Burfict, Chris Polk, Case Keenum among notable UDFAs

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The 2012 NFL draft came to an end at 7:20 p.m. ET on Saturday, when the Indianapolis Colts made Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish this year’s Mr. Irrelevant.

NFL teams have already begun contacting and agreeing to terms with undrafted free agents. Here are the notables:

1. Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict — Troubled but gifted inside ‘backer.

2. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore — Long on college wins, short on ability.

3. Washington running back Chris Polk — Medical concerns knocked him out of the draft.

4. Florida quarterback John Brantley — Reports indicate the Ravens signed him.

5. Houston quarterback Case Keenum — Essentially a taller Kellen Moore.

6. Stanford receiver Chris Owusu — Concussions cost him on draft weekend.

7. Troy offensive tackle James Brown — Once highly rated by Mike Mayock.

8. North Carolina receiver Dwight Jones — Character questions killed his stock.

9. Texas A&M receiver Jeff Fuller — Big wideout who played small as a senior.

10. Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson — Press corner lacks top measurables.

UPDATE: Reports indicate Kellen Moore will sign with the Detroit Lions.

More notable UDFAs: Arizona State receiver Gerell Robinson, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield, LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris, North Carolina defensive end Donte Paige-Moss, Ohio State center Mike Brewster, Vanderbilt safety Sean Richardson, Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp, Alabama receiver Marquis Maze, Tennessee running back Tauren Poole, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, Pittsburgh defensive end Brandon Lindsey, Arizona cornerback Robert Golden, USC defensive tackle DaJohn Harris, Cal (PA) guard Rishaw Johnson, Pittsburgh guard Lucas Nix, South Dakota State receiver Dale Moss, USC running back Marc Tyler, Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne.

70 responses to “Burfict, Chris Polk, Case Keenum among notable UDFAs

  1. Surprised Polk went undrafted. Should be a nice steal.

    Keenum is another weak armed system QB. Yawn, nothing to see there.

    Burfict….don’t even get me started.

  2. Are you sure Vontaze Burfict is truly… gifted? Meh… nobody is loosing any sleep over him

  3. Burfict i am sure my grandmother even knew he wouldnt be drafted. Who am i kidding my grandmother doesnt even know what football is.

  4. Completely surprised about Moore and Burfict… Vontaze was projected to be a first rounder at one point this season and Kellen won 50 games! I don’t care what anyone says, if you win 50 games in D1 college football then you are good.

  5. kevin sumlin must be a great coach, he won 13 games, plus dominated penn st in a bowl, keenum passed for more td’s, more yards and put up more offense than any qb in history of ncaa but not one of their players was drafted.

    He must be a really great coach.

  6. Gotta love it when a guy like Evan Silva knocks an undrafted free agent as being “short on ability” when Silva himself is “short on ability” as a talent evaluator.

    Personally, I’m glad the draft is over. All of the “experts” can stop talking about who is going to be great and who isn’t.

  7. Wait a minute, i had forgotten that Kellen Moore was a candidate for the draft this season. Heck, for the last few years he got press like he was the only reason Boise was successful and while it looks like 50% of BSU’s starter’s got drafted this season Kellen did not. Ouch…..that’s Gotta Hurt !!!!!!!!!!

  8. Not a Boise State fan here, far from it. But it just galls me when some writer takes a cheap shot at one of the most clutch football QB’s in recent years. If my team led by a few points with the game winding down, I’d rather have Oliver Luck on the other side than Kellen Moore.

    He might not have NLF intangibles, but he had too many clutch wins to just say “short on ability”.

  9. More notable UDFAs: Arizona State receiver Gerell Robinson, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas…..
    ********************************************

    But seriously , WHO in the world told Darron Thomas that he could be potentially drafted in ANY round and therefore leave two years of eligibility on the table ? Quick someone review Lane Kiffin’s phone records…….

    Darron just threw his career down the drain…………

  10. So Burfict goes to the Bengals, and yet Bengal fans wonder why we make fun of them lol.

  11. Boy, that sure was a smart move by Darron Thomas to leave early for the NFL. Oops. What was he thinking? Was Jevan Snead advising him?

  12. I can’t believe that Troy guard James Brown wasn’t drafted. The guy has serious ability and was ranked highly by literally everyone – well, everyone but the 32 NFL teams apparently. But not only did Mayock have him rated highly but so did Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, Pro Football Weekly and virtually every mock draft I saw had him going in Round 2 or 3. I hope the Texans at least contact him and try to sign him, especially considering the lack of depth on the right side of their O-Line.
    I just feel bad for the kid.

