Whether due to injury, position change, athletic ability, competition level, college scheme or simple oversight, many contributors and even stars at the next level slip through the proverbial cracks as Day Two draftees and undrafted free agents. However, identifying these lesser-known or simply lesser regarded prospects is crucial to ensuring the acquisition of quality roster depth — at a minimum — and difference-makers — at a maximum.
The prospects detailed below (in no particular order) will wait to hear their name called come draft day, but could emerge in mini-camp and training camp, and eventually out-produce their more highly regarded and earlier drafted counterparts.
OLB Jordon Dizon (Colorado) — Not a Combine superstar — undersized (5-11, 229) and perhaps a touch slow on the stopwatch (mid to low 4.7 40-yard dash), but makes it count on the field and gets where he needs to be in a hurry. Plays on his toes and most importantly has a tremendous nose for the football. Should emerge as a tackling machine at the next level.
OLB Lamar Myles (Louisville) — See Jordan Dizon. Myles is also undersized (6-0, 220), but uses his hands extremely well to play off blocks, filters through traffic, and has a nose for the ball.
OLB Tavares Gooden (Miami, Fla) — Want to find No. 52? Just locate the football. The subject of apparent disappointment following mid to high 4.6 40-yard times at the Combine, Gooden plays fast, and shows very good peripheral vision and awareness. He does lack the speed in pass coverage and overall take-on ability to play the strong side in the pros, but should excel as a weak-side ’backer if allowed to roam free.
CB Jack Ikegwuonu (Wisconsin) — Ikegwuonu’s draft stock took a considerable hit after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament training for the Combine. Might have to redshirt his rookie season. As a junior, however, Ikegwuonu clamped down on Indiana’s James Hardy and Michigan’s Mario Manningham — two likely first day picks — and when healthy projects as a terrific zone corner.
CB Terrell Thomas (USC) — Career derailed by injuries —dislocated right shoulder in ’03, torn right anterior cruciate, medical collateral ligaments in ’05, dislocated left shoulder in ’07 — and thus durability remains the foremost concern. When healthy, however, Thomas shows very good zone awareness, is a powerful and reliable open-field tackler, understands and properly executes his responsibilities, and makes quick decisions. He possesses outstanding zone corner traits and could make an immediate impact for teams that employ a cover-2 scheme such as the Bears, Bucs, Colts, or Bills.
S Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State) — Has not received the attention awarded the likes of Kenny Phillips (Miami, Fla) and DaJuan Morgan (North Carolina State), but may be the best tackling safety in the draft. Stood out vs. elite competition (Texas, Tennessee) in ’07, and is certainly undaunted playing with the big boys. Stock has risen drastically since an impressive Combine performance, in which Johnson led all safeties in the bench press (27 reps) and broad jump (10 feet, 7 inches) and flashed better-than-expected straight-line speed (4.44 40-yard time). Johnson understands leverage, sheds blockers well, hits with power and plays with tremendous composure. However, he is still raw in pass coverage, and should begin his career as a box safety.
