man rotation. Look for Odrick, Phillip Merling and Tony McDaniel to compete for time and jobs with the new coaching staff and defense. Still, someone must emerge as an outside pass rusher, either here or at linebacker.
LB: Cameron Wake is not only the best pass-rusher on this team; he's one of the best in the NFL. Finding someone to complement him is that task now that Jason Taylor, who was second on the club in sacks last season, is retired. Maybe newcomer Jamaal Westerman is that guy; maybe not. More likely it's Koa Misi, who was a disappointment last season. Wake didn't produce big numbers, but he was more effective vs. the run while regularly facing double teams. He is invaluable, but he's also unhappy. He wants a new contract, and so far the Dolphins aren't biting. Inside linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett were effective, period, with each producing over 100 tackles, and Miami just added Gary Guyton. He could play inside or outside. The Dolphins haven't made it clear what kind of scheme they will run, so it's uncertain whether it's a pass-rushing linebacker or defensive end that's needed. What is certain is that they could use someone other than Cameron Wake off the edge.
DB: Miami cut Yeremiah Bell, which means Tyrell Johnson and Reshad Jones look like the starters at safety -- for now, at least. Jones came on last season, but the Dolphins could use an upgrade here. One problem: The draft is thin at the position after Alabama's Mark Barron. Newcomer Richard Marshall and Vontae Davis are the featured cornerbacks, with Sean Smith off the bench, and that's a decent combination. Smith can start, but he regressed last season and was a frequent target of opposing quarterbacks. Combined with developing cornerbacks Nolan Carroll and Jimmy Wilson, the Dolphins look set at the position.
Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/18578653/draft-team-needs-miami-dolphins
 
For what is worth, there are rumblings about that South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore has moved up closer to the top 10, while there are also hints that no one should be surprised if Syracuse DE Chandler Jones ends up being selected in the top 20. Meanwhile, California MLB Mychal Kendricks, who put on a show at the combine, is reportedly moving up in the second round while, athletic Oklahoma OT Donald Stephenson, another player who impressed at the combine, has started to get some late second-day consideration. There is also a little bit of late-round buzz regarding OTs Dennis Kelly of Purdue and Harvard’s Kevin Murphy… A couple of other later round or free agent prospects NFL teams have been checking out in the annual rite to find the next Marcus Colston includes Beloit WR Derek Carrier, a 6-3, 238-pound receiver who has also played basketball and run track for the DIII school. At the same time, West Virginia Wesleyan WR Jon Meadows, a possession receiver who led all DII receivers with 99 receptions last fall, reminds more than one scout of a poor man’s Wes Welker type of player.
Read more:http://www.gbnreport.com/draftbuzz.html
 
A look at Alshon Jeffery in the red zone

Click here for an NFL scout’s take on Jeffery.
Today, let’s take a quick look at Alshon Jeffery running the post route vs. man-coverage. With the WR from South Carolina, you should think inside breaking concepts and red zone football because of his size (6-4, 216) at the position. Check out the replay and then we will get into some coaching points…
Clemson vs. South Carolina
Personnel: Ace (2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB)
Formation: Unit Slot
Scheme: Double-Post
Coverage: Cover 0 (blitz-man)

[video=youtube;4i7GSLdA1Lk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i7GSLdA1Lk&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Draft-A-look-at-Alshon-Jeffery-in-the-red-zone.html
 
[video=youtube;u2HKSUW6b8w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u2HKSUW6b8w[/video]

You can write this down: If Tannehill were to be there at 12, Seattle would take him, even though the Seahawks just paid medium dollar for Matt Flynn in free agency. That's how much Seattle loves him. "At Tannehill's workout,'' one source told me, "[coach] Pete Carroll was giggling like a schoolgirl watching him throw. His attitude was like, 'What are we even doing here? He'll never be there for us.' ''

However, as Carroll allegedly stated, there's next to no chance that Tannehill will make it to the 12th overall pick. The Miami Dolphins are desperate for a starting quarterback and would undoubtedly take Tannehill with the eighth overall pick, and it's entirely possible that the team will trade up if it fears that the 6'4", 221-pounder won't make it to them.
Read more:http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...est-news-and-rumors-about-top-draft-prospects
 
[h=1]Vontaze Burfict has no meetings with NFL teams[/h]
Vontaze Burfict's stock continues to plummet, as agent Charles Price told TheDaily.com that his client doesn't have any private meetings scheduled with teams heading into next week's draft.
It continues a rocky pre-draft circuit for Burfict, who was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and once considered a potential first-round pick. He is now projected as a fifth- or sixth-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com, and with mounting concerns coupled with the decreased value placed on inside linebackers, Burfict might fall out of the draft completely.
Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...ontaze-burfict-has-no-meetings-with-nfl-teams
 
Dolphins 1st Round Options
What five prospects could the Dolphins look at in round one?

