Seven to surprise
With the Draft over, and with most of the league’s free agents signed to new teams, now seems like the perfect time to delve into rosters and pull some diamonds in the rough to the fore. Some are rookies, drafted way below their potential, some were free agents, who now have the chance to show their skills in a new team, some were robbed of their last season due to injury and some are players that now can step up after the departure of others from their organisation.
Here are 7 players who just might surprise you this season…
7- James Brown – OT – CHI
Many of you may not know of Brown from Troy, but the 6’4’ offensive tackle went undrafted after having a consensus second or third round grade. He was an excellent left tackle in college, but teams had concerns over his pass protection and his height not quite being good enough to stay outside in the NFL. He is a first-class run blocker though, and with the worries over Chicago’s offensive line, he may have a real chance of establishing himself in the rotation if he performs well in camp. From what I saw of him, he was better than a rotation option though, and if he can overcome the issues that saw his draft stock plummet, Chicago may have a steal on a line that really needs some quality.
6- Lamar Miller – RB – MIA
Reggie Bush had a whole season without injury last year. This surely cannot, and most probably will not happen again. Miller only entered the draft this year because his agent told him that teams were considering taking him in the first round. He went in the FOURTH round. Obviously then, Miller will be behind both Bush and Daniel Thomas, who showed promise as a rookie, but also had injury issues. I can see a scenario where numbers one and two on Miami’s RB depth chart end up on IR or PUP and the college prospect from Florida steps up to show his huge potential. He’s speedy, strong and reliable, the perfect combination for a franchise back.
5- Riley Reiff – OT/G – DET
There was a time when Reiff was projected to be a top-10 prospect, so when he went to the Lions with the 23rd pick of the 2012 NFL draft, many, me included, thought Detroit had a steal. But he’s on this list because of the concerns that caused his draft stock to slip, his short arms, and no real conviction from him or teams that there was a definite position that Reiff was going to play. Many teams projected him as a Guard, but it seems that, early in OTA’s, Reiff is blowing away the coaching staff in Detroit as a right tackle. I always thought the concerns over this kid were overblown, and it is looking more and more like Gosder Cherilus will lose his right tackle spot this summer. Reiff will eventually replace Jeff Backus at left tackle, and could well blossom into one of the best at his position in his league.
4- Ryan Mathews – RB – SD
Often injury prone, but always talented, Ryan Mathews is now San Diego’s number one option at running back. After the departure of Mike Tolbert, Mathews will have to shoulder the majority of the Chargers’ carries this year and if he can prove durable enough, Mathews has a chance to put up a 1000 yard rushing season, and help San Diego through a rapidly improving division that, though now containing Peyton Manning, is not made tougher by any traditionally stingy run defenses.
3- DeMeco Ryans – ILB – PHI
Ryans has been held back in the Houston linebacker rotation for a long time, so when the opportunity to anchor a weak Philadelphia linebacking corps came up, it was one he could not pass up. Ryans has always been a good football player, and his early career at Houston showed that, as he reached the Pro Bowl twice, but now, given the role of ‘veteran leader’ in a young, but talented Eagles defense, he could make the step-up to being an elite player. This, coupled with the drafting of the freakishly athletic Mychal Kendricks, could enable the Eagles’ defense to become the dominant unit the front office envisaged when they broke the bank to land Nnamdi Asomugha.
2- Jay Cutler – QB – CHI
After being hit more than 10 times per game last season, it was no surprise that Cutler ended up on IR. However, even when he was being pulverised by opposing DE’s, he was winning games for the Bears, and with a full season, who knows how good Chicago could be. The Bears’ head office helped him with targets, bringing in Brandon Marshall in a trade and Alshon Jeffery through the draft, while ensuring he gets some running game help by bringing in free agent Michael Bush, just in case Matt Forte holds out. So it seems that Chicago have all of the pieces, all that needs to happen now is for their offensive line to plug the multitude of holes that existed last year, and Cutler could lead the Bears to the top of the NFL.
1- Janoris Jenkins – CB – STL
St Louis are under no illusions that they need to rebuild, and that it may be a few years before they can challenge, but the drafting of Janoris Jenkins in the second round of the Draft could be the steal of the whole class. After watching him in a few games, I believed that not only did he have a first round grade; he had cover skills comparable, if not better than Morris Claiborne, who went in the top 10. I think that this guy could be the next Darelle Revis, and to think that his (overblown?) character concerns made many CB needy teams pass up on him until the top of the second round is baffling. Jenkins could be an instant star in the NFL, in a team that really needs him, and I think that appreciation of his talents could further enable Jenkins to reach the top. I absolutely love this kid.