BEST OF: QUARTERBACKS

CLASS OF 2005

1.       Aaron Rodgers* - California – Packers

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 24 – Packers

·         YDS: 8,801 TDS: 59 INTS: 21 QBRAT: 97.2

·         PRO BOWL: 2009

·         Despite being regarded by some as the best QB and a top 10 selection by most in the 2005 draft, Rodgers slid down to the Packers at pick number 24.  With Brett Favre still in the lineup it was a little surprising to see Rodgers land in Green Bay.  After three seasons standing on the sideline, Rodgers would finally get his chance with the “retirement” of Favre.  Things became a little complicated later that off-season when Favre decided he wanted his job back.  The team stood strong behind their decision and moved on with Rodgers.  He put up outstanding numbers in his first season as a starter with 4,038yds, 28 TDs, and just 13 INTs.  However it wasn’t enough to generate wins, as the Pack went 6-10.  With a season under his belt, Rodgers followed his breakout season with even better numbers: 4,434yds, 30 TDs, 7 INTs, and 103.2 passer rating.  More importantly, he led the Packers to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.  Unfortunately, the Packers suffered controversial loss in the first round in an overtime shootout against the Cardinals (51-45). Rodgers has vaulted himself to being one of the best in the business and shows no sign of slowing down.  If he continues at this rate of improvement, the sky is the limit.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Rodgers was actually minimally recruited out of high school and attended Butte Community College (JUCO) before transferring to California.

ALSO IN THE RUNNING:

2.       Jason Campbell – Auburn – Redskins, Raiders

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 25 – Redskins

·         YDS: 10,860 TDS: 55 INTS: 38 QBRAT: 82.3

·         Campbell has been pretty successful considering the poor supporting cast in Washington the past two years, throwing for over 3,000yds in both and 20 TDs in 2009.  However, new coach Mike Shanahan wanted to start the new era with his own QB and traded for one of the best in Donovan McNabb.  The Skins ended up trading Campbell to the Raiders for a 2012 fourth round draft pick this off-season.  I still see potential in Campbell, who has all the tools to be successful.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Campbell had a different offensive coordinator every year while at Auburn.

 

3.       Kyle Orton – Purdue – Bears, Broncos

·         DRAFTED: Round 4, Pick 106 – Bears

·         YDS: 9,121 TDS: 51 INTS: 39 QBRAT: 76.9

·         Orton has had surprising success in the NFL despite possessing few standout qualities.  He set a bunch of team rookie records for the Bears including completions (190), yards (1,869), and TDs (9).  More surprising was his 10 victories as a rookie, most ever by a player drafted in the fourth round or lower.  Now with the Broncos, Orton remains a fringe starter at best who can get the job done until someone better is found.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Orton wore the number 18 at Purdue in honor of former Nebraska QB Brook Berringer, a charitable and loved member of the community, who tragically died in 1996.

4.       Alex Smith –Utah – 49ers

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 1 – 49ers

·         YDS: 7,029 TDS: 37 INTS: 43 QBRAT: 69.2

·         Smith still holds the title of “bust” after the 49ers took him number one overall instead of Aaron Rodgers.  Although brilliant in the classroom, Smith took a long time to adjust to the speed and schemes of the NFL.  He has been in-and-out of the starting lineup due to his inconsistent play.  Some in the organization expect him to breakout next season, but time is running out on Smith in San Francisco.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Smith graduated from Utah with a degree in economics in just three years with a 3.71 GPA.

 

5.       Derek Anderson –Oregon State – Ravens, Browns, Cardinals

·         DRAFTED: Round 6, Pick 213 – Ravens

·         YDS: 7,083 TDS: 46 INTS: 45 QBRAT: 69.7

·         PRO BOWL: 2007

·         Anderson managed to earn a Pro Bowl invite in 2007 with an impressive 3,787yds and 29 TDs.  However, his career quickly tanked the following season when an MCL injury sidelined him for the year.  It plummeted further last season when he played terribly and had a bad break with the Browns at the end of the year.  I see hope for Anderson in his new home with the Cardinals if starter Matt Leinart goes down.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Growing up, Anderson was good friends with future 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood.

PACKERS SIGN QB GRAHAM HARRELL

The Packers have signed former Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell and released QB Chris Pizzotti (Harvard). Harrell currently ranks second on the all-time NCAA FBS (formerly Div 1-A) passing yards list with 15,793 yards, while topping the all-time passing TDs list with 134. Despite his vast amount of success at the collegiate level NFL teams had little interest in him, going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns invited Harrell to their rookie camp but ultimately did not sign him. He caught on with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL for the 2009 season, but saw no action and was released this April. He was reportedly joining the coaching staff at Oklahoma State in January, but did not pan out apparently.

