2010 NFL Draft Updates (03-15-2010)
Some more of the top prospects in the draft got their chance to workout for the scouts last week and the potential top pick of the draft changes his workout date again.
Sam Bradford
Bradford has pushed his workout date back yet again. He will now be working out on the 29th instead of the 24th. It is being reported that the decision to push it back was made to better accommodate all of the teams interested in watching him and has nothing to do with any sort of setback in his rehab.
Clemson
Every team was represented at Clemson’s Pro Day last week. The gem of the Clemson group, C. J. Spiller, did a few of the drills but stood on most of his scores from the combine.
The Browns have reportedly shown a lot of interest in Clemson’s pool of talent. Coaches stayed behind to work receiver Jacoby Ford out individually after the event and defensive backs Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor afterwards.
The team is also said to be coming back this week to work Ricky Sapp and Kavell Conner individually.
Ford is one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. His 4.28 40-time was the best out of everyone at the combine which is inherently going to pique the interest of teams looking for more speed at receiver. The downside on Ford is at 5′ 9″ /186 he lacks the size teams like in the receivers and his career at Clemson was riddled with inconsistency and seen as something of a disappointment. With all of that speed it seemed like everyone was waiting for him to start dominating games and it never happened. He also tends to drop some balls that he should not.
However, given the recent success of DeSean Jackson in Philly and Percy Harvin in Minnesota there will be quite a bit of interest in a guy like Ford and he will probably end up going higher than initially thought. With three third round picks in hand and a need for speed at the skill positions on offense one could easily see the Browns reaching on a guy like Ford that early in the draft.
Sapp is someone the Browns could be targeting at the top of the second as an edge rusher in their 3-4 defensive scheme.
The interest in Chancellor, Butler, and Conner is interesting given they are all considered fringe prospects to begin with. ESPN has all three rated as undrafted free agents.
Rodger Saffold
Saffold stood on his combine scores and only did the offensive line position drills at Indiana’s Pro Day last week. Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander was on hand to put Saffold through the paces. Could the Bengals be interested in Saffold for some added o-line depth? Saffold’s star is on the rise since his outstanding workouts at the combine and is seen as a solid second round prospect.
TCU
Twenty four teams showed up at TCU’s pro day, mostly to see Jerry Hughes and Daryl Washington workout.
Hughes stood on his combine numbers choosing to only participate in the position drills. He reportedly looked smooth and athletic in those drills. No word on whether he worked out as an end or linebacker though. One would assume teams see him as a potential linebacker given he is only 6′ 2 1/4″ and 254 pounds. Because he is expected to make a move to OLB from end Hughes is seen as a second or third round prospect. He could, however, go higher than that as he is seen as a perfect fit in a 3-4 scheme as a rushing linebacker.
Washington is seen as a slightly better prospect than Hughes given he is a more traditional outside linebacker. He helped himself out last week by lowering his 40 time from 4.66 at the combine to 4.54. Due to other shortcomings in his performance on the field, however, Washington is expected to go somewhere in the second round.
Wisconsin
Defensive back Chris Maragos was the biggest story at Wisconsin’s Pro Day. Maragos did not go to the scouting combine, but, may have made himself draftable after his workout last week. Maragos posted a time of 4.47 in the 40 and excelled in the 3-cone drill and the short shuttle posting times that would have ranked him first amongst defensive backs at the combine. The consensus seems to be that Maragos may have done enough to earn a late round selection in April.
Tight end Garrett Graham reportedly caught the ball well during his position drills and stood on his scores from the combine. Given Graham’s lack of size and top end speed for this position he is still seen as a middle of the draft prospect.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota had a couple of prospects make their mark at their Pro Day last week.
Cornerback Marcus Sherels was not on anyone’s radar prior to last week’s workout. Sherels will pique some interest after turning in a 4.37 in the 40 and posting a 40-inch vertical jump. He also had a short shuttle time that would have ranked him amongst the best defensive backs at the combine. His athletic ability alone will draw some consideration from teams as a late round flyer pick.
Receiving prospect Eric Decker was on hand for the festivities but did not participate as he is still recovering from foot surgery.
UMass
A trio of UMass players made an impression at the Boston College Pro Day held at Harvard last week.
Safety Jeromy Miles posted a 4.45 time in the 40 and had scores comparable to other safety prospects at the combine in the other drills. At 6′ 2″/210 Miles has a nice frame for a safety and good speed to match. He should get some looks in the latter rounds by some teams looking for depth in the secondary.
Receivers Victor Cruz and Jeremy Home had some good measurables as well. Cruz ran the 40 in 4.47 seconds and notched a 41.5 inch vertical jump that would have tied him for number one at the combine.
Home ran the 40 in 4.41 seconds and at just under 6′ 2″ will likely get some looks from teams looking for depth at receiver in the later rounds.
