As difficult as it is to predict which of players drafted each year will be successful NFL players, it can be even more difficult to predict the success of undrafted players. After all, if anyone had any idea, they probably would have been drafted.
Initially, however, we have pre-draft ratings. Many players who go undrafted were considered to be draftable players. While others may have talent, but flew under the radar enough many teams had them pinned as a player they could get without using a draft pick on them.
Now that the draft is done, and the Raiders have announced all their undrafted free agent additions, let’s take a look at a few who were the most highly rated and thus are being given the best chance of proving that maybe they should have been drafted after all.
Andrew Coker, T, TCU
Coker was rated at 278 on the consensus big board and Dane Brugler’s 15th best tackle. He was projected as a 7th rounder or priority free agent. He was rated as the third best tackle to go undrafted and the 48th overall undrafted player by ESPN.
Coker has extensive experience at right tackle. He started 41 games there over four seasons and was twice named Honorable Mention All Big 12.
The 6-7. 315-pounder is described as having heavy feet (5.36 40) and was known for committing a lot of penalties (31). But he has good length (34-inch arms, 81-inch wingspan) and a strong punch.
Lideatrick 'Tulu' Griffin, WR, Mississippi St
Griffin was 250 on the consensus big board and was a Round seven or Priority Free Agent by Dane Brugler. He was the third best wide receiver to go undrafted and the 50th overall undrafted prospect by ESPN.
Griffin flew under the radar a bit due to offense at Mississippi. His 658 receiving yards led the team last season. Where the 5-10, 181-pounder does his best work is in the return game where he was a First-Team All-American as a junior and had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He ran a 4.43 40 at the combine.
Carter Bradley, QB, South Alabama
Dane Brugler had Bradley has his 15th best QB in the draft and the top Priority Free Agent. He was considered the third best undrafted QB and 99th overall undrafted prospect by ESPN.
After passing on all the QB’s in the draft, they made Bradley their top priority. With just three quarterbacks on the roster, there was no question they would be adding a fourth quarterback to the mix. And with Anthony Brown as his primary competition for a roster spot, Bradley has a decent shot of making the team.
Four years at Toledo and Bradley saw just ten total starts. It was only after transferring to South Alabama that he saw significant starts. He thew for 47 TD’s with 19 interceptions over two seasons there, making Honorable Mention All-SBC each season.
Ron Stone Jr, DE, Washington St
He was Dane Brugler’s 32nd ranked DE in this class and was the 15th ranked undrafted DE and 125th overall undrafted free agent by ESPN.
After his junior year, he looked primed for big things. He had five sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, and made First Team All Pac-12. But he took a big step back the next year, putting up just two sacks and four tackles for loss and was named Second Team All Pac-12. Though his numbers rebounded back to his Junior numbers as a Super Senior, he would make just Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.
He comes from an athletic family, including his father who played in the NFL with the Cowboys, winning two Super Bowls.
Ja’Quan Sheppard, CB, Maryland
Sheppard was among Dane Brugler’s priority free agents pre-draft and his 43rd ranked cornerback. He has good size at nearly 6-2, but his 40 time of 4.62 didn’t do him any favors. Neither did his zero career interceptions.
Sheppard spent his first four years of college ball at Cincinnati. His first season as a starter came as a Senior, and he was named First Team All-AAC and led the team with 10 pass breakups. He then transferred to Maryland for his final year of eligibility where he batted down eight passes and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