The son of one of the highest paid H.S. football coaches in Texas at one point, Sam Harrell, Graham learned to be an extremely efficient passer in the spread offense. Harrell does a nice job working through his reads and can accurately place the ball into his receivers’ hands, but tends to struggle when pressure arises. His arm is underrated, but is still won’t wow anyone. He is strictly a pocket passer with limited mobility. At 6’2”, 215lbs he possesses just average size for an NFL QB. Texas Tech’s Mike Leach-era QBs have had little success in the NFL, making the outlook for Harrell very dim.

Clearly the Packers are looking for some insurance in case Aaron Rodgers goes down and backup Matt Flynn can’t produce. Flynn hasn’t shown any glimpses that he would be able to step in and so. Either way, the Packers will need a number three QB on the roster. Harrell will compete with undrafted free agent signee Noah Shepard for the spot.

BEST OF: QUARTERBACKS

CLASS OF 2004

1.       Ben Roethlisberger* – Miami (OH) – Steelers

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 11 – Steelers

·         YDS: 19,302 TDS: 127 INTS: 81 QBRAT: 91.7

·         PRO BOWL: 2007

·         OTHER HONORS: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

·         He may not be my favorite person in the world and it really pains me to put him here atop the list, but I can’t ignore the facts.  Roethlisberger tops this list of very solid professionals primarily because of his ability to win.  The guy already has two Super Bowl titles under his belt, granted he wasn’t very impressive in the first (22.6 rating).  After a very prolific career at Miami (OH), Roethlisberger was almost immediately thrust into action for the Steelers.  Injuries to veterans Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch gave him the starting job by the third game of the season.  He went an amazing 13-0 in as many starts as a rookie.  His accomplishments netted him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.  After leading his team to the AFC Championship game as a rookie, Roethlisberger became the youngest player to win a Super Bowl the following year.  Three short seasons later in 2008, he would go on to claim his second NFL title in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls seen in quite some time against the Cardinals.  He was well on his way to becoming an icon, but his off-field conduct has been treacherous and tarnishes any legacy he hopes on leaving.  In the off-season before the 2006 season, Roethlisberger was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in which he was not wearing a helmet (despite being warned by Coach Bill Cowher).  At the time he also did not have a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license.  Then, in back-to-back years (2009-2010), Big Ben was accused of sexually assaulting a woman.  Neither resulted in conviction, but was enough for NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell to suspend him for six games in the upcoming season (four with good behavior).  While he may be the best of this class right now, he just might knock himself out of the race altogether if his poor decision-making and pompous attitude continues.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: He beat Michael Jordan and Justin Timberlake in US Open Challenge at Bethpage Black with a score of 81.

ALSO IN THE RUNNING:

2.       Eli Manning – Mississippi – Giants

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 1 – Chargers (Traded to Giants)

·         YDS: 18,644 TDS: 125 INTS: 88 QBRAT: 79.2

·         PRO BOWL: 2008

·         OTHER HONORS: Super Bowl XLII MVP

·         Has consistently put up solid numbers and is coming off his best statistical season yet, going over 4,000yds and throwing 27 TDs.  After entering the league appearing to be a whiner, he gained a lot of respect for his gutsy Super Bowl win over the Patriots in 2007.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Along with brother Peyton and father Archie, Manning co-authored a children’s book called Family Huddle in 2009.

3.       Philip Rivers – NC State – Chargers

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 4 – Giants (Traded to Chargers)

·         YDS: 14,951 TDS: 106 INTS: 45 QBRAT: 95.8

·         PRO BOWL: 2006, 2009

·         Rivers is coming off back-to-back 4,000+yd seasons and is often listed among the top QBs in the NFL.  He has also shown he is one of the fieriest and toughest competitors in the league, playing the entire 2007 playoffs with a torn ACL.  Unfortunately, this hasn’t translated into playoff wins.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Rivers is good friends with MLB pitcher Jake Peavy.

 

4.       Matt Schaub – Virginia – Falcons, Texans

·         DRAFTED: Round 3, Pick 90 – Falcons

·         YDS: 11,087 TDS: 59 INTS: 40 QBRAT: 91.3

·         PRO BOWL: 2009 (MVP)

·         The Texans gave up two second round picks (07’, 08’) and swapped first round picks with the Falcons to get Schaub in 2007.  After a rough start due to injuries and a subpar supporting cast, Schaub has come on strong as of late and looks to continue that success.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Was ACC Player of the Year in 2002 as a junior and was considered a Heisman candidate following year, but shoulder injuries kept him out of the running.

