Three rounds of the NFL Draft are now over, but more quality players still are without a team. Who are some of the best prospects still waiting to find out where their pro career will start?
Hurst was a borderline first-round prospect and still has not been selected. He did have a heart issue that was found at the NFL Combine, which must be what is holding him back. Doctors in Michigan said that he was cleared to play, but team doctors could have found something different that is making them hesitate to pick him.
Although Hurst is a little undersized for a defensive tackle he is disruptive and has a good motor. He can be an impact player in the NFL if he is healthy. Look for Hurst to be selected early in day three if there aren’t more reports that come out about his heart condition.
Equanimeous St. Brown (Photo by und.com)
St. Brown is better than a few receivers that have already been selected. He didn’t have consistent quarterback play at Notre Dame last season and fails to run routes well, but the latter is coachable and the former is out of his control.
The Notre Dame product is a good combination of size and speed, which would lead people to believe he should already be selected. He made acrobatic catches and is good after the catch as a receiver. In the right system, and possibly playing with the right quarterback, St. Brown can develop into a star.
Jewell doesn’t have all the athletic traits that teams want out of a linebacker at the NFL level. He also ran a 4.82 40 yard dash time, which means he will have to react to plays much quicker in order to make plays on the ball, as he doesn’t have the speed to get there. Since he isn’t the biggest linebacker either, he has fallen down draft boards.
His instincts and awareness made him a great college player and will be what he has to rely on in the pros. He has a good motor and plays physically. Despite his physical limitations, a coach would love to have Jewell on their team because he works hard and has a high football IQ.
Tim Settle (Photo by roanoke.com)
The Edmunds brothers are off the board now, but there is another Virginia Tech defender who will get drafted on day three in Tim Settle. He is likely in this position due to a poor combine and the tape shows a player who needs to add more moves to get around blockers. Settle can also be a better hand fighter, which will help him be successful at the NFL level.
Settle is huge and can fit in the middle of a team’s 3-4 defense as the nose tackle. For a player that size, Settle has surprisingly light feet and quickness. He is decently fast at the snap of the ball and should be able to take on multiple NFL blockers. Teams with a 3-4 scheme will want to get him sooner rather than later.
The best edge rusher left is Duke Ejiofor. He isn’t the most athletic edge rusher but was able to be an impact player in college. He was on the NFL Draft radar dating back to last year and likely thought he would be drafted by now.
What Ejiofor lacks in athleticism he makes up for with great hands that he uses to disrupt an offensive tackle’s blocking technique. He also provides some versatility as he can rush the passer from both the inside and out, which is more important now in the NFL as edge rushers now move inside sometimes on passing downs.
Other notable players still available: Dalton Schultz TE, Trenton Thompson DT, Da’Shawn Hand DE, Anthony Averett CB, Shaquem Griffin LB, Kyle Lauletta QB
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