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Sleepers in 2014 NFL Draft

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  • First, what is a sleeper? Your definition may vary, but to me a sleeper is any player selected outside of round 1 that will at minimum fight for, if not earn, a starting position at some point in their rookie season.

    Still working on my 2014 list, but here are my candidates to date in no particular order:

    • Jared Abberderis (WR-Wis-R3) - awesome hands and route runner; the possession WR we hoped Bess was; pushed down boards by wave of underclassmen declaring.
    • James White (RB-Wis-R5) - tough runner and a very good receiver.
    • C.J. Fiedorowicz (TE-Iowa-R3/4) - a TE that can actually block; faster than you'd think for his size and very good hands.
    • Chris Smith (DE-Ark-2/3) - at 6'1 he's shorter than the new breed of NFL DE, but looks to be a "high motor" guy.
    • Chris Borland (ILB-Wis-R3) - not sure he qualifies as a sleeper any more after his Sr. Bowl performance; reminds me of Dick "Bam-Bam" Ambrose... short (but not small) and fast... with a motor that is off the charts.
    • Jordan Tripp (OLB-Montana-R3/4) - yup... a Big Sky guy... tall, fast and athletic.
    • Keith McGill (CB-Utah-R3) - think a further west version of Nebraska's Baptiste (R3)... as tall at 6'3, same weight and maybe slightly faster...
    • Phillip Gaines (CB-Rice-R7) - caught my eye in the Sr Bowl; good speed and a very agile on a 6'1 frame.
    • Ed Reynolds (FS-Stanford-R2) - bit of a cheat here since some rate him a late 1st rounder, but most have him as a second rounder so... 6'2, 206 and brings it.
    • Ty Zimmerman (FS-KSU-R7) - caught my eye in 2 games this year; a bit slow perhaps for the NFL, but looked to have strong instinct for the position.
    • Craig Loston (SS-LSU-R4) - another Tiger DB destined for the NFL; pegged as a mid-rounder, he could be a steal...

    Always looking for a good sleeper. I think they are a big chunk of the difference between Champions and also-rans...

    So who you got?

    "When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196

  • I don't know much about most of those guys. I've been big on Borland before his senior bowl though.

  • Jared Abbrederis.

    I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins. Ghoolie 12/2/2012: I have absolutely no skills, training or pride
    Tour2maT R 2 Replies
  • Tim Couch Pulls OutT Tim Couch Pulls Out

    Jared Abbrederis.

    @tim-couch-pulls-out said:

    Jared Abbrederis.

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    "When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196
    Tim Couch Pulls OutT cdl15C 2 Replies
  • Tour2maT Tour2ma

    @tim-couch-pulls-out said:

    Jared Abbrederis.

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    @tour2ma said:

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    Oh, I wasn't even trying to do that.

    I was just saying he's the one I wanted most of all of them. Tell you the truth, I didn't even notice.

    I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins. Ghoolie 12/2/2012: I have absolutely no skills, training or pride
    Tour2maT 1 Reply

  • Sleeper definition should also include some weighting of positional value. For example you wouldn't call a kicker a sleeper just because he was seleced in round 7. You probably wouldn't have called Gio Bernard, Eddie Lacy of LaVeon Bell sleepers even though the were (I think?) R2?

  • Sleeper? Projected outside of top 3 or 4 at their position, and outside of the 1st round (by most), but have the makings of a pro bowler... I've watched a lot of college football this year, so here goes nothing...

    I like Abbrederis too, but I also like...

    Odell Beckham Jr. - WR - LSU - great hands, and playmaking ability... undervalued in my opinion

    Stanley Jean-Baptiste - CB - Nebraska - great size, fits the mold of the bigger corner... had a good Senior Bowl

    Marion Grice - RB - AZ St - watched him play twice this year, and I was impressed. Great receiver too

    Spencer Long - G - Nebraska - All-Big Ten in 2011, missed almost all of 2013 with a torn ACL.. could be a steal

    Shayne Skov - ILB - Stanford - great physical specimin. He fits the bill for any aggressive D with his speed...

    #Justsayin'
    R 1 Reply

  • Ah yes, Borland, Long, and Skov.

    I think I had them all in my fake draft in that thread. Spencer Long could definitely be a steal in the later rounds.

  • Erik Lora, WR at Eastern Illinois. May even be a UFA, but I love those guys more than the high picks. Hungry, hungry, hungry!! No sense of entitlement for those guys.

    They are the most fun to watch at training camps & there are some real "finds" in the 6th, 7th rounds & UFA.

    Mike

    IN DORSEY I TRUST

  • Terrance Cobb....I see a stud

    web page

    If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.

  • Being that I am a student from a MAC school, some players that I think could make an impact that aren't really talked about could be:

    Alex Bayer, TE, BGSU - Gonna be a 7th or undrafted more than likely, but I think he posses good size, good enough route running and hands as well as blocking.

    Jerry "Booboo" Gates, S, BGSU - Probably an undrafted guy who is a little small for the position, but is definitely a playmaker on special teams.