 

5.       J.P. Losman – Tulane – Bills, Raiders, Seahawks

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 22 – Bills

·         YDS: 6,211 TDS: 33 INTS: 34 QBRAT: 75.6

·         After one decent season in 2006 Losman, who was being compared to Brett Favre pre-draft, was ousted from Buffalo by 2008.  He regained league interest after winning the UFL Championship with the Las Vegas Locomotives in 2009 and will start his return to the NFL with the Seahawks this season.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Losman originally attended UCLA, but transferred to Tulane after not being named starter.

 

BEST OF: QUARTERBACKS

CLASS OF 2003

1.       Tony Romo  - Eastern Illinois – Cowboys

·         DRAFTED: Undrafted Free Agent – Cowboys

·         YARDS: 15,045 TDS: 107 INTS: 55 QBRAT: 95.6

·         PRO BROWL: 2006, 2007, 2009

·         After a very productive and successful career at Eastern Illinois, in which he was a three-time All-American and winner of the Walter Payton Award (Best Player in Div. I-AA), Romo was still unable to attract a strong enough following come Draft time.  It seems as though scouts just weren’t able to get past his diminutive stature (just under 6’2”) and small-school experience.  Romo sat on the bench and narrowly avoiding being cut for three years until finally getting a starting chance in 2006.  Since then he has silenced all doubters, becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the league today.  Romo has arguably the quickest release in the NFL and has shown outstanding escape ability.  He is coming off three consecutive 3,000+ yard seasons (two over 4,000) while throwing for over 25 TDs in each as well.  Romo holds several Cowboys team records and currently ranks third on the all-time passer rating list (95.6).  He also has been named to three Pro Bowls.  However, Romo has had trouble winning in the playoffs.  A reputation that followed Romo until finally defeating the Eagles in the first round of last season’s playoffs (the first in 13 yrs for the Cowboys).  Unfortunately, Romo had a dismal performance in their second round game against the Vikings (3 fumbles, an INT, and sacked 6 times) and lost 34-3.  The jury is still out if Romo and the Cowboys will be able to make that leap to the next level or not, but Romo has done nothing but impress since becoming a starter and looks to have a bright future in the NFL.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Romo is a second-generation Mexican American.

ALSO IN THE RUNNING:

2.       Carson Palmer – USC – Bengals

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 1 – Bengals

·         YDS: 18,724 TDS: 128 INTS: 80 QBRAT: 87.9

·         PRO BOWL: 2005, 2006 (MVP)

·         Has overcome substantial injuries to put up stellar numbers, but hasn’t consistently produced wins yet to deserve the top spot over Tony Romo in this year’s class.

INTERESTING SID NOTE: Palmer was best man at Chiefs QB Matt Cassel’s wedding.

 

3.       Byron Leftwich – Marshall – Jaguars, Falcons, Steelers, Buccaneers

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 7 – Jaguars

·         YDS: 10,218 TDS: 58 INTS: 41 QBRAT: 79.6

·         Great leader, but was inconsistent and fell off into the abyss after stint with Jaguars.  He might get another chance as the interim starter for the Steelers until a suspended Ben Roethlisberger returns.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Appears in ending clips of film We Are Marshall, throwing pass and being carried by two offensive linemen on a shaky leg.

 

4.       Rex Grossman – Florida – Bears, Texans, Redskins

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 22 – Bears

·         YDS: 6,197 TDS: 33 INTS: 36 QBRAT: 69.5

·         Despite leading Bears to a Super Bowl appearance in 2006, Grossman took too many chances and poor play led to his being ousted as the starter in Chicago.  Grossman places behind Leftwich because he had just one solid year and his team’s Super Bowl appearance was due more to play of their defense.  However, a Super Bowl appearance is enough to rank above Kyle Boller.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Was Indiana’s Mr. Football in 1998

 

5.       Kyle Boller – California – Ravens, Rams, Raiders

·         DRAFTED: Round 1, Pick 19 – Ravens

·         YDS: 8,745 TDS: 48 INTS: 50 QBRAT: 70.6

·         A big arm did not translate into production for Boller.  Inconsistent play placed him in and out of the starting lineup, ultimately resulting in his release in 2008.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Boller is engaged to former Miss California, Carrie Prejean (Best known her controversial comments on gay marriage).

