Every year the NFL invites a number of prospects to Radio City Music Hall who will go up on stage and shake hands or hug it out with the commissioner after being selected by a franchise.Sadly,every year a prospect is on our screens looking anxious as the phone fails to ring and other players around him are coming off the board.Whether it be Brady Quinn in 2007 or Aaron Rodgers in 2005, it is always hard to watch.Here are a few names who I think could be waiting longer than expected to hear their names this year.
1.Ra’Shede Hageman – Defensive Tackle, Minnesota
Hageman has many desirable traits,natural gifts that could one day turn him into a Pro Bowl calibre player.He is extremely athletic;he converts quickness into power;displays a nasty punch with a frightening bull rush;versatile and possesses ideal size for the position.However,there are major concerns surrounding Hageman’s motor and inconsistent play.The former Golden Gopher regularly takes plays off which is a pet peeve for any coach up and down the NFL as well as disappearing for long periods of time during games.How will the NFL view the 6’6” athlete?Somebody could take a flyer on the First-Team All-Big Ten standout,but my guess will be that a player with top-15 talent slides towards the second round.
2.Ka’Deem Carey – Running Back, Arizona
The Arizona star is a prime candidate to fall in this year’s draft and it’s not because of the running back position being devalued. Carey set the Pac 12 alight during his sophomore and junior years with 3,814 yards and 42 touchdowns. Vision and toughness got Carey to where he is today but he will need more to succeed in the NFL.
A 4.7 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February confirmed the doubts many had: Carey’s game does not translate to the NFL. The 5’9” tailback fails to excel in enough areas to be considered a top back in the draft. His aforementioned vision and toughness are impressive, however, the lack of speed, balance, agility and strength do not stand him in good stead against other backs in the draft. Furthermore, a number of off-field issues prior to his junior season is the last thing he needs to count against him in a running back class that is already muddled.
3.Cyrus Kouandjio – Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Cyrus Kouandjio entered his junior season at Alabama as a top-ten pick but left with numerous questions marks surrounding his ability and health.
He has enough potential in his 6’7” and 322 pound frame to still be taken in the first round but an average junior season coupled with a poor combine performance could see the tackle fall. Not to mention the number of teams who will have struck him from their draft boards after combine medicals revealed possible arthritis in his knee after a failed surgery some years ago.
Kouandjio is a terrific run blocker who finishes plays with anger and tenacity, but on the flip side he is an inconsistent pass blocker who lacks the focus and consistency to be on top of the pile. Age is on his side but will that be enough to see him taken on day one when there are others at his position pushing to be picked?
4.Jarvis Landry – Wide Receiver, LSU
In a draft class that has ten or more wide receiver prospects worthy of a first or second round selection, there are bound to be one or two who slide further than they should.
Unfortunately for Landry, he fits the bill as one of the fallers. The wideout is an excellent underneath route runner who excels at fighting for extra yardage. Nevertheless, his physical tools fail to match up with those he is competing against. At 5’11” and 205 pounds he is far from small but his build should allow him to display speed faster than his 4.77 40-yard dash at the combine rsuggests.
5.Darqueze Dennard – Cornerback, Michigan State
A three-year starter, Darqueze Dennard became synonymous with the Michigan State team that beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl. Moments after the game concluded on January 1st Dennard was one of the biggest risers on draft boards, however, every day since then he has fallen further into the shadows.
Dennard is a very talented man-coverage corner with exceptional instincts and technique but lacks strength, athleticism and did not face top-tier talent in the Big Ten – Stanford Ty Montgomery, a physically gifted receiver, took the upper hand against Dennard.
Jason Verrett, Kyle Fuller and Bradley Roby are all corners looking to break into the top-25 and, if one or two corner-needy teams pass on Dennard, he could slide towards the bottom of the first round.
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