2009 6th Round NFL Rookie profiles with combine measurables and fantasy football analysis.
ALL 90 FANTASY SKILL POSITION ROOKIE PROFILES: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7
***ENTIRE '09 NFL DRAFT
Tom Brandstater 6-5 220 QB Fresno St
The Good: Ideal size. Good in and out of the pocket. Good arm strength.
The Bad: Lacks great accuracy especially on long throws. Will lock onto his primary target too often. Despite OK speed he rarely makes plays with his feet.
The Truth: Is he the next Fresno St product to fail? Has a lot of work to do to have any impact at the next level. He must improve on the deep ball, not force the ball so often, and work on passing on the run. He’s likely at least three years away from seeing the field assuming he lasts that long.
Drafted: Denver Broncos-Round 6-Pick Number-174
FFT Update: This was a good value pick for the Broncos in my book, Brandstater may not be the future signal caller for them but if he gets time to work on his game he at least has a chance to compete for the job or another job in a few years. He’s still a long shot to ever have any fantasy impact but he’s in a good place to learn.
Quinten Lawrence 6-0 184 WR McNeese St
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40 yard Dash: Didn’t work out at the combine. 4.40 on Pro Day
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Vertical Jump: Didn’t work out at the combine. Didn’t jump on Pro Day
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Birthday 9/21/1984 Age: 24
The Good: Good quickness off the line with the speed to bust the big one. Good route runner with good hands. Good field vision. Adds value as a return man.
The Bad: Lacks ideal size and bulk. Played against lower competition in college. Will be 25 years old in September.
The Truth: Will never likely have any fantasy value as he’ll likely be nothing more than a return man who someday could work his way to be a number three or four receiver.
Drafted: Kansas City Chiefs-Round 6-Pick Number-175
FFT Update: Even on a Chiefs roster with limited receiver depth he is still likely to have no impact as anything more than a return man.
Mike Teel 6-3 225 QB Rutgers
The Good: Born leader who was a three year starter and a team captain the past two seasons. Tough competitor played through thumb injury in 2007 and finished with 20 touchdowns.
The Bad: Lacks arm strength. Had a dismal first half of the 2008 season.
The Truth: Teel saw his stock rise thanks to an MVP performance in the PapaJohns.com bowl and a good showing at Rutgers pro day. He has good size and smarts but lacks an NFL arm and is a long shot to be anything more than a career back up, assuming he can stick around.
Drafted: Seattle Seahawks-Round 6-Pick Number-178
FFT Update: Teel is in an interesting situation with Matt Hasselbeck not getting any younger and no other quarterback on the roster who looks to be the air apparent but the odds are completely against Teel and I just don’t think he’s a good enough quarterback to ever be a starter but at least he’s in a good situation to get a chance if he’s shows his worth.
Zach Miller 6-4 233 TE Nebraska-Omaha
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40 yard Dash Not invited to the combine ran 4.53 on UNO Pro Day
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Vertical Jump Not invited to the combine 37.5” on UNO Pro Day
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Birthday 10/4/1984 Age: 24
The Good: Was invited to the division II all-star game where he had less than a month to learn the tight end position and he had five receptions for 116 yards. Has put on 17 pounds since ending his college career. Had a better 40 time and vertical jump on Pro Day than any tight end who attended the combine.
The Bad: Played QB in college. Played against division II competition. Will take time for him to master the new position and gain bulk.
The Truth: Recruited by Nebraska to play quarterback when Frank Solich was still running the show, transferred up the road to Omaha when Solich was let go. Had 1000 yards rushing and passing last season. He has as much upside as anybody in the draft and has proved that he is willing to put in the extra work needed for him to succeed at the next level. Will likely find sticking around difficult but if he is given a chance he could be the sleeper steal tight end of this class.
Drafted: Jacksonville Jaguars-Round 6-Pick Number 180
FFT Update: The Jaguars seem to always carry a handful of tight ends so Miller has a chance to stick around and refine his game. I still think he’s a nice sleeper and this could turn out to be a nice steal by the Jags when all is said and done.
