The first two days of the 2017 NFL Draft are in the books and 107 players have been taken. Even though many of the best players from the college ranks are already gone, that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent left on Day 3. Teams will be picking during the 4th-7th rounds looking to hit a home run. Some of these guys could step in and start for their teams, and a few might even develop into Pro Bowlers.
The draft becomes a bit of a crap-shoot at a certain point, but there are definitely sleepers littered throughout. We will do our best to identify them.
Here’s a look at 10 late-round sleepers.
10. Joe Williams (Running Back, Utah)
Joe Williams could have been a much bigger name in the 2017 NFL Draft had he not been kicked out of the UConn program for using a stolen credit card and later abruptly retired from the Utah program. At the time of his “retirement,” Williams cited stress from his sister’s passing and the physical workload as his reasons for walking away, but made a complete 180 only two weeks later.
After returning to the field, Williams gained 1,407 yards on 210 carries (6.7 yards per carry) and added 107 yards receiving and 10 total touchdowns during his senior season. He later posted an impressive 4.41 40-yard dash.
Understandably, the concern with Williams is going to be his passion for the game. Does he truly have the passion and will he stick it out in the NFL, which is far more stressful and physically demanding than college football?
If teams are willing to sign off on those concerns, Williams represents a potential diamond in the rough late in the draft.
9. Lorenzo Jerome (Safety, St. Francis)
Being from a small school almost always means a player is destined to be a late-round target, and such is the case for St. Francis safety Lorenzo Jerome.
Although Jerome had a strong college career, including 18 career interceptions, many will undoubtedly scoff at his production because he played in the FCS. But to Jerome’s credit, he carried that success over into the Senior Bowl where he recorded two interceptions and forced a fumble against some of the best talent Division I had to offer.
At 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds, Jerome may be slightly undersized, but there’s no denying the skill he displays on tape. And for a team looking deep in the draft for some quality at the free safety position, they need look no further.
Someone is going to take a well-deserved flier on Jerome.
8. Kyle Kalis (Guard, Michigan)
The stock for offensive linemen was way down as the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft closed. Only two offensive linemen went in the first round. Only three were taken in the first 60 picks. That might be good news for potential late-round prospects like Michigan’s Kyle Kalis.
At 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, Kalis isn’t exactly the sort of power guard teams are looking for, but his fundamentals, footwork and technique are ahead of the game due to the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh. As you might expect, that also means he comes complete with a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense attitude that will serve him well in the NFL.
Kalis is unlikely to assume a starting job out of the gate, but his willingness to be coached and his pro-readiness will interest someone looking for developmental depth. And after a few years in the NFL’s strength and conditioning program, he’ll undoubtedly provide some real value.
7. Fish Smithson (Safety, Kansas)
Someone is eventually going to go fishing, and if they can land themselves Kansas safety Fish Smithson late, then it should be considered a solid haul.
In 2015, Smithson led the nation with an average of 7.9 solo tackles per game, finishing the season with 111 stops, 87 total solo tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
Then, in 2016, Smithson took things to a whole new level, recording 93 tackles, seven passes defensed, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Smithson possess solid football instincts, can be physical at the line of scrimmage and is a gutsy player. His tape over the previous few seasons has been quite impressive and he appears to have a good head on his shoulders.
However, the one major knock on Smithson — the reason he’s a late-round sleeper — is due to his lack of size. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, it’s understandable why some teams are a little reluctant to invest a high pick in him.
6. Ishmael Zamora (Wide Receiver, Baylor)
The 2017 NFL Draft is rich with wide receiver talent, but Baylor’s Ishmael Zamora could have very well been considered among the best. However, a disturbing animal abuse video surfaced prior to the start of last season and his stock took a tremendous tumble as a result.
In addition to the animal abuse video, Zamora has dealt with other questions about his character — legitimate questions, and legitimate concerns. And even beyond that, his development has been stunted due to suspensions.
While none of those things should be overlooked or dismissed, it’s clear that NFL teams — at least some of them — are willing to give the benefit of the doubt to questionable players. We’ve seen that in Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon and a handful of others.
From a sheer talent perspective, the 6-foot-4, 216-pound Zamora has what it takes to be successful at the professional level. He’s drawn the attention of the Oakland Raiders and a few other teams, and will likely be provided an opportunity to right his wrongs and set his life on a more positive path.
