Analysts and fans alike are talking about the NFL Draft’s prospects, attempting to discover the league’s future stars. But the first few rounds are not the only place the next great NFL player can be found. In the later rounds of the draft, there are talented diamonds in the rough just waiting to be unearthed.
Deciphering which of those late-round prospects could be something special is unbelievably difficult and, more often than not, those late-round selections don’t pan out. Nonetheless, here is a look at four late-round prospects who have the potential to become superstars in the NFL.
Russell Bodine, OG/C, North Carolina
The Tar Heel standout likely could’ve benefited from staying at North Carolina for another season, but Bodine’s decision to leave early may also help his stock in an underwhelming class of centers.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound offensive lineman is quick off the line of scrimmage, and shows good burst to explode through opposing defensive linemen. While his pass protection against above-average pass rushers is suspect, in part because of slightly shorter arms than preferred, he is a superb run blocker with surprisingly good footwork and athleticism to get out and block at the second level of defenders.
He started all but one game over the last two seasons at center. However CBS Sports has him ranked as their 10th-best guard in the draft. Walter Football has him slated as a center, ranking seventh among their group.
Bodine’s greatest asset is his strength, which he showcased at the Scouting Combine by benching 225 pounds 42 times—second among all offensive linemen. His ability to snap the football and still bulldoze through oncoming defensive players will make him an appetizing addition for teams in need of a future center in the later rounds.
Working on reports for some Centers. Russell Bodine is one of the meanest http://t.co/ukOjWi3207 in the draft. Powerful punching power.
— Mike Loyko (@NEPD_Loyko) March 23, 2014
Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Colvin is very much a boom-or-bust prospect, especially now that he’s coming off a torn ACL he suffered in the Senior Bowl.
Colvin is a tough, physical corner who has no issue getting into a receiver’s face and jamming him at the line of scrimmage. He has good size (5-foot-11) and though he could use some bulking up, his physicality more than makes up for his slender build.
He makes great reads and reacts accordingly, displaying a knack for undercutting routes and making a play on the football. At the same time, he can be overaggressive, falling behind his man and getting torched down the field. His performance against the West Virginia Mountaineers two years ago is a prime example.
Of course, any team interested in Colvin has to be concerned about his right knee above all else. The toll from transitioning in and out of his backpedal could affect his durability should he not recover to 100 percent health. Lucky for the former Sooner, he appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery.
Former OU cornerback Aaron Colvin recovering well from ACL tear, plans to sprint on the field by April 23 http://t.co/bhUxmOMt3x
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) March 12, 2014
The upside on Colvin far exceeds the negatives should he be able to return to full health, especially in the mid-to-late rounds where most pundits have him mocked. He is a disruptive force who, likely after a rookie year of readjustment and recovery, could quickly become a key member of an NFL team’s secondary. And if he could just learn how to hold onto the football when it hits him in the hands, he could be a perennial league leader in interceptions.
Brett Smith, QB, Wyoming
Wyoming’s Smith is an unbelievably talented athlete who, while beloved by many, he is also maligned by many pundits out there. For those doubting, Smith could really prove to be something special in a few short years.
The former Cowboy is not a first-year starter, but Smith has the physical tools necessary to take control of an NFL offense. Earning comparisons to NFL starters Alex Smith and Tony Romo from our own Eli Nachmany, Smith is an accurate game manager with a lethal secret weapon in deceptive athleticism that forces opposing defenses to be wary when he has the football in his hands.
That said, he is very much a pass-first quarterback the same way Andrew Luck is. His team’s success is dependent on his arm—and he has one heck of an arm.
Disappointingly, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound gunslinger did not get the chance to show off his arm at the Combine. However, he seized the opportunity at Wyoming’s Pro Day, wowing scouts with strong, accurate passes to every spot on the field.
His footwork looks a little shaky at times (the video would be more useful if it was filmed a little closer), he showed off his ability throw every route in the passing tree.
Sure, the lack of competition seen at Wyoming might warrant a concern. But those concerns should be silenced just by watching the film from his performance against the Nebraska Cornhuskers this past season.
In Nachmany’s scouting report, he wrote:
In a game that had the Cornhuskers up 31-14 late in the third quarter, Smith brought his Cowboys back in a furious fourth quarter comeback… Smith showed impressive moxie and poise in the contest, and passed for 383 yards (4 TDs, 1 INT).
By no means was Smith surrounded by offensive weapons at Wyoming, yet he still managed to salvage what he could out of the 2013 season and led the Cowboys to a 5-7 record (they lost five of their final six games).
A junior, Smith made the wise choice to leave early with a head-coaching change made for the 2014 season. His stock was unlikely to rise much higher and he was always going to have to fight for his place in the NFL.
CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler puts it best when evaluating Smith’s potential, saying, “He is a gutsy competitor who plays the game of football with a chip on his shoulder and he’ll win over NFL coaches with his attitude, work ethic and overall football passion… If Smith played in the SEC or another major conference, he would be a much better known quarterback prospect.”
Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton
The first thing you’re going to hear about Caraun Reid is that he’s a smart kid. That’s a given, because he went to school at Princeton University. What’s unfortunate is that the talented small-school prospect is discounted for being a smart kid.
Reid’s level of competition was not ideal by comparison to other elite defensive line prospects, but it’d be a mistake to ignore the fiery, physical dominance he displayed while being a member of the Tigers.
Reid explodes off the football and plays with good strength, despite what his 20 reps on the bench press at the Combine might imply. He does not struggle in any facet of the game, run defense or as a pass rusher, showing good technique to break through the line of scrimmage.
Good description of #Princeton d-tackle Caraun Reid RT @josephmuldoon: Disruptive chaos causing DT http://t.co/ZeOd92v3Im
— Draft Breakdown (@draftbreakdown) February 16, 2014
Greg Gabriel spoke very highly of Reid over at National Football Post, but he voiced an issue with the 6-foot-2, 302-pound defensive tackle that appears all too often on film.
Reid shows very good initial quickness with his quick snap reaction and quick first step. He is able to get penetration to disrupt, but there are times when he loses sight of the ball and is not able to finish.
For how low so many have him projected, Reid lacks a lot of negatives to cite as good reason.
Reid could slip into the later rounds of the draft, but he has the versatility to play so many positions that a smart team could take a chance on him as early as the fourth round. Should they do so, they could add a young athlete capable of shocking a lot of people en route to a key starting role for a top-flight defensive unit.