Potential prospects available for the Dolphins at 8...


QB Ryan Tannehill: Texas A&M (6-4, 222)
With such limited experience at the quarterback position it's not a case of where this guy is right now, but where he can be in 2/3 years. I love the talent and the overall production from a guy who doesn't have much experience playing from under center as he plays way beyond his years. A potential franchise quarterback in my mind.

Floyd26938-1.jpg
Miami has a void at wide out and Floyd fits the need.
WR Michael Floyd: Notre Dame (6-3, 224)
Didn't seem quite as dynamic as a receiver when he bulked up in 2010. However, has looked sudden, explosive and showcased the ability to separate quickly and create after the catch as a senior. Is one of the draft's top receiving prospects.
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Draft-Dolphins-1st-Round-Options.html
 
Top 2nd Round Values

DT Devon Still: Penn State (6-5, 310)

A tall, physically put together defensive lineman with good girth through the lower half, but has the frame to get even bigger. Possesses "plus" power and get off burst for his size, but is still learning how to put it all together. Has the ability to bend, as he at times keeps his base down and butt under him off the snap. And when he can gain leverage on contact the guy has the ability to consistently overwhelm at the point and dominate.

Fleener1-1.jpg
Fleener looks like a fringe first round prospect.
TE Coby Fleener: Stanford (6-6, 244)
An impressive pass catcher who can win both down the field and underneath vs. man coverage. Has the frame and flexibility to develop into a solid blocker as well and looks like a future starting caliber NFL TE.

WR Stephen Hill: Georgia Tech (6-5, 206)
Has a unique skill set, can pluck off his frame, track the football and is the next big time talent from the Georgia Tech program. Is going to need some time to develop, but can come in and track football vertically early on. Has a lot of upside to his game and skill set says he's an NFL starter.
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Top-2nd-Round-Values.html
 
[h=1]Draft Tip Sheet: Georgia Tech WR U; Poe, Barron, Crick updates[/h]
The rush-heavy offense notwithstanding -- the run has accounted for nearly 73 percent of Tech's offense in Paul Jonson's four seasons, and more than three-quarters of the snaps, and the Yellow Jackets have averaged only 167.0 passes per year in that stretch -- Stephen Hill figures to be picked in the first round. Just as Demaryius Thomas was by Denver in 2010.
Hill and Thomas are tremendous examples of NFL scouts projecting talent, no matter the college offense in which they played, to the league level. But they also are, in addition to being players who will help Johnson recruit receivers who might otherwise be reluctant to perform in such a ground-based attack, good examples of how downfield blocking can help to accentuate a wideout's total skill set.

Although there is only a little more than a week to go until the first round, and draft boards for most teams have been fairly solidified, some prospects are still being much debated in war rooms, and few more so than Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe.
As noted here last week, and by several other draft-related sites, Poe isn't particularly productive on tape. But the equally-discussed element of his game is whether Poe, who has almost exclusively played in a 4-3 front, can transition to 3-4 nose tackle. "He's not classic," said the general manager of a 3-4 team. "If you want a guy to just eat up blockers, and not worry about the other stuff ... I don't know if he's the guy."

Unlike a year ago, when the talent pool seemed chock-full of five-technique defensive end possibilities for 3-4 fronts, there aren't a lot of candidates for the 2012 draft.
One guy who is getting attention, and who might have worked himself up to the third round, in part because of the thin crop at the position is Jared Crick of Nebraska.
The former Cornhuskers' standout has some injury concerns, and at 279 pounds at the combine, isn't nearly as bulky as some teams would prefer as a 3-4 end.

There don't seem to be many players jumping up boards around the league as much as Alabama safety Mark Barron has the past few weeks.
Although solidly in the first round all along, Barron was thought to be a prospect more in the 20s,but might go off the board more toward the halfway point of the stanza now.
There just aren't that many safety prospects overall -- and Barron certainly is the only one who merits first-round consideration -- and he is gaining momentum. The former Crimson Tide standout seems to have answered all the physical questions, after having undergone hernia surgery earlier in the spring. While he still isn't great against the pass, teams like his toughness, smarts and versatility.

Perhaps the cornerback equivalent to Barron is South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, who was highlighted by The Sports Xchange last month.
Big and quick, and able to play a variety of styles, Gilmore could suddenly be the No. 2 corner on a lot of boards, with the dropoffs of Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama and North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins. What has helped Gilmore, among other things, is that some "cover two" teams that have worked him out in recent weeks are more convinced he can fit into that scheme.

