Post-Combine NFL Mock Draft Round 3

Cincinnati’s starting tight end Tyler Eifert was placed on IR in September.  His injury showed how thin the Bengals are at that position.  The converted Sooner quarterback Blake Bell is a prospect with tremendous upside.  His previous position allows him to fully understand route concepts and possibly Andy Dalton’s thought process.  Bell is guaranteed to make strides as he gains weight and adjusts to the new position.  . Tight End. Oklahoma. Blake Bell. 85. player. 56

player. 32. Questions about his playing strength and instincts cause Alexander to fall this far.  A gifted athlete, he tends to diagnose the run falsely or hit gaps too aggressively.  He would still be a good inside linebacker paired with a run-thumper.  Mainly asked to cover opposing tight ends, this is a task he will excel at with blazing speed and fluid hips.. Linebacker. LSU. Kwon Alexander. 86

TCU. Kevin White. 87. player. 55. The Steelers continue to bolster their corner depth with this pick and get a good nickel corner in Kevin White, a leader on the #5 Horned Frogs.  His performances were too inconsistent at TCU, ranging from shutting down his WVU namesake in one game and getting burned by Kansas’ Lockett.. Cornerback

50. The interior of Detroit’s offensive line performed horribly for most of the season.  Matias, a proven guard out of Florida State, should help fix those woes as a sound technician.  His lackluster performance at the scouting combine and limited run-blocking upside keep him from going off the board earlier.  Nonetheless, Matias will be a day-one starter and protect Matthew Stafford from hits up the gut for years to come.. Offensive Guard. FSU. Josue Matias. 88. player

Golden reminds me a little of Michael Sam — he wins with effort instead of pass-rushing prowess.  The work ethic makes him a good fit for the Panthers’ defense.  The Tiger will not rack up tons of sacks, but he can be expected to pressure quarterbacks and collapse the pocket at times.. Defensive End. Missouri. Markus Golden. 89. player. 87

Rashad Greene. 90. player. 26. After cutting Jacoby Jones Wednesday, the only serviceable wideouts left on the Ravens’ roster are Kamar Aiken and the lovely Steve Smith.  Despite a lack of size, Greene was highly productive as the primary target for Jameis Winston.  Whether he will be a second or third receiver remains to be seen — his potential is hard to assess.. Wide Receiver. FSU

I expect DeMarco Murray to walk in free agency — bringing in Mark Ingram as his successor would be a great fit.  Whether they trust Joseph Randle enough or acquire Ingram, a back for third down is needed.  Varga can play either fullback or tailback — he displayed great hands and tremendous effort at the Senior Bowl.. Running Back. Yale. Tyler Varga. 91. player. 123

92. player. 45. The only certain thing this offseason in Denver is that the offensive line will see some changes.  Jamil Douglas should be able to shore up the left guard position.  His athleticism is superb, however, he needs to be meaner and try punishing his opponents on every snap.. Offensive Guard. Arizona State. Jamil Douglas

Washington. Hau'oli Kikaha. 93. player. 46. Despite ranking among college football’s sack leaders, Kikaha doesn’t project well as a pro.  He lacks the size to play defensive end and his subpar movement in space will make him a one-trick pony in a 3-4 defense at OLB. Given those limitations and his injury history, Kikaha should be a solid contributor on passing downs and provide an upgrade over Björn Werner on those.. Outside Linebacker

49. The Packers could use an agile pass-catching tight end, so that’s where MyCole Pruitt comes into play.  His tape shows a lack of effort in college, but who wouldn’t want to give football his best effort when playing for Aaron Rodgers as a pro?  Pruitt was a top performer at his position in Indy this weekend and offers a huge upside.. Tight End. Southern Illinois. MyCole Pruitt. 94. player

Cornerback. USC. Josh Shaw. 95. player. 36. Josh Shaw had one hell of a combine.  His bench press reps were outstanding, his speed was adequate and he seemed comfortable in position drills.  At 6’0 and 200 pounds, he’s got the desirable height and is battle-tested in the Pac-12.  Why is he still on the board at the end of round three you ask?  Because of an incident last summer when he injured his ankle while escaping the police and telling the public thereafter that he was saving his nephew from drowning when the sprain occurred.  Expect Pete Carroll to give this kid a chance to prove himself — the USC connection and Jeremy Lane’s injuries should factor into that.

player. 47. Danny Amendola seemed to have found his place in the Patriots offense in the postseason.  However, his production does not match his pay, and even less since his salary escalates by $1 million per year.  It would make sense to groom a potential successor.  Conley rocketed up draft boards after his phenomenal workout at the NFL Combine and could be developed into a formidable, third receiver on the Patriots’ depth chart.  . Wide Receiver. Georgia. Chris Conley. 96