A draft that has featured just about everything enters its final day and last four rounds with some intrigue remaining. ADVERTISING A draft that has featured just about everything enters its final day and last four rounds with some intrigue
A draft that has featured just about everything enters its final day and last four rounds with some intrigue remaining.
So far, there have been bizarre drops and megatrades early on, a run on players from national champion Alabama on Day 2, and a fascination with Ohio State Buckeyes — a record 10 so far — throughout.
Even a placekicker, Robert Aguayo of Florida State, went in the second round, to Tampa Bay.
What’s ahead?
For one, a few quarterbacks who drew plenty of headlines and won lots of games in college remain on the board. Michigan State’s Connor Cook, projected by many to go in the second round, hasn’t been chosen. Nor has Cardale Jones, who led Ohio State to the 2014 national crown. Nor Stanford star Kevin Hogan or Mississippi State standout Dak Prescott.
Tulsa receiver Keyarris Garrett, who led FBS schools with 1,588 yards on 96 catches last season, is available. So is highly productive running back Kenneth Dixon of Louisiana Tech; all he did was score 87 touchdowns, including 26 in 2015 even with an ankle injury costing him two games.
Teams seeking running backs will have plenty of others to choose from Saturday. Try Florida’s Kelvin Taylor, the son of former Jaguars standout Fred Taylor. Or elusive Paul Perkins of UCLA. And Alex Collins of Arkansas, who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, with 1,577 and 20 TDs last year.
Lots of defensive players of interest will be on teams’ radars.
Although 22 defensive backs have been selected, remaining are safety DeAndre Houston-Carson, probably the best at the position in FCS at William &Mary; super-active Jeremy Cash of Duke — a transfer from Ohio State; and D.J. White of Georgia Tech.
NFL teams never have enough pass rushers, and several could still go. Prospects include end Ronald Blair, the Sun Belt’s top defensive player at Appalachian State; end Matt Judon of Grand Valley State, the top defensive player in Division II who had 20 sacks in 2015; and end Lawrence Thomas of Michigan State, who also has played fullback, linebacker and defensive tackle and now goes 6-foot-4, 303.
Who knows, maybe even another placekicker or a punter will get the call in the countdown to Mr. Irrelevant.
