Un-drafted Rookies2015

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley

 The Best Un-drafted Rookies

 

Wide Receivers

Jaxon Shipley – Arizona Cardinals

Shipley comes from the University of Texas where he played some big time football. He has an older brother who is in the NFL and he has exceptional hands. He can slide into the slot WR position and give the Cardinals a pretty solid WR core to pair with Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, & Michael Floyd. Should the Cardinals choose to trade Floyd like rumors suggest, Shipley would then have a very realistic shot at making the roster.

Kasen Williams – Cincinnati Bengals

Williams is a big bodied WR who struggled with inconsistent QB play much of his time at the University of Washington. Williams is 6’3 and weighs in at 217 lbs. He can beat one on one coverage and has pretty good hands for a big WR. Williams has a lot of talent in front of him with the Bengals but he could catch on with another team and see some playing time.

Devin Gardner – New England Patriots

Gardner is the former Michigan QB who was more of an athlete than a pure QB. He will need some transition time switching from QB to WR but the Patriots are just the team to coach him into a quality WR. He has a big frame standing at 6’4 and weighs 216 lbs. Gardner could definitely be a sleeper rookie to watch if he catches on quickly to being an NFL caliber WR.

 

Running Backs

Akeem Hunt – New York Giants

The Giants need a change of pace back like Hunt especially if Rashad Jennings can’t seem to stay healthy. The Giants did just add Shane Vereen in free agency so it will take a strong preseason to make the roster for Hunt. Hunt is fast and can catch the ball out of the backfield which will be an asset for him to utilize. Hunt will make an NFL roster and see some playing time early on in his rookie season.

Tyler Varga – Indianapolis Colts

Varga is a FB so he won’t add all that much fantasy value although he could turn into a pretty decent pass catcher. He catches the ball pretty well for a FB and Andrew Luck could utilize a solid 3rd down check down option to really open up the passing game. Varga can also be utilized for the short yardage package. He comes from Yale so picking up the offense should be a relatively easy process for him as he is a smart individual.

 

Quarterbacks

Shane Carden – Chicago Bears

The Bears start the most turnover happy QB in the NFL in Jay Cutler and his backup is Jimmy Clausen a former draft bust for the Panthers. Carden could very well shoot up the ladder if he can get in there and learn the offense quick enough. Now he probably doesn’t have a chance to unseat Cutler as the starter anytime soon but he could supplant Clausen and 3rd stringer David Fales with a strong preseason. Carden has a winning mentality and he brings the capability to scramble much better than any other QB on the roster.

Brandon Bridge – Dallas Cowboys

Bridge is a small school prospect coming out of South Alabama but look at Tony Romo, he hails from Eastern Illinois and he is doing pretty well for himself in the NFL. Bridge is 6’5 and has a pretty strong arm but will need time to learn the NFL offense and game speed. Romo isn’t going anywhere soon so Bridge could help himself earn a roster spot by having a strong rookie training camp and preseason. Brandon Weeden is currently the Cowboys backup QB so the competition pool behind Romo isn’t too steep.

Cole Stoudt – San Diego Chargers

Stoudt had an up and down career at Clemson but he has a realistic chance at making the Chargers roster. The Chargers have one of the best QBs in the NFL in Phillip Rivers and they have a pretty decent backup in Kellen Clemons. They probably don’t need to carry a 3rd QB on the active roster but with the uncertainty with Rivers contract extension and Clemons not being a long term answer Stoudt could carve out a roster spot with a strong preseason showing. He has the talent to succeed athletically it is the mental part of the game that he needs to work on.