Bear Pascoe 6-5 251 TE Fresno St
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40 yard Dash 4.96 at the combine
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Vertical Jump 28.5” at the combine
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Birthday 2/23/1986 Age: 23
The Good: Consistent, 40 receptions, 400 yards, four touchdowns last season and 112, 1294, and 10 for his career. Good size and strength. Knows how to get open and find soft spots in the zone. Good route runner who knows how to use his body to his advantage. Very good blocker.
The Bad: Is slow, can’t jump, and lacks quickness.
The Truth: The guy was born to throw defenders around, he’s big, strong, and has a blue collar attitude but he is not fast, doesn’t jump well, and is likely nothing more than an occasional short yardage safety valve for his quarterback with likely no fantasy value.
Drafted: San Francisco 49ers-Round 6-Pick Number-184
FFT Update: Should help the 49ers in protection and will sneak out for an occasional catch here or there. I don’t see any fantasy value but he could be a helluva football player.
Cedric Peerman 5-9 216 RB Virginia
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40 yard Dash: 4.34 at the combine
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225 Lb Bench Reps: 27 at the combine
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Vertical Jump: 40” at the combine
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Birthday 8/21/1985 Age: 23
The Good: He’s on the short side but he’s got a solid frame. Quick at getting through the hole. Has the ability to run through and around defenders. Has big time speed with the ability to breakaway on any run. Soft hands. Gives 110% on every play.
The Bad: Lacks height and ideal bulk. Has had a history of injury problems. Could have fumbling problems and didn’t impress anybody when he fumbled in the Senior bowl.
The Truth: Virginia has a solid history of churning out NFL caliber backs since Tiki Barber and while Peerman is a long shot it’s hard to ignore his speed and ability. His size and history of injuries will be another major hurdle that he’ll have to overcome. I can’t ignore the fact that this guy ran a 4.34 in the 40 yard dash, had 27 reps on the 225 lb bench press, and has a 40 inch vertical jump.
Drafted: Baltimore Ravens-Round 6-Pick Number-185
FFT Update: The Ravens are loaded at running back so I don’t see Peerman doing anything anytime soon but I still like his potential as a sleeper at some point based on his speed, size, and strength.
Aaron Brown 6-1 200 RB TCU
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40 yard Dash: Not invited to the combine. 4.49 on Pro Day
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225 Lb Bench Reps: Not invited to the combine. 16 on Pro Day
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Vertical Jump: Not invited to the combine. 40” on Pro Day
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Birthday // Age:
The Good: Quick thru the hole with the speed for big plays. Is a shifty, agile, outside type of running back but can use his size to run through the middle when necessary. Good cut back runner. Does his best as a blocker. Added value in the return game.
The Bad: Needs to learn to run through tackles instead of always trying to dance around them. Could use some more bulk. Gives his all on blocks but doesn’t have the strength to be very effective. Has long strides and often runs upright.
The Truth: Likely will be a return man who will need a lot of work at the running back and/or receiver spot. I’m not seeing much for fantasy value right now.
Drafted: Detroit Lions-Round 6-Pick Number-192
FFT Update: I still think he is a long shot to ever be a fantasy factor but going to Detroit could allow him a shot to at least have a change-of-pace career.
Brandon Gibson 6-1 206 WR Washington St
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40 yard Dash: Didn’t work out at the combine. 4.59 on Pro Day
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Vertical Jump: Didn’t work out at the combine. 34” on Pro Day
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Birthday 8/13/1987 Age: 21
The Good: Good size. Quick of the line with the strength to get off jams. Good route runner who gets in and out of his breaks with explosion. Good hands and knows how to use his body to make the tough catches. No fear of going over the middle. Good blocker. Adds value as a return man.
The Bad: Lacks ideal speed. Comes up with big catches but isn’t necessarily great after the catch. Case of the drops at the Senior Bowl didn’t help his stock.
The Truth: Gibson is an interesting prospect that could have a lucrative NFL career if he can catch the ball. I don’t think he’ll ever be a top fantasy star but he’s got the potential to have some productive years.
