Undrafted Free Agents

Each year there are a handful of talented college players who go undrafted. This year was no different. Some players, once thought to be draft locks, find themselves looking for work.

Sam Keller, QB, Nebraska

Why did he go undrafted?
Inconsistency has been the big issue with Keller. He has made some questionable decisions at times, and may believe in his arm too much. He will try and force the ball into coverage to make a play instead of seeing the field and making the smart decision. He also has less that two seasons of starting experience at the college level, so he still needs more work.

Why should a team sign him?
Keller has all the skills to develop into a quality pocket passer. He has a very good arm, capable of making every throw on the field. He is not afraid to unleash the ball all over the field, and has the confidence in his ability to make big plays. Keller has good size and the frame to be able to take hits in the pocket and continue to get up. He still has some development and upside left in his game.

Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma St.

Why did he go undrafted?
There is always been a question about Bowman's speed and he struggled in the post season. He ran a poor 40 (4.67) and lacked explosion in drills.

Why should a team sign him?
Bowman is a big target, that also brings big play ability to the field. He has an excellent frame, with the height to tower over corners, and the bulk to take a hit and hold on to the football. Bowman shows the willingness to cross the middle of the field and make plays in traffic. His athleticism coupled with his size is impressive, and it allows him to go up and get the football even if he is tightly covered. He should become a solid red zone target because of his height and body control.

DJ Hall, WR, Alabama

Why did he go undrafted?
Hall is still a bit lanky and will need to bulk up to go over the middle on a consistent basis in the NFL. He may not be able to take the beating from NFL safeties or linebackers.

Why should a team sign him?
Hall has a nice blend of size, speed, and athleticism. He has shown to be a go to receiver, making big plays when called upon and making them all over the field. His height gives him an advantage over most corners, but he still has the speed to get open and to outrun defenders to get down the field. Hall has very good hands, showing the ability to hold on to the ball in tight coverage and making the difficult grab.

Dorien Bryant, WR, Purdue

Why did he go undrafted?
Bryant lacks ideal size and he will not be able to operate over the middle of the field because of it. He can be overpowered by physical corners and taken out of plays. He has also had some inconsistencies with his hands during his career.

Why should a team sign him?
Bryant is one of the more explosive, multi-purpose wideouts in this class. He is a very good athlete, with excellent quickness and very good speed. He can break off a big play at any time. He is a standout receiver and return man and should be a playmaker at both spots.

Todd Blythe, WR, Iowa St

Why did he go undrafted?
Speed is the glaring weakness in Blythe’s game. He lacks the extra gear to gain separation and to get down the field vertically. He may just be limited to just a possession receiver role.

Why should a team sign him?
Blythe has excellent size, and knows how to use it on the field. He knows how to shield defenders off to catch the football, and has excellent body control to go up and get the football while it is in the air. He is not afraid to go over the middle and take a hit and hold on to the football. He is a major threat in the red zone, as he has 26 career touchdown catches in three seasons.

Drew Radovich, OL, USC

Why did he go undrafted?
There is not any trait physically that jumps out at you with Radovich. He is not a super athlete, does not have a huge frame, and does not dominate at the point of attack. He also may not have one true position at the next level, though he has shown capable of playing different spots.

Why should a team sign him?
Radovich is a versatile lineman that can help his team in many ways. He is a decent athlete that shows the ability to move laterally and get out and block on the move. He can hold his own at the point of attack and control lineman to open up holes in the running game. His best asset is his versatility, as he has played inside and out for the Trojans. He could project to the right side or guard in the NFL.

Eric Young, OL, Tennessee

Why did he go undrafted?
He lacks the athleticism to match up with quick ends on a consistent basis. His size is also best suited at guard. Inside at guard, he may not have the brute strength to drive defenders off the ball on a consistent basis. Health is also a concern after a knee injury ended his season.

Why should a team sign him?
Young is a lineman that brings a lot of versatility to the game. He has experience at both left and right tackle, and may project better at guard in the NFL. His experience at tackle should only help him at guard in the NFL. He is a decent athlete that shows the lateral agility to adjust to moves by the defender, and the mobility to block on the move. He has the strength to control a defender when they try to bull rush him.

