Big Names Featured

Some of the more notable players in this draft from some household programs had to wait until Round 3 to hear their name called.

In a draft in which many believed that there wasn’t much of a talent disparity between the 15th best player and 90th best player, that thinking rang true as we saw a few players that were rumored to go in Round 1 actually go in Round 3.

Former Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong sat around in Chicago for the better part of two nights as he was finally snatched up by the Houston Texans, who traded up to the sixth pick in the third round to pick him.

UCLA edge rusher Owa Odighizuwa was selected by the New York Giants with the 10th pick in Round 3 and he should start immediately for Big Blue.

Some of the other names you know that went early in the third round were Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who was selected by the Seattle Seahawks as they traded way up to get the talented pass catcher and return man.  The Atlanta Falcons drafted their latest running back of the future in Tevin Coleman and the Cleveland Browns did the same with University of Miami speedster Duke Johnson.

In need of linebacker help, the San Francisco 49ers selected Virginia edge rusher Eli Harold, who many had going in the Top 45. Senior Bowl star Sammie Coates, formerly of Auburn, will try to complement the great Antonio Brown as he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the final pick of the third round, the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t take an offensive tackle as they did in the first two rounds; instead they took TCU linebacker Paul Dawson, who was great in actual games, but posted some of the worst workout numbers of any linebacker in his class.

Pocket Passers Still Preferred

There was great debate over who would be the third quarterback taken in the draft.

We had to wait until the third round to find out and that was none other than Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, who will back up Drew Brees, at least initially, in New Orleans.

Grayson raised his stock considerably with a solid Senior Bowl performance as he displayed a more than adequate NFL arm and was clearly the best signal caller there.

Just 14 picks after Grayson was selected by the Saints, Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion heard his name called by the St. Louis Rams.  Mannion is a true pocket passer with a big, strong arm and high football IQ.  It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that Mannion unseats quarterback Nick Foles at some point late in the season.

Former Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, who put up video game like numbers in Art Briles spread offense and was suggested to be a possible late first-round pick, is still waiting in his own personal green room. The same can be said of athletic UCLA signal caller Brett Hundley, who avoided competing in the Senior Bowl.

It appears that the wave of spread-option quarterbacks is more like a ripple, and the league is, has been and likely always will be for those who can win in the pocket.