The Third Round of the Draft held a few more surprises.
Round One
-- Round Two
64.
Indianapolis Colts: TE Dwayne Allen, Clemson -- And the
Colts continue
to shape the offense of the future to look a little bit like Tom
Brady's twin-tight end attack in New England. Allen was the No. 2 tight
end on the board behind Stanford Coby Fleener, the Colts' second-round
pick.
65. St. Louis Rams: CB Trumaine Johnson, Montana --
A
huge, feisty corner might be a candidate down the line for a shift to
safety. The Rams have added three cornerbacks, including free agent
Cortland Finnegan from the Titans and second-round pick Janoris Jenkins. They should be well-equipped to handle the overstocked WR
corps in San Francisco and Arizona.
66. Minnesota Vikings: CB
Josh Robinson, UCF -- More help for the secondary. The Vikings landed
Notre Dame FS Harrison Smith in the first round; Robinson is unproven
against elite receivers but has the speed to star.
67. Denver Broncos: RB Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State -- Hillman left
SDSU with a
few records once owned by Marshall Faulk. He is surprisingly effective
inside but doesn't have ideal bulk. He does add a needed breakaway
threat to an offense that shouldn't rely on Willis McGahee (age) or
Knowshon Moreno (injuries, ineffectiveness) much longer.
68.
Houston Texans: WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State -- Posey should
effectively
end the musical chairs with Kevin Walter and JaCoby Jones, and he
combines the strengths of those two players -- Walter's size and Jones'
big-play ability as a downfield receiver -- in one package.
69.
Buffalo Bills: WR T.J. Graham, N.C. State -- A high school
track star,
Graham gives the Bills the "speed guy" GM Buddy Nix promised to pair
with Stevie Johnson, a former seventh-round pick performing at a Pro
Bowl level in Buffalo's spread offense.
70. Jacksonville Jaguars: P Bryan Anger, California -- The Jaguars invest to
right a
major misfire in 2011 free agency. Anger is the highest-graded
specialist in the draft with a booming leg and could also handle
kickoffs.
71. Washington Redskins: OG Josh LeRibeus, SMU --
Scrappy interior lineman who shouldn't have any problem filling in at
center or left guard depending on the health of Kory Lichtensteiger
(ACL) and development of Maurice Hurt.
72. Miami Dolphins: DE
Olivier Vernon, Miami (Fla.) -- A true junior who surprised scouts when
he left Miami early, Vernon has little game experience but the quick
burst off the line and athletic build to take off in the right system.
73.
San Diego Chargers: SS Brandon Taylor, LSU -- A 4.58 40-yard
dash at
his pro day solidified Taylor as a top 75 pick but he hasn't always
played with the same urgency and is considered straight-linish in
coverage.
74. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Donald Stephenson,
Oklahoma
-- Few prospects have more raw upside than Stephenson, a better athlete
than football player who needs a full season in the weight room and
film room before he's a major factor. Has real steal potential.
75.
Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin -- At 5-11,
the odds are
quite literally stacked against Wilson but his efficiency and touch
downfield is a match for the Darrell Bevell offense, and he'll get at
least a few years to work behind new starter Matt Flynn.
76.
Houston Texans: OG Brandon Brooks, Miami (Ohio) -- A mauling
road-grader in the mold of a heavy-footed Larry Allen, Brooks isn't
ideal for the Texans' downhill blocking scheme but might be projected
by the Texans to right tackle, where he'd replace Eric Winston (who
left via free agency).
77. New York Jets: OLB DeMario Davis,
Arkansas State -- More of a 4-3 linebacker with excellent athletic
ability and straight-line speed, Davis could be a rush 'backer from an
inside LB spot in the Jets' 3-4. He'll help in covering Patriots tight
ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
78. Miami Dolphins: TE
Michael Egnew, Missouri -- A tall, wiry target who was the most
productive tight end in the class but played more of a wide receiver
role in the Missouri spread offense. He's in the mold of Jermichael Finley, a key cog in the offense from which head coach Joe Philbin is
establishing the new scheme in Miami.
79. Chicago Bears: DB
Brandon Hardin, Oregon State -- A physical cornerback with the skill
set of a safety. Hardin is too slow to be have a major impact in the
deep middle but if he can overcome a long injury history, might become
a valuable cornerback.
80. Arizona Cardinals: CB Jamell Fleming,
Oklahoma -- More of a battler than a technically sound corner, Fleming
tested as the strongest cornerback at the Combine with 23 reps of 225
pounds to go with a very good size-speed combination.
FIRST ROUND
-- SECOND
ROUND
81. Dallas Cowboys: DE Tyrone Crawford, Boise State -- A gamble based on
his
limited experience, Crawford is too small to be a base end and not
disruptive enough as a rush linebacker in the Cowboys 3-4 defense.
82.
Tennessee Titans: DT Mike Martin, Michigan -- A bowling ball
of butcher
knives to block, Martin is all energy and effort. Alongside Karl Klug,
a top rookie from Iowa last season, the Titans will get very good push
up the middle.
83. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
-- A precise route-runner, Sanu can benefit from coverage shaded toward
A.J. Green on the other side and should be able to reasonably replace
Jerome Simpson's production -- 50 catches, 725 yards, four touchdowns
in 2011.
84. Baltimore Ravens: RB Bernard Pierce, Temple --
Pierce can be effective as a straight-ahead change-of-pace to Ray Rice
but he's not special athletically and won't run away from NFL defenders.
85.
Detroit Lions: CB Dwight Bentley, Louisiana-Lafayette -- A
speedy and
fluid man cornerback who more than held his own against high-level
competition at the Senior Bowl and fits a big need for the Lions.
86.
Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.) -- Only
5-11, 230,
Spence is faster on the field than his 4.6 40 times at the Combine. He
gets downgraded for average strength but his amazing recognition skills
through diligent film study might still help him be a three-down
linebacker for the Steelers.
87. Cleveland Browns: DT John Hughes, Cincinnati -- Can play defensive end and defensive tackle but
played mostly at nose tackle for the Bearcats.
88. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Nick Foles, Arizona -- A big, strong-armed passer
(6-5, 243)
with poise, Foles should be a better fit in the efficient West Coast
offense and has a year or two before he'll be asked to contribute.
89.
New Orleans Saints: DE Akiem Hicks, Regina -- The Saints
first pick
invested on a developmental prospect with great size -- 6-5 with
86-inch wingspan -- and better-than-average speed for his frame.
90.
New England Patriots: DE Jake Bequette, Arkansas -- A
versatile Mike
Vrabel-type with a defensive end's frame but enough agility and
tenacity to get time at outside linebacker if the Patriots dabble in
the 3-4 front as expected.
91. Atlanta Falcons: OT Lamar Holmes,
Southern Miss -- A smooth natural athlete in a 323-pound frame, Holmes
isn't explosive but has long arms and can slide to mirror in protection.
92.
Indianapolis Colts: WR T.Y. Hilton, Florida International --
An
explosive return specialist recruited to bigger programs who opted to
stay closer to home, Hilton could be the ideal replacement for Pierre Garcon.
93. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson --
Once discussed as a borderline first-round pick, Thompson can play nose
tackle or under tackle in Mike Zimmer's defense, and pairs with
second-rounder Devon Still to add plenty of stability to the Bengals'
line.
94. New York Giants: CB Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech -- A
small but active cornerback, Hosley isn't afraid to mix it up and
consistently tracks and makes plays on the ball.
95. Oakland Raiders: OT Tony Bergstrom, Utah -- A reliable but average
athlete,
Bergstrom should be a solid tackle but is unlikely to be a special
lineman.
FIRST ROUND
-- SECOND
ROUND
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