If you had a chance to see the combine you may not be surprised to hear that professional scouts aren’t feeling like Vontaze is going to be drafted in the first three rounds.

Nobody has defended #ArizonaState LB Vontaze Burfict more than me, but I am off the bandwagon. Just way too many red flags.

Scott Wright (@DraftCountdown)

Based on what I’ve heard and what he’s done here in Indianapolis, I would not be surprised if Arizona St. LB Vontaze Burfict goes undrafted

Shawn Zobel (@ShawnZobel_DHQ)

Was told last night that one team has Vontaze Burfict in the fifth-round. Teams more concerned with bad angles than “character”

Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout)

Undrafted though? It would not be the first time that such an ultra talented player hurt himself more at the combine than actually helped himself. Now I know what you are thinking, how did he actually do? What did he actually run? Well thankfully for you I have that information right here at hand, and here it is:

40 times: 4.93, and 5.10 both unofficial.

You can imagine that has to hurt his stock. Not that 40 times are the most important part of the weekend but they are what everyone likes to look at. Fellow linebacker Luke Kuechly from Boston College ran an ultra solid 4.50 and North Carolina’s Zach Brown came in at 244 AND ran a 4.45.

So do I think Vontaze Burfict will get drafted, or does he have a better chance of working at Barnes and Noble next season? (Thats no diss, b & n is my favorite bookseller actually.)

Of course he will get drafted. It just will not be in the first round. When I think of what team I think of who has the best mix of coaching staff and veterans to help this young man start his pro career on the right foot. You might say I just described a Pittsburgh or Baltimore… and maybe I just did. Or maybe some other team is out there that won’t care about all this hoopla and take him a lot earlier than we all expect.

Did I just describe Oakland? Maybe I did.

First and fore most, Alshon Jeffrey’s stock is going to slide because of his perceived weight issues. I have seen rumors that Jeffrey is teetering above 240 these days, and I have also seen those rumors strongly refuted and statements saying that Jeffrey is going to come into the combine at the best shape of his career. I expect him to come in the combine in shape around 225-230. There is no way Jeffrey is going to let himself get out of control weeks before the biggest athletic event of his life.

The only problem is that no one can really figure out how fast he is. He isn’t a burner by any stretch so the combine will be our first good look at his exact speed.

“Alshon Jeffery does not separate,” said Mayock after watching Gamecocks tape. “What those guys run [at the Combine] is important. He needs to run somewhere in those mid-4.5s.”

Source: Pro Football Talk

On to Vontaze Burfict. His stock has been falling ever since he was benched in Arizona State’s Las Vegas Bowl Game vs. Boise State. Any time a coach benches you for a game that is a red flag. Remember, even Jim Tressell played Terrelle Pryor in their last game together when he knew major NCAA violations had been broken by Pryor and other players.

So what is the word on Vontaze?

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has watched Burfict’s games. And he isn’t impressed.

“I’m not a fan at all,” Mayock said of Burfict on Wednesday’s conference call with the media. “I just watched a bunch of his tape the other day. I came away unimpressed.”

Burfict has been criticized for off-field issues as well as his on-field self control, committing a high number of personal foul penalties. Mayock said he tried to filter out Burfict’s off- and on-field character when breaking down the player.

“His instincts aren’t good,” Mayock added. “He gets enveloped by bigger bodies and he runs around blocks. … For a big, strong guy, he’s nowhere near as strong at the point of attack as I thought he’d be.

“I don’t see first round at all.”

Source: Pro Football Talk

I’ve actually heard this from a few other people as well. I would not be surprised to see Zach Brown start to take Vontaze’s spot in a lot of these mocks. If a team like the Eagles are there in the second round and Vontaze is still on the board, they shouldn’t hesitate.

Some people see Osweiler as a can’t miss first rounder, others see him as a more athletic Josh Skelton (who was a fifth round pick). So why shouldn’t I throw my two cents into the mix?

The reason why the verdict on Brock is all over the place is because of two things. One is his physical stature. Two is a lack of National coverage. All in all, I believe most of the hype comes from the fact that he is 6’8. People immediately see 6’8 and go “OMG he is tall! Draft him.” Not so fast.

When you look more into Osweiler you see a quarterback that has a 7-8 starting record, plays in a spread, and isn’t required to make a lot of reads. That’s pretty much my same problem with Nick Foles. These collegiate spread QBs aren’t making post snap reads, and are simply snapping the ball then going to the receiver in one motion without sitting in the pocket and deciphering any post read of the defense. That isn’t a knock on him, but more so the state of college football.

Brock does some things you really like. He’s very elusive for a 6-8 guy. He isn’t Ryan Mallet back there. He can move well and avoid taking knockout shots from blitzes. He throws the ball with a nice spiral. His passes drop in kind of like a teardrop due to being 6-8 but that’s a nitpick. He also overthrows a lot of his longer throws. All in all he has some talent to build on.

If I had to bet, I’d say Brock Osweiler will be a mid 3rd to 4th round pick. As far as late round Quarterbacks go I still believe Boise’s Kellen Moore has a lot of the “football smarts” (making reads, etc.) you want that Osweiler doesn’t display. The thing is Moore is 5-11 and Osweiler is 6-8. It will be very interesting to see where they all stack up once the draft is said and done.