Signed UDFA’s 1) Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan State (Projected as a Rd 4-5 prospect) "Physically imposing "Hulk smash" linebacker with outstanding power and toughness but a lack of instincts essential to the position. Jones' coverage limitations could be mitigated by his ability to thump and blitz as a 3-4 inside linebacker next to a more instinctive chaser. At worst, Jones is a backup linebacker and core special-teams player." 2) Durrell Eskridge, S, Syracuse - 6'3" 198lbs (Projected as a Rd 4-5 prospect) Prototypical frame with broad shoulders and room for additional muscle mass. Balanced, coordinated athlete. Accelerates smoothly and shows above average fluidity when changing directions for a player of his size. Uses his long arms to wrap the legs of ballcarriers and flashes an explosive pop. Good timing and hand-eye coordination. 3) Wes Saxton TE South Alabama - 6'3" 248 lbs (Projected as a Rd 5-6 prospect) "You have to go back and watch his 2013 tape. They made changes in 2014 to the offense and he wasn't the same player. Go watch 2013. That is who he can be in the pros." -- director of scouting for NFC team - had 50 receptions in 2013 but just 20 in 2014, ran a 4.56 at the combine 4) Julian Howsare LB Clarion - 6'3" 255lbs If there is one small school prospect to definitely watch it is Howsare. Blessed with size and speed he is one of the most versatile players at his post. Spending time at OLB and DE he knows how to produce and pressure the quarterback. 5) Deion Barnes, OLB, Penn State (Projected as a Rd 7 - PFA prospect) Barnes appears to have enough athleticism to transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, but he must improve his hand usage and become more skilled as a pass rusher to fit into a 3-4 role. 6) Jordan Williams, DL, Tennessee - 6'5" 285lbs (Projected as a PFA prospect) Can not find any pundit comments or rankings 7) Jake Heaps QB BYU/Kansas & Miami 6'1" 210lbs Had a limited senior year after moving from Kansas to Miami, once the nation's No. 1 QB recruit, is transferring to the University of Miami and will be eligible in 2014. Heaps never lived up to the hype and lost out to Brad Kaaya a true freshman on August 24, 2014 having lost the job in both previous colleges. 8) Greg Henderson, CB, Colorado (EW) - 5'11" 185 lbs Smallish with a thin build, Henderson was more productive and confident as a junior. Teams will be less concerned with his lack of play strength than they will with his lack of ball skills and overall instincts. Some of his issues are coachable, which means he should make it into a camp if he runs well. 9) Antonio Johnson, OT, North Texas - 6'5" 305lbs Can not find any pundit comments or rankings 10) Davon Walls, DT, Lincoln University (via Syracuse) - 6'7" 340lbs (Projected as a Rd 6-7 prospect) Davon Walls who worn and raised in Brooklyn, New York and kicked off Syracuse football team, is best-kept secret in 2015 NFL Draft per article One scout speaks in hushed tones about a 340-pound defensive lineman from Division II who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. The next day, a CFL scout raves about a player with an 84-inch wingspan who terrorizes offensive linemen. The word is out on Davon Walls. Under-the-radar defensive tackle with above-average athleticism, long arms and an ability to use a variety of moves on the interior to free himself. Character will have to be vetted and his tape is tough to sift through considering some of the competition he faced, but the traits are intriguing and NFL teams have an interest in him. Walls might be best suited to play fivetechnique in a 3-4 front Following the signings listed above the draft, free agency and existing contracts we have 95 players signed or about to be so to sign other UDFAs we will need to cut others before training camp starts - 90 is the maximum allowed Offence 5 QBs / 6 RBs / 11 WRs / 17 OL / 6 TEs (45) Defence 13 DL / 15 LBs / 11 CBs / 6 S (45) Special Teams 2 Ks / 2 Ps / 1 LS (5) TRY OUTS The following players will attend as a try out Betim Bujari, C, Rutgers 6'3" 298 lbs Bujari has started two seasons at center for the Scarlet Knights. He was second team all-conference selection last year as the Scarlet Knights appeared in their eighth bowl in the last nine seasons. Bujari, who also played right guard during his 46-game collegiate career, hopes his versatility proves to be an asset for teams looking for offensive line depth. Alex Mateas, OL, UConn - 6'4" 299 lbs Can not find any pundit comments or rankings Started 24 straight at C for UConn in 2013 & 2014 Kevin Thomas, LB, Wofford - 6'3" 245 lbs Starter inside for the last two seasons with 228 carer tackles - 66 in 2014. Possible UDFA’s Players the Jets met with in the run up to the draft but who were not drafted, those underlined in italics were signed by others Tyson Chandler, OT, N.C. State (WOR) - Bills Justin Coleman, CB, Tennessee (EW) - Vikings Adrian Coxson, WR, Stony Brook (LOC) - Packers Dillon Day, C, Mississippi State (EW) - Broncos Deshazor Everett, CB, Texas A&M (WOR) - Bucs Cole Farrand, ILB, Maryland (EW) - Giants Austin Hill, WR, Arizona (PRI) - Saints Deon Long, WR, Maryland (EW) - Titans Jeff Luc, ILB, Cincinnati (PRI) - Dolphins Greg Mancz, C, Toledo (EW) - Texans Mike Reilly, DE, William & Mary (LOC) - Browns Try Out Guys we could look for La’ael Collins, OT, LSU Profootballtalk reports LSU G/T La'El Collins "plans to sign with a team after he is cleared." It's really Collins' only option, so it's not surprising. Collins is meeting with Baton Rouge police on Monday. Assuming that meeting goes the way it's supposed to, he could have an NFL team as early as Monday evening Rob Crisp, T, N.C. State TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline believes NC State redshirt senior T Rob Crisp has an NFL future if he can prove his health. Will probably need to be medically examined before being considered by any team
Eskridge looks really good from his highlight video. I love seeing him make the open field tackle again and again. He could definitely see him being Pryor's backup at the end of camp.
Saxton fell for no apparent reason South Alabama tight end Wes Saxton was among the top players at his position in several events at the NFL combine last week in Indianapolis. Will the strong showing help his draft status? The 6-foot-3, 248-pound Saxton's 40-yard dash time of 4.65 seconds was the second best posted by any tight end at the event, and his 36-inch vertical leap and 119-inch broad jump were both third-best in the tight ends group. A projected late-round pick, he also posted times of 4.49 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 12.52 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle. NFL sees him as a developmental prospect who projects solely as a move tight end due to below-average run-blocking. CBS see him as the 11th-rated tight end in the draft, but he outperformed several of those rated ahead of him in Indianapolis. TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline advises that you shouldn't "be surprised if [South Alabama TE Wes Saxton] is drafted much earlier than presently predicted." "Teams love his speed and athleticism and feel the fourth round is not too early for his services," Pauline wrote. The South Alabama prospect hauled in only 20 catches for 155 yards this season, but he missed three games due to injury. In Saxton's junior season, he hauled in 50 receptions for 635 yards, averaging 12.7 yards a carry. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Saxton is a an intriguing "move" prospect. NFL Media analyst Charles Davis says South Alabama senior TE Wes Saxton is a "'move' tight end who can get downfield." "Saxton (6-4, 240) was an underutilized weapon for the Jaguars this season, finishing with just 20 receptions and no TDs," wrote College Football 24/7 writer Mike Huguenin. In Saxton's junior season, he hauled in 50 receptions for 635 yards averaging 12.7 yards a carry. "Saxton -- who played with Jameis Winston in high school in Hueytown, Ala. -- needs to improve his concentration level and skills as a blocker, but his athleticism makes him a likely third-day target," wrote Huguenin. "He's a mismatch nightmare and, yes, I think he needs to mature on the field in some areas, but I could easily make the argument he has the most upside of any senior at his position this year," one AFC East scout said earlier this season. Taiwan Jones probably fell as he is a two down LB who made calls but not always plays in college - also given the talent around him some may feel that some issues in his game were camouflaged and a poor 40 - 4.95 which too many focus on, same issue with Chris Borland who went the the 49ers last year who was described by pundits as too small and too slow to make it in the NFL - look how he played (I know he retired since and that is why I did not say "look how that turned out") TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline believes Michigan State ILB Taiwan Jones is "one of the more underrated linebackers in this draft. While I was disappointed in his forty time at the combine it seems a number of teams concur on Jones being a gem at the linebacker position," Pauline wrote. "Teams feel Jones is a smart, heady linebacker who makes up for his lack of foot speed with great instincts." The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Jones ran an unimpressive 4.95 forty at the combine. "The outside linebacker spot he played as a junior for Michigan State was a complex read and diagnose position and Jones rarely had mental lapses," Pauline wrote. "Michigan State coaches have been raving about Jones to anyone who asks and there are a bevy of 3-4 teams who grade Jones as a third round pick." TFY Draft Insider Tony Pauline reports that Michigan State senior ILB Taiwan Jones ran "a mid to low 4.7's forty" at his pro-day.
So now that we ave an idea of who the UDFAs are how many actually have a realistic chance of a place on the practice squad let alone the roster 1) Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan State (Projected as a Rd 4-5 prospect) - good chance he makes PS small chance me makes roster 2) Durrell Eskridge, S, Syracuse - 6'3" 198lbs (Projected as a Rd 4-5 prospect) - chance he makes PS no chance he makes roster 3) Wes Saxton TE South Alabama - 6'3" 248 lbs (Projected as a Rd 5-6 prospect) - good chance he makes PS could push Sudfeld for his roster place 4) Julian Howsare LB Clarion - 6'3" 255lbs - chance he makes PS no chance he makes roster 5) Deion Barnes, OLB, Penn State (Projected as a Rd 7 - PFA prospect) - outside chance he makes PS 6) Jordan Williams, DL, Tennessee - 6'5" 285lbs (Projected as a PFA prospect) - camp body 7) Jake Heaps QB BYU/Kansas & Miami 6'1" 210lbs - absolute flier may not even make camp 8) Greg Henderson, CB, Colorado (EW) - 5'11" 185 lbs - camp body as we are deep at this position 9) Antonio Johnson, OT, North Texas - 6'5" 305lbs - small chance he makes PS 10) Davon Walls, DT, Lincoln University (via Syracuse) - 6'7" 340lbs (Projected as a Rd 6-7 prospect) - good chance he makes PS. Level of competition he faced makes roster unrealistic TRY OUTS The following players will attend as a try out Betim Bujari, C, Rutgers 6'3" 298 lbs - small chance he makes camp, outside chance he makes PS Alex Mateas, OL, UConn - 6'4" 299 lbs small chance he makes camp, outside chance he makes PS Kevin Thomas, LB, Wofford - 6'3" 245 lbs small chance he makes camp, outside chance he makes PS First 5 cuts to get to 90 most likely to come from this group Jake Heaps / Walter Powell / Saalim Hakim / Sean Hooey / Jordan Williams & Chris Young Views?
Deion Barnes was a nice player at Penn State, 6'4" 260 lbs, can rush the passer, 6 sacks, and play the run, 12 tackles for losses...could be an OLB/pass rusher