 

 

 

UNDRAFTED WIDE RECEIVER SIGNINGS

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Max Komar-Idaho

Juamorris Stewart-Southern

Stephen Williams-Toledo

ATLANTA FALCONS

Brandyn Harvey-Villanova

Ryan Wolfe-UNLV

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Rodelin Anthony-UNLV

BUFFALO BILLS

Donald Jones-Youngstown State

David Nelson-Florida

Naaman Roosevelt-Buffalo*INSIGHT*

Roosevelt was very productive at Buffalo and brings a lot of experience as a WR.  He runs his routes with great precision, something that will come in handy when trying to make a roster.  As a pass-catcher, there is little to complain about with Roosevelt.  He is a dependable and sure-handed receiver who can jump above defenders to make the catch.  His future in the NFL will be exclusively as a possession receiver.  While he has good height at 6’0”, he lacks the proper amount of bulk for an NFL WR.  He will need to get in the weight room if he wants to survive hits in the NFL.  The thing that really kills Roosevelt is his speed and acceleration.  He doesn’t have a great amount of burst and doesn’t have the speed (4.69 sec) to separate from top NFL CBs.  He has a lot going for him, but will be limited due to his speed.  However, with a passion for the game like his, he will make a roster and see the field at some point down the road.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Oliver Young-South Carolina State

CHICAGO BEARS

Freddie Barnes-Bowling Green*INSIGHT*

It’s hard not to like this guy.  He comes to play every game and works hard at what he does.  And what he does is catch every single pass that comes his way.  Barnes was incredibly productive at Bowling Green and set an NCAA single-season receptions record last season with 155.  He also led the nation with 19 receiving touchdowns.  He is tall (6’1”) and can make just about every catch imaginable, showing solid body control in the process.  Barnes has a great understanding of the game and has honed his route running skills to almost perfection.  Like many others in this group, speed is what prevented him from being drafted.  Although pretty elusive, Barnes will never have the speed (4.62 sec) to beat NFL CBs deep.  He had some problems with knee tendinitis, which may deter teams away from a guy who already has questionable speed.  However, Barnes may surprise many down the road as a solid short-area possession receiver.  When looking at the production, his approach to the game, and his hands of glue, it will be hard to turn Barnes down a roster spot.

Vic Hall-Virginia

Greg Matthews-Michigan

Antonio Robinson-Nicholls State

DALLAS COWBOYS

Rashaun Greer-Colorado State

Terrell Hudgins-Elon

Verran Tucker-California

DENVER BRONCOS

Alric Arnett-West Virginia

DETROIT LIONS

Mike Moore-Georgia

Contrevious Parks-Stephen F. Austin

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Shawn Gore-Bishop’s

Jeff Moturi-UTEP

Chastin West-Fresno State

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Blair White-Michigan State*INSIGHT*

You won’t find a much harder worker than White.  He walked on at Michigan State, eventually becoming the team’s receiving leader in his last two seasons.  He is as tough as they come and is willing to take shots to make the grab.  He has solid hands and can be depended on when the game is on the line.  He also has great size at 6’2” and 207lbs.  He won’t be the fastest guy out on the field but gets the job done with 4.49 sec speed.  White did have trouble separating from good CBs in college and it will only get tougher at the next level.  He may have trouble against physical corners and was knocked off his routes too often while with the Spartans.  However, White has the potential to become a serviceable third or fourth receiver in the NFL.  He also contributed on special teams as a gunner and adds value to his chances of making a team.  Coaches will love his work ethic and drive to play, making him a lock to earn a roster spot at some point.  On a side note, White was accepted to the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Chris McGaha-Arizona State*INSIGHT*

McGaha has one of the best pair of hands of this entire draft class.  Believe it or not, this was even with 20/60 eyesight – something he found out during the combine.  After Lasik surgery, he is now at 20/15.  So, imagine how good he’ll be now that he can actually see the ball.  He put some good numbers for the Sun Devils and is very dependable in the clutch.  He has great size at 6’1”, 200lbs.  Now he’s not going to burn anyone in the NFL but has decent enough speed to stay competitive (around 4.5 sec).  His rout running is solid and is something coaches will love to see.  He will struggle to separate away from NFL CBs.  He doesn’t possess a great amount of burst and is not explosive.  He is not very shifty and won’t make many people miss after the catch.  McGaha will have to make it in the NFL as a possession receiver, number 3 or 4 on the depth chart.  He is built for the role and will impress many with his ball catching ability.  There is no reason he shouldn’t make a roster.  In fact, I was pretty surprised to see he went undrafted.