    Keith Wenning, QB, BSU - IDK exactly where he is projected, but I doubt anywhere before 6-7. Has good size at 6-3 - 6-4, and a solid arm. Is also Ball States leading passer in like basically every statistic.

    David Fluellen, RB, UT - I am very unsure of where he is projected but believe he had a good senior bowl game, and is a downhill runner with good enough speed and hands.

  • Tour2maT Tour2ma

    @tim-couch-pulls-out said:

    Jared Abbrederis.

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    @tour2ma said:

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    good topic tour. Not to worried about slight spelling errors I knew exactly whom u were talking about as did 99% of all us simple folk.
    "We are Americans. We don't quit doing something because it's wrong. We just keep doing the wrong thing till it turns out right." Browns maybe the most American Football team ever.
    Tour2maT 1 Reply

  • With the Browns more than likely putting the franchise tag on TJ Ward. I do like the value of Christian Bryant FS Thee Ohio State. Might be able sign him as UFA.

    "We are Americans. We don't quit doing something because it's wrong. We just keep doing the wrong thing till it turns out right." Browns maybe the most American Football team ever.
    Z 1 Reply

  • MARCEL JENSEN, TE Fresno St. 6'5" 270lbs 4.8 40yrd

    A coaching change his senior year made this Kids stock fall. He'a beast blocker with good pass catching ability. He can also play FB too.

    And I absolutely love McGill big physical corner to share time with Skrine. Oh and it's already reported Seahawks R already all over this guy. So naturally Browns probably not

    "We are Americans. We don't quit doing something because it's wrong. We just keep doing the wrong thing till it turns out right." Browns maybe the most American Football team ever.
  • cdl15C cdl15

    With the Browns more than likely putting the franchise tag on TJ Ward. I do like the value of Christian Bryant FS Thee Ohio State. Might be able sign him as UFA.

    @cdl15 said:

    With the Browns more than likely putting the franchise tag on TJ Ward. I do like the value of Christian Bryant FS Thee Ohio State. Might be able sign him as UFA.

    Is this your own speculation?

    I'm all for keeping him anyway we can.

    Pettine says we are going to be "the toughest team on the field every wee" ... We'll then he needs to tell the Brass that TJ stays, because there aren't too many tougher at his position.

    Z

  • Tim Couch Pulls OutT Tim Couch Pulls Out

    @tour2ma said:

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    Oh, I wasn't even trying to do that.

    I was just saying he's the one I wanted most of all of them. Tell you the truth, I didn't even notice.

    @tim-couch-pulls-out said:

    Oh, I wasn't even trying to do that. Tell you the truth, I didn't even notice.

    Well in that case I withdraw my job offer...

    I spotted Abberderis early in the OSU game and pretty much fell in love with him. Then he had a rough patch mid-season and I wondered about him, but he finished strong.

    I know you think it's overkill, but I keep seeing a Gordon-Watkins-Abbederis WR Corps in my mind's eye... and I like it!

    @gftchris said:

    Sleeper definition should also include some weighting of positional value. For example you wouldn't call a kicker a sleeper just because he was seleced in round 7.

    I really did not consider specialty positions (K, P) at all... so I guess that's a form of weighting. 🙂

    @thenew23 said:

    Sleeper? Projected outside of top 3 or 4 at their position, and outside of the 1st round (by most), but have the makings of a pro bowler... I've watched a lot of college football this year, so here goes nothing...

    Good working definition and good list...

    To my eye Skov seems to be a step slower than Borland and is a bit lighter to boot. It will be interesting to see them both at the combine.

    "When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196
    Tim Couch Pulls OutT 1 Reply

  • Dri Archer RB Kent State [Eric Metcalf]

  • cdl15C cdl15

    @tour2ma said:

    Thank you... you interested in a proof reader job?

    good topic tour. Not to worried about slight spelling errors I knew exactly whom u were talking about as did 99% of all us simple folk.

    @cdl15 said:

    good topic tour.

    Thank you...

    @cdl15 said:

    With the Browns more than likely putting the franchise tag on TJ Ward. I do like the value of Christian Bryant FS Thee Ohio State. Might be able sign him as UFA.

    Tad undersized for my taste, but fast. If he fully recovers from his broken ankle, he definitely has sleeper potential.

    "When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196

  • Jared Abberderis is a gem in the rough. Anyone who has watched him play can see the value he wuold bring to the team. He does not show boat and will catch everything that comes his way, the kid is a leader, its also very rare to see a polished route runner coming out of college. He would be great as a #2, but would dominate in the Slot. Very good sleeper pick.

  • What an absolute perfect situation that would be. Gordon and Watkins on the outside with Abberderis in the slot. Jordan Cameron at TE. Carlos Hyde and Dion Lewis in the back field. U would find out if Hoyer could ever be the guy. If not then Mariota or Winston would be an excellent choice in 2015.

    "We are Americans. We don't quit doing something because it's wrong. We just keep doing the wrong thing till it turns out right." Browns maybe the most American Football team ever.
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