Keep an eye, too, on the Clemson defensive line duo of end/linebacker Andre Branch and tackle Brandon Thompson.
Each can line up at multiple positions -- a few teams actually feel Thompson might be best as a 3-4 end -- and both have had individual workouts for several franchises in the past two weeks. The second round is the most likely landing spot for the Clemson standouts, but it wouldn't be all that shocking to see one of them, Branch in particular, sneak into the first round.


[SIZE=+1]•[/SIZE] Quick kicks: Some of the smaller-school cornerbacks, who seemed to be so fashionable only a few weeks ago, appear to be dropping on draft boards. There is a chance now that few, if any, will go off before the third round. ... Brandon Brooks of Miami (Ohio) isn't the only small college guard to get attention. He won't be drafted nearly as high as Brooks, who is likely to be the first non-combine player off the board, perhaps as early as the third round, but Gino Gradkowski of Delaware figures to be in the sixth or seventh round now. The main concern with Gradkowski is a lack of lower-body bulk. ... Defensive lineman Chigbo Anunoby has been fairly impressive in individual work and could be the second player from Morehouse drafted in the past three years.
[SIZE=+1]•[/SIZE] The last word: "I'll go anywhere, but you want the teams that didn't take you to wish they did." -- Alabama tailback Trent Richardson, expected to be a top five pick in the draft, but probably affected a bit by the NFL's trend to not take running backs as high in the lottery in recent years.
Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...et-georgia-tech-wr-u-poe-barron-crick-updates
 
[h=1]Prospect focus: Appalachian St. WR Brian Quick[/h]
One of the more interesting small school prospects in this year’s draft is receiver Brian Quick from Appalachian State. Quick might have played at an FCS school but there is not a scout in the NFL who doesn’t know about him. He is an intriguing prospect because of his size and upside. He is 6034 and 220 pounds, and he ran an average of 4.55 at the Combine. He also had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl competing against players from much better programs.


BrianQuick2-1.jpg
Brian Quick finished 2011 with 71 catches for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns.


In other articles about prospects I have written about the recruiting process as they came out of high school. In Quick’s case there was virtually no process. He was a NO star recruit from Columbia, South Carolina. He did not start playing football until his senior year in high school and Appalachian St. was the only FCS program to recruit him. The other schools to look at him were Div. II and Div. III programs.
At App St. he played in the first two games of his true freshman year but then was redshirted with a back injury. In 2008 he was a part time starter and caught 23 passes for 7 touchdowns. The next 3 seasons he was a fulltime starter and his stats got better as he gained experience with the game. He finished 2011 with 71 catches for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was truly a dominant small school player.
Despite his growth in the sport, Quick still needs a lot of development. He played in a fairly simple spread passing attack. His route “tree” consisted of about 4 patterns (outs, comebacks, slants, streaks). While he has good quickness off the ball he is not a precise route runner. He is athletic and can get in and out of cuts with good quickness but you will see plays when he doesn’t seem to go all out.
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Prospect-focus-Appalachian-St-WR-Brian-Quick.html
 
[video=youtube;YmH3JhGeIU0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmH3JhGeIU0&feature=plcp&context=C4ea18feVDvjVQa1PpcFO53-ymsInQCNq0sNtlJI5vzlSCD3esXFg%3D[/video]
 
2012 NFL Draft Sleepers: All Underrated Team - QB, RB, WR, and TE

QB
B.J. Coleman, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Small school prospects can be tough to get a read on due to the level of competition they face. That's especially true when it comes to quarterbacks.
But University of Tennessee Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman may have the rare ability to make the transition to the NFL from the FCS.
Coleman is a smart and dedicated player. He started his career off at Tennessee, where he studied Peyton Manning extensively, and he displays some of Manning's tendencies. Following his freshman season with the Volunteers, Coleman transferred to Chattanooga to take over as the starting quarterback.
His production was impressive, but given the level of competition, his physical abilities are far more important. At 6-feet-5-inches tall and 220 pounds, Coleman undoubtedly has the size to play quarterback in the NFL. In the games I saw, Coleman displayed a quick release and plenty of arm strength to translate to the next level. He also has very clean footwork, though he does tend to get a bit jumpy in the pocket, mostly when he took snaps from the shotgun.
Overall, Coleman is surprisingly polished at this point in his career. He shows great anticipation in his throws and goes through his reads naturally. He comes off as a smart, confident leader that teams will covet under center.
Coleman likely won't hear his name called until day three of the NFL Draft, but he has the potential to be a starter some day. He has all of the physical and mental tools to succeed. It's just a matter of him finding an offense that fits his abilities.

Honorable Mention

Nick Foles, Arizona
Nick Foles is a completely different prospect than B.J. Coleman. While Coleman is refined in his mechanics, Foles is a bit erratic and inconsistent. He has a rocket arm, but his footwork and throwing motion could use a bit of work. Foles also made a lot of careless throws this past season at Arizona.
So what makes him jump out at me? Well besides his huge arm, Foles is a confident and competitive player. He didn't have a stellar senior season or Senior Bowl, but as a late round developmental guy, very few players present as much upside as Foles does.
I probably wouldn't draft him until the fourth or fifth round, but Foles would be the ideal backup for a team with an established starter in place.

