2014 NFL Draft: Risers and Fallers
Risers
HB Dri Archer (Kent State)
Before the combine, Archer was projected as a 6th – 7th round pick. He then caught the attention of everyone by recording the fastest forty yard dash at the combine with a time of 4.26 seconds. That performance alone will intrigue enough teams to get Archer picked in the 4th round, or maybe even higher as a Day 2 selection.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois)
Garoppolo, like Tony Romo, is from the FCS’s Eastern Illinois University. Unlike Romo, who went undrafted, Garoppolo is sure to be a Day 2 selection, despite his weak level of competition. His vision and quick release will be enticing for teams who pass on the top 3 quarterback prospects this year.
WR Donte Moncrief (Ole Miss)
Throughout most of the offseason most experts had Moncrief pegged as a 3rd to 4th round selection, but now few expect Moncrief to escape the 2nd round. His high draft stock should not come as a surprise given his impressive mix of size (6’ 2”, 220 lbs.) and speed (4.40 second forty yard dash).
Fallers
QB Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville)
This time last year, Bridgewater was seen as the clear top quarterback prospect. Manziel wasn’t projected as a first rounder, and no one had ever heard of Blake Bortles. But Bridgewater was never Andrew Luck, and his stock took a big hit with his lackluster pro day. Couple this with his skinnier-than-ideal build, and it won’t be surprising to see Bridgewater slip out of the top 10.
OG David Yankey (Stanford)
Once seen as the top guard prospect of this year’s draft, Yankey has lost that title to Baylor’s Xavier Su’a Filo. Yankey performed poorly in both strength and agility drills in the combine. In February, there wasn’t a first round mock draft without Yankey’s name on it. Now, he will be lucky to even be a Day 2 selection.
WR Kelvin Benjamin (Florida State)
Benjamin’s size (6’ 5”, 240 lbs.) will interest teams, especially given the recent success of big receivers like Alshon Jeffery. Benjamin used to be a sure thing for a 1st round selection, but his problems with drops at FSU and a recent private workout that Benjamin cancelled at the last minute because he was “too tired” cause enough concern to drop Benjamin into the 2nd round.
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