Here is Part 2 of my two-part series on finding value in NFL free agency this offseason. You can check out Part 1 (offensive value) here.

DEFENSIVE END: John Abraham (Falcons)
At this point in his career, Abraham reminds me of Leonard Little and his final years in the NFL. At 34, Abraham isn’t a full-time player any more but he’s still very productive as a situational pass rusher. The Falcons did a great job keeping him fresh the past two years by constantly rotating him in and out of the lineup. He racked up 9.5 sacks last season and there were a handful of games when he was the Falcons’ lone pass rusher. He wants one more shot at a championship before he walks off into the sunset and seeing as how Atlanta is content with him testing the market, he would be a great addition for a Super Bowl contender looking to beef up its pass rush. In fact, the Falcons better hope the Saints don’t find a way to fit him under their cap.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Brodrick Bunkley (Broncos)
Bunkley recorded 43 tackles but no sacks in 16 regular season games last season, which could turn some folks off. But according to Pro Football Focus, 11.3% of all plays Bunkley was in run defense ended up with him making a defensive stop (which was the most of all defensive tackles in the league). Injuries ransacked his 2010 campaign but Bunkley has always been a force against the run and at 28, he still has three or four quality years left in him.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Manny Lawson (Bengals)
Some had their doubts about whether Lawson could play in Cincinnati’s 4-3 front after spending his first five years playing in San Francisco’s 3-4. But he played very well against the run and offers teams versatility in that he can stand up or stick his hand in the dirt while rushing the quarterback. He’s only a two-down linebacker because his coverage skills are nothing to write home about, but at 28 he still has plenty of quality years ahead of him and now teams know he can play in either a 43 or 34.

INSIDE LINEBACKER: Channing Crowder (Dolphins/Retirement)
Crowder flirted with retirement last season while taking the entire year off but he stated a couple of weeks ago that he wants to return to the NFL. If he can get back into shape, Crowder would be a nice addition to any defense looking for a two-down ‘backer. Most of his experience in the NFL has come in a 3-4 but he did play some 4-3 in Mike Nolan’s hybrid scheme in Miami. Crowder played very well in 2010 and while he may have to settle for a limited role in the early going next season, he could be a solid, cheap signing for a team looking for a run thumper.

CORNERBACK: Terrell Thomas (Giants)
Thomas tore his right ACL during the 2011 season but when healthy, he’s an above average No. 2 corner that plays the run very well. Apparently he’s ahead of schedule with his knee and at 27 he’s still relatively young. If he doesn’t re-sign with the Giants he would be a perfect fit in any Cover-2 team looking for a physical corner to set the edge. And with Carlos Rogers, Brent Grimes, Cortland Finnegan and Brandon Carr already set to hit the open market, Thomas will be a cheap signing offseason. (Especially seeing as how he’s coming off the ACL injury.)

SAFTEY: James Sanders (Falcons)
After being released by the Patriots last season Sanders was picked up by the Falcons and notched starting time at both safety spots. While he can be a liability sometimes in coverage, Sanders plays the run well and has plenty of postseason experience. Good safeties are extremely hard to find and while Sanders isn’t the best player on the market, the 28-year-old vet would be a welcome addition to a team starved for safety help. (He’s also not going to break the bank after playing as a spot starter last season.)

There are a handful of players in this year’s free agent pool that I would break the bank for because I know what kind of production I’ll be getting for my dollar. Mario Williams is one, while Carl Nicks is another. Even though he turns 29 in July and suffered a knee injury down the stretch last season, the highly underrated Brent Grimes is another player that I wouldn’t hesitate to pony up for, especially with cornerbacks in such high demand these days.

But if I were given the opportunity to be a general manager for an offseason, I’d focus my attention on finding value in free agency. Granted, the word “value” is a relative term to teams. A free agent like Vincent Jackson will have more value to the Bears than he would the Packers. But that doesn’t mean that the Bears should spend max value on V-Jax just because they have a glaring need at receiver.

In my opinion, this is how teams often get into trouble. It’s almost like they take a grocery list into free agency and say, ‘Ok, this is my budget and here are my biggest needs – let’s go shopping!’ Then they wind up overspending, the player under-performs his contract, and sooner or later the team is looking to dump said player well before his contract is set to expire.

