As the entire football world looks forward to the NFL Draft at the end of April, many teams are looking to the late rounds in order to fill team needs and find players that can turn their franchises into Super Bowl contenders.
Draft steals in the later rounds can make or break a franchise.
A player like Tom Brady does not come around every year, but when one does the lucky team that takes him can become a dynasty overnight.
This list counts down ten players that can be considered draft steals, as they will be taken later than the first round and make significant impacts within the first seasons with their new teams.
No. 10: Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama
Greg McElroy may be one of the biggest question marks at the quarterback position in this entire draft class, but his college record and his score of 43/50 on the NFL Wonderlic Test may be encouraging signs of things to come.
McElroy won a BCS National Championship with Alabama in 2009-10 and has thrown for over 2,000 yards in the last two seasons.
In 2010, he led the Crimson Tide to a strong 9-3 record before a convincing victory over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl.
The biggest thing hindering McElroy's draft status is the fact that he will be coming off hand surgery next season. He suffered a broken metatarsal on his throwing hand in the Senior Bowl and it has limited his ability to showcase himself at both the NFL Combine and Alabama's pro day.
Draft Projection: Fourth-Sixth Round
No. 9: Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon
It is reasonable to believe that much of Casey Matthews' draft hype stems from the successes that his brother Clay has had with the Green Bay Packers. Although there may be a strong comparison, Casey Matthews is an entirely different player and could even be the next great NFL star.
Matthews has a good frame to play linebacker in the National Football League, as he stands 6'2" and weighs in around 240 pounds.
Matthews compiled 229 tackles and four interceptions while also getting to the quarterback nine times.
Pass-rushing may not be a specialty of Matthews', which could cause teams to pass on him as an inside linebacker. Expect him to be a bit of a utility linebacker early in training camp but eventually work himself into a starting role.
Draft Projection: Third-Fourth Round
No. 8: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
Ryan Williams is considered by many to be the third-best running back in the entire 2011 NFL Draft class.
Injuries and missed playing time hindered his stats for much of the 2010 season, but that did not stop the sophomore from scoring nine touchdowns in just nine regular-season games.
Williams has scored a combined 30 touchdowns in only two seasons with Virginia Tech and rushed for over 2,000 yards on slightly above 400 attempts.
His college workload was relatively light compared to other runners in the class, which could bode well for him at the professional level. Expect teams to take a chance on Williams by either moving up to acquire him or taking him higher than expected.
Draft Projection: Late-First to Mid-Second Round
No. 7: Brian Burton, CB, Utah
Brandon Burton saw increasing success with every passing season with Utah but still does not have strong enough numbers to be taken in the top two rounds.
However, Burton did gain a reputation as a strong tackler and good coverage player, as he recorded 51 tackles and seven pass deflections last season.
Burton only recorded three interceptions and one forced fumble with the Utes, but managed to become a reliable option covering many teams' second or third receiving options.
Burton will probably fall during the draft because of his poor catching ability. Only three interceptions for a player with multiple pass deflections sometimes worries scouts, and that could end up being the result here.
Draft Projection: Third Round
No. 6: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Andy Dalton is slightly undersized as a potential quarterback in the NFL, but that has not stopped the former TCU Horned Frog from having an accomplished collegiate career. Dalton is on top of the record books for wins by a TCU quarterback and has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in his college career.
Dalton is a quarterback who will be drafted more on his leadership ability and statistics rather than his physical size and strength. Dalton stands at 6'3" but has a slightly small build, at 220 pounds.
Dalton is also coming out of a college offense that has many different formations and schemes, as TCU runs more of a pro-style than many other schools.
Draft Projection: Third to Fourth Round
No. 5: Brian Rolle, LB, Ohio State
Brian Rolle can best be described as a speeding bullet coming out of Ohio State's backfield on Saturdays.
Rolle is a bit undersized at only 5'11", but makes up for it in speed and pure athletic ability.
According to his draft profile on NFL.com, Rolle will best be used as either a second-string linebacker or a special-teams player. Many people disagree with that assumption, as his work ethic and intelligence may result in him becoming a starter early on.
Over his four-year career with the Buckeyes, Rolle had a total of 206 tackles, four interceptions and four sacks.
Draft Projection: Sixth Round
No. 4: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Stephen Paea may have been a top-20 pick if he did not tear his lateral meniscus at the Senior Bowl a number of weeks ago.
Even though his injury is reportedly healing according to schedule, teams are questioning his durability and mobility once he returns to football.
If Paea can return healthy, he is a physical power unmatched by anyone else in the draft. Paea broke an NFL Combine record with 49 consecutive bench press repetitions with 225 pounds on the bar.
If those numbers weren't impressive enough, Paea weighed in at 295 pounds at the combine and recorded over 120 tackles in just three seasons with the Beavers.
Draft Projection: Mid-Second to Early Third Round
No. 3: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
Leonard Hankerson has every intangible an NFL scout dreams about with his superior size and ability. Hankerson had a career year in 2010, as he caught 72 passes for 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns, but struggled at times with dropped passes and separation.
Hankerson does not have great speed but is a significant talent when it comes to playmaking ability. Over his entire career with the Hurricanes, he had 134 receptions for 2,160 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Hankerson will not be a No. 1 receiver for an NFL team in the near future, but he will be a quality slot option and a good pass catcher in traffic.
Teams like the Cleveland Browns, St.Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers will be looking at Hankerson to help provide some depth at wide receiver.
Draft Projection: Second Round
No. 2: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
Jake Locker would have been a much higher draft pick if he had not decided to return for his senior season with the Washington Huskies.
Locker has a strong arm and the ability to be accurate, but played behind a poor offensive line throughout most of his career as he was sacked a total of 74 times in four seasons. Locker was also forced into some poor throws, which resulted in high interception totals.
Even though it's easy to make excuses for Locker's poor play, he will need to improve at the NFL level in order to become a starting quarterback.
In his four seasons with the Huskies, Locker threw for 53 touchdowns and 7,639 yards with a career-long pass of 98 yards in 2007-08.
Draft Projection: Mid-Second Round
No. 1: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
The fact that Kyle Rudolph may fall out of the first round entirely should be astounding to NFL fans.
Rudolph is without a doubt one of the best tight ends in the entire draft class and has consistently played at a high level throughout his career.
Rudolph's 2010 season was cut short due to injury, which has resulted in a significant drop in his draft stock. However, teams know he is a game-changing tight end and that his talents deserve to be rewarded with a high draft pick.
Rudolph recorded only 28 receptions and three touchdowns last season, as he was limited to only six games. Throughout his career, he compiled over 1,000 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns.
Teams that run the West Coast offense or are looking to rebuild love drafting highly talented tight ends. Rudolph will more than likely go to a team that struggled last season, but he should make a significant impact early in his career.
Draft Projection: Early-Second Round
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