  13. Jacksonville just picked up my cousin JK Schaffer, ILB, from Cincinnati. Very proud!

  14. So Kellen Moore is “short on talent,” is he? Well, that’s pretty much what he’s been told his whole life. Nothing new there. Maybe he should start praying on the sidelines and saying Jesus all the time. Then he would be better than hall of famers.

    Better idea: toss him the ball and tell him to take his team down the field and stick it in the end zone. Then you’ll see his talent.

  15. List of Bengals signings reported so far:

    http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/4/28/2985196/cincinnati-bengals-undrafted-free-agent-signings-chart

    They note it is unofficial. CincyJungle.com is really on top of it though.

    Brandon Joiner, Arkanas State, DE
    Derrius Brooks, Western Kentucky, CB
    Ben Bojicic, Bowling Green, C
    Rodney Stewart, Colorado, RB
    Tony Dye, UCLA, S
    Justin Hilton, Indiana State, WR
    Vontaze Burfict, Arizona St, LB
    Tyler Hansen, Colorado, QB
    Julian Miller, West Virginia, DE
    Kashif Moore, Connecticut, WR
    Taveon Rogers, New Mexico State, WR
    Emmanuel Lamur, Kansas State, LB/S
    Landon Walker, Clemson, OT

    -QG

  16. Cliff Harris is the sleeper in this group. (Personal issues aside). As a punt returner, he can light it up. He can also play corner.

  17. What people forget is that under the new CBA, it is in many ways better for a team to sign a player after the draft than to draft a player. For example, you can sign them to a three-year deal (as PIT for example prefers to do), leaving them RFAs, whereas all drafted players have to be given 4 year deals.

  18. 2. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore — Long on college wins, short on ability.

    So if Moore is “short on ability” I guess it makes him the NFL equivalent of Evan Silva…

  19. jroneputt says:

    “kevin sumlin must be a great coach, he won 13 games, plus dominated penn st in a bowl, keenum passed for more td’s, more yards and put up more offense than any qb in history of ncaa but not one of their players was drafted.

    He must be a really great coach.”

    Yes, because as we all know, NFL talent evaluators never miss on anyone, do they? What round was Arian Foster drafted in again?

    You, sir, are a first-class idiot.

  20. Lot of talent left fellas!! As a lions fan I don’t think they addressed the secondary like they should have…..I mean outside of Bill Bentley I don’t see either of those other dudes helping out in the near future which is when we happen to need the help!! Would love to c them nab Ryan Steed or Minnifield!! Go lions!!!!!!

  21. massappeal12345 says: Apr 28, 2012 8:56 PM

    Not a Boise State fan here, far from it. But it just galls me when some writer takes a cheap shot at one of the most clutch football QB’s in recent years. If my team led by a few points with the game winding down, I’d rather have Oliver Luck on the other side than Kellen Moore.

    He might not have NLF intangibles, but he had too many clutch wins to just say “short on ability”.
    ________________________
    It’s funny because it kind of sounds like you are a Boise State fan, nothing you say makes any football sense. I don’t want to kick Kellen when he’s down, but the simple fact is NFL intangibles are the only thing he has got: clutch, intelligence, the ability to read a defense, leadership. The reason he didn’t get drafted is because he has no NFL tangibles: he’s short, his arm is weak, and he simply does not have the athleticism to play in the NFL, much less compensate for these deficiencies (unlike Russell Wilson, for example). Moore was a very good college quarterback. To say he can’t play in the NFL is not a knock on his ability as a college QB. There are plenty of excellent, even record holding college quarterbacks who could not make the jump to the next level: Colt Brennan, Ty Detmer, Timmy Chang, the list goes on. I don’t want to open the whole Tebow can of worms, but even the most ardent Tebowmaniacs have to agree that he will never have the same impact on the professional game that he did on the college game. Winning clutch games as an undersized system quarterback is great, but it does not guarantee him a spot on an NFL team, and it’s not a “cheap shot” to say that he is not physically qualified for one.

    In summary, though Moore absolutely deserves credit for a stellar career at Boise, he does not deserve credit for physical tools he does not have, and it’s perfectly fair to say he’s “short on ability” (as long as there’s no pun intended. I had enough puns for a lifetime reading all those “Burfict fit” comments).

  22. Cliff Harris & Chris Polk signed with Philly . I was praying they’d grab either one in the 7th so this is great news for Eagles fans . Andy & Howie get an A+ for this draft , wow i never thought i would say that .

  23. Was Marc Tyler anything other than a name (legacy)? Slow and fat aren’t qualities that NFL teams look for in a running back.

