Shot at roster:
Earl Everett LB CIN
Jon Abbate LB HOU
Longshots:
Rory Johnson LB GB
Will update as more information comes along.
These three have the most IDP interest to me, and my hopes are pretty dismal for any of them Everett is the best athlete but he has to get tougher. Abbate is this year's Kai Parham -- a slow time killed him
Johnson is this year's Kai Parham -- he should have stayed in school, been a star like Anthony Spencer and got drafted way too soon next year.
I like Johnson the best of the lot, but with two studs, Poppinga and Hodge on the roster and drafting Bishop and Hall back to back, this is probably not the smartest place for Johnson (or Jawan Simpson), but...
There really wasn't much in this draft, so this UDFA stuff is pretty meaningless this year...
Onward...
Mark Zalewski, ILB NYJ... I'm disappointed he landed in such an ugly situation for LBs. KC would have been great for him. His is a great tackler and someone who would have been on my radar for a few months had he gone elsewhere. Still hoping he sticks. Nicel ballplayer.
Kyle Shotwell, LB, Oak -- Aha!!! Proof positive that the NFL does not overemphasize measureables. Shotwell flashed great measureables and excellent production at Cal Poly. Gocong was a mistake in Philly last year, but maybe as a UDFA on a team like Oakland Kyle can stick around on specials for a few years and develop? Name stored for the summer at least.
Leonard Peters, SS, NYJ -- Hawaii fans will tell you he is a great tackler. Reggie Bush praised him a couple years ago. I don't know. He is a classic in the box tough guy, though.
Mkistro Bruce, DE - May stick in Miami. He's a strange football player. Ever get your butt kicked by a dork? Bruce did that in the Pac 10 so many times that sometimes you have to respect the dork.
Guys, this is an exercise in futility. There's much better prospects out there as UDFAs on offense this year. I spent a week or so working through the names a year ago, just because I was sincerely worried about some of these guys. I get attached over four years and I thought several deserved better chances. Some of you may remember my feelings about Dale Robinson. Still hoping he sticks somewhere. Anway, that just isnt' the case this year. It looks like a desert with an occasional mirage.
Here's my favorite
Ameer Ismail, LB, ????? --- He has no home. This kid was a joy to watch and a true warrior. Someone has to give him a shot.
There are a few DTs and FSs with no fantasy future out there, but I'm skipping them. If your team has a UDFA name you want a little info on, let me know. I'll probably laugh but who knows?