Roren Thomas-Lindenwood

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Rich Gunnell-Boston College

Jeremy Home-Murdock-Massachusetts

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Marlon Moore-Fresno State

Roberto Wallace-San Diego State

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Aaron Rhea-Stephen F. Austin

Ray Small-Ohio State

Kelton Tindal-Newberry

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Bryan Anderson-Central Michigan

NEW YORK GIANTS

Tim Brown-Rutgers

Duke Calhoun-Memphis

NEW YORK JETS

Phillip Kirkland-Bethune-Cookman

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Trent Guy-Louisville

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Blue Cooper-Tennessee-Chattanooga

Kevin Jurovich-San Jose State

Pat Simonds-Colgate

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Brandon McRae-Mississippi State

Rod Owens-Florida State

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Seyi Ajirotutu-Fresno State

Richard Goodman-Florida State

Ernest Smith-Baylor

Marcel Thompson-Lindenwood

Bryan Walters-Cornell

Jeremy Williams-Tulane*INSIGHT*

Here’s a guy I was shocked to see go undrafted.  Williams was projected by many as at least a mid round pick in this year’s draft.  He just came off his most productive season and stayed healthy throughout the year.  He possesses prototypical size for an NFL WR at 6’0”, 204lbs – actually is built more like a running back.  Williams made some pretty impressive catches during his career at Tulane and has great hands.  His routes are crisp and he understands how to manipulate zone coverage.  He’s not a burner (4.59 sec) and is not the vertical threat you’re looking for.  Don’t underestimate him though, his game speed looks faster than he timed.  A big issue for Williams to answer is his durability; he’s torn his ACL twice and broken his hand.  He will have to prove he can stay healthy, in which going injury-free last season is a good sign.  Williams has return experience and may have to begin his NFL career in that area.  He has enough promise to latch onto a roster spot.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Shay Hodge-Mississippi

Scott Long-Louisville

Jared Perry-Missouri

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Quinton Hancock-Tennessee

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Damola Adeniji-Oregon State

Chris Brooks-Nebraska

Preston Parker-North Alabama

TENNESSEE TITANS

Mico McSwain-North Alabama

Bobby Sewall-Brown

 

 

 

UNDRAFTED FULLBACK SIGNINGS

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Rashawn Jackson-SR-Virginia *INSIGHT*

I was a little surprised that no teams used a pick on Jackson during this year’s draft, as he was graded by many to be the best FB of the class.  He brings a lot to the table as an athlete and is more of a big RB than a traditional FB.  He was used quite a bit in Virginia’s running attack and actually led the team in rushing with 461 yards as a senior – including a 90-yard performance against Maryland.  Jackson has prototypical size for an NFL FB at 6’1”, 241lbs.  He gets up field fast for his size (4.70sec) and can hold his own as a receiver out of the backfield.  The problem is that he is not the strong and aggressive lead blocker you want in a true FB.  He also got in a little trouble in college – was charged with grand larceny and breaking and entering, but charges with ultimately dropped for lack of evidence.  Many question his work ethic.  If he puts forth the effort and works to improve his blocking skills, though, Jackson should be able to latch onto a roster.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Joe Tronzo-SR-Louisville

DALLAS COWBOYS

Chris Gronkowski-SR-Arizona

DETROIT LIONS

Matt Clapp-SR-Oklahoma

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Quinn Porter-SR-Stillman

HOUSTON TEXANS

Jack Corcoran-SR-Rutgers *INSIGHT*

This guy can catch a football.  He made some pretty impressive catches while at Rutgers (as seen in the video below).  He does a pretty good job running the ball for a guy his size (6’0”, 232lbs).  He has the toughness you love to see from a player at his position and was a linebacker in high school.  Unfortunately for Corcoran, he never really stood out on tape and was buried deep or non-existent on most draft boards.  He’s also not the grating FB teams look for as a lead blocker.    However, teams will be intrigued by his catching ability and could be a situational-type player at the next level.  If he can develop more as a blocker, or at least show potential in that area, he should hold onto a roster spot.  As a former New Jersey state champion in wrestling, you’d expect Corcoran to be more than capable of doing so.

