2017 Later Round/UDFA Gems

[hn68wb4]

Someone posted in another thread about late round guys with lots of upside, don't remember who and I don't remember exactly what thread it's in, but take my word for it, someone posted about it. Got me thinking about who my personal gems are at the moment and was wondering who everyone else has as possible late round/UDFA gems. Just for some clarity, when I say "later round" I'm talking about around round 5 or later, but you can be as loose with the definition as you want. Here are some of mine.

RB: Kareem Hunt, Toledo - Not very underrated anymore, but at the moment I can see him as being sort of this year's Dixon. Just a guy that does everything well but for whatever reason isn't valued as highly as other RBs. I'm being a little loose with "later round" here as I can see him going round 4 but I don't think he goes any higher than that.

WR: Karel Hamilton, Samford - probably going to be an undrafted guy but hands like glue, good speed, and deadly after the catch. Absolutely tore up Mississippi State this year to the tune of 14 catches for 213 yds and 2 TDs.

WR: Derrick Griffin, Texas Southern - Sort of breaking the title of the thread as he is not really a player that i have as a gem, I'm just interested in him as a prospect. Don't get much bigger than him at the WR position at 6'7", and he's got plenty of speed. Was dismissed from the TSU football team for this year, so character issues are there - though they didn't really release why outside of a general statement about "players are expected to show up on time and act a certain way; he didn't" so we don't really know exactly what he did. I'm intrigued about where he'll go, or if he gets drafted at all. That height and being a basketball player make him a tempting pick.

OL: Jordan Morgan, Kutztown - I absolutely loved what I saw during the Senior Bowl at LG. Some technique issues of course, but every problem I see in him is very fixable. He will be a dang good LG at the next level with some proper polishing.

OL: Eric Smith, Virginia - Another player that I liked from the senior, Smith played at RG and I really liked what I saw, particularly as a run blocker.

DL: Adam Butler, Vandy - good thing he plays with a high profile defender in Cunnigham so there's plenty of tape out there with Butler on it. Provides solid pass rush skills and has solid strength in the run game. Don't particularly see superstar potential but his potential looks to me like a good rotational Dlineman which is a role that shouldn't be undervalued.

DL: Grover Stewart, Albany St. - Great size, great jump off the snap, good strength. Potential on this guy is sky high.

CB: D.J. Killings, UCF - not much is said of him but he is smooth and is good against the run. A little undersized at 5'10" but he plays bigger. I'm a pretty big fan of his as a later round guy.

CB: Des Lawrence, UNC - technician at CB, good size and not afraid to stick his nose in there and hit someone. Lacks game breaking athleticism though.

LB: John Law, App St. - Athleticism to go from sideline to sideline, good in coverage, good against the run, navigates traffic well, and good instincts. Pretty much like him all around, only issue might be injuries.

 

These are just the guys off the top of my head, I might add more later.

Edited February 8 by hn68wb4

[ravensnation5220]

Trey Hendrickson, Donnell pumphrey and Trent Taylor I think will have a future in the nfl

[Prino61]

10 hours ago, hn68wb4 said:

WR: Derrick Griffin, Texas Southern - Sort of breaking the title of the thread as he is not really a player that i have as a gem, I'm just interested in him as a prospect. Don't get much bigger than him at the WR position at 6'7", and he's got plenty of speed. Was dismissed from the TSU football team for this year, so character issues are there - though they didn't really release why outside of a general statement about "players are expected to show up on time and act a certain way; he didn't" so we don't really know exactly what he did. I'm intrigued about where he'll go, or if he gets drafted at all. That height and being a basketball player make him a tempting pick.

after watching him on youtube I would be very happy if we gave him a shot

[RaineV1]

Quarterback Zach Terrell from Western Michigan. Doesn't have the biggest arm, but he's smart with the football, doesn't turn it over, and can run well enough when things break down. I see him as sort of a poor man's Dak Prescott. He could be pretty good as a long term backup.

[VermontRaven]

Didn't follow much college football, but Clemson LB Ben Boulware seems to me to be the late round/UDFA gem the Ravens love.  Seems to have an amazing football IQ and seems to just make plays, despite not being the most athletic. 

[trevorsteadman]

13 minutes ago, VermontRaven said:

Didn't follow much college football, but Clemson LB Ben Boulware seems to me to be the late round/UDFA gem the Ravens love.  Seems to have an amazing football IQ and seems to just make plays, despite not being the most athletic. 

He just looks way too slow to me...He has the stats but dang he does not jump off tape at all.

[rmw10]

2 minutes ago, trevorsteadman said:

He just looks way too slow to me...He has the stats but dang he does not jump off tape at all.