  24. @jwreck Brady’s Tangibles were crap too, while his Intangibles were off the charts(not comparing, just saying)….not unlike Moore. The difference between the two “ables” is that you can only teach/develop ONE of them. Linehan has a new project…he will either backup Stafford for a decade, or he will be dealt for picks. But Kellen Moore will be a successful NFL QB.

  25. I believe the Broncos have already signed the wide reciever kid from Arizona State. Since we drafted Oswielier, he probably knows this kid pretty well since he was throwing to him in college

  26. jwreck,
    Kellen Moore is not a “system quarterback”. Boise State’s system didn’t make him in to a great college quarterback, his work ethic, knowledge of the game, and incredible anticipation did. He can break down a defense at the line of scrimmage as well as any quarterback in college football and better than most of them.

    He may not have a rocket arm like Aaron Rogers or Matt Stafford, but he throws hard enough to be an NFL quarterback. Moore was timed at 52mph at the Combine. While not the fastest throw, it’s still as fast or faster than other NFL quality QBs. Some examples as measure at the last couple of combines:

    2011 T.J. Yates Houston Texans 52mph
    Christian Ponder Minnesota Vikings 51mph
    Ricky Stanzi Kansas City Chiefs 50mph

    2010 Mike Kafka Philadelphia Eagles 52mph
    John Skelton Arizona Cardinals 50mph

    2009 Matt Flynn Seattle Seahawks 50mph
    Josh Johnson S.F. 49ers 49mph

  27. Pride of Detroit has put this “unofficial” list up on their site. UFA Rookies.

    QB Kellen Moore (Boise State)
    WR Patrick Edwards (Houston)
    WR Jared Karstetter (Washington State)
    TE Alex Gottlieb (William & Mary)
    OT Quinn Barham (Penn State)
    OG Rodney Austin (Elon)
    OG J.C. Oram (Weber State)
    DT Michael Cosgrove (Idaho)
    LB Carmen Messina (New Mexico)
    LB Ronnie Sneed (Kentucky)
    S Sam Proctor (Oklahoma)
    K Derek Dimke (Illinois)

  28. Chris Polk to Philly is a good move for both the team and Polk himself!!!! He could’ve been a good fit for the Jets because all their backs stink!!!

  29. Chase Minnifield could be a cornerback that converts to safety and teams need help at those positions!!!

  30. The Kellen Moore bashing irritates me. This is how “short in ability” Kellen Moore is: He most wins by a quarterback and ranking in the top five all-time in FBS history in touchdown passes, passing yards, pass efficiency, completion percentage and lowest interception percentage. He led the nation in pass efficiency as a junior in 2010, and finished among the top three nationally in 2009 and 2011. Moore is also one of just 12 players in college football history with three consecutive top 10 finishes in the Heisman voting, and became Boise State’s first Heisman Trophy finalist in 2010.

    • NCAA All-time Leader in Wins by a Quarterback (50)
    • One of 6 Players in NCAA FBS History to throw for 14,000 Yards
    • Second in NCAA FBS History in Touchdown Passes (142)

    Yeah he sucks.

  31. If Polk is truly healthy, that was a steal.

    Burfict will be a beast for the Bengals, but will cost them a ton of yardage on personal foul penalties.

    And although Kellen Moore is certainly not short on ability, he probably won’t be very good at this next level. Ken Dorsey won a lot of games in college too, and you don’t see him winning Superboels.

  32. Jordan Jefferson was falsely accused of a crime at the dawn of his senior campaign that he did not commit. While being pillaried by many in the LSU fanbase who celebrated his misfortune and what they hoped would be his dimise, he gave no quarter and asked for none. He kept his poise about him and made no excuses. He was ‘TEAM FIRST’ the entire time. He carried himself like the captain he was. No pouting. No Crying. Those of you who chose to believe the worst about this here to fore outstanding young man made fools of yourself. You danced(and continue) and celebrated on the grave of a young man that had dedicated himself to LSU from his first day of matriculation. Mr. Jefferson supported his replacement Jared Lee verbally and by his actions. He supported his team and the institution by being READY when called upon, despite being caught up in nightmare legal proceedings.

    When Mr. lee was unsuccessful in the National Championship game twitter, facebook, blogs and the like were rife with criticism that at times was vitriolic and at times downright racist. Considering what we know now that this young man was innocent. Considering that he never gave up on his team, his family, his state and the fans, even when many clearly gave up on him; he should be applauded and appreciated not made to continually suffer unfair, inaccurate and ignorant criticism.

    @ESPNfeedback

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