Drafted: Philadelphia Eagles-Round 6-Pick Number-194
FFT Update: The Eagles have a lot of similar if not better receivers than Gibson on their roster so he will have to do something special to ever stand out. I’m not expecting much out of him but he’s still got some slight sleeper ability down the road.
James Davis 5-11 218 RB Clemson
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40 yard Dash: 4.55 at the combine
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225 Lb Bench Reps: 17 at the combine
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Vertical Jump: 32” at the combine
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Birthday 1/1/1986 Age: 23
The Good: Solid size, frame, and athleticism. Quick thru the hole with good vision and the ability to make defenders miss. Good stop and start runner and has the ability to turn what looks to be only a small gain into a big play. Good leg drive. Can be explosive. Not a fumbler.
The Bad: Not a strong inside runner despite having a bigger frame. Not always tough after contact. Needs work in the receiving game. Poor blocking ability was exposed during the Senior Bowl week.
The Truth: May have been better off to come out last season when he may have been a first round pick. He has enough talent to be a solid contributor right away but may struggle in a feature back role. Really needs to land in a perfect situation to have any fantasy value. He’s a boom or bust type of guy that is worth a look and a prayer.
Drafted: Cleveland Browns-Round 6-Pick Number-195
FFT Update: I think he landed in the perfect situation with Jamal Lewis nearing the end and Jerome Harrison as the only other running back with any value on the roster. Davis should get an occasional carry this year while working on his game and has the potential to be the biggest steal of this entire draft! Low risk/High reward written all over this one.
Keith Null 6-3 222 QB West Texas A&M
The Good: Good size. Does a good job of surveying the field and will not force the ball into coverage. Doesn’t lock onto his first option. Has good mechanics. Does a good job of hitting his receiver in stride and is accurate on short and intermediate passes.
The Bad: Not great arm strength, especially on the long ball. Played against lower competition.
The Truth: Null will need time to develop but has all the tools to be a quality NFL quarterback despite not having a big time arm. He is a nice sleeper to keep an eye on.
Drafted: St. Louis Rams-Round 6-Pick Number 196
FFT Update: Null could’ve landed in worse places than St. Louis as the Rams are clearly near the end of their rope with Marc Bulger and Kevin Boller sure isn’t the answer so Null has some outside hope of being a starter in the next few years. I like him more than a lot of guys drafted above him and if he ever finds the lineup he could be a sneaky fantasy prospect.
Curtis Painter 6-3 225 QB Purdue
The Good: Good NFL size. Was a four year starter in a system that has a history of producing NFL starters (Drew Brees, Kyle Orton). Quick delivery. Good arm strength and accuracy on all his throws. Good deep touch. Good at leading his receivers. Not a running threat but knows how to get outside the pocket and throws well on the run.
The Bad: Has shown lack of poise under pressure. Needs to do a better job of feeling the pressure around him so he doesn’t take so many big hits. Can lock on to his target too much. Hasn’t improved as much as you’d like to see from a four year starter. Has a reputation as a choker in big games. Had a separated shoulder last season.
The Truth: Purdue’s system has been a good place to learn to be an NFL starter and Painter was there for four years. Sounds like a guy that is somewhere in between Kyle Orton and Drew Brees that could be worth a fantasy look in a few years.
Drafted: Indianapolis Colts-Round 6-Pick Number-201
FFT Update: Peyton Manning isn’t ready to give up the throne anytime soon but he also isn’t getting any younger and while Jim Sorgi is a solid backup I don’t think the Colts really want to put their future in his hands, enter Curtis Painter. Okay, odds are he’ll never be the Colts starting quarterback but being a four year starter at Purdue has made him a much more developed player than a lot of guys in this draft. He’s at least a guy to keep in the back of your mind.
Brandon Myers 6-3 250 TE Iowa
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40 yard Dash: Wasn’t invited to the combine. 4.78 on Pro Day
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Vertical Jump: Not invited to the combine. 31” on Pro Day
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Birthday 9/4/1985 Age: 23
The Good: Not great height but a solid build. Good blocker. Some quickness off the line and shows good route running ability getting in and out of his routes fluidly. Decent hands.
The Bad: Doesn’t have great speed. Isn’t a great blocker, isn’t very agile, and lacks explosion. Had some off-field trouble in 2007 but it looks like a onetime deal.