I like him as a reserve LB.  Not sure I'd ever want him in my starting lineup if I could avoid it, but I feel like he's a guy you can unleash on ST and just let him hit people.

[trevorsteadman]

Just now, rmw10 said:

I like him as a reserve LB.  Not sure I'd ever want him in my starting lineup if I could avoid it, but I feel like he's a guy you can unleash on ST and just let him hit people.

Doesn't the team already have that in McClellan though? I mean sure I guess if he is a good special teamer but I just haven't been impressed. A buddy of mine (Seahawks fan) is huge on Boulware. I just personally don't see it. 

[rmw10]

Just now, trevorsteadman said:

Doesn't the team already have that in McClellan though? I mean sure I guess if he is a good special teamer but I just haven't been impressed. A buddy of mine (Seahawks fan) is huge on Boulware. I just personally don't see it. 

I wouldn't say that necessarily.  I think Boulware is one of those prototypical undersized and not the most athletic LBs, but has the instincts to carve out some sort of role on the back end of a roster.  I don't think he'll be a superstar or anything of course.  I just think he's a guy that could provide some sort of value.  Not sure he's a "gem" as the title of this thread might suggest, but think he could be a guy that you can actually get some positive contributions out of late.

[hn68wb4]

3 hours ago, trevorsteadman said:

Doesn't the team already have that in McClellan though? I mean sure I guess if he is a good special teamer but I just haven't been impressed. A buddy of mine (Seahawks fan) is huge on Boulware. I just personally don't see it. 

Boulware's biggest advantage is that his instincts are off the charts, he knows where he needs to be and is great at sniffing out screens and occasionally run plays. The problem is that he just isn't athletic enough to get where he knows he needs to go. I'd like to have him late if he's there, but he's the kind of guy that screams better coach than player in my opinion.

[ravensnick]

6 hours ago, VermontRaven said:

Didn't follow much college football, but Clemson LB Ben Boulware seems to me to be the late round/UDFA gem the Ravens love.  Seems to have an amazing football IQ and seems to just make plays, despite not being the most athletic. 

I don't think Boulware is athletic enough to be anything but a STer and he has tiny Trex arms.

[MDCop]

DJ Scott- CB- Toledo

Has the size and speed. He was so shut in his junior year, that this year NO ONE threw his way. He is not on a lot of radars due to lack of stats this season but like McKenzie Alexander in last years draft. Teams refused to go his way and it's hard to get picks when that happens. Great late round to UDFA pick up for a posistion we need.

[ravensnation5220]

10 hours ago, MDCop said:

DJ Scott- CB- Toledo

Has the size and speed. He was so shut in his junior year, that this year NO ONE threw his way. He is not on a lot of radars due to lack of stats this season but like McKenzie Alexander in last years draft. Teams refused to go his way and it's hard to get picks when that happens. Great late round to UDFA pick up for a posistion we need.

Are you sure that's his name? I can't seem to find him

[RaineV1]

Marquel Lee, ILB from Wake Forest is fully capable of being a starting ILB in the NFL, I think. He has the size, speed, and is pretty good at getting through offensive lines to make tackles for losses and sacks. If the Ravens got him I think he'd be yet another no name linebacker to become a star for us.

[Italian Raven]

Like I wrote early last year in the "2017 draft prospects" thread I do think Jalen Hurd is one very talented back (I added a few gifs in there, if you're interested to give him a quick look.. Should be page 2 or down there).

He anticipated his transfer decision from the Vols after day 7 but he recently turned toward the NFL.

Was he a regular back, with regular size, pad level and production I would say he'll go undrafted due to the lack of his latest season's stats. But he's special to me (day 2 talent) and I think he'll be taken somewhere in RD5-6. I really like him and Kareem Hunt, this year.

Last time I liked a RB that much it was 2015 and I was really hoping our FO would pull the trigger on Ajayi or D.Johnson. 

Edited February 10 by Italian Raven

[hn68wb4]

4 hours ago, Italian Raven said:

Like I wrote early last year in the "2017 draft prospects" thread I do think Jalen Hurd is one very talented back (I added a few gifs in there, if you're interested to give him a quick look.. Should be page 2 or down there).

He anticipated his transfer decision from the Vols after day 7 but he recently turned toward the NFL.

Was he a regular back, with regular size, pad level and production I would say he'll go undrafted due to the lack of his latest season's stats. But he's special to me (day 2 talent) and I think he'll be taken somewhere in RD5-6. I really like him and Kareem Hunt, this year.

Last time I liked a RB that much it was 2015 and I was really hoping our FO would pull the trigger on Ajayi or D.Johnson. 

He wasn't listed as an early entrant so I think that if he is going to the NFL instead he'd have to try and get in the supplemental draft