NFL Free Agents 2011 : Predicting the First 11 Undrafted Free Agents to Sign

The 2011 NFL offseason remains on hold while the owners and players work out the details of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. When it finally begins, though, there will be a flurry of signings in a matter of minutes.

The first stage of the offseason will be undrafted free agency, where players who didn't hear their name called in April at the 2011 NFL draft will have a second chance to make an NFL squad.

There are a lot of popular names on the docket for undrafted free agency, and here are my guesses at the first 11 guys who will find a home.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz.

Jeff Maehl, WR Oregon

"Air Maehl" is quite a bit smaller than most NFL teams would like their wide receivers to be. That size disadvantage hasn't stopped Wes Welker from making a huge impact, and Maehl has drawn many comparisons to Welker.

Just like Welker, Maehl doesn't have great long speed, but he excels underneath. He knows how to utilize his quickness to get open, and once he's open, he rarely drops the ball. He's very capable of creating yards after the catch, and isn't afraid to take a hit.

Now, they have one more thing in common. Both are undrafted, and both have taken the hard way to get into the NFL. We can't crown Maehl the next Welker yet, but in the right system, I like his chances.

Kendric Burney, CB North Carolina

No size. No speed. No chance at being drafted. Still, it could all be no problem for Burney if a team takes a shot at him in undrafted free agency.

With the high demand around cornerbacks in this pass-happy NFL, don't be surprised if a 4.71-second 40-yard dash and a 5'9" frame aren't enough to keep him off a roster.

He's a ball hawk, having picked off 10 passes in his career, and returning two for touchdowns. His instincts and technique are what put him in position to succeed. those attributes will be his best shot at employment in the NFL.

Terrence Toliver, WR LSU

I am baffled that Toliver went entirely undrafted. He has work to do on his overall technique, but has solid straight-line speed, running a low 4.5 in all of his attempts at the 40-yard dash.

Most importantly, he has the size that would make him an incredible red zone target. His 6'5", 204-pound frame could use to add some muscle, but gives him the height advantage against almost any cornerback he'll face in the NFL.

A team looking for an outside presence to their depth chart should look to add Toliver in undrafted free agency. With his physical attributes, I find it hard to believe he won't be one of the first receiving a phone call when the lockout ends.

Mark Herzlich, LB Boston College

There are so many reasons other than his wonderful story that would make Mark Herzlich a great early signinig in undrafted free agency.

He was always an inspirational and motivational leader on the field and off even before he won his courageous battle with cancer, and would be a legitimate leader for a team even as a rookie. He has a knack for making big plays, albeit in the less-than-dominant ACC.

He is believed to be scheme versatile, playing outside in a 4-3 or inside in the 3-4, with the potential to play outside in that front at times. This will make him a coveted asset for any team that uses both fronts frequently (I'm looking at you, New England).

Derrick Locke, RB Kentucky

As the running back by committee becomes more popular, the need to find durable running backs becomes less demanding. When you're using a stable of three or more backs, the loss of one can hurt you, but it won't kill you.

While Locke has had some injury concerns in the past, his speed and potential should have been enough to get him drafted somewhere. At just 5'8" and 188 pounds, though, who knows

His physical attributes will make him an intriguing camp prospect, and he'll be on a roster at some point this preseason. If the guys on the roster aren't careful, he could take their spot.

Noel Devine, RB West Virginia

Devine may never be a full-time back (then again, ask Arian Foster what he thinks). Regardless, Devine has the ability to contribute to a multi-faceted rush attack. His small size is a bit of a concern, but he is deceptively quick and shifty, allowing him to make defenders miss in the open field.

With 31 career touchdowns, 29 of them rushing, and a career average of 5.9 yards per attempt, his stats speak for themselves. He is an explosive playmaking threat. Devine also has some experience as a pass catcher out of the backfield, having reeled in 98 passes in his collegiate career. 

His versatility will draw the attention of at least one team, and he will certainly be one of the first off the board.

DeAndre McDaniel, S Clemson

After spending much of the 2010 preseason being regarded as a top prospect at his position, DeAndre McDaniel went undrafted one year later.

He brings great physical attributes to the secondary with his size and speed. His instincts put him in good position to make a play, and he's not afraid to drop the hammer once he gets there. As an undrafted free agent, though, he's far from perfect.

He needs to work on diversifying his game, as he's not extremely capable in coverage outside the hashes and takes occasional bad angles at the ball carrier. Despite that, there's reason to believe in his physical capabilities, but he's only worth it if they believe in his character.

Zach Hurd, OG Connecticut

It's no coincidence that Jordan Todman and Donald Brown have both been highly-touted prospects coming out of UConn, as well. They've had solid run-blocking offensive linemen to run behind. Hurd is just one of those guys.

Hurd was highly regarded coming out of UConn, but went undrafted. He was a force when pulling and blocking in space, which is something teams that run the West Coast offense love to see in their guards. He'll be able to set up screen plays quite well, and will be called upon to do so quite frequently in a WCO.

If nothing else, his presence on the line would offer a solid option for depth, at the very least some great competition for those roster spots.

Brandon Bair, DE Oregon

How does a scheme-versatile, 6'6" 275-pound monster who can play both 3-4 end and 4-3 tackle wind up going undrafted? His age might have something to do with it; at 26 years old, the clock is already ticking on Bair's NFL career.

Let's just take his age out of the picture for a second, because I'm sure not many teams will hold too high regard for that. Bair was a key cog on the Oregon defense that made an appearance in the BCS National Championship game. His pass rush skills were pertinent to the defense as a whole.

He has a ridiculously high motor, and his competitive nature will only assist him in landing a full-time job on an NFL roster. His full potential may only be realized in the right scheme, but the potential is there, and an NFL team will most certainly take a chance on him.

Armon Binns, WR Cincinnati

Big, physical wide receivers are always in high demand in the pass happy NFL. They make for some of the best red zone targets because they're nearly uncoverable by a single man. Even when they draw double coverage, they still open things up for the other receivers.

Personally, I was surprised Binns went undrafted. He had a great season in 2010, with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. He came on strong in the past two seasons, with over 14.5 yards per reception both seasons and 21 total receiving touchdowns.

Rest assured, Binns will find a home early on in undrafted free agency. There's just too much raw talent to pass up.

Ian Williams, DT Notre Dame

Williams would be a great fit for a defense that utilizes specialization. He's not an every-down guy, but he's good at what he does. In run defense, he has great gap discipline, can occupy multiple blockers, and holds up those lanes to prevent the back from leaking through.

This would make him a great fit in a 3-4 defense, where gap discipline is held in high regard. Those "space eaters" are the key cogs that keep that engine moving. Williams played in the 3-4 front some at Notre Dame, too, which only adds to his value for teams that use that front.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a 3-4 team jump on him once the undrafted free agency period begins.