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The 'sleeper' hold for NFL draft '10A 10-pack of draftable sleepers, from Dez Briscoe to Marshall NewhouseEmailPrintComments
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Another Big 12 "Dez" -- Bryant -- gets all the hype, but Briscoe could be a pretty good pro.

A slow 40-yard dash time for a running back. A defensive end without the size and speed required by most NFL teams. A quarterback with a big brain but a small arm. Trouble off the field. No matter the reason, every draft brings its share of sleeper picks. Here, we'll define "sleepers" as players with third-round or lower projections who have skills that transfer well to the right NFL schemes. Here are 10 potential draft-day bargains who could make their future GMs look like geniuses.



Donald Butler, LB, Washington Huskies:
A great defender on a series of subpar teams, Butler finally got noticed in his senior season and crashed his way onto the combine invite list with a great Senior Bowl week. At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, Butler is a versatile linebacker who projects best outside in a 4-3 scheme. He can hit the run downhill and drop into coverage -- and his best football might be ahead of him.



Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas Jayhawks:
Briscoe isn't a downfield speedster, but he has a nose for the end zone (31 touchdowns in 37 games), and he gets clean from coverage with good route running. There have been questions about his consistency and ability to run a full route tree out of Kansas' spread offense, but he looked much better than expected at the combine. In a group of receivers who didn't impress with their route correctness, Briscoe looked better than most.




Brandon Lang, DE, Troy Trojans:
There's a legacy connected to Troy "endbackers" based on Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware, and Lang fits the mold. He blew up for 18 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in his last two seasons. But while Ware and Umenyiora were known to run 40s in the 4.6- to 4.8-second range, Lang was closer to 5.0 at the combine. He showed more quickness at his pro day, especially in the agility drills that could be just as important an indicator of his ability to crash into the backfield after the snap.



Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State Cowboys:
Of all the quarterbacks who actually threw at the combine, Robinson might have been the most surprising. He played in a spread offense with the Cowboys but has a pro-style overhand delivery, solid seven-step drops and the arm strength to make the 35-yard post-corner throw. The spread stigma will limit his draft prospects, but Robinson has the mechanics to transcend the issues common to most who fail in that transition.



Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina Pirates:
A surprisingly disruptive interior presence for his size (6-5, 330), Joseph is a wide body with 5-flat speed. Where he breaks down is in overall stamina and ability to redirect in a hurry -- he can be taken out by better blockers because of this. Joseph is projected as a mid-round pick because of these issues, but any team looking for a nose tackle/3-tech hybrid in a rotation, who can stand at the point and wreak havoc in the backfield if he's fresh, should pay attention.



LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon Ducks:
There were red flags on Blount before he sucker-punched Boise State defensive end Byron Hout and lost 10 games of the 2009 season to a suspension. Blount now is trying to be upright about his past issues; whether this is just a case of a guy who knows the money is near remains to be seen. After two years in junior college, he had only one full season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, but Blount has the inside power to make a difference as a two-down basher in a running back committee.



Myron Lewis, CB/S, Vanderbilt Commodores:
Lewis' primary problem right now might be that NFL teams don't know his best position. Like Antrel Rolle, he might be best served by switching from cornerback to free safety when he hits the NFL. That might have been a demotion of sorts in past seasons, but safeties are becoming more important in the grand scheme of things as defenses are dealing with more dynamic passing games. Lewis is a physical player with limited short-area quickness and transition speed, making him a quality candidate for a position switch.



Seyi Ajirotutu, WR, Fresno State Bulldogs:
Perennially underrated as defenses focused on ace running back Ryan Mathews, Ajirotutu caught 47 and 49 passes in his last two seasons -- and touchdown passes in five of his last six games. Not a speed receiver or a notable route runner, he has good hands and no quarrel with catching the ball over the middle. Ajirotutu also is a willing blocker who could make the climb from reserve to starter in time.



Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
The center position requires an intellectual stronghold on the game that often transcends measurables, which is why undrafted "nobodies" make the Pro Bowl as often as first-round picks do. As the point man in Charlie Weis' pro-style offense (Weis called him the offense's "heart and soul"), Olsen has the smarts and mean streak to jump from third-day projection to offensive line cornerstone despite sub-elite athletic ability.



Marshall Newhouse, G, TCU Horned Frogs:
Newhouse might project as a tackle in the NFL with his impressive athleticism. At 6-4, 320, and capable of running a sub-5 40, Newhouse is a smart player with an excellent football background -- his uncle Robert Newhouse played fullback for the Cowboys for 12 seasons. An excellent drive blocker inside, he might not have the quickness to go with that track speed, but he'll be a good fit where versatility is valued.

FatCitySaint

I have seen D. Butler play....dude is good. I wouldn't mind him in the 4th or even better the 5th. Could turn in to a good one!!!

strato

Hey i really dont want anybody who is asleep when we draft them..they need to be up partying...lol

CheramieIII

Hey that Blunt smoker from Oregon needs to stay as far away from the Saints as possible. That guy is trouble and it will happen again. Couldn't even keep the gang violence off the football field.

hagan714

I like these guys from the list. my order is this:
Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina Pirates:
Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
Myron Lewis, CB/S, Vanderbilt Commodores:
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon Ducks:

Crusader

Eric Olsen would be really interesting in the third round, we need a good guy we can develop behind Goodwin.

hagan714

Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina Pirates:
Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame Fighting Irish:

These are the two guys I want the saints to trade back or whatever to add to the team. late 3 or early 4 should be good enough. excellent depth for development as starters.

Crusader

Combine Results
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6036
Weight: 266
40 Yrd Dash: 5.00
20 Yrd Dash: 2.85
10 Yrd Dash: 1.62 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 20
Vertical Jump: 28 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.68
3-Cone Drill:
No 3-cone, foot - 40 Time Range: 5.00-5.07

Pro Day Results
Dates: 03/08/10
Height: 6036
Weight: 266
40 Yrd Dash: 4.85
20 Yrd Dash: 2.84
10 Yrd Dash: 1.65 225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 31 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.51
3-Cone Drill: 7.34

Brandon Lang*|*Troy,*DE*:*2010 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

03/16/10 - PRO DAY RESULTS: In recent years, Troy has become a popular destination for NFL scouts and coaches. The Sun Belt conference powerhouse has produced Pro Bowlers such as the Giants’ Osi Umenyiora and the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware over the past decade, and continues to churn out impressive prospects. Seven notable prospects worked out for representatives from 31 teams, including coaches from Jacksonville, the New York Giants and Green Bay. One of the most impressive was DE Brandon Lang. At 6-foot-3 1/2, 266 pounds, he flashed excellent athleticism. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.88 and 4.85 seconds, had a 31 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 3-inch broad jump, a 4.51-second short shuttle and a 7.34-second three-cone drill. It is rare players at that size demonstrate such quickness. – Gil Brandt, NFL.com


The more I read about this guy the more interesting he sounds. 4.85 ain't too bad speed and his other numbers aren't to shabby. Dunno about picking him in the 2nd thou.

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

Rugby Saint II

We need a DT, DE and a center.........Eric Olson has potential and supposedly Notre Dame is for smart folks.

Crusader

Stephen F. Austin: Tim Knicky is a late-round sleeper to keep an eye on. A half dozen teams were on hand this morning to watch SFA work out and Knicky was incredibly impressive. The small-school prospect measured 6-feet 4-inches and 252 pounds, posted a 33.5-inch vertical jump, and ran the 40 in times that ranged between 4.63 and 4.67 seconds. The defensive end was later put through linebacker drills and he looked outstanding.

Read More: NFL pro day news on Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, more - NFL - SI.com