Stock Down
LB Terrance Plummer, Central Florida (6’0 | 235 | 4.82) – One of my favorite players in the NFLPA bowl, but disappointed for the most part. Plummer was beat bad in coverage on two plays, missed a tackle on another, and then took a bad angle on an outside run. It wasn’t all bad for Plummer, who did have a nice open field tackle on Tyson-Gulley and cleaned up a couple other tackles, but I just expected more out of one of my mid-round sleepers. Plummer did get a late Senior Bowl invite so will have a chance to rebuild his draft stock this weekend.
WR Mario Alford, West Virginia (5’8 | 177 | 4.39) – One of the fastest and most prolific WRs in the game considering he had 11 TDs in a Power 5 conference (BIG12), but was a non-factor all game with his name called only once on an incomplete deep ball. It’s possible that Alford’s regular season production had a lot to do with lining up across from future first round pick WR Kevin White. Alford will need to drop a sub 4.4 40-time at the combine to get back into day 3 consideration.
QB Rakeem Cato, Marshall (6’1 | 178 | 4.68) – I was really high on Cato going into the all-star game circuit but have tempered my expectation after a bad performance in the NFLPA bowl. Cato just looked too small, had a couple of pass deflected and ran scared when scrambling instead of keeping his eyes up and making plays on the run as he did throughout his college career. With no Senior Bowl invite, I’m not sure how Cato rebuilds his draft stock in time to sneak into the 3rd round. I still have faith in his talent and leadership ability, but now he will probably have to earn a roster spot as a UFA.
DT Leon Orr, Florida (6’5 | 319 | 5.14) – Probably the most physically talented player in this game, but was a total non-factor. Orr did have a solid week of practice and has the athleticism to be as high as a day 2 pick. The problem with Orr is that his production in college, like at the NFLPA Bowl, just doesn’t match up with his ability or potential. Orr has too much talent to slip past the 4th-5th round, but his inconsistent play on the field is troubling.
SS Anthony Jefferson, UCLA (6’1 | 194 | 4.58) – Has the athletic ability to be an NFL player but was inconsistent in college and then somehow missed tackles on 3 plays during the first two drives of the game. Jefferson improved as the game went on, but his poor angles, over pursuit, and lackadaisical attitude early in the game were a turn off for me.