Isaiah Greenhouse-SR-Northwestern State (LA)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Ben Stallings-SR-Lambuth

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Tervaris Johnson-SR-Miami (FL)

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Chane Moline-SR-UCLA

Manase Tonga-SR-BYU*INSIGHT*

Tonga was one of three FBs invited to this year’s combine, but slid out of the draft for the same reasons as most of this year’s class – blocking.  While he puts a lot of effort into this area, he was very inconsistent and inefficient on many occasions.  Aside from that, Tonga was pretty productive as a runner and receiver at BYU.  He has a nice build for the position and uses his 5’11”, 245lb-frame to shed off blockers.  He knows how to catch the ball out and away from his body, and is dependable in that aspect of the game as well.  He had his share of issues at BYU, though, and may have scared many teams away from drafting or signing him.  He was arrested for running a stop sign, in which the police then discovered a warrant for his arrest (for previously running a stop son).  He ultimately decided to give the police a false name, according to report.  After serving his suspension, he was ruled academically ineligible the following season.  He committed himself and worked his way back to eligibility.  He suffered several injuries throughout his career, including a PCL in his right knee last season.  He will also be a 26-year-old rookie.  Tonga will have to polish his blocking skills to get a chance to see the field, but has the tools to merit a roster spot.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Chris Zardas-SR-Massachusetts

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Demetrius Taylor-SR-Virginia Tech

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Cory Jackson-SR-Maryland *INSIGHT*

One of the best blockers in this year’s class, Jackson has plenty of attributes to win over a coach.  He is very tough and hard-nosed.  He has the mentality of a linebacker, attacking anything that comes his way.  Jackson has an endless motor and will leave it all out on the field, doing anything to help his team.  He has his moments as a receiver out of the backfield, but won’t do much after the catch.  He will never do much as a runner, but has the bulk (6’0”, 245lbs) to punch it in on the goal line.  Overall, he is a pretty one-dimensional player and doesn’t live up to the high standards for the position nowadays.  However, he has the attitude, desire, and selflessness that make him hard to ignore- he should fit onto a roster somewhere.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Rendrick Taylor-SR-Clemson

TENNESSEE TITANS

William Rose-SR-Florida Atlantic

 

UNDRAFTED RUNNING BACK SIGNINGS

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Alfonso Smith-SR-Kentucky

ATLANTA FALCONS

Dimitri Nance-SR-Arizona State

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Curtis Steele-SR-Memphis

BUFFALO BILLS

Joique Bell-SR.-Wayne State *INSIGHT*

One of the most productive college RBs ever to play the game, Bell’s 6,728 yards ranks eighth all-time in NCAA history.  He was truly an unstoppable force in the Division II ranks and was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy as the division’s top player.  He possesses very good size at 5’11” and 221lbs.  He was easily able to shrug off opposing tacklers and gain additional yardage to his runs.  His vision and instincts still need polishing and are pretty average right now.  Also, he is not a burner by any means (4.68 sec.) and will not be able to outrun defenders like he did at Wayne State.  Bell is a straight-line runner with little wiggle and won’t be used as anything more than a between-the-tackles-type back in the NFL.  Other aspects that most likely turned scouts away from Bell during the draft are his pedestrian receiving skills and weak blocking skills.  To survive in the NFL, Bell will need to prove that he was more than just a productive Division II back and refine his game.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Daniel Porter-SR-Louisiana Tech

CHICAGO BEARS

Brandon Minor-SR-Michigan

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Cordera Eason-SR-Mississippi

Mikell Simpson-SR-Virginia

DALLAS COWBOYS

Lonyae Miller-SR-Fresno State

DENVER BRONCOS

Chris Brown-SR-Oklahoma

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Tory Harrison-SR-Southern Mississippi

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Javarris James-SR-Miami (FL)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Chad Kackert-SR-New Hampshire

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Pat Paschall-SR-North Dakota State

NEW YORK GIANTS

Daniel Dufrene-SR-Illinois

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Andre Anderson-SR-Tulane *INSIGHT*

This guy is a pure competitor and always comes to play.  Anderson is a very tough runner who initiates contact on his opponents and will not shy away from anything.  He has good balance and can absorb a lot of hits before going down.  Other qualities coaches will love about Anderson are his ability to catch the football consistently and his willingness to block.  While he can bull over defenders, Anderson is not agile or speedy and will have trouble losing tacklers in the pros.  His kind of hard-nosed running will be much harder to sustain in the NFL and could very well get him hurt.  However, Anderson has the traits every coach wants to see in a player- fire, outstanding work ethic, and toughness.   He could easily make a roster as an inside-runner and/or receiving option out of the backfield.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Keithon Flemming-SR-West Texas A&M

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Andre Dixon-SR-Connecticut

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Keith Tolson-SR-Oklahoma State

DeMaundray Wooldridge-SR-Idaho

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Jordyn Jackson-SR-Eastern Oregon

