Denard Robinson Remains Day 3 Steal in NFL Draft

Be sure to keep a close watch on Michigan's Denard Robinson when Day 3 of the 2013 NFL draft rolls around.

For starters, Robinson's versatility is quite marketable when you combine it with his overall athleticism.

Although the guy never developed as a true pocket passer for the Wolverines, Robinson did have decent seasons at the helm in 2010 and 2011. There, he tossed for 4,743 yards and sported a 58.7 completion percentage with 38 passing scores to 26 picks.

Obviously not wowing numbers, but not extensively painful, either.

Accuracy was always a concern; however, at least he was able to consistently buy time with his feet. And speaking of his quickness, Robinson did rack up 4,495 rushing yards and score 42 times on the ground throughout his collegiate career.

This dual-threat talent alone will give Robinson some snaps at quarterback as part of a wildcat package. In specific situations such as 2nd-and-long or 3rd-and-medium, his knack for making defenders miss and bolting upfield will get a defense moving.

After all, Robinson clocked 4.43 seconds on the 40-yard dash at the combine and 4.22 seconds on the 20-yard shuttle. He's not a dominant passing threat, but when given a snap at quarterback, a defense must respect Robinson's ability to move on the ground.

In short, that will widen passing lanes and briefly freeze linebackers at the intermediate level.

Robinson also believes he'll continue as a dynamic threat, as he stated in an article by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press:

"

A lot of teams said that. They watched film on me and said I can put you anywhere on the field and be that threat. ... Every team I talked to told me they can play me at different spots.

You can put me to be a second-string quarterback or third-string quarterback and I can do things that another second-string quarterback can’t do, and I can actually be a strong punt returner or kick returner.

"

To that end, Robinson's best chance to make an immediate impact right now is as a slot receiver.

His short-area explosiveness bodes well against man coverage, not to mention a horizontal rushing threat. Regardless of where he winds up, though, Robinson will see the field in some fashion.

Now it's just a matter of which team will pursue his talent, since Robinson doesn't fit the mold for one specific position.