2011 NFL Draft: 10 Solid Players Flying Under the Radar

One of the great things about the NFL draft is the number of hidden gems that teams find every single year. Teams usually get their superstars in the first round, but the guys that they find later on in the draft are the reasons that they win championships.

Take a look at the two most successful teams of this past decade: New England and Pittsburgh. What do they all have in common? They were able to draft and develop their players from the draft. The NFL is different from all the other sports in that free agency isn't as big of a deal. There are big name players that change teams from time to time, but more often than not, every team can keep their own, homegrown talent.

Going into the 2011 NFL draft, we know who all the big name players are. Guys like Nick Fairley, Da'Quan Bowers and AJ Green are going to go on stage and shake hands with Roger Goodell. It's the guys that aren't thought of as highly as those players that make can make the difference for a team's future.

So who are going to be the hidden gems of this draft?

Who are the guys that have solid college credentials, but don't get the love that the guys at the top of the draft do?

Here are 10 players who aren't going to draw the fanfare that the guys at the top will, but can be just as valuable, if not more so.

Pat Devlin, Quarterback, Delaware

Pat Devlin will probably draw some comparisons to another former Delaware quarterback, Joe Flacco. That’s not really fair to either man though, since they are different types of quarterbacks.

Flacco made an impression at the scouting combine with his size and his big-time arm.

Devlin doesn’t have the arm or the size that Flacco does. However, he might be more polished as a quarterback going into the NFL. His poise and decision making have been very strong this year, as he threw for 22 touchdowns and two interceptions this season.

He will not be able to start in the NFL right away, but for a team looking for value at the quarterback position later on in the draft, Devlin could make for a nice fit.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the football to score a touchdown in the first quarter against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in G

DeMarco Murray will be a relatively early draft pick, probably a second rounder, but the fanfare surrounding him has fallen off during his college tenure.

In Murray’s freshman year in 2007, he averaged six yards per carry and had 13 touchdowns. Every year his production slipped some, at least in terms of yards per carry. He had a solid senior season, running for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns.

One thing that has hurt him has been injuries, as he missed games in each of his first three years in school. He is a big, bruising running back that does have good speed. He can be a solid regular back in the NFL.

DJ Williams, TE, Arkansas

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: D.J. Williams #45 of the Arkansas Razorbacks reacts to what he thought was a touchdown but he was down by contact in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on

The year’s tight end class is pretty weak, and there probably won’t be one taken until the middle of the second round at the earliest.

DJ Williams could be a hidden gem in the third or fourth round. He was one of Ryan Mallet’s favorite targets in 2010 with 54 catches for 627 yards and four touchdowns. He doesn’t have great speed, but he works as hard as anyone.

There is a certain will and determination that Williams has when he is on the football field. Teams looking for a pass-catching tight end would be wise to give him a look.

Alex Henery, K, Nebraska

Eric Francis/Getty Images

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 13: Alex Henery #90 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers kicks an extra point against the Kansas Jayhawks during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Kansas 20-3. (Photo by Eric Francis/

Yes, a kicker is getting some love.

People tend to underestimate the importance of a kicker. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t the most valuable player on a team, but they have the most thankless job in football. If they do the job well, no one knows their name. If they screw up one time, they can be replaced in a heartbeat.

Alex Henery had a terrific run with Nebraska, especially this past year. He was 18-for-19 in field goals, including 10-for-11 from at least 40 yards.

He won’t get any love or recognition when he is drafted, but he can be one of the best kickers in football right away.

Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith seems to be moving up a lot of draft boards, as he should be. He has great size for the position at 6'1" and 200 pounds. He has pretty good speed, and his hands are very good. He was extremely productive for the Terps in 2010.

Smith caught 67 passes for 1,055 yards and 12 touchdowns this year.  He has playmaking skills and will be a good value pick for a team picking in the second round that needs receiver help (looking at you St. Louis).

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 04: Jacquizz Rodgers #1 of the Oregon State Beavers runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the 114th Civil War on December 4, 2010 at the Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

It’s hard to believe that Rodgers is only a junior; it seems like he has been at Oregon State forever. Either way, he is going to the NFL this year, and he will have to prove himself to the scouts and front-office executives.

Over the course of Rodgers three years in school, there hasn’t been any running back in college that can match his production. He has run for nearly 4,000 yards and 46 touchdowns for the Beavers.

There are a few questions surrounding Rodgers going into the NFL. He is rather small, only 5'7". He doesn’t have great speed, but it is good. He doesn’t have the ability to break tackles in the NFL, which is going to cause him to fall into the later rounds.

Rick Elmore, DE, Arizona

Rick Elmore had a very productive senior season for the Wildcats in 2010. He finished with 13 tackles for loss and 11 sacks for the Arizona defense this season. He is a bit small for a defensive end in the NFL at only 258 pounds, but he makes great use of his size and speed to be effective.

Because Elmore is small, it affects his run defense, but if teams want to bring him in for pass rushing situations, he could be a solid contributor at the NFL level for a long time.

He will have to improve his overall technique moving forward, but it’s hard to argue with the production that he showed in school.

Andy Dalton, QB, TCU

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs looks to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

One of the things that doesn’t get enough credit when you are a college quarterback is your ability to lead a team. Andy Dalton was a tremendous leader for TCU, especially this year in their undefeated, Rose Bowl winning year.

Dalton is small for the position, but he has the intangibles that are so rare in today’s quarterbacks. He has a very nice feel for the pocket and doesn’t make mistakes.

If a team that doesn’t have an immediate need at the quarterback position wants to give Dalton time to learn and develop, he could develop into a decent NFL quarterback. He won’t wow you with anything he does, but he won’t hurt the team with his play either.

Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College

Elsa/Getty Images

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 25: Mark Herzlich #94 of the Boston College Eagles carries the ball after he intercepted a pass from Tyrod Taylor of the Virginia Tech Hokies on September 25, 2010 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Virginia

Mark Herzlich was one of the most heartwarming stories of this college football season. He won the ACC defensive player of the year in 2008. He was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to miss the 2009 season to get treatment. In late 2009, he announced that he was cancer free and returned for the 2010 season.

Herzlich has great size, speed and athleticism. He will make an impact in the NFL in the future. He is probably a second, maybe a third-round pick in the draft. He has all the talent and ability in the world and has the determination that scouts want to see from a prospect.

Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 18: Cornerback Rashad Carmichael #21 stands on the field against the East Carolina Pirates at Lane Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech won 49-27. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

The cornerback position is loaded in the draft this year. There could be as many as four taken in the first round alone. Rashad Carmichael will not be one of them, but he won’t have to wait very long on Day 2 to hear his name called.

He is kind of small at 5'10" and 182 pounds, but he has really good speed to keep up with NFL receivers. On top of that, he has tremendous instincts at the position and knows how to make a play.

If your team needs a cornerback but can’t get one of the top guys, don’t fret, because there are a number of really good options to be had later on, including Carmichael.