Shawnbrey McNeal-JR-SMU *INSIGHT*

Speed- that is what McNeal can bring to a football team.  He was a two-time Texas state champion in the 100-meter dash (10.48 sec).  He started his collegiate career at Miami (FL), but transferred to be closer to his diabetic mother.  At SMU, McNeal became the first RB to rush for over 1,000 yards under head coach June Jones.  He has a chance to develop into a solid change-of-pace style RB in the NFL who could break some long runs if given a lane.  He does a decent job of catching the ball, especially on screen plays – but will have lapses in concentration at times.  At 5’9”, 194lbs McNeal will never become a full-time back in the NFL.  He tends to shy away from contact at times and will not break a lot of tackles.  However, he has a good chance of becoming a situational player or returner at the next level.  He does have two children and left school early so he could provide for them, so there will be a lot of motivation there for McNeal.

TENNESSEE TITANS

LeGarrette Blount-SR-Oregon *INSIGHT*

At one point a for sure draft pick, Blount literally punched his ticket out of the draft.  He has a slew of acts of immaturity throughout his career at Oregon.  He was suspended in February of 2009 for missing classes and winter work outs. After being reinstated, it didn’t take much longer for Blount to mess up again.  In the first game of the season against Boise State Blount punched an opponent after the game who was taunting him and had to be restrained from going after fans doing the same.  He lost most of his senior season and had a lot of questions to answer for scouts.  Blount is a bulldozer and his hard to take down.  At 6’0”, 241lbs it’s not hard to see why.  He is a willing blocker and is strong at the point of contact.  He is much more nimble than one would think by just looking at him.  However, he is not a guy who will run away from NFL defenders (4.71 sec) and takes too much time to build up speed.  Blount could very well survive in a two-back system as a compliment to a speedster-type back.  However, his coaches and teammates will need to push him to focus and control his temper. 

Stafon Johnson-SR-USC *INSIGHT*

Johnson is another tough, competitive runner who will need to find his way into a two-back system.  His draft stock plummeted after a weightlifting accident almost ended his life and the rest of his senior season.  He has since recovered fully and looks ready to fight for a roster spot in the NFL.  He was never able to stick out much at USC due to a very talented group of backs around him, but he displayed enough to merit interest at the next level.  He is a tough back with good leg drive to break through tackles or push a pile.  He works hard as a blocker and is effective at it.  He has adequate hands and does a decent enough job catching the ball out of the backfield.  What Johnson is not is explosive or quick.  He is not a homerun threat (4.62 sec) by any means and will struggle to separate from defenders in the NFL.  He does flash great potential to be a goal-line runner in the pros and has the kind of character coaches love to see.   He will need to dispel any worries about his neck injury first, though.

Dominique Lindsay-SR-ECU

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Maurice Greer-SR-Troy

Keiland Williams-SR-LSU

 

 

 

UNDRAFTED QUARTERBACK SIGNINGS

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Max Hall-SR-BYU *INSIGHT*

Although Hall lacks all the measurables you’d want in an NFL QB, he was very productive at BYU and deserves a real look for a roster spot.  At barely over 6’0” and 200lbs, Hall is vastly undersized and is limited in many areas.  He has subpar arm strength and will not be able to make all the throws at the next level.  However, he is a very smart QB and has great accuracy on his short throws.  Coaches may be turned off by his short temper and high opinion of himself (See Hall’s comments about Utah).  He takes the game seriously and should be able to catch on with a West Coast offense team, whether it’s the Cardinals or someone else.  By the way, he has great bloodlines – Uncle, Danny White, played QB for the Cowboys (76’-88’) and Grandfather, Wilford “Wizzer” White played HB for the Bears (51’-52’).  Will be a 25-year-old rookie.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Tim Buckley-SR-Alcorn State

DALLAS COWBOYS

Matt Nichols-SR-Eastern Washington *INSIGHT*

Nichols was definitely one of the more underrated QB prospects in this year’s draft class and I am surprised no team was willing to take a chance on him in the latter rounds.  He has a good amount of potential and could become a solid backup if given a chance to develop.  He has above-average arm strength and a quick release coaches love to see.  His accuracy is pretty consistent and maintains it even when outside the pocket.  The knock on Nichols is that he came from an FCS school where he faced inferior competition.   He will need to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Nichols also worked primarily in the shotgun, in which he was never really challenged to make difficult reads.  He has the tools, but he will require work and patience to develop into an NFL QB.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Noah Shepard-SR-South Dakota

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Tim Hiller-SR-Western Michigan *INSIGHT*

