NFL Draft: Evaluation Rounds 3 thru 7

This is the lightning round. No pans here. What's the point?

Note how little the talent drops off from Round 2 to Round 3. Teams that frittered away their 3rd rounders are feeling foolish.

Round 3

Ed Dickson - Baltimore.

He's a vertical threat TE with hands. A real weapon for Flacco. When you add in Ray Rice's versatility as a pass catcher, Flacco now has check down options to overthrow at two different levels.

Eric Decker - Denver.

If he can come back from injury, he's a legit 70 catch guy. He's not fast, but his hands and body control are outlandish. I'm tempted to write Cris Carter-like just to cause outrage that I compared a 3rd rounder to a future NFL HOF and that I dared to not compare a white receiver to Wes Welker or Ed McCaffrey.

John Jerry - Miami

He played tackle at Ole Miss and will move inside for Miami. The Rebels actually had a nice little running game and a lot of it was attributable to Jerry. Looks like your standard 10 year starter.

Tony Moeaki - Kansas City

Another great pass-catching TE in a draft absolutely stocked with them. I really liked him at Iowa and he flew under the radar a bit.

Major Wright - Chicago

I remember him when he was only Leftenant Wright. He was a playmaker throughout his time at Florida, but stagnated a bit last year. Big hitter and he can run.

Colt McCoy - Cleveland

No downside to a 3rd round Colt McCoy that exists with the 1st round Colt McCoy. The positive attributes are well known. I do wonder about his ability to play in bad weather, specifically extreme wind and rain. The elements have a way of making average arms bad. Kosar and Sipe managed, so we'll see.

Round 4

Trevard Lindley - Philly.

Most consistent cornerback in the SEC. Played for Kentucky, which is why you don't know who he is. Philadelphia starting to rally after a suck first round.

Bruce Campbell - Raiders.

This is where you draft physical freaks who aren't fully realized as football players, Raiders. Congratulations. You're getting it. After only a decade.

Jason Campbell - Raiders.

The Raiders traded a 4th rounder for Redskin QB Jason Campbell. Not technically a draft pick, but the point remains.

But Jason Campbell sucks, you just exclaimed.

No he doesn't. He had bad wide receivers and miserable protection. In fact, he's exactly NFL average. Which means he's worth two or three more wins than the Raiders would have had with JaMarcus Russell's 270 pound learning- impaired ass calling the shots.

Darrell Stuckey - San Diego.

The guy was a great player at Kansas. Physical, can run, constantly forcing turnovers, even on miserable defenses. I'm not sure what the knock is on him, but I don't care.

Thaddeus Gibson - Pittsburgh.

Unreal. Another prototype Steeler linebacker. In the 4th round. Texas fans will remember him as the undersized Ohio State DE who terrorized Adam Ulatoski in the Fiesta Bowl. He needs a little time and some refinement. He'll get it.

Round 6

Sam Young - Dallas.

He never dominated at Notre Dame, but he's a NFL player. His size alone (6-8 330) makes him an interesting prospect at RT and he doesn't lack for experience. The Cowboys needed something at OT and this could work.

Dez Briscoe - Cincy.

Chris Henry comparisons are coming. Dez's My Space page read like prison graffiti and his issues go beyond boys will boys immaturity, but the guy is a baller. This pick costs nothing. If he's a head case, cut him on Day 3. If he can show up and take care of business, you've got a 2nd round talent who completely dominated every corner he faced in the Big 12.

Note to parents: do not name child Dez.

Jonathan Dwyer - Pittsburgh

A Steeler-style big back who slid down the draft board because he tested poorly at the combine with low bench and 40 numbers and wasn't a traditional RB at Georgia Tech. The NFL's lack of imagination amuses me. This is a steal.

Round 7

Kurt Coleman - Philly.

Play zone and Kurt is a pretty good football player. He has no measurables compared to the elite safeties, but he's always in the mix, makes plays on the ball, and hits. I've watched him at Ohio State for three years now. These late round evaluations are more like the Philadelphia front office I'm familiar with. I wonder if they'd like those two third rounders back?