Sleeper and Under the Radar Prospects

[wist43]

From what I've seen of both Henry and Higby, I'd take Higby over Henry straight up. If the market for TE's in this draft is that Higby is a 4th rounder, one of those comp picks would work out perfect.

Wouldn't want Henry earlier than that.

[Carolina_Packer]

From what I've seen of both Henry and Higby, I'd take Higby over Henry straight up. If the market for TE's in this draft is that Higby is a 4th rounder, one of those comp picks would work out perfect.

Wouldn't want Henry earlier than that.

If we were looking for a WR who is not on many people's radar, how about this guy?

http://rotoviz.com/2016/01/meet-mike...r-wr-prospect/

He certainly looks the part!

[HarveyWallbangers]

If we were looking for a WR who is not on many people's radar, how about this guy?

http://rotoviz.com/2016/01/meet-mike...r-wr-prospect/

He certainly looks the part!

Dude was fairly highly rated, and then didn't even get a combine invite. I haven't looked at his film.

[Carolina_Packer]

Dude was fairly highly rated, and then didn't even get a combine invite. I haven't looked at his film.

CBS Sports has him ranked 217 overall and 29th for position rank. They are projecting a 6th round grade for him. I'd still consider that under the radar, save for those who really know most of the prospects.

Another guy who is listed as the #52 ranked receiver is Tennessee Jr. MarQuez North. If he stays healthy, I think this guy could be a real steal for someone. He has that look. If the Packers got him late in the draft as a development guy, he could definitely compete for a roster spot, or spend time on the practice squad. He's a great prospect for a team that doesn't necessarily need him now.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6weYoLf7qRJTvLE0pyA0-q7nGHP-EYW5

[HarveyWallbangers]

CBS Sports has him ranked 217 overall and 29th for position rank. They are projecting a 6th round grade for him. I'd still consider that under the radar, save for those who really know most of the prospects.

Another guy who is listed as the #52 ranked receiver is Tennessee Jr. MarQuez North. If he stays healthy, I think this guy could be a real steal for someone. He has that look. If the Packers got him late in the draft as a development guy, he could definitely compete for a roster spot, or spend time on the practice squad. He's a great prospect for a team that doesn't necessarily need him now.

Thomas is definitely under the radar, but it was surprising that he didn't get a combine invite. North is getting some buzz now. I think ESPN has him around #20 at WR now.

[Carolina_Packer]

Since ILB is a big area of need and interest, who are the sleeper or under the radar ILB's? You might say, "I don't want a sleeper, I want an impact player." Sure, we all do, but when you consistently draft at the end of the first round, you only get so many opportunities at an impact player. So if/when Myles Jack, Darron Lee and Reggie Ragland, etc. are off the board, possibly by the time the Packers pick, and then the end of the 2nd and 3rd round comes, it's time to make hay for a team like the Packers. Here is a guy that grades out as a player with solid NFL potential, but I think it may undersell him somewhat if you've seen him play. If you didn't get a chance to see Temple play last year, they had a pretty good defense, and this guy was right in the middle of it (literally).

Tyler Matakevich: http://www.ganggreennation.com/2016/...2016-nfl-draft

Does he remind you of Borland a little? This guy is more of an under the radar guy.

[Carolina_Packer]

Keith Marshall, UGA, 5'11, 220

He's no longer under the radar, plus he's from UGA, which is very high profile. He does have a sort of unknown quality about him, given the promise of the start of his college career vs. how it finished up. He is a hotly debated prospect. Where will he go? When should he be drafted? Will any team over-draft him because of his 4.31 40 at the Combine? Does he project to the pros very well? For that reason, I'd call him a bit of a sleeper, as much as a running back from UGA who runs 4.31 can be a sleeper. Because of injuries and talented teammates at RB, this guy was sort of an after-thought in Georgia's offense. It's hard to point to obvious, consistent production, but he's intriguing nevertheless.

If he was there in the 5th round and not off the board, would you consider taking him? They have Lacy and Starks, but this guy could be developed in a few years, and contribute what he can on special teams now. I think he has potential, and can certainly run.

https://www.dawgnation.com/football/marshall-combine-nfl-running-back

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000639087/article/georgia-rb-keith-marshall-blazes-431-40yard-dash-at-combine

[smuggler]

Reminds me of Brandon Saine. Burner that somehow didn't become a good running back.

[smuggler]

I have a candidate... Deion Jones (LB) of LSU. He's 6'1" and 225, so fairly light for ILB at the NFL level. He ran 4.59 at the combine and just under 4.4 at the LSU pro day. From what I've seen of Jones, he seems like he has the instincts we'd want. Not sure if he can consistently cover at the NFL level, but his measurables seem to indicate he could. He's also known as a very smart player. Somehow he's only a 4th round prospect. He might go round 2 or 3 if someone falls in love.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I have a candidate... Deion Jones (LB) of LSU. He's 6'1" and 225, so fairly light for ILB at the NFL level. He ran 4.59 at the combine and just under 4.4 at the LSU pro day. From what I've seen of Jones, he seems like he has the instincts we'd want. Not sure if he can consistently cover at the NFL level, but his measurables seem to indicate he could. He's also known as a very smart player. Somehow he's only a 4th round prospect. He might go round 2 or 3 if someone falls in love.

