NFL Draft 2011: Defensive Sleepers
Earlier this week, I identified 12 possible "sleepers" among NFL draft prospects on offense.
If you missed that article, click here.
Now, it's the defense's turn.
Again, these are players flying under the radar. Enough attention and hype has been given and will continue to be given to prospects such as Patrick Peterson, Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Robert Quinn, and Von Miller.
This list is about guys who might come from a small school, or perhaps don't run or physically test well, or are coming off an injury, or don't necessarily fit into a particular scheme or position.
Whatever the reason, these are players that you might not know now but will make you look good for knowing them on draft weekend.
More importantly, these players might just make your team play better whenever the NFL plays football again.
1. Martin Parker, Defensive Tackle and Justin Rogers, Cornerback, Richmond
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I never thought I would start this list with two players from the football powerhouse known as the University of Richmond.
In all seriousness, the Spiders have an excellent program at the FCS level, won the FCS national title in 2008 and did produce recent NFL players in Tim Hightower and Shawn Barber.
Prepare to add two more players to the Richmond-to-the-NFL pipeline.
Parker was the MVP of the East-West Shrine game with two sacks. Playing for Richmond may not have given Parker much national attention, but he is an athletic defensive tackle who will push the pocket. In a deep defensive tackle draft, it might be hard for Parker to get selected in the early rounds of the selection process. However, he is a physical defensive tackle, a four-year starter, and he won't take plays off.
Rogers is somewhat undersized for today's NFL corners at about 5'10" and 180 but he has loose hips, meaning he can turn and run with receivers. He has plenty of athleticism, and one thing that could get him drafted is an aggressive demeanor that won't have him backing off receivers especially in the slot where he will probably be lined up.
2. Eric Hagg, Cornerback/Safety, Nebraska
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Quite honestly, I am not sure why Hagg isn't more highly rated. Maybe it's because Prince Amukamara stole, and rightly so, most of the headlines for the Cornhusker secondary last season.
A bigger factor in Hagg's under appreciation is that he is a cornerback in a free safety's body. Hagg has good, not great coverage skills, but his 6'1" and nearly 210 pound frame screams free safety. He did have five interceptions last season and does project to be a good center fielder playing in the deep middle or even deep half of the field.
Hagg's tackling won't ever be confused with that of Troy Polamalu but the NFL is trending away from the big knockout hit anyhow, much to my chagrin.
Hagg ran a 4.55 and 4.57 and had a 38.5 inch vertical jump at Nebraska's pro day. His size, running ability and leaping ability could pay dividends as a red zone defender; think about Hagg defending the fade.
Don't be surprised if Hagg gets his name called a lot sooner than you expect.
3. Ricky Elmore, Defensive End, Arizona
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Pictured here with Brooks Reed, another rising Wildcat in the NFL draft, Elmore (on the left) is a player I have put on the list not because of the dreaded "P" word, potential. Instead, the 6'5", 260 pounder is a sleeper because even though he might not have ideal athleticism, he has another "P" word, production. Elmore racked up 10.5 sacks in 2009 and 11 sacks in 2010. Both totals led the PAC-10.
Elmore's motor is always going and he has experience at both end positions.
Elmore only ran a 4.96 40 at the combine and his lack of physical skills will likely drop him to the later stages of the draft, but football is important to him and for a league that increasingly rotates its defensive lineman, Elmore will get a shot.
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4. Lawrence Guy, Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
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Guy, (number 50, lying on his back pictured above) is a player that I really like at the next level. He plays with an attitude, has good athletic ability and has position flexibility (The 6'5", 300 pounder could be a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 end in the NFL).
But what I like best about Guy is that he has overcome attention deficit disorder, dyslexia and concerns about academics and maturity during his time at Arizona State.
Guy isn't going to put up huge sack numbers but he does have the ability to disrupt plays up and down the line of scrimmage.
When you are going to enter the NFL, you are going to encounter adversity, even the stars like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Guy has plenty of experience dealing with adversity in a positive manner.
5. Brandon Bair, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle, Oregon
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At over 6'6", 274 pounds, he might be a little long and lean to sustain at defensive tackle in the pros as he did for the Ducks.
But, I could see him as a 3-4 end or as a part of a rotation. 3-4 ends don't typically need to rush the passer and that's a good thing for Bair because that's not his game.
What he will do is knock down balls (eight deflections in 2010). Bair will likely go undrafted for a variety of reasons but perhaps mostly because he is 26. Still, he is worth a look because he is ready to play in the NFL now.
6. Chris Carter, Outside Linebacker, Fresno State
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Some scouts seem to love Carter, while others are far less enamored. I don't really fit in either category, but I certainly think Carter is worth a mid-round investment and could pay big-time dividends.
