Best-Kept Secrets of the 2016 NFL Draft Class
Less than 10 days away from the 2016 NFL draft, not every secret of the draft has been revealed. As quarterbacks, prospects with character or injury concerns and flashy athletes atop the board dominate the discussion, NFL teams have their private stash of prospects that haven't generated much buzz, which they're hoping to land on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.
A combination of middle- and late-round picks, these eight prospects are ones that, in other years or if things had gone differently during the predraft process, may have been considered much more highly by media evaluators. However, as draft weekend approaches, these eight prospects have a chance to remain relatively lightly discussed but could turn out to be coveted prospects.
Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas
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From projected first-rounders Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch to the intriguing upside prospects like Cardale Jones and Dak Prescott, Brandon Allen of Arkansas has been nearly forgotten in the draft process. But the three-year Arkansas starter and Senior Bowl standout may be the most reliable non-first-round quarterback in the draft.
While his 8 7/8" hand size has been the most obvious knock on Allen, areas of his film haven’t been discussed nearly enough. He’s an efficient midfield passer. He finishes throws on the perimeter. His offense has utilized pro-style concepts and responsibilities for him, and he’s led an offense that featured the tight end and running back as the primary receiving threats. He’s not high-level NFL starter material, but Allen may be a handful of teams’ secret quarterback prospect that could end up being Kirk Cousins-esque in his draft position and eventually play once given an opportunity.
DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech
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The diminutive running back, listed at 5'8" and 204 pounds, likely wasn’t considered a draftable prospect after being the feature back in the Red Raiders' high-volume passing attack, as few running backs his size and from that offense stick. His college offense allowed for ample midfield running lanes and a horizontally-stretched defense that made finding openings easier than for running backs on other teams.
But NFL Scouting Combine numbers indicate that DeAndre Washington offers similar size and upside to Giovani Bernard, and his production lends itself to three-down-capable upside as a big-play runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield. Washington’s assumed size and college offense will likely push him to late Day 3, but in a weak running back class, he may be one of the best situational and pass-catching options available.
Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia
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The highly-recruited athlete landed at Georgia with high expectations after a strong freshman campaign as a do-it-all offensive threat. But injuries and ineffective use by his college offensive coordinators tempered hype and discussion about Malcolm Mitchell, but that doesn’t mean his talent wasn’t able to shine through in the lackluster Georgia passing attack.
Offering strong hands, highly-effective finishing skills away from his frame (including this one at the Senior Bowl) and separation flashes on interior and vertical-breaking routes, Mitchell could be this year’s mid-round receiver that emerges as a quality starter more quickly than expected—a la Stefon Diggs for the Vikings. His upside combined with experience and relatively sound route separation could give some team a steal in Rounds 3 or 4.
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Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State
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His teammate Carson Wentz has risen to the top of draft boards after his three-year career as the starter, but left tackle Joe Haeg hasn’t seen his stock rise all that much during the process. While he lacks the top-end lateral movement or athletic upside to merit strong consideration as an NFL left tackle, his powerful steps and finishing ability in the run game give him every opportunity to thrive as a right tackle or guard prospect.
Haeg doesn’t have ample experience at other positions, but his decisive, powerful footwork and crisp block positioning in the run game and short-area passing game lend themselves to fit man or zone-blocking offenses with quality pass-protecting upside. Not considered when discussing early-round offensive linemen, Haeg should be a second-round pick, and anything after that could give a team a quality starter in late Day 2 or early Day 3.
Connor Wujciak, DT, Boston College
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Connor Wujciak hasn’t generated much discussion during the draft process after a good, but not great, college career that mostly relied on flashes of interior penetration and ample activeness as he attacked upfield. It wasn't an overall reliability that screamed top-100 pick.
However, after posting the NFL Scouting Combine’s best workout for a defensive tackle, according to the SPARQ formula calculated by 3sigmaathlete.com’s Zach Whitman, Wujciak should have made those on-film flashes a sign of things to come at the NFL level. Explosive, able to penetrate and with a high motor, Wujciak is the perfect mid-round interior pass-rusher that, in time and allowed to flourish as a 3-technique early on, could emerge as a surprisingly capable starting defensive tackle.
Montese Overton, OLB, East Carolina
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Starting the last two seasons for East Carolina as the strong-side linebacker, Montese Overton may have flashes as much as any non-first-round linebacker prospect in the country with his athleticism. Offering awesome length and clear fluidity to bend and explode both horizontally and upfield, Overton looked the part of a worthwhile NFL project with ample athleticism to tap into.
While his workout numbers are lacking and his four-year college experience doesn’t indicate he’ll improve that much in the NFL, I still believe Overton is worth working with. Having his length, bend and experience (and success) in coverage and as a pass-rusher, Overton should at least be able to add quality depth at multiple linebacker positions and in multiple situations early in his career. And with the right coaching that can tap into his college flashes and clear athlete and size upside, Overton could be a Day 3 pick with awesome upside.
Arjen Colquhoun, DB, Michigan State
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The Michigan State starter who’s grown into a leader in the Spartan secondary, Arjen Colquhoun fits the mold of the long, physical and vertically-capable cornerbacks that NFL teams have grown to covet and consider worthwhile projects as the press Cover 3 is and should stay en vogue with defensive coordinators.
Concerns about his hip turn and ability to handle speedy receivers vertically and on in-breaking downfield routes should persist for evaluators. But his leadership, experience and physicality, coupled with rarely-used, but certainly capable, vertical speed, makes him a dangerous Day 3 pick that—with some defensive adjustments and a spot in a defense that will allow him to be an outside cornerback—could lead him to become the next Brandon Browner in Seattle.
Kavon Frazier, SAF, Central Michigan
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Posting a strong college career with experience at free safety and strong safety, Kavon Frazier offers unique footwork patience and timing as he attacks the underneath receivers or protects the seams and vertical routes with efficiency.
Much of that success is due to controlled feet as well as efficient hip turn and balance in space, which was corroborated by his NFL Scouting Combine numbers. While his 6’0", sub-220-pound size may concern teams, along with his ability to play anywhere but a center field free safety role, his activeness on the field and ability to work as a free safety and in three-safety looks (along with special teams) could make him a secretly-coveted Day 3 safety pick.
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