Stafford lacks speed and open field tackling.
Baker should have stayed at OL his whole career.
Rex will go mid-late rounds and be a 2nd/3rd string RB.
I still would take Martin late rounds to be a stand up pass rusher in a 3-4 defense.
Reed has the ability to produce some if in the right system. A little like 'a shorter' Graham in New Orleans
Cotton, Compton just don't have NFL talent to be drafted.
---This draft just shows how much talent we didn't lose
Stafford was really over hyped by quite a few folks here. I never bought it and still don't.
I see Rex going in the late 3rd or early 4th. Hopefully to the Broncos one way or the other. Whoever gets him it will be a steal that late. I see Rex playing a solid role in a starting rotation. Burkhead could carry the load all on his own as he has proven, but a lot of teams are using tailback by committee and Burkhead would be a great situational back. His value is also increased with his ability to pass block, and catch passes out of the backfield.
I think Martin may be a very late round pick or a free agent signing. Not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of polishing. Why in God's name it took so long for this staff to get him on the field at that DE spot I will never know. But it killed what could have been a heck of a career. Nebraska's loss could prove to be some NFL team's gain though. With a year or two of learning and training at the position, I could see him as a very solid 4-3 rush end. Very similar to former Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil.
I think a lot of people are missing something with Cotton. I don't think NFL experts are missing it though. Just because Cotton was severely underused in Nebraska, or simply because our passing attack has been amongst the worst in the nation for the last three years doesn't mean Cotton doesn't have the talent to play in the NFL. He does have it. If I were an NFL scout, ( I pride myself in my ability to spot football talent), I would take Cotton in the 4th or 5th round and feel good about it. I will go out on a limb and say that he will find a place on an NFL roster somewhere and we'll see, maybe he plays some solid time for somebody a few years down the road.
Baker Steinkuhler and Compton are really the ones I suggest find an alternate path in this life. Unfortunately I was never really impressed by them on the field here at Nebraska and I don't see them cutting it in the NFL. Though off the field, I'm sure they are fantastic people and I wish them all the best.
As far as the comment about this draft showing how much talent we didn't lose, I completely disagree. Now, we may not have lost a lot of production. We may have lost some guys that for some reason, whether it be injuries or other, they did not get on the field or were not utilized correctly but these are some talented individuals.
Sean Fisher, very talented young man. That leg injury slowed his career down quite a bit, but let's face it the guy has a great career ahead of him in another field.
Joe Carter could have been a much more successful DE in some other defensive systems I believe. He definitely has the physicality and the tools to continue his career.
Brett Maher had a damn fine career and should be a solid kicker for someone in the NFL.
Courtney Osborne. The great mystery? Lot's of talent and potential. This guy just disappeared all of a sudden. I heard some things about nagging back injuries but I always was curious if there was something else to this. Tons of talent lost with this guy leaving though.
P.J. Smith. Loads of potential! Don't give up on this guy. If he pursues a career in the NFL with all his effort, I think he has the tools to make it.
Kyler Reed. How does this guy not get talked about more? Go back to my bit about Cotton. Same story. Tons of talent but underutilized and mismanaged his entire career here. This guy could have been and should have been one hell of a productive player here. Hope to see him in the league very soon.
Sueng Hoon Choi and Whaley probably not NFL players. Cameron Meredith, nope.