Carter is a pass rusher (11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss) and that is how he needs to be used initially in the pro game until he learns how to pass drop and get stronger against the run.
The former Bulldog can get around the corner with his edge rush and is quick off the snap. He also has long arms to disengage from blockers if he can improve his functional strength.
The problem is that you always run a risk when projecting a college defensive end to an NFL outside linebacker, but that is exactly the transition Carter will have to make with his 6'1", 245 pound frame.
7. Chykie Brown, Cornerback, Texas
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Brown has several skills you look for in an NFL cornerback. He can run with most receivers and has enough recovery speed if he gets behind. Brown also has the ability to "flip his hips" meaning he can change directions easily to run with receivers. Finally, he has long arms and good leaping ability to go up for jump balls.
One significant concern about Brown is whether he is quick enough to diagnose run or pass, but he is willing and able to come up in run support.
He broke his forearm late last season and played in nine games. He also missed a few games as a sophomore due to a sprained ankle. I'm not suggesting he is injury prone and he hasn't suffered a really serious injury (i.e., ACL tear, Patella Tendon Rupture, Torn Pectoral)
Don't get me wrong, Brown is a project. He is not going to come in day one and necessarily start for an NFL team but you have to take chances on players in the later rounds and Brown can be more than a special teamer or roster filler.
8. Greg Lloyd, Inside Linebacker, Connecticut
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There used to be a pretty good linebacker that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers named Greg Lloyd. I remember one game when he used Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino as his own personal rag doll as he flung him to the ground.
That Lloyd made five Pro Bowls.
Well his son, Greg Lloyd Jr, plays linebacker for the University of Connecticut and also happens to wear his father's No. 95 jersey. The two have been estranged since Junior was 12. Regardless, the Huskies' Lloyd plays a physically intense game that reminds many of his father.
In one of the most memorable sequences in college during 2009, Lloyd met Notre Dame's Armando Allen at the goal line, knocking Allen's helmet off and stopping him shy of scoring in Connecticut's landmark win (pictured above).
Lloyd tore his ACL and MCL late in 2009 and was simply not the same player in 2010, but he showed a tremendous amount of will just to suit up when he was expected to take a medical redshirt. He ran approximately a 4.8 40 at the combine which certainly isn't great, but speed isn't going to be his trademark. His calling card will be the physical style that his 245-250 pound frame and NFL bloodlines are going to bring.
If he passes team's medical exams, I think he could be a seventh round draft choice or priority free agent. Down the road, Lloyd could provide much more value than a late round selection typically provides.
9. Kendrick Ellis, Nose Tackle, Hampton
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OK, by now you probably know that I think a lot of the defensive tackles in this year's draft. This is the fourth one on the list and there are several others that I like in this draft including, but not limited to, Marcell Dareus, Marvin Austin, and Phil Taylor.
Ellis is a borderline sleeper because his name is getting mentioned more and more frequently as the draft gets closer. At 6'5", 340 pounds, Ellis can play defensive tackle or nose tackle. Physically, he has quick feet and has exceptional strength, even if he doesn't always use it.
As it is with any player that big, conditioning is a huge question mark. He won't walk right into the league and play three or four downs. I think the Baltimore Ravens' Terrance Cody is a fair comparison, although Ellis isn't as strong, but is more nimble.
The biggest question mark is Ellis' character. While at South Carolina, Ellis reportedly failed multiple drug tests leading to his dismissal from the university. Ellis was also suspended for the first game of 2010 while playing for Hampton so you have to wonder if he has or ever will grow up.
Baylor's 6'4", 340 pound Taylor will probably be the first "mountain of a man" taken on defense so Ellis could slip somewhat under the radar, but he probably still doesn't escape Round 3.
10. Jeron Johnson, Strong Safety, Boise State
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Ronnie Lott would absolutely love this throwback player. Johnson is one of a dying breed of safeties who think it's more important to slam into the receiver, even if it means sacrificing his own body, rather than hauling in the interception.
Let's make this clear, Johnson is going to be at his most useful if he is allowed to play in the box and attack receivers in the middle of the field. Despite excellent 4.53 speed and athletic ability, he is much better going forward than in reverse.
He will also drive professional coaches nuts with a penchant for going for the highlight play instead of focusing on wrapping up as a tackler. Given the NFL's concern about defenseless receivers it should be interesting to see how much fine money Johnson will rack up in short period of time.
Still, Johnson is a competitor who will make a team and likely be a starter sooner rather than later because of his passion for the game.
An NFL team wants players that truly want to be out on the field trying to be the best even if they won't necessarily always be the best. Johnson fits this model.
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