One of the most productive and smart QBs coming out of this year’s draft class, Hiller was at one time considered a mid-round pick.  However, it seems that teams were scared away by Hiller’s lackluster skill set and weak knees.  Hiller tore both ACLs while at Western Michigan and has limited him greatly.  His escapability is close to zero and will be strictly a pocket passer.  Although he showed toughness by playing three games with a torn ACL in 2008, he seemed to shy away from contact and could not handle a pass rush.  He has decent enough arm strength to make the throws in the NFL and is very accurate underneath.  Will have to adjust to working under center, as he operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun.   His has prototypical size for an NFL QB at 6’4” and 225lbs.  What coaches will love him for though, is his outstanding intangibles.  He was a solid leader and has extraordinary character and work ethic, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and participating in various charitable functions.  While his skills won’t wow you over, his presence in the community will.  I think it will be hard for any coach to turn down a quality guy like Hiller.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Tyler Sheehan-SR-Bowling Green

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Trevor Harris-SR-Edinboro

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

R.J. Archer-SR-William &Mary

Ryan Perriloux-SR-Jacksonville State

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

A.J. McKenna-SR-Albany State

NEW YORK GIANTS

Dom Randolph-SR-Holy Cross

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Joey Elliott-SR-Purdue

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Thaddeus Lewis-SR-Duke

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Jarrett Brown-SR-West Virginia *INSIGHT*

I was very surprised to see Brown’s name still on the board at the end of the draft.  In most people’s mind, he was within the top 10 QBs in this draft.  I saw him as a mid-round draft pick, possibly sliding to the last few rounds – but I always thought he’d be drafted.  He is raw, but he did very well considering he was forced to sit behind Pat White his entire career until this last season.  At 6’3” and 225lbs he has great size for an NFL QB.  He is very athletic and is faster than what most would think when looking at him in pads; he ran a 4.5 sec 40-yard dash at the combine.  He also has an NFL-caliber arm and has the ability to put a lot of zip on the ball.  Even when outside the pocket and on the move he is able to throw with that same velocity.  There is a lot of upside here for Brown.  However, his decision-making and throwing mechanics need a lot of work.  It will be a big challenge for him to learn an NFL playbook.  His accuracy needs improvement as well.  Coaches will need to work with him to get him out of the habit of tucking the ball and running whenever the pocket starts to break down.  But, a guy as athletically gifted as Brown brings plenty of upside and should be able to wow coaches over with some of the things he can do.  I am a little worried about how he slid of the board during the draft, making me wonder if something came up during player interviews that swayed coaches away.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Jevan Snead-JR-Mississippi *INSIGHT*

Here’s a guy who everyone was raving about after a brilliant season in 2008 and was projected within the top 5 QBs of this class at one point.  Unfortunately for Snead, his draft stock plummeted to the ground this last season after not even coming close to his 2008 numbers.  While he did lose two great players in Michael Oher and Mike Wallace, he showed no glimpses of a future NFL QB.  He has one of the best arms in this year’s crop, but trusts it way more than he should.  He is of the gunslinger mold and mentality, often getting himself in trouble by trying to fling the ball into the tiniest of holes.  He does not possess the accuracy to make those types of throws and is very erratic.  His delivery is solid and shouldn’t have a problem there.  Does not have a great deal of confidence when rushed and can accumulate as the game progresses.  Many question his understanding of the game and apparently didn’t do anything to dispel those rumors during the combine interviews.  Snead has the upside to be able to play in the NFL, but it is still in question whether he will be able to work out all the faults in his game to live up to it.  It definitely wouldn’t have hurt him to go back to school for another year, as he had little to lose.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Daryll Clark-SR-Penn State *INSIGHT*

I was a little surprised to see Clark go undrafted, as he flashed enough ability to warrant a late-round pick.  Clark is much like the previously mentioned Jarrett Brown of West Virginia.  He is a great athlete and can hurt you on the ground.  He has a rocket for an arm and puts a great deal of velocity behind his throws.  He is very hard to bring down because of his compactly solid build (6’1”, 235lbs) and will bull through tackles.  Clark is as competitive as they come and leaves everything on the field.  However, he needs to develop more as a decision-maker and to fine-tune his footwork.  It will take him longer than others to digest an NFL playbook and needs patience from his coaches to develop and ease into the position.  He is a long-term project that could scare some teams away, but has the upside to merit a spot on a roster.  A viable option for Clark is to contemplate switching to the RB position like former Penn State QB and current 49er Michael Robinson.