Jones is projected to go in the 2nd or 3rd round, so he's not really under the radar.

[smuggler]

I've seen him listed around 100th overall on a couple sites. If he becomes a steal by virtue of being an elite ranger/coverage ILB in the pros and was only taken in the late third or early fourth, was he undervalued?

[Carolina_Packer]

I think the question mark on Jones will be that he was only a one year starter. That could push him down the draft board for many, but as you allude to, it only takes one team to fall in love with his potential and draft him higher. I'm also not sure if he's considered ILB material. He could be the chase/cover LB. It's possible this guy might not come off the board until the third day, and I think that would be intriguing for the Packers, if they haven't already drafted a more top-tier guy by that point in the draft. In one respect, perhaps a bit like Keith Marshall in that he didn't have sustained production in college, but has terrific measurables and you wonder what he can become at the next level. While he's from a top program, which gives him a higher profile, what does he project to being in the NFL? If you read the profile below, you know this kid won't mind playing special teams, and that's always a good way to ascend on the Packers.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/n...lb-deion-jones Seems like a good kid.

[Carolina_Packer]

Reminds me of Brandon Saine. Burner that somehow didn't become a good running back.

That's a pretty apt comparision, although Saine was really productive at OSU. They have similar build and speed. Tim Biakabatuka and Trung Canidate were fast too, but that doesn't always translate. Again, they are in a position of wealth if Lacy gets fit and now that they have re-signed Starks. The next guy in line could be a development guy, and probably will have to be a special teams contributor, perhaps has a returner. Marshall might be good in that respect.

[smuggler]

Yes, sorry, I meant at the pro level for Saine. Granted, his knee was decimated in the NFL and that was the curtain hook for him.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Would TT have the stones to draft this under-the-radar 6'3", 240 lbs OLB from the PAC?

OVERVIEW: Didn't get to experience a lot of his father's professional career as an NFL linebacker. However, he obviously carries the family athleticism genes -- though he didn't really get to show his wares until his senior year. After a redshirt freshman year, he played in 23 games as a reserve, totaling eight tackles. Saw the field a bit more regularly as a junior, starting one contest and making 19 tackles. He didn't earn a starting job coming out of fall camp, but injuries on defense gave him a chance, and he took advantage, making 65 stops, 12.5 for loss and seven sacks on the year, garnering honorable mention All-Pac credentials.

STRENGTHS: Well-built with good muscular definition. Explosive burst upfield to threaten tackles. Quick-twitch athlete. Plus lateral quickness and good knee bend in his play. Has enough juice to be a true edge rusher. Can dip and trim the corner with a tight turn. Finished this season with seven sacks and 17 pressures despite playing less than 60 percent of the snaps. Holds a solid edge against tackles and has the strength and potential to own tight ends at point of attack. Shows agility in space to cover. Showed massive improvement over the course of the season. Was playing his best football at the end of the year. An ascending prospect with the athleticism and power to become an eventual starter as a 3-4 outside linebacker. However, despite his growth as a player this season, he is still in a developmental phase and may take some seasoning before he is ready to become a contributor on the NFL level.

WEAKNESSES: One-year starter. Surrounded by so much talent holes in his game could have been disguised. Lacks experience and instincts to cut it loose and play at full throttle. Needs to play fast all the time. Can learn to strike with more authority as a tackler. Will get fooled by play-action and can be slow to find the ball after the mesh point.

40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
Vertical: 36 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 10 inches
Short shuttle: 4.27 seconds
3-cone: 7.35 seconds
Bench: 25 reps of 225 pounds

Or would TT have the stones to draft this under-the-radar 6'3" 240 lbs OLB from the PAC?

OVERVIEW After joining the team as a walk-on, putting in three years as a reserve and a special teams player, he wrote a terrific final chapter to his college career, playing in all 13 games, blocking two kicks while posting 17 tackles (15 solos) with three stops for loss. He also caused two fumbles. As a freshman linebacker was relegated to duties on the scout team. As a red-shirt freshman, he played mostly on special teams, seeing action in all but one contest (missed that game with an elbow sprain). He managed to record eight tackles (4 solos) to earn his first varsity letter.

STRENGTHS Ascending player who may be just scratching the surface of his potential. Well-built athlete whose dedication in the weight-room is obvious in his physique. Reliable open-field tackler. Versatile defender who flashes as a natural pass rusher off the edge. Good speed upfield and has the balance and burst to redirect his rush. Good initial hand punch to pop the blocker and disengage. Good effort and speed in pursuit. Instinctive defender who played well in space as a traditional linebacker. Excellent special teams player. Pac Academic All-American. The now 240-pounder opened his last season as a reserve, but started the final 10 contests. The All-Pac Conference second-team choice ranked fourth on the team with 56 tackles (28 solos), blocked another kick and had 4.5 sacks to go with nine stops for losses.

WEAKNESSES Has less than a full season as a starter and only 10 career starts. Surrounded by so much talent holes in his game could have been disguised. Prefers to run around blocks rather than take them on. While he improved as the year went on, remains a work in progress in disengaging from blocks.

40-Yard Dash: 4.67 Seconds
Vertical: 35.5 inches
Broad Jump: 10 feet, 1 inch
Short Shuttle: 4.18 seconds
3-Cone: 6.9 seconds
Bench: 23 reps of 225 pounds

Who ARE these two mystery prospects?