Tuesday, February 26, 2008 by Michael Keller
This report was submitted to us by Michael Keller. Michael is the author of the highest rated, most viewed mock draft on MyMockDraft at the moment. Here is a list of his top 5 most underrated players in this year's draft.
5. Josh Johnson - QB - San Diego
He has been shooting up draft boards since the Senior Bowl and now his Combine
workouts, but I still feel he will go lower than he should. Josh played under
Jim Harbaugh, who was a quarterback in the NFL as recently as 2001, which is
only going to help his adjustment. He is a mobile QB (ran a 4.40 40 yd dash at
the combine), but without question looks to pass the ball before tucking it and
running if nothing is there. He proved during senior bowl practices and during
the game that he can make any throw on the football field. Has solid height at
6-2, and generally makes good decisions. The only possible knock is the level
of competition he played against, but many players have overcome that before,
and I believe Johnson is going to be a franchise quarterback within the next 2
or 3 years for whoever is smart enough to draft him.
Current Player Comparison: Donovan McNabb
4. Phillip Wheeler - MLB - Georgia Tech
Played under Jon Tenuta, who is one of the best defensive coordinators in the
country. He is a very intelligent middle linebacker who can be a very good
player and a mainstay on defense for the next decade. Adequate speed, and plays
faster with pads on than most people. A sure tackler in the open field and can
deliver the big hit. Tends to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, but that
can tie into his weakness, which is that he over runs holes sometimes. There
are NFL coaches who can help him work on that. Will probably be drafted in the
2nd or 3rd round, which I think can be a steal for him. If he can learn to
quickly read plays in the NFL, he could be one of the best Middle Linebackers
in the league.
Current Player Comparison: Nick Barnett
3. Ali Highsmith - OLB - LSU
An outstanding player on an outstanding defense, I haven't heard Highsmith's
named mentioned as a first round possibility, which bewilders me. Extremely
fast and is pretty good at reading plays. Doesn't have outstanding lower body
strength, but can work on that in the NFL. Is much better in the open field
making plays, and, once engaged, can get sucked up by bigger blockers.
But that comes back to his lower body strength, which will be worked on from
day one in the NFL. Kind of splitting hairs, as he is pretty good at avoiding
those same blockers who have the ability to cancel him out. If he can develop
lower body strength and learn a little better technique when taking on
blockers, can be a stud in the NFL.
Current Player Comparison: Lance Briggs
2. Corey Lynch - S - Appalachian State
I'll preface this one by saying that I did go Appalachian State for a year and
am a huge fan of their football team. But Lynch started at safety, and was the
best player on defense all 3 years that App State
won the 1-AA National Championship. Has a very good sense of the moment, as he
typically found a way to make a game changing play in most any game he played
in (Example: blocked the game winning field goal against Michigan). He also in
that same Michigan
game made a few very good defensive plays against Big Ten athletes at Wide
Receiver. During the 1-AA tournaments each of those three years, would come up
with big play after big play that helped them win all 3 National Championships.
Not the fastest or tallest player, but is always in outstanding position and,
as previously stated, would come up with every big play that needed to be made.
Not necessarily a first round draft pick, just given speed and height, but I
think is definitely a sleeper for being drafted after round 4, which is what
I'm hearing about him right now.
Current Player Comparison: Darren Sharper
1. Brandon
Flowers - CB - Virginia Tech
Another player who had a big time sense of the moment. He made a lot of plays
in every game for Virginia Tech. Won multiple games with an interception or a
big pass deflection. When he does get his hands on the ball, almost always
intercepts it and returns it a long way to set up his teams offense. Above
average speed and has very good closing speed, hardly ever getting beat on the
deep ball. Not great in press coverage, given his size, but can handle his own
in man coverage. Another very good corner in the long line of great ones coming
out of Virginia Tech. Strikingly similar to Dre Bly when he came out of
Carolina almost a decade ago, with some of the same questions about height and
speed. I feel just like Bly did in college, Flowers has proved he is able to
make big plays.
Current Player Comparison: Dre Bly
*Current Player Comparison is not who I think these players are equal too right
now. It's more of if they reach their potential, players that I feel they can
make a similar impact as if they reach their potential.
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