The Truth: I don’t see any fantasy value here and he will be lucky to even get a deal.
Drafted: Oakland Raiders-Round 6-Pick Number 202
FFT Update: I know it’s a sixth round pick but this still makes no sense, I know aside from Zach Miller the Raiders don’t have much at the tight end position but I’m not seeing Myers adding much. He doesn’t appear to be either a good receiver or great blocker. I’d be surprised if he does much in his career, assuming he even has a career.
Dominique Edison 6-2 204 WR Stephen F Austin
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40 yard Dash: 4.43 at the combine
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Vertical Jump: 37” at the combine
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Birthday 7/16/1986 Age: 22
The Good: Ideal NFL size and speed. Does a good job of using his body and height to make tough catches. Quick off the line and the ability to use his strength and speed to get quickly in and out of routes. Capable blocker.
The Bad: Played against lower competition in college. Isn’t real elusive. Needs to prove he’s not afraid to go over the middle.
The Truth: After three OK years at SF Austin Edison broke out last year with over 1000 yards and 18 touchdowns but the question is whether he can do it against the big boys or not. He’s got all the physical tools and just needs to work on some small things at this point. I love this guy’s sleeper potential and would not be shocked if he were a top 40 fantasy receiver in a couple of years.
Drafted: Tennessee Titans-Round 6-Pick Number-206
FFT Update: The Titans finally have a nice collection of receivers so it will be difficult for Edison to find the field this season but his size, speed, and skills will get him a long look and I stand by my words above, this guy is low risk/high reward potential.
John Phillips 6-5 251 TE Virginia
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40 yard Dash 4.79 at the combine
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Vertical Jump 33.5” at the combine
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Birthday 9/19/1984 Age: 24
The Good: Good NFL size for the tight end position with a good build and room for more bulk. Knows how read defenses, find the soft spot in zones, and pick up coming blitzes. Good hands. Good blocker. Mature.
The Bad: Will be 25 in September. Lacks speed and the ability to be more than a short yardage receiver. Not quick off the line with little ability to make plays after a reception. Take away his 48 receptions last season and he only had 21 his first three seasons.
The Truth: Is actually one of the better all around tight ends in the 2009 class which translates into he’ll make his name primarily as a blocker with limited fantasy value. He does have slight sleeper potential but looks like the type who will have a good game here and there but not likely enough to warrant much consideration of a pickup.
Drafted: Dallas Cowboys-Round 6-Pick Number-208
FFT Update: The Cowboys have arguably the best tight end in the league and Martellus Bennett isn’t bad himself so I don’t look for Phillips to be anything more than a blocking tight end who catches a rare pass here and there.
Bernard Scott 5-10 200 RB Albilene Christian
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40 yard Dash: 4.44 at the combine
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225 Lb Bench Reps: 21 at the combine
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Vertical Jump: 36” at the combine
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Birthday 2/10/1984 Age: 25
The Good: Quick to and thru the hole. Good field vision to find holes and follow blockers. Runs low to the ground. He’s always running and churning to get every inch possible. Good receiver.
The Bad: Is already 25 years old. Lacks ideal size. Despite a good timed speed he doesn’t have the take it to the house at any time ability you’d hope for. Must work on blocking skills. Has had a history of troubles, getting kicked off his high school team as a senior, being dismissed from Central Arkansas for hitting a coach among other things and has had additional run-ins with the law. Played against lower competition.
The Truth: Doesn’t have the look of an ideal NFL running back but even though it was against lower competition the guy flat out produced; over 4300 yards and 63 touchdowns the past two seasons to go along with 93 receptions for over 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns. His reputation as a trouble maker along with the fact that he is already 25 years old limits his value. He is good enough to have a few nice NFL years if all went right but he is big time high risk.
Drafted: Cincinnati Bengals-Round 6-Pick Number 209
FFT Update: Leave it to the Bengals to go get a player with a questionable background! The Bengals aren’t loaded with talent per say at running back but right now they have four or five guys better than Scott so I’m not looking for him to see the field anytime soon.