Tommy Blake, DE, TCU

Why did he go undrafted?
Size as an every down end is one area of concern with Blake. He may lack the bulk and strength to hold up in the running game on a consistent basis. Also, Blake just walked away from his team before the season and that may have caused teams to question his character.

Why should a team sign him?
Blake is a big time pass rusher, with the ability to take over a game. Defenses must take account of where he is at because he routinely gets into the backfield to make plays. He has a quick burst off the line, but couples that with very good athleticism, and the closing speed to finish plays off. He is not just a pass rusher, he is active and can make plays as a run stopper.

Louis Holmes, DE, Arizona

Why did he go undrafted?
Holmes still relies on his athleticism too much. He will play upright and times, and coupled with his lankiness, makes him a non factor in running plays when the tackle gets a hold of him. He also lacks the outstanding closing speed most big play pass rushers possess.

Why should a team sign him?
Louis Holmes is all about getting after the quarterback. He is a very good athlete and uses it to routinely beat tackles and get into the backfield. He changes direction well, and has a nose for the football in the backfield. Holmes has a great frame for a DE. He is long and lean, and has plenty of room for more growth, despite already topping 260lbs.

Erin Henderson, LB, Maryland

Why did he go undrafted?
He tore his ACL in 2005, and had some knee and back problems this season. It seems there are major concerns about his health. Also, Henderson is lean and could stand to bulk up a little more. He is not as good in coverage as his talent suggests. He is a little hesitant to react to pass plays. Perhaps a little more time on the field will help in this area, as he has the skills to be a standout in this area.

Why should a team sign him?
Henderson is an excellent athlete. He has very good change of direction skills, accelerates quickly, and has the speed to close on the ball carrier in a hurry. He has decent size and is not afraid to sort through traffic to stop the run among the big boys. He is aggressive moving forward and lays a lick when he gets to the ball carrier.

Ali Highsmith, OLB, LSU

Why did he go undrafted?
Size is the glaring issue with Highsmith. His height and overall bulk are below average, and he can be taken out of running plays when a blocker comes straight at him. He also turned in a very disappointing 40 time at the combine of 5.02 .

Why should a team sign him?
Highsmith is the ideal weakside linebacker prospect. He is a very good athlete, and plays much faster than his 40 time. He has the ability to come off the edge and close on the quarterback, and the speed to chase backs down. Highsmith is very good in coverage, where his athleticism and speed allow him to stay stride for stride with his man and follow them all over the field.

Wesley Woodyard, SS/LB, Kentucky

Why did he go undrafted?
The tweener label dogs Woodyard at this point in time. He plays linebacker but lacks the size to play there in the NFL. He will have to bulk up to play the weakside, but then you have to wonder if he can maintain his athleticism and speed. As a safety, he is inexperienced and a work in progress.

Why should a team sign him?
Woodyard knows how to get to the football, plain and simple. He has excellent instincts and flies to the ball carrier. He is aggressive, attacks the line of scrimmage, and makes plays all over the field. He is a good athlete with very good speed, and can chase plays down.

Gary Guyton, LB, Georgia Tech

Why did he go undrafted?
Guyton has the athleticism and speed that you cannot teach, but he does not always display those abilities on the field. He does not react as quickly as he needs to and will need more time to get more comfortable on the field.

Why should a team sign him?
He is a good athlete, with the ability to change direction and make plays all over the field. He shows impressive closing speed and can chase plays down from behind. Guyton has solid size for a weakside linebacker, and has experience on the strongside in college.

Jamar Adams, S, Michigan

Why did he go undrafted?
Adams has never been a big playmaker despite his natural gifts. He is out of position at times and does not locate the ball very well. He will also lose ground in coverage when asked to play man coverage.

Why should a team sign him?
He has good size, and is an active defender coming towards the line of scrimmage. He is tough and willing to come up and throw his body around in run support.

Marcus Griffin, S, Texas

Why did he go undrafted?
Griffin is nowhere near the prospect his brother was, even though he had two fine seasons to close out his college career. He has average size, speed, and athleticism for a safety prospect. He has the instincts to process things quicker, but he lacks the physical skills to match up.

Why should a team sign him?
Griffin is a tough and instinctive safety. He quickly diagnoses the action and gets to the action very quick. He is aggressive moving forward to stuff the run, but also shows the ability in coverage to put himself in position to make a play on the football. Griffin could be a special team ace at the next level.