April 7, 2008

No matter how much time and money the NFL spends scouting its incoming class of prospects, there are always a few gems who slip through the cracks. Terrell Owens was the 89th player selected in 1996. Tom Brady was the 199th pick in 2000. Marques Colston was the 252nd pick in 2007. Antonio Gates and Priest Holmes weren’t even drafted. Some of the best players in the league emerged from almost complete obscurity to become perennial Pro Bowlers. With that in mind, I thought I’d shine the spotlight on five unheralded offensive skill position prospects who have a chance to exceed expectations at the next level:

WR Adrian Arrington, Michigan - Arrington is a junior entry out of Michigan who offers good size and athleticism as a late pick in the NFL draft. The 6'3" wideout had a relatively quiet career playing in the shadow of teammate Mario Manningham, but he’s a solid prospect in his own right. He showed steady improvement throughout his college career, posting a career high 882 receiving yards last year and capping it off with an impressive 153 yard performance against a talented Florida Gators team. Arrington lacks elite speed and is slow off the ball, but he’s a physical wideout with the necessary skills to develop into a dangerous possession receiver in the NFL. He has the swagger you look for at the position and demonstrates superb coordination to make the difficult catch. He plays bigger than his listed size and can be a real nuisance working the middle of the field against smaller DB’s. Though not truly fast or explosive, Arrington is a smooth route runner with a fluid stride. His overall game reminds me of former LSU star Michael Clayton with shades of former Wolverine Braylon Edwards (ball skills and sideline catches). Arrington is plagued by some of the same concentration issues that haunted Clayton and Edwards, but when he’s in the zone he looks the part of a legitimate NFL receiver. I think he can become one of this draft’s steals and a better pro player than his mega-hyped teammate Mario Manningham. Arrington probably won’t be picked until 4th-7th round range due to modest production and lingering character concerns, but he has a chance to be a quality pro if he keeps his head on straight and maximizes his potential.

WR Marcus Monk, Arkansas - Standing 6'6" with 4.41 speed in the 40 yard dash, Monk has the type of computer numbers NFL scouts dream of. Many tall receivers lack the overall athletic ability needed to play the position at the pro level, but Monk is an exceptional athlete for his size. He was a star high school basketball player who garnered serious recruiting attention from powerhouse hoops programs like Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma. Monk puts those basketball skills to good use on the football field, snagging 27 touchdown catches over the course of four seasons. He was well on his way to becoming a top 100 pick after posting 50 catches for 962 receiving yards and 11 TDs as a junior on a run-first Arkansas team, but knee injuries hobbled him throughout his final season and sent his draft stock tumbling. Now that he’s finally fully-recovered from his ailments, Monk is once again on the radar as a serious NFL wide receiver prospect. He has good deep speed to get downfield and win foot races after the catch. He is not explosively quick, but he is by no means a stiff. He shows good footwork for a tall receiver and is a smooth runner. In many respects Monk is similar to fellow 2008 draft prospect James Hardy of Indiana. Monk isn’t quite as aggressive or physically dominant, but he’s a similar overall talent. His major weaknesses are a lack of sheer explosive quickness to separate underneath and a tendency towards finesse. For a big guy, Monk doesn’t always attack the ball and dominate the defenders like he should. Nevertheless, I view him as an excellent second day gamble with first day upside. At worst he can be used as a deep threat and a red zone weapon. At best he could develop into a quality starting receiver.

RB Jalen Parmele, Toledo - In terms of raw workout numbers, Parmele might be the most impressive specimen in this year's loaded RB class. He stacks up with any recent first round pick at the position and is physically built to be an NFL starter. He has an ideal frame at 5'11" and 224 pounds with high 4.4 speed and elite marks in the broad jump, vertical leap, three cone drill, and 10 yard dash. Many onlookers say he doesn't play up to his measurables, but he was a productive player at Toledo, logging consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons for the Rockets. Though not much of a big play threat, Parmele runs low to the ground with loose hips and a good forward lean. He can be a pounder between the tackles and also possesses adequate elusiveness. His overall game reminds me of Bills starter Marshawn Lynch. Parmele isn’t as crafty in the open field or as relentless breaking tackles, but he has a similar body type and running stride. He is one of the most intriguing skill position sleepers in this class. Had he played for a major program in a BCS conference, he might be a lock for the top 75. As it stands now he will be selected somewhere in the 4th-7th rounds as a backup running back. His selection will receive little attention from the sports media, but keep an eye on this guy. He has a rare set of physical tools for a second day back and is a genuine threat to surprise.

WR Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech - At just 5'10" and 185 pounds, Eddie Royal doesn’t immediately jump off the page as a physical specimen at WR. Nevertheless, Royal is one of the most athletically gifted receivers in this entire draft class. He blazed a 4.39 40 at the combine and logged a staggering 24 reps on the 225 bench press. Royal is faster than most cornerbacks and stronger than most linebackers. In addition to his elite workout numbers, he’s also an outstanding natural football player with underrated wide receiver skills. He’s fluid catching the ball and running routes, demonstrating above average innate receiving ability. Like a lot of good NFL wideouts, Royal has a knack for making highlight reel plays look easy. He can make the leaping catch over defenders and shows the ability to contort his body and adjust for the poorly-thrown ball. Royal’s speed eats up cushion and makes him a serious deep threat. His overall game reminds of me of NFL receivers Laveranues Coles and Kevin Curtis. I think Royal can eventually develop into that type of player at the pro level. He never put up big stats in college, but I’m willing to chalk that up to misuse and inept quarterback play. He will be selected somewhere in the 40-75 range, where he offers solid value as a return man with underrated pass catching skills.

RB Ryan Torain, Arizona State - The bruising Torain was considered a potential 3rd-4th round prospect before a serious foot injury prematurely ended his senior season. Now he’s unlikely to be selected before the 5th or 6th round, but he’s still an interesting prospect as a two-down power back who could function as a valuable part of a running back committee. Torain offers a solid frame at 6'0" and 222 pounds with adequate speed and shiftiness for the position. Unlike a lot of power back prospects, Torain has the cutting ability to take full advantage of his blocking. He has adequate acceleration and good lower body strength, with the bulk of his weight concentrated in his legs. He is not elusive or explosive, but he has good overall mobility. He is comparable to a smaller Deuce McAllister without the home run speed Deuce had in his prime. I look for Torain to make an NFL roster as a backup running back who could emerge as more than that if the stars align for him. He doesn’t have the talent to demand a starting role at the next level, but he can be a Mike Anderson type player and is worth watching as a sleeper.