Top 10 Undrafted Free Agents: Offense

With the NFL lockout nearing an end (or so we hope), it is time for NFLMocks to start turning our attention to free agency. An interesting aspect of this years free agency is that undrafted free agents will be available at the same time as regular free agents. This will lead to pure chaos during the first few days of free agency, but NFLMocks is here to guide you through the chaotic mess. We will be here breaking down all the free agent signings, releases, and trades. Here are 5 undrafted free agents who could be getting a phone call very shortly after the league officially opens.

Derrick Locke, RB, Kentucky
The undersized running back from Kentucky surprisingly went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Locke comes in at just 5 ft 8, 186 pounds at the Senior Bowl. He played pretty well in the Seniro Bowl as he ran the ball 11 times for 37 yards including a nice 15 yard gain on 4th and 1. Locke is very fast clocking in a 4.37 40 yard dash at the combine. Not only can he be a speed back, he will also have what little value is left on kick returns. Look for him to head to a RB needy team like the Denver Broncos.

Terrence Toliver, WR, LSU
Toliver was another player who had to be very surprised when he was passed over by every NFL team on draft day. The 6 ft 3, 212 pound wide receiver is a very talented player. He led LSU in receiving in 2010 catching 41 passes for 579 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has good hands, body control and shows some explosiveness out of his breaks. He had an “outstanding” pro day according to Bil Brandt of NFL.com. A large reason why he went undrafted is probably because he was arrested March 7, 2010 “on charges of interfering with a police officer, disturbing the peace and public intoxication after getting into a fight outside a bar near the LSU campus”. He reportedly was tasered twice. Even with his character concerns, he will likely be a very hot commodity when free agency opens. Any team could sign him, but look for a team like St. Louis to try extra hard to get him.

Pat Devlin, QB, Delaware
After being compared to ex-teammate Joe Flacco for a large part of the draft process, Devlin was largely a disappointment and now finds himself hoping to sign onto a team as a developmental quarterback. He has the size standing at 6 ft 3, 225 pounds, but his average arm strength and inaccuracy were likely contributors to his slip on draft day. Devlin will likely find his way onto a team as a 3rd quarterback and will have to work his way up from there. Look for a team like the Miami Dolphins to take a run at Devlin in free agency.

Jake Kirkpatrick, C, TCU
Jake Kirkpatrick won the Rimington award in 2010 which is awarded to the best center in division 1 football. Despite his prestigious award, he was not invited to the NFL Combine and he ended up not getting drafted. Nevertheless, don’t count out Kirkpatrick. He is a tough, sturdy center who could start for some team down the road. I think that someday down the road, he could potentially join the club of undrafted free agents who turn into pro bowlers. He did a very good job against 1st round draft pick Phil Taylor in the TCU vs Baylor game last year. The Cowboys are a team to look out for, but the Colts could give them a run for their money.

Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh
To say Hynoski should have been drafted is an understatement. Several draft analysts had Hynoski as the best fullback in the 2011 class and many had a starting grade on him. Hynoski is a big, physical fullback. He comes in at 6 ft 2, 260 pounds. He’s a high motor player as well as a very intelligent person garnering multiple Academic All-Big East awards. Fullbacks are sort of a dying breed in the NFL, but there are some teams who use them. Look for a team like Pittsburgh or Baltimore to make a run at Hynoski.

Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, Ohio State
Sanzenbacher is undersized coming in at 5 ft 11, 182 pounds. He ran a 4.52 40 yard dash at his pro day at Ohio State. Sanzenbacher is a tough player who runs great routes and has good hands. He will never be a starting, elite receiver, but he can have a productive career as a Brandon Stokley type of player. Recently, Terrelle Pryor had a tv session with former head coach John Gruden. The segment entitled “Gruden’s QB Camp” was an hour long special where Gruden would question Pryor on a number of things including his play, how he fits into the NFL system, and his past problems. During the session, there was a name that kept popping up after Pryor was shown throwing a completed pass: Dane Sanzenbacher. Towards the end of Gruden’s QB Camp, Gruden asked Pryor who drafted Sanzenbacher. Pryor told him that he went undrafted. Gruden shook his head and said “What’s wrong with this world?” Look for a team like Indy or the Patriots to capitalize off of everyone else’s mistake.

David Mims, OT, Virginia Union
David Mims was gaining a lot of traction during the draft process. He was labeled a sleeper by many scouts and his stock was on the rise. So it was surprising when he went undrafted on draft day. He comes in at 6 ft 8, 335 pounds with a huge 36 7/8 arm length. He can play tackle or guard. Mims will likely get plenty of attention when free agency opens and I expect him to go to a team like Detroit who showed interest in him before the draft.

Mario Fannin, RB, Auburn
I was very surprised when Mario Fannin was not drafted. Granted, he has struggled with injury and fumble issues, but I’ve seen prospects who were way worse and have half the athletic ability as Fannin get drafted. Fannin exploded at the Combine running a 4.37 40 yard dash, jumping a 37 inch vertical, and putting up 21 reps of 225 pounds. Fannin has very nice potential and could surprise a lot of people if he is put in the right situation. Look for a team like the Broncos to try to snag him.

Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon
Too short and too slow. On paper, Jeff Maehl didn’t look draftable. The 6 ft 1, 180 pound wide receiver ran a 4.62 40 yard dash at the Combine and did just 8 reps of 225. However, a little further investigation shows that Maehl has more athletic ability then one may think. He posted the fastest times in the 3 cone drill (6.42), 60 yard shuttle (10.87), and 2nd fastest 20 yard shuttle (3.94). Maehl is not a deep threat. He is a short yard/3rd down receiver who is also tough. He could go anywhere, but I like him with a team like the Patriots.

Wesley Saunders
Oh how the mighty have fallen. At one point, Weslye Saunders was talked about as a potential 1st or 2nd round draft pick, but then everything went spiraling downwards. He was dismissed from the University of South Carolina after lying to the NCAA about improper benefits from agents. After he was officially declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, he injured his foot and required surgery and was unable to work out for teams. He has a lot of problems, but he is extremely talented. If he can get his head on right, he can be a starting TE in the NFL. Look for a team like the Jets or Bucs to overlook his character flaws and pick him up.