RB


Vick Ballard, Mississippi State
Vick Ballard is not going to blow anyone away with his wheels. But during his career at Mississippi State, Ballard proved to be a patient and powerful runner. He will earn playing time early in his career because of his reliability as a pass blocker. Ballard has deceptive quickness to go with his power and consistently displayed outstanding vision with impressive cutback runs. If given a chance to play early in his career, Ballard will surprise a lot of people.
Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
Cyrus Gray is another running back that is not going to stand out in terms of pure athleticism. However, throughout his career, Gray was a consistent and reliable running back. He always seems to fall forward, and his vision allows him to be a quality option between the tackles. Again, any running back who is going to make a smooth transition to the NFL needs to be able to pass block, and Gray can. He also has solid hands out of the backfield, which could make him a third down back as a rookie.

WR

Marvin Jones, California
Marvin Jones may not hear his name called until the second or third night of the 2012 NFL Draft, but he has a real shot to be the most productive wide receiver in this class. He has size, athleticism and the route running to make an immediate transition to the NFL. Jones works hard and makes difficult plays on the ball with regularity due to his tremendous body control. He will likely be drafted in the third round at the latest.
A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
People are starting to catch on to A.J. Jenkins, but it's still fair to call him one of the sleepers of this draft class. A fluid route runner, Jenkins displays incredible hands and ability to make plays in traffic. His speed and strength are weapons of his, and he is versatile enough to play in the slot and on the boundary. Jenkins has a real chance of becoming a No. 2 receiver early in his NFL career and for the small price of a day two pick.
Chris Givens, Wake Forest
It's easy for a player to get lost in the football wasteland that is Wake Forest. But don't overlook Chris Givens. While he is slightly undersized, Givens is an explosive player with an ability to separate from the secondary. He occasionally struggled making adjustments and catches on poorly thrown balls, but with the quarterback play at Wake Forest, it's tough to blame him. Givens will make for a nice value in the second or third round.
Slot Receivers: For good measure, I'll throw in a few slot receivers who could out-perform their draft position.
Dwayne Frampton, Arkansas State
You find football players where you find football players, and despite his small-school status, Dwayne Frampton is a hell of a football player. Frampton suffered an MCL tear late in the season for Arkansas State but managed to perform at ASU's pro day. Frampton is a well grounded kid with solid hands and the quickness to work the slot in the NFL.
*Devon Wylie, Fresno State
Few players in the draft are as quick as Devon Wylie. He accelerates very quickly in and out of his cuts, making him a terrific route runner. Add to that his reliable hands, and with some NFL strength training, Wylie could become a dangerous slot receiver.

TE

Ladarius Green, University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Playing all over Louisiana-Lafayette's offense during his career, Ladarius Green proved to be a versatile and athletic player. At 6-feet-6-inches tall and 236 pounds, Green displays surprising body control for his size. Green has solid strength and quicks, but his blocking and route running are far from polished. That being said, his massive frame, long arms and athleticism make him the type of prospect that could really shine with some seasoning at the next level.

http://www.sbnation.com/users/Matthew Fairburn

*Wylie is my pick
 
[h=1]GM: Dolphins won't be "pressured" to take Ryan Tannehill[/h]Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said he has a "pretty good idea" of what he wants with the No. 8 overall pick on April 26, but he won't break from the team's draft plan just to land Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

"There are times you should go after a first-round QB, but you shouldn't be pressured into it," said Ireland.

Miami missed out on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith in free agency, settling on David Garrard to compete with Matt Moore for now.

Coincidentally, Tannehill is the No. 8 rated overall prospect in the 2012 class by NFLDraftScout.com.

"He's a great kid," said Ireland. "He's smart, tough, has a good family background."
Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...hins-wont-be-pressured-to-take-ryan-tannehill
 
[h=1]Ohio State OT Mike Adams tested positive for marijuana at combine[/h]
Mike Adams had to answer plenty of questions about his off-field behavior at the NFL combine when he stepped to the podium and spoke with the media. Odds are pretty good he got grilled even harder by NFL teams, since it's being reported Thursday that he tested positive for marijuana while at the combine.

That's according to a report from Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network, who also reports that Adams has "been upfront with teams since learning of the result."

Which is good since, you know, he doesn't really have another choice -- the teams are holding a positive test result in their hands.

LaCanfora cites sources who say that Adams is "viewed as a 'good kid' who obviously made a mistake."
Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/e...dams-tested-positive-for-marijuana-at-combine
 
Back
Top Bottom