Josh
April 20th, 2005, 10:10 PM
Bold Statements Teams Will Make On Draft Day That You Haven't Been Believing or Heard
Part 1- Players Moving Up
By Josh Buchanan
NFLDraftScout.com
Every year there are players who drop late on the draft board and say that NFL teams are just now realizing but these teams do their homework and they have decided on these moves by now.
Players get into trouble with the law, get busted for steroids, or are known as thugs and teams find this stuff out from college coaches and media reports.
There are also players who are rated as 5th rounders but they seem to fall off the board on Sunday and players who are left off the top 100 but seem to always find their way to the 2nd round even.
Players who have great ability but are considered thugs drop off the board or fall dramatically.
And every year someone gets drafted who no one has ever heard of.
Here is a list of those projections of players who will drop, move up, and just plain surprise everyone who does not work for an NFL team:
Players on the move up or forgotten by the media:
Some feel that OT Todd Herremans of Saginaw Valley State is just a media ploy to get him drafted as a favor. If you watched him in Vegas or in college you would see what NFL teams are falling in love with. Herremans is a lean bodied tackle who can move extremely well and does a great job on run blocking. Street grade is a PFA but look for Herremans to possibly end up going as high as the 5th round or better.
Looking for this year's version of Stacy Andrews who came out of Ole Miss and basically nowhere to get drafted last year? Look no further than at BYU and OG Scott Young who has been left off some NFL Draft Guides and rated as low as a 6th or 7th round on others, but, don't let that fool you. His intelligence, speed, and athletic ability as well as huge upside have teams drooling. Look for Young to go to the Broncos, Panthers, Chiefs, or Texans in the 3rd round.
QB Ben Dougherty of FAMU has been given a high free agent grade or low 7th round grade by most but his recent hiring of Drew Rosenhaus as his agent makes his stock rise on it's own. Dougherty is a very smart and intriguing prospect who will not only surprise people by getting drafted but end up as high as the 5th round.
QB Craig Ochs of Montana has been forgotten it seems after his outstanding performance in the I-AA playoffs. He shows the leadership and experience teams are looking for in a backup quarterback and will indeed get drafted. Ochs could sneak into the 6th round of this year's draft and shock those who have not followed his career closely.
QB Adrian McPherson of Florida State did not play college football in 2004 and dropped off the map but then reappeared after the combine with an outstanding performance. Look for McPherson's athletic ability to move him into day 1 for sure.
The media is just now talking up RB Fred Staton of Tusculum whom I was featuring all during the preseason and teams actually did find out about him late. Most don't think he has a shot at a camp but some are saying he could sneak into the draft to cover themselves in case he does. Staton is a steal if picked and if he goes unsigned he is perhaps the best undrafted rookie free agent in a long time. Staton will go undrafted but will sign as early as any other free agent and will make a splash in the NFL and make everyone wish they had realized his talent earlier.
QB Matt Jones of Arkansas was given a late round grade by most teams entering the season but when his 4.3/4.4 speed was discovered he quickly climbed up boards as a TE because of his size. Well, if you look down the road you will see many 6'4', 6'5, and 6'6 WRs coming up in 2007 and 2008 and Jones just happens to be the early version of the new WR. Jones will play WR and might sneak into the 1st round even though most have him as a 2nd-3rd round pick.
DE Matt Roth of Iowa plays with incredible intensity and even some of those media members who like him think he will drop out of the 1st round and end up in the 2nd round. Well, this year Roth is a sure fire 1st round pick and a steal if he drops below 20th overall.
DE/OLB Shawne Merriman of Maryland is perhaps the next version of Jason Taylor of the Dolphins and will be a perennial all-pro. Who would not take a perennial all-pro in the top 10? Well a few teams will pass but someone will be smart and snag him in the top 10 even though some have him as a late 1st rounder.
Notre Dame might have had a down year but when you get a chance at a future star DE you can't pass on one out of Notre Dame. This year Justin Tuck has moved up boards big time and could even end up in the top 25 selections on Sunday.
DE/OLB Jeb Huckeba of Arkansas is moving up big time and will be a day 1 pick for sure. Most have him as a 4th or 5th round pick but his speed and athletic ability make him a huge find. Look for Huckeba to be a 2nd-3rd round pick.
ILB Boomer Grigsby of Illinois State may come from a small school but he is the next Zach Thomas and anyone would love to have a Zach Thomas. Some have him falling to the 5th or even 6th round. Grigsby might have not won the Buck Buchanan Award like expected but he will become a much higher pick than projected. Grigsby goes in the 4th round and shocks 80 percent of the media.
CB Trey Bell of Wisconsin-Whitewater was an extremely smart invite by the Hula Bowl and will prove to be a draft day steal. He was the best corner in Maui and will possibly be this year's player who no one has heard of. He has moved up boards big time and could go as early as the 5th round.
FS Matt Giordano of California is not on anyone's board except for NFLDraftScout.com and will prove to be a huge pick in the end. He is unknown to most and might continue to be if Kiper doesn't learn something about him soon. He goes in the 5th or 6th round to possibly the Raiders.
A LS must get drafted every year and this year no one is projecting one to get picked. Well this year's LSs are Matt Katula of Wisconsin and Dusty Daws of Montana State. Katula is perhaps the best among the group. He has a lean build and perhaps the most velocity of any snapper in this year.
Dusty Daws did not have a bad snap his entire senior year and only 2 in his career. He snapped for four years and his late round grade by Blesto and National will actually be right on the nose Daws goes in the 7th round.
Part 1- Players Moving Up
By Josh Buchanan
NFLDraftScout.com
Every year there are players who drop late on the draft board and say that NFL teams are just now realizing but these teams do their homework and they have decided on these moves by now.
Players get into trouble with the law, get busted for steroids, or are known as thugs and teams find this stuff out from college coaches and media reports.
There are also players who are rated as 5th rounders but they seem to fall off the board on Sunday and players who are left off the top 100 but seem to always find their way to the 2nd round even.
Players who have great ability but are considered thugs drop off the board or fall dramatically.
And every year someone gets drafted who no one has ever heard of.
Here is a list of those projections of players who will drop, move up, and just plain surprise everyone who does not work for an NFL team:
Players on the move up or forgotten by the media:
Some feel that OT Todd Herremans of Saginaw Valley State is just a media ploy to get him drafted as a favor. If you watched him in Vegas or in college you would see what NFL teams are falling in love with. Herremans is a lean bodied tackle who can move extremely well and does a great job on run blocking. Street grade is a PFA but look for Herremans to possibly end up going as high as the 5th round or better.
Looking for this year's version of Stacy Andrews who came out of Ole Miss and basically nowhere to get drafted last year? Look no further than at BYU and OG Scott Young who has been left off some NFL Draft Guides and rated as low as a 6th or 7th round on others, but, don't let that fool you. His intelligence, speed, and athletic ability as well as huge upside have teams drooling. Look for Young to go to the Broncos, Panthers, Chiefs, or Texans in the 3rd round.
QB Ben Dougherty of FAMU has been given a high free agent grade or low 7th round grade by most but his recent hiring of Drew Rosenhaus as his agent makes his stock rise on it's own. Dougherty is a very smart and intriguing prospect who will not only surprise people by getting drafted but end up as high as the 5th round.
QB Craig Ochs of Montana has been forgotten it seems after his outstanding performance in the I-AA playoffs. He shows the leadership and experience teams are looking for in a backup quarterback and will indeed get drafted. Ochs could sneak into the 6th round of this year's draft and shock those who have not followed his career closely.
QB Adrian McPherson of Florida State did not play college football in 2004 and dropped off the map but then reappeared after the combine with an outstanding performance. Look for McPherson's athletic ability to move him into day 1 for sure.
The media is just now talking up RB Fred Staton of Tusculum whom I was featuring all during the preseason and teams actually did find out about him late. Most don't think he has a shot at a camp but some are saying he could sneak into the draft to cover themselves in case he does. Staton is a steal if picked and if he goes unsigned he is perhaps the best undrafted rookie free agent in a long time. Staton will go undrafted but will sign as early as any other free agent and will make a splash in the NFL and make everyone wish they had realized his talent earlier.
QB Matt Jones of Arkansas was given a late round grade by most teams entering the season but when his 4.3/4.4 speed was discovered he quickly climbed up boards as a TE because of his size. Well, if you look down the road you will see many 6'4', 6'5, and 6'6 WRs coming up in 2007 and 2008 and Jones just happens to be the early version of the new WR. Jones will play WR and might sneak into the 1st round even though most have him as a 2nd-3rd round pick.
DE Matt Roth of Iowa plays with incredible intensity and even some of those media members who like him think he will drop out of the 1st round and end up in the 2nd round. Well, this year Roth is a sure fire 1st round pick and a steal if he drops below 20th overall.
DE/OLB Shawne Merriman of Maryland is perhaps the next version of Jason Taylor of the Dolphins and will be a perennial all-pro. Who would not take a perennial all-pro in the top 10? Well a few teams will pass but someone will be smart and snag him in the top 10 even though some have him as a late 1st rounder.
Notre Dame might have had a down year but when you get a chance at a future star DE you can't pass on one out of Notre Dame. This year Justin Tuck has moved up boards big time and could even end up in the top 25 selections on Sunday.
DE/OLB Jeb Huckeba of Arkansas is moving up big time and will be a day 1 pick for sure. Most have him as a 4th or 5th round pick but his speed and athletic ability make him a huge find. Look for Huckeba to be a 2nd-3rd round pick.
ILB Boomer Grigsby of Illinois State may come from a small school but he is the next Zach Thomas and anyone would love to have a Zach Thomas. Some have him falling to the 5th or even 6th round. Grigsby might have not won the Buck Buchanan Award like expected but he will become a much higher pick than projected. Grigsby goes in the 4th round and shocks 80 percent of the media.
CB Trey Bell of Wisconsin-Whitewater was an extremely smart invite by the Hula Bowl and will prove to be a draft day steal. He was the best corner in Maui and will possibly be this year's player who no one has heard of. He has moved up boards big time and could go as early as the 5th round.
FS Matt Giordano of California is not on anyone's board except for NFLDraftScout.com and will prove to be a huge pick in the end. He is unknown to most and might continue to be if Kiper doesn't learn something about him soon. He goes in the 5th or 6th round to possibly the Raiders.
A LS must get drafted every year and this year no one is projecting one to get picked. Well this year's LSs are Matt Katula of Wisconsin and Dusty Daws of Montana State. Katula is perhaps the best among the group. He has a lean build and perhaps the most velocity of any snapper in this year.
Dusty Daws did not have a bad snap his entire senior year and only 2 in his career. He snapped for four years and his late round grade by Blesto and National will actually be right on the nose Daws goes in the 7th round.