Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray (8) smiles as he leaves the field after his team defeated the Troy Trojans 55-48 during the second half at Neyland Stadium. (Photo: Jim Brown, USA TODAY Sports) Despite being in a class lacking in star power, plenty of big names were still available after seven rounds and 254 picks at the completion of the 2013 NFL draft on Saturday. Most of the attention will go to the quarterbacks, as more than one prospect who earned Day 2 buzz slid out of the draft entirely. But there are plenty of potential contributors that can be found at other positions. DRAFT: Team-by-team recap LOOKING AHEAD: Best 2014 NFL draft prospects Here's a look at 10 of the best undrafted players. Tyler Bray, quarterback, Tennessee: Bray was the biggest name left on the board once Mr. Irrelevant's name was called, and he'll be second-guessed plenty for coming out as a junior. How he would have handled the transition to new Volunteers coach Butch Jones' offense is a mystery, but improving on last season's 5-7 mark might have given his stock a boost as a senior. But 6-foot-6 quarterbacks with NFL arm strength tend to get a fair shake in the league, so Bray will get his shot. Reached contract with: Chiefs Matt Scott, quarterback, Arizona: A surprising one-year stint as a start, wide array of tools and impressive pre-draft resume combined to make Scott one of the draft's supposed "risers" at quarterback. Oops. Scott will need to join a system that emphasizes his running ability and hides his streaky accuracy, but he should get a chance to impress in training camp and preseason. Reached contract with: Jaguars. Cierre Wood, running back, Notre Dame: Wood was another early-entry blunder after he passed up the chance to be featured more in the Fighting Irish attack as a senior. Injuries and fumbling issues could mean teams won't have much patience for Wood, but he's worth a look for some spot work. Reached contract with: Texans Da'Rick Rogers, wide receiver, Tennessee Tech: Rogers once looked like a first-round prospect at Tennessee and produced like one at Tennessee Tech. But repeated failed drug tests precipitated a costly draft-day fall. With the Bills offering Stevie Johnson and not much else at wide receiver, Rogers will have every opportunity to make a quick climb up Buffalo's depth chart. Reached contract with: Bills. Conner Vernon, wide receiver, Duke: The ACC's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards was never a candidate to be an early draft pick, but it's surprising that he ended up on this list. After striking a deal with the Raiders, Vernon's a good candidate to produce in the preseason and earn some unfortunate, race-driven comparisons. Reached contract with: Raiders. Alvin Bailey, guard, Arkansas: Bailey declared for the draft as a junior after Arkansas' disastrous 2012 campaign. His versatility and physical tools should get him a long look. Reached contract with: Seahawks Xavier Nixon, tackle, Florida: Nixon never rose to the expectations others placed on him when he arrived in Gainesville, Fla., as a blue-chip recruit. But potential starters at tackle are seldom available at this point, and a team will give him a temporary pass on his technique issues. Reached contract with: Redskins Kwame Geathers, defensive tackle, Georgia: Geathers is another lineman long on potential but short on production. Playing out his senior season might have meant an actual spot in the draft for Geathers, but he might have landed in the right system in San Diego. Reached contract with: Chargers. Chase Thomas, outside linebacker, Stanford: Thomas doesn't fit the physical profile of an elite pass rusher, but he constantly found his way to the quarterback with the Cardinal (8.5 sacks as a junior). He could prove to be an asset to Rob Ryan in New Orleans' switch to the 3-4 defense. Reached contract with: Saints. Tony Jefferson, safety, Oklahoma: Jefferson offers the versatility that many teams desire from their safeties now, which makes his fall all the more surprising. He'll need a coach who can rein in his tackling lapses, but he could be an asset on a 53-man roster. Reached contract with: Cardinals PHOTOS: Best undrafted players of all time Story Highlights
Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/04/28/best-undrafted-players-2013-nfl-draft/2118637/
Sunday, April 28, 2013
The best undrafted players of the 2013 NFL draft
The NFL draft just welcomed 254 new players enter the league. But that doesn't mean there won't be more talent for teams to mine. If history is any indication, there might be a Hall of Famer or two available who doesn't hear his name called at draft time. USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis has compiled an all-time team of undrafted NFL players (with their colleges in parentheses). Richard Drew, AP
Related story Fullscreen
QB Kurt Warner (Northern Iowa) - Three Super Bowl starts (and game's three top passing yardage days), two league MVP awards and one ring (with Super Bowl XXXIV MVP hardware to boot). Not bad for a grocery store shelf stocker. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
RB Priest Holmes (Texas) - Three-time all-pro averaged nearly 2,200 yards from scrimmage from 2001 to 2003 and set a then-record with 27 TDs in 2003. Orlin Wagner, Associated Press
Related story Fullscreen
WR Rod Smith (Missouri Southern) - Three-time Pro Bowler won two Super Bowls as a member of the Denver Broncos. His 11,389 receiving yards rank 25th all-time and are the most for an undrafted player. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
TE Antonio Gates (Kent State) - He did his damage for the Golden Flashes as a power forward before returning to the gridiron as a record-breaking eight-time Pro Bowler with the San Diego Chargers. Caught 13 TDs in his second NFL season, then a record for tight ends. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
C Jim Otto (Miami, Fla.) - One of the greatest player in Oakland Raiders and AFL history went into the Hall of Fame in 1980. AP
Related story Fullscreen
G Larry Little (Bethune-Cookman) - Hall of Famer was on three Super Bowl teams with the Miami Dolphins, including the 17-0 edition in 1972. Miami Dolphins
Related story Fullscreen
T Lou Groza (Ohio State) – Yet another player whose path led to Canton, Groza – known as "The Toe" might be better remembered for kicking his way into the Cleveland Browns record book as the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Associated Press
Related story Fullscreen
DE Cameron Wake (Penn State) - He had to tear up the Canadian Football League before the Dolphins gave him a shot in 2009. All he's done is average 11 sacks in his first four NFL seasons. Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
DT John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville) - His 137.5 sacks are most ever for an interior lineman. Hall of Famer is also one of the all-time motormouths. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
OLB James Harrison (Kent State) - He racked up 60 sacks in six seasons as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers and entered that franchise's pantheon of all-time linebackers and intimidating players. The two-time Super Bowl champion earned NFL defensive MVP honors in 2008. Vincent Pugliese, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Washington Redskins inside linebacker London Fletcher (59) is introduced prior to the Redskins' game against the Atlanta Falcons at FedEx Field. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
S Willie Wood (USC) – The 1960s Green Bay Packers boasted six Hall of Famers on their defense, though Wood was the only one who entered the league as a free agent. Wood played 12 seasons and had five championships and 48 INTs on his resume by the time he was done. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
CB Dick "Night Train" Lane (Scottsbluff Junior College, Neb.) - Picked off 14 passes in his 1952 rookie year, a single-season mark that still stands. Lane finished with 68 thefts and plenty of fierce tackles on his road to Canton. Associated Press
Related story Fullscreen
KR/PR Josh Cribbs (Kent State) - Maybe the scouts need to spend more time at Kent State. A college quarterback, Cribbs became one of the NFL's premier return men, and his eight touchdowns from kickoffs are a league record he hopes to extend in 2013. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
K Adam Vinatieri (South Dakota State) - He owns four rings and drilled the game-winning field goal in two of those Super Bowl victories. Might become second kicker ever to get a bronze bust when he's done. Matt Detrich
Related story Fullscreen
Replay
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment