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1. Ross Homan, LB, Ohio State
Homan is a very instinctive player, who could line up outside in a 4-3 or inside in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He will also make a strong special-teams player while he works at earning a full-time starting job by Year 2.
2. Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
Ballard is a strong and athletic. Many expected would be a second- or third-round pick as a 3-4 defensive end. However, Ballard reportedly failed a drug test at the Combine, which impacted his draft stock along with uncommon defensive line depth. He will likely end up being a fourth- or fifth-round pick with starter's potential.
3. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
Rodgers is still on the board because of his diminutive size (5-6, 195), but he has a well-built lower body along with quickness and speed to be an extremely productive feature back at the NFL level.
4. D.J. Williams, TE. Arkansas
Williams is smaller (6-2, 251) than a typical NFL tight end which has likely caused his fall. However, he is a much better blocker than given credit for because of his competitiveness and consistent leverage. His outstanding athleticism makes him a dangerous vertical threat catching the ball.
5. Greg Jones, MLB, Michigan State
Jacquizz Rogers was an explosive player for Oregon State, but some NFL scouts worry about his size. (AP Photo)
Jones was a four-year starter for the Spartans. He is a very instinctive, tough and physical run defender with excellent blitz ability from either inside or outside the formation. He is an ideal candidate to start at inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme as a rookie this fall.
6. Stanley Havili, FB, USC
Fullbacks typically aren't taken early in the draft, so it isn't a great surprise that Havili is still on the board heading into Day 3. Havili is not your typical fullback, however, as he is an excellent runner who shows surprising speed on the perimeter. He is also an outstanding receiver out of the backfield. Havili could become more of a featured back in the mold of Cleveland fullback-turned-running back Peyton Hillis.
7. Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford
Sherman (6-3, 192) has great size, speed and athletic ability to be a starter as a rookie. He is new to the corner position after playing three seasons as a receiver for the Cardinal. He has tremendous smarts and athletic upside to develop into a very productive player right away.
Although he is a tight-hipped athlete, he has long speed to recover vertically and shows uncanny route-recognition and zone coverage awareness for the position.
8. Chris Rucker, CB, Michigan State
Rucker (6-1, 195) has great size, arm length and athletic ability for the NFL level. As a three-year starter, he has well-defined man-to-man and zone cover skills. He lacks an elite closing burst, but shows excellent strength and toughness in run support. He is also an outstanding blitzer off the edge. He should be off-the-board early in Round 4 unless his off-the-field issues (DUI) are more involved than previously thought.
9. Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
Acho is a very quick and athletic prospect, but he is a real 'tweener who lacks a good positional fit. He played mostly as a down end in a 4-3 scheme in college. His athleticism and strength fits much better as an OLB. The reality is that in-between players who lack elite athleticism often fall, but Acho will be a valuable fourth- or fifth-round pick when chosen.
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10. James Brewer, RT, Indiana
Brewer is a two-year starter at right tackle for the Hoosiers. He has great size (6-6, 323) strength and toughness to compete for a starting spot as a rookie this fall. He is a decent athlete with adequate lower-body flexibility, but did not impress during Senior Bowl practices.
11. Allen Bradford, RB, USC
Bradford is a big (6-0, 240), strong back with surprising quickness and speed. He struggled to put up huge numbers at USC because of their running back-by-committee approach, but consistently produced we he got carries. We believe he is a similar to Arian Foster and would be an excellent fourth- or fifth-round pick.
12. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
Beal played both end and outside linebacker at Oklahoma. He is another in-between player who fell down draft boards because he is more of a smooth and fluid athlete than a quick-twitch, explosive one. He is the type of player who has always been productive, but rarely been the big-play, impact defender. He will likely be a fourth- or fifth-round pick by a team that plays a 3-4 defense.
13. Jerrard Tarrant, FS, Georgia Tech
Tarrant was a first-year starter for the Yellow Jackets after working mainly as a corner earlier in his career. After getting into trouble off-the-field (rape charges that were dropped), that cost him the 2009 season. He has the size, athletic ability, speed and coverage ability to be a starter at free safety for a team this fall.
14. Andrew Jackson, G, Fresno State
Team boards often vary wildly when it comes to offensive guards, and it appears this year is no different. Jackson needs to improve his leverage and flexibility, but we believe he will become a starter in time because of his smarts, toughness and run-blocking prowess.
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15. Jason Pinkston, LT, Pittsburgh
Pinkston is a three-year starter at left tackle for the Panthers. He is a little undersized (6-3, 317), but possesses the lower base, power and athleticism to be an NFL starter as a rookie. He is a very competitive player in all situations and has a devastating punch in pass protection. He also has the size to move inside for a team with a need.
16. Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU
Kerley is a very quick and agile receiver, but has not shown the elite explosiveness to make us confident he can be a top-level playmaker in the NFL. He also lack great height (5-10) and is thin framed, which is another reason he is still available. He will likely be a fourth- or fifth-round pick by a team looking for a slot receiver and returner.
17. Mark Herzlich, OLB, Boston College
Herzlich will be the feel-good story of Day 3 when he is selected. Before falling ill with bone cancer as a sophomore, he looked like a potential first-round talent because of his athleticism and aggressiveness. Not surprisingly, he did not show the same burst and agility in 2010, but if he can return anywhere near to that form, he could become a starter capable of playing in any defensive system.
18. Ian Williams, NT, Notre Dame
For teams looking to find a potential starter at nose tackle on Day 3, Williams presents good value. He is a good short-area run defender with very good initial quickness. He has great character, work ethic and motor to finish to the ball on every play.
19. Chas Henry, P, Florida
Even the best punter prospects rarely go before the latter rounds, but Henry is well worth the selection at any point Saturday for a team in need. He has a great leg and is consistent in his technique, which allows him to get great hang time and be very accurate on directional punts.
20. Alex Henery, PK, Nebraska
Kickers simply aren't taken on Day 1 or Day 2, but Henery is an outstanding prospect. He is an extremely accurate kicker that has the leg to hit 50-plus yard field goals with regularity. The biggest question mark on his game is that he was not Nebraska's primary kickoff specialist.
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Originally Posted by X-Era