Again, there are certain players that are worth max value. In terms of pure talent, Vincent Jackson may be one of those players. Seeing as how Chicago has a ton of cap space, maybe the Bears should go all out for V-Jax next month. But generally speaking, general managers are better off shooting for value so that they don’t get into cap hell down the road. At worst they’ll spend less to receive less and at best they’ll spend less to receive equal or better production than if they went for the high profile signing. Plus, if teams constantly search for value in free agency, then they’re more likely to have cap space to spend on re-signing their own players when the time comes.

With that in mind, here are my free agent value picks on offense for the 2012 NFL offseason. On Thursday I’ll take a look at the defensive side of the ball.

QUARTERBACK: David Garrard (Jaguars)
Garrard took last year off to allow his back to heal and is already 34. At this point in his career he clearly isn’t a quarterback that should be counted on as a long-term answer. But if he’s healthy, he makes a lot of sense for a contender that has a need for a backup or for teams like the Bills and Jets, whose situations under center are shaky at best. Garrard has never dazzled anyone with is passing numbers but he’s always been more productive than people give him credit for. He would be a nice, cheap signing that would add solid value to the right team.

RUNNING BACK: Mike Tolbert (Chargers)
Some may view Cedric Benson as a value play but keep in mind that he has 922 carries in the past three years and is entering his age 30 season. Tolbert, on the other hand, is only 26 and has carved out a nice niche for himself as an excellent utility back. He’s a bowling ball at 5-foot-9 and 247 pounds, and is a powerful downhill runner. He isn’t a true No. 1 but just like the Chargers did by pairing him with Ryan Mathews, he could be a solid complementary piece in the right backfield. Plus, with big names like Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Marshawn Lynch and Peyton Hillis set to hit the open market, Tolbert could be had at a reasonable price.

RECEIVER: Robert Meachem (Saints)
There are probably plenty of Saints fans that view Meachem as a bust. But the former first-round pick has never had the opportunity to flourish as a No. 1 receiver either. Sean Payton and Drew Brees do an excellent job of spreading the wealth in New Orleans, which is great for the Saints but not for individuals like Meachem. The former Tennessee star is extremely talented and won’t break the bank unlike V-Jax, Dwayne Bowe, DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace, Steve Johnson, Marques Colston and/or Reggie Wayne.

TIGHT END: Joel Dreessen (Texans)
The tight end pool is shallow this year but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be had. Look at Dreessen for example. He’s already 30 and hasn’t put up gaudy receiving numbers in Houston so people will overlook him. But he also doesn’t have a lot of tread on his tires for a 30-year-old tight end and is a solid blocker in both the running game and in pass protection. He had touchdowns of 43 and 56 yards the past two seasons, which also suggests he has big-play capabilities. His age and limited production will keep the cost way down and teams could do much worse than a guy like Dreessen at tight end.

TACKLE: Anthony Collins
Jared Gaither will receive plenty of attention because of his name and the fact that he played very well for San Diego down the stretch last year. If the Chargers release former Pro Bowler Marcus McNeill, he’ll garner some attention as well (assuming he’s healthy after two straight seasons of injury issues). But at 26, Collins might be the best value on the market. His body of work isn’t very impressive because he’s only compiled five starts the last two seasons. But back in 2008 when he started 13 straight games, he proved to be an adequate blocker and could be a value to a team that loses out on Gaither. A team could essentially plug Collins into the starting lineup for a year or two while looking for a more long-term solution in the process.

GUARD: The Draft
I realize that this article is about finding value in free agency but I’m not going to shoehorn a player into a position that I don’t believe is a true value. Teams in need of a guard have one of two options in my eyes: Either pony up big for Carl Nicks or Evan Mathis, or look to fill the position in the draft. Nicks and Mathis will likely be worth the money but for teams with cap problems, the draft is their best bet. Brandon Washington (second round), Amini Silatolu (second or third), Brandon Brooks (third), Jeff Allen (fourth), Lucas Nix (fourth or fifth), Derek Dennis (sixth or seventh) and Joe Looney (seventh) would all be value picks if they were drafted in their projected round. Washington, Silatolu and Brooks might even be able to start right away depending on how they perform in training camp and preseason. Outside of that, guys like Chad Rinehart (Bills) and Geoff Schwartz (Panthers) offer some value in free agency, but both players are restