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Follow me … don’t cost nothin’ @PeteFiutak Florida State could have as many as 17 of last year’s key players in NFL camps this summer. Who are the best of
April 13, 2015Follow me … don’t cost nothin’ @PeteFiutak
Florida State could have as many as 17 of last year’s key players in NFL camps this summer. Who are the best of the bunch?
QB Jameis Winston 6-4, 231
– The tools are there to be an NFL quarterback. He has the size, the strength, the resume and the arm. He can make all the throws and should be NFL ready – at the very least, he can step in and fire. However, he’s not accurate enough as more of a power pitcher than one with a lot of touch.
– Tough in the pocket, almost to a fault. He’s going to take a beating, but he sheds pass rushers like they’re a soft breeze. He’ll hang in there to let plays develop.
– While he’s a smart guy, he made way, way, way too many mistakes off-the-field at Florida State. He had to say, “I have to do better” far too often. Do you trust him? The detractors think he’s a phony, while several teammates followed his leadership.
– Despite all the issues, the guy lost one college football game in two years of starting. While he put his team behind the 8-ball too often, he also bailed it out of jams. The proof is in the production.
Yes or No?: Yeah, but he’s the best option in a horrific lot of quarterback prospects. Take away the off-the-field knucklehead moments, along with the controversies, and there’s still a question mark about his consistency, interceptions, and lack of athleticism. Even so, he’s a pro-style quarterback who can start in the league for a long time if he’s not a turnover machine.
Round Value: First Round
C/OT Cameron Erving 6-5, 313
– Okay, OKAY … he’s a center, but he’s versatile enough to be tried out at several positons. If you think he could become a franchise center and a quarterback of a line, you’re probably right. If you think he’d be more valuable as a pass blocker on the outside, you’re probably right.
– Really, really quick, and with 30 reps on the bench, in terms of numbers and proving his versatility, his offseason workouts couldn’t have gone better. Even so, he’s a bit more of a technician than a blaster – that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He’s not going to be for the more powerful offenses that want to get nasty, but he’s a starter no matter where he plays.
Yes or No?: One of the best blockers in college football over the last two seasons, he’s still a work in progress. He’ll be drafted as a center, but a creative coaching staff might want to give it a shot to see if he could turn into a Pro Bowl left tackle with a little more seasoning – it could be worth it.
Round Value: First Round
DT Eddie Goldman 6-4, 336
– Very big and very quick, even at his huge weight, he looks the part with the ability to get off the ball in a hurry and the pop to attack when he gets a line on a ball-carrier. Great against the run, he’s able to engulf players with force – he’s the type who’ll swallow everything up inside.
– Even with his athleticism, he’s not the type who’ll get behind the line on a regular basis. He could turn out to be more of a block who sits in the middle than an active 3-technique. He’ll be a force, but he won’t be a stat-sheet filler.
Yes or No: Yes, as long as you know what you’re getting. He seems like he should be a playmaker who can get off the ball in a hurry, but that’s not him. He’s a run stopper, and he’ll do that at a high level for a long time.
Round Value: Second Round
CB P.J. Williams 6-0, 194
– A fantastic athlete, he blew up the combine with his leaping skills and looked the part in every other way with good size and quickness. Strong and physical, he has no problems dealing with the bigger receivers and can push around the smaller ones. He’ll hit a little bit, too.
– The raw wheels are disappointing, coming up with a slowish 4.57 40, but that’s not a big concern. When he wants to turn the light on, he can erase his man and take care of one side of the field all by himself. The only real question is whether or not he’ll keep his focus.
Yes or No?: Even after being charges with a DUI – he plead not guilty – don’t be shocked if someone out there has him as the top corner on the board. He has the right makeup and attitude to become the key to a secondary, but concerns about his consistency could knock him down a bit. Someone will be ecstatic if he falls out of the first round.
Round Value: Second Round
CB Ronald Darby 5-11, 193
– Like most top Florida State prospects, he looks like the prototype. He has the right height, the right all-around size, and the right sub-4.4 speed. An elite athlete, he’s a blazer who’s one of the fastest players in the draft, and he’s smooth as silk when he has to cut and move. There’s a central casting aspect to his game.
– Runs like a track star, and tackles like one. No one will really care if he’s a blow up hitter or not, but he’s not great in the open field and he won’t help out much against the run. In terms of pass coverage, he still needs polish and technique help – but there’s a lot to work with.
Yes or No?: Yes, but he needs a little time. He’s a true NFL athlete who can find a role and a home in some secondary, and there’s still plenty of upset. He might be beaten up a bit by physical running teams, but no receiver will out run him.
Round Value: Second Round
WR Rashad Greene 5-11, 182
– More of a No. 2, athletic receiver who can get open and keep the chains moving than a star for an NFL attack, he’s a complementary player, but a really, really good one. He was clutch at a high level with the tape even better than the solid workouts. He’s a professional football player who won’t need a whole bunch of coaching.
– While he might not be all that big and he’s not that physical, he can handle himself okay against the tougher defensive backs. He’ll be erased at times by the NFL bully corners, but if he’s allowed to work the slot and get open, he’ll be fine.
Yes or No: He knows what he’s doing. He’ll be a nice part of a puzzle working inside as a reliable pass catcher who’ll keep the chains moving.
Round Value: Third Round
DE Mario Edwards 6-3, 279
– Part tackle, part end, Edwards is big enough to work on the inside with the speed and quickness off the ball to become a dangerous interior pass rusher – potentially. He shed some weight and can in anywhere in any style, bringing a bit of power and pop when he gets into a lather.
– He’s a 3-4 end at the next level, but he’s not quite enough of a playmaker in the backfield to be a three-down defender. He has to be something more than just a big part of a rotation considering his talent and potential. There’s enough to his game to think that he might be scratching the surface.
Yes or No: He might slide a bit considering no one will be 100% sure what to do with him, but at a lower weight – and keeping his power – he might turn into a dangerous run stopper with a great burst to the ball. He’s an easy risk pick to make.
Round Value: Third Round
OG Tre Jackson 6-4, 330
– Really, really big, but really, really slow, he’s not going to get on the move, and he’ll never play tackle, but he’s a huge blocker who can’t get shoved around. He’s fine in pass protection and can be used as a power blocker – as long as he doesn’t have to do anything tricky, he’s fine.
– Fine last year, he didn’t dominate like he should’ve. All the talent is there to be a good, sound NFL starter, but he could use some time transforming his body a little bit. Fine as is, he could be a killer at 320.
Yes or No?: There’s a chance he blossoms into the best guard in the draft by far. While he looked clunky and slow in post-season workouts, he’s a talented enough blocker to become a mainstay. The lack of athleticism, though, might limit his ceiling.
Round Value: Third Round
OG Josue Matias 6-5, 309
– While he was brutally slow and unathletic at the combine, he still has plenty of upside and talent. He blocks like a professional offensive lineman with good leverage and the right size. He might be built like a tackle, but he can more than handle being physical as a guard.
– The upside is enormous. He needs NFL coaching to round out his game – he needs refinement to use his tools consistently, but he spent three years starting at a high level and knows what he’s doing.
Yes or No?: Yes, but he’ll need a year or so before he grows into a killer. He needs to play with a little more power, and he’s not going to do anything down the field, but he could become a great value starter who’s around for a long, long time.
Round Value: Third Round
TE Nick O’Leary 6-3, 252
– He’s just not fast enough. He’s a hard-nosed player who’ll suck in every pass that comes his way with hands most tight ends could only dream about, but the 4.93 40 at the combine and didn’t do anything at the pro day thanks to a hamstring problem.
– It’s possible some teams might overlook the lack of raw speed and the body type that doesn’t quite fit. He’s smooth as silk as a route runner, and he’s always going to get open. He could be a receiver who just finds a way to get the job done both as a blocker and a receiver – even if he isn’t another Jimmy Graham.
Yes or No?: Yes, teams are going to have to understand and accept that he’s very, very limited in terms of his deep play ability. As a chain-mover and interior blocker, he’ll be terrific.
Round Value: Fourth Round
RB Karlos Williams 6-1, 230
– Freakishly fast for a 230-pound back, he might not be tremendously quick, and he isn’t really a receiver, but humans at his size shouldn’t hover around a 4.4.
– A defensive back playing running back, he still needs refining, but there might be a great value if he’s taken in the later rounds. There’s a very, very high ceiling.
– He didn’t improve. A growing prospect in 2013, he didn’t step up last year. He wasn’t awful, but he didn’t blow up.
– There’s a ton of tread on the tires. Along with needing to improve as a back, he hasn’t had a ton of work. There’s a chance he’ll blossom after getting 100 carries or more – he needs the at-bats.
Yes or No?: There’s a lot not to like. He’s not a polished running back, he needs work, and there are character issues, but he’s a chance worth taking. The upside is enormous.
Round Value: Fourth Round