It seems like every sports journalist in the country has a piece of advice to give to NFL coaches and general managers this week as the draft gets underway. I?am no different.
Although the first round is already over, that is no reason to stop watching. Here are three players who I believe will make an impact, despite being drafted outside the top two rounds.
Da’Rick Rogers
WR – Tennessee Tech
Rogers spent his first two years in the SEC at the University of Tennessee, becoming a legitimate deep threat and earning an All-SEC selection. He was indefinitely suspended from the team in 2012, however, after failing drug tests. He transferred to Tennessee Tech and had a big season. Guys like Randy Moss and Percy Harvin failed drug tests before their respective drafts, yet still became solid players. Rogers has been clean since he left the Vols, and whoever snags him will get an extremely talented player in the third or fourth round.
Bacarri Rambo
S – Georgia
Aside from having the coolest name I have ever heard, Bacarri Rambo is an absolute beast. Last season, the guy racked up a ridiculous 73 tackles on Bulldog defense which featured several stars, including linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree. He finds the ball carrier and does not miss open-field tackles. He will need to work on his coverage ability, but Rambo will improve a team’s secondary and provide great run-stopping ability. Projected by some to go as low as the fifth round, Rambo is a huge mid-round value pick up.
Ryan Griffin
QB – Tulane
I am going out on a limb with this one, but I believe this guy is the next Joe Flacco. Griffin has been severely overlooked. He does not have the cannon arm of some of the high profile quarterbacks, but he makes up for it with his leadership and work ethic. Griffin was the team captain during his junior and senior years, and proved to be a vocal leader who was popular among his teammates. He has the body of an NFL quarterback, standing at 6 feet 4 inches, and will mature into this draft’s biggest surprise five years down the road.
Column by Jonathan Ferris, Staff writer.