Everyone always talks about the top end of the draft, it's natural and I'm not complaining. But what I find interesting are who the values are in the mid rounds and who people think are the sleepers that could surprise from the late rounds (though granted most of them don't pan out). Granted it's early and some of these guys will move up boards and some guys that are currently expected to go in rounds 1-2 will drop as the offseason progresses. I'll go through my short list for now, and update it later before the draft (assuming I remember to and have time). But I'd love to hear everyone's views on it. I'm also looking at this in terms of players who would be good fits for the Jets needs. (a Few of these might currently go in the 2nd round but also at this point in time could slip in to the 3rd or 4th easily). Guy's I'd love in the 3-5th rounds. QB's Zach Mettenberger and Jimmy Garoppolo, though the latter may go in the 2nd round. WR's, Jordan Matthews at this point could be there in the third but I expect him to move up in to solid round 2 possibly late round one after the combine, but currently I'll list him as my top potential round 3 WR. But my favorite two probable 3-4 rounders are Donte Moncrief and Devin Street. TE I'm not real up to date on but one guy I do like is C.J. Fiedorowicz. RB Not an overwhelming need on the team, but I do like Charles Sims in the 3rd or 4th. OL is like TE, I'm not really up to date on it but two guys I do like (and bear in mind I'm not up to date here) are Anthony Steen and Joel Bitonio. DL I'm not going in to because it's one area the team really doesn't have a need. OLB If I had done this last week I would have said Dee Ford, but he's been rising lately and may go in the first or 2nd so I'll skip him. Not a position I'm comfy with but I'd go with Jeremiah Attaochu or Demarcus Lawrence. safeties I like Ahmad Dixon a lot, but I suspect he'll be gone in round 2, Same with Dion Bailey. So with that in mind I'd have to go with Terrence Brooks or Kenny Ladler. CB. Right now my favorite 3-4th rounder who is likely to be there is EJ Gaines followed by Victor Hampton. I like Larmarcus Joyner but I'm pretty sure that for now he's certain to be gone in the 2nd.
Not going to post much on the 6-7th round possibles because I don't have a feel for who's really viewed in that range but just looking at draft boards and where they're expected there are a few names that pique my interest who currently aren't getting much draft love, at least on ranking boards. Brandin Lindor, OG. Marqueston Huff S De'Anthony Thomas RB L'Damian Washington WR
rounds 3-5 WR: Brandon Coleman, Devin Street TE: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Troy Niklas C: Bryan Stork OLB: Jeremiah Attaochu, Carl Bradford RB: Tre Mason, Lache Seastrunk S: Craig Loston, Ahmad Dixon, Tre Boston, Kenny Ladler, Dion Bailey (if he falls) CB: Aaron Colvin, Antone Exum, Victor Hampton, Stanley Jean-Baptiste ILB: Yawin Smallwood, Max Bullough, Shayne Skov QB: AJ McCarron, Jimmy Garoppolo, David Fales FB: J.C. Copeland rounds 6-7 P: Kirby Van Der Kemp K: Chris Boswell OLB: Denicos Allen OG: Spencer Long WR: Jeremy Gallon, Josh Huff, Cody Hoffman, Eric Ward TE: Marcel Jensen, Colt Lyerla QB: Stephen Morris, Jordan Lynch RB: Terrence West, Storm Johnson C: Gabe Ikard
Some guys that I think will be underdrafted: WR: Robert Herron, Wyoming: He reminds me so much of Desean Jackson. I think he could give Geno a Tavon Austin-like deep threat that gets instant separation. Third round pick more than likely, unless he goes to the combine and runs a 4.25 lol. Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest: Wow this guy looks to have great skills and toughness for the slot. Very sturdy and strong and good cuts/separation, but not great speed. Probably a fifth round pick. Chandler Jones, San Diego St: Really talented and productive college receiver. Great candidate to mix corner routes and slants out of the slot all day. He was Fales' go-to guy at San Diego St, finished 10th in the NCAA in receiving yards this year (and 3rd in TDs). Would have been at least 7th had they gone to a Bowl game and possibly top-5. Not sure why he's been ranked so low, but when all is said-and-done I could see him going in the fifth round. QB: I think Mettenberger will be a second round pick. Not sure about Garoppolo. He has a quick release like everyone is saying, but it seems like he was late a lot in the senior bowl practices and the game. The only game I saw him play in was the playoff game vs. Towson and he played like, well... not like an NFL prospect. One QB I think is pretty underrated is Chase Rettig, Boston College. His numbers are not great and they are a run first team but in the bowl game vs. Arizona he showed some nice athleticism and good arm strength. He might go undrafted but he has some skills. Casey Pachall, TCU if his demons are behind him could be another really good UDFA pickup at QB. He is really tough but man his line was miserable this year. He had a really nice game against WVU that I saw this year. Really tough. CB: If Ross Cockrell, Duke makes it to Day 3 then some team is getting a steal. Really nice player with good size. I still haven't checked out Andre Hal of Vandy but he put up some really nice numbers in pass D and I'm excited to get caught up on him. An intriguing nickel prospect for me is Osahon Irabor, Arizona State. In the game vs. Wisconsin they used him very effectively in the run and pass blitzes. Gets to the ball quickly. Didn't see them have much success passing against him either. Late round pick or UDFA. Safety: Dezmen Southward, Wisconsin: He has really nice ball skills, though he played SS at Wisconsin. He's good with deep responsibility, too. CBS thinks he's a UDFA, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets taken in the 4th. Inside Linebacker: Preston Brown, Louisville put on the best performance of any of the players in the Louisville/Miami bowl game. He was an absolute monster. I'd be pumped if my team picked him up in the 5th round or so. He's not as good as Skov, but he probably won't go quite as high.
I highly doubt Skov falls out of the second, no way falls out of the 3rd imo unless he has a terrible combine.
Players that I really like that should be available on Saturday....Rds 4-7 WR Bruce Ellington, SC - electric player, great in space, good returner. Jalen Saunders, Okla - just makes plays, catches the ball very well. Michael Campanaro, Wake - Idzik/Wake Forest connection. RB Henry Josey, Mizzou - overcame terrible injury, team leader, runs with an attitude. LaDarius Perkins, Miss St- poor man's Dexter McCluster. Adam Muema, San Diego St - very elusive runner, feet always moving. TE CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa - complete TE, good hands, good blocker. Arthur Lynch, Georgia - played well some games and very quiet other times. Crockett Gillmore, Colorado St - opened eyes at the Senior Bowl OG Michael Schofield, Michigan - looked great in practice & bowl game last week. DT Caraun Reid, Princeton - Bronx Kid that is the best player in the Ivy league. Jets will get a local visit. OLB Jordan Tripp, Montana - relentless player. CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Neb - might be gone by Rd 4, huge upside, physical player. Ross Cockrell, Duke - smart player, always making plays. Keith McGill, Utah - big CB. Rashard Reynolds, Oregon St - playmaker, recovered two fumbles for Tds in the bowl game.
I bounced back and forth on him, I think it really depends on if he's considered an OLB or ILB...ILB's are becoming kind of like RB's in the draft, undervalued, at least that's how it appears to me. (edit) perhaps a better analogy would be kind of like Guards in the draft, undervalued relative to other players on their side of the ball.
I'll second this. I saw most of BC's games this year and he was quite consistent. He throws the ball well, is accurate and makes good decisions. He also had very limited throwing options in the passing game aside from Alex Amidon. But when he needed to, he often stepped up and made the play. I don't think he'll be drafted, but I'd love to see the Jets take a chance on him as a UDFA. I also like Wisconsin RB James White. He could be available in the 5th-6th round and could fill the role as a change-of-pace/third-down back.
Bumping this thread because it was the closest I could find to something that made sense for my question: What can you tell me about Pierre Desir? Is he worthy of the Jets natural 4th rounder, maybe? Seems to be a big time boom/bust guy, but mostly due to inexperience, not lack of tape and/or work ethic. I look at his basic profile and it screams a guy Rex could (COULD) potentially mold into a stud. Can I get some more details from you guys that have studied him?
I took out the guys that I considered would be drafted above 3rd round. WR: Kevin Norwood/Devin Street/Mike Davis RB: Storm Johnson CB: Keith McGill SS: Craig Loston/Ahmad Dixon
QB: Keith Wenning, Brett Smith RB: Marion Grice, James Wilder Jr, Isaiah Crowell WR: Paul Richardson, Bruce Ellington, Kevin Norwood TE: Joe Don Duncan
Guys I've seen a lot that I like: WR: Josh Huff WR: Devin Street WR: Chandler Jones WR: Cody Hoffman WR/RB: Dri Archer RB: De'Anthony Thomas TE: Marcel Jensen QBs: McCarron (if he's still there in the 4th we need to run to the podium--he won't be); Tahj Boyd, Brett Smith, David Fales And a guy I've only seen clips of, never seen him in a full game but everything I've read and seen about him says he could be a player--converted QB to RB Jerick McKinnon _
QB Stephen Morris Casey Pachall RB Isaiah Crowell Rajion Neal Antonio Andrews Silas Redd FB Chad Abram WR Mike Davis TJ Jones TE Colt Lyerla Jake Murphy Richard Rodgers Xavier Grimble Blake Annen Logan Thomas OT Justin Britt Matt Patchan OG Spencer Long Ryan Groy C James Stone Jonotthan Harrison CB Bennett Jacskon Ross Crockwell FS Walt Aiken Jeremy Deering OLB/DE James Gayle Cassius Marsh DE/DT Anthony Johnson Deandre Coleman Jay Bromley Shamar Stephen ILB Steele Divitto Skayne Skov Yawin Smallwood
Glad someone else likes Street for a 4th or later pick. Very rough around the edges but a huge upside if he pans out.
A name that isn't on my initial post but shows up on several other posters lists is Yawin Smallwood, He's a guy that's really grown on me as an ILB option. I've also become a fan of Street probably in the 5th or later.
Yeah, I saw him all 4 years against Syracuse. Was in the Dome his freshman year when he took a screen like 90 yards for a TD against my Orangemen. Have always like him. _
He's in my top ten for cb this draft. He's got good technique and adequate strength but his straight speed isn't so good, neither is is agility. also his scouting report labeled him as more of a zone player.
E.J Gaines Keith McGill Cyril Richardson Crockett Gilmore TE Terrence Brook FS Ahmad Dixon S Josh Huff Christian Jones