2012 NFL Draft: 5 Late-Round Studs Philadelphia Eagles Must Snag

The late rounds of the NFL draft are often filled with future backups and practice squad mainstays. But every once in a while, there's a stud that's been passed over for three rounds and is just waiting for a team to give him a chance.

Players that fit that bill this year could include Kellen Moore, Ryan Broyles or Dan Herron among others.

Here are five players not named above that could slip to the later rounds. If they do, the Philadelphia Eagles shouldn't hesitate to draft them.

T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton is a receiver very similar to DeSean Jackson and will be coming off a very productive career at Florida International.

A bit undersized at 5'10" and 183 pounds, Hilton has the same kind of explosiveness that Jackson has and would be just as valuable in the return game.

He would be best used as a replacement for Jackson returning punts because the Eagles wouldn't want to increase the injury risk of a guy they just inked to a $9 million deal.

If Jackson is traded, Hilton would be the best the Eagles could do to replace Jackson in terms of late-round picks.

Tank Carder

One of the heroes of TCU's win over Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl, Tank Carder has had a fabulous career playing for the Horned Frogs.

He was a stalwart on a defense that consistently ranked in the top ten in the nation and came through in the final minutes of that Rose Bowl, knocking down a pass from Wisconsin's Scot Tolzien to seal the win.

In terms of draft stock, however, Carder projects as a very late pick and will probably be taken in the sixth or seventh round. He has good strength and relies on his instincts heavily, which have served him well in the past. He is a bit undersized though and his athletic ability isn't great.

For a team with holes at the linebacker positions like the Eagles, Carder could compete for a starting job.

Gerell Robinson

Gerell Robinson is a big receiver out of Arizona State that could be extremely useful in goal line situations.

Robinson stands at 6'3" and would be a great sub for DeSean Jackson inside the 20.

He doesn't have good speed, but that would hardy matter in the role he would be assigned to.His size allows him to contend for passes much like basketball players fight for jump balls and he has become a good blocker as well.

As good as the Eagles are from the 20 and beyond, they have very few weapons that are useful in the red zone. They could invest a second round pick on Alshon Jeffery if he falls that far or wait until the fifth or sixth round and take Robinson.

Terrence Ganaway

As good as LeSean McCoy is, he can't use power in short-yardage situations like, say, Mike Tolbert can. Baylor running back Terrence Ganaway is a solution to that problem

Ganaway would be a perfect role player for the Eagles, much like Gerell Robinson. Together the two of them would greatly improve Philly's 50 percent red zone conversion rate from 2011.

At 239 pounds, Ganaway has the size, power, and ball security to be useful right away on goal line or 4th-and-1 plays.

The reason he isn't listed among the best running backs can be attributed to his tendency to ease back once he finds holes. As powerful as he is during the first few yards, Ganaway tends to use agility to avoid guys he should be running over in the second level.

If the Eagles get Ganaway, they would have their own version of Brandon Jacobs and a reliable goal line weapon.

Vontaze Burfict

Vontaze Burfict? A late-round pick?

Burfict has first-round talent, but has been hurt so much by his discipline issues that he may end up still untaken by the fourth-round.

Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller has him going in the fourth-round to the New York Jets in his latest mock draft.

It might be a stretch to say that Burfict won't be taken by the end of the second round, but for every great thing about him, there is just as great a concern.

The bottom line is Burfict hasn't impressed a soul since 2010. His 2011 season at Arizona State was disappointing enough that he didn't make any All-Pac-12 teams, even as an honorable mention.

His combine performance was weak and he skipped a handful of drills. Nobody sees Burfict's stock rising anytime soon, which is great news for the Eagles.

Despite all of the attitude problems and mental issues Burfict has, he is a freakishly good athlete and has NFL star written all over him if he gets his problems under control.

Burfict would be a steal in any round later than the second, and if he continues to hurt himself as he has, it's possible that the Eagles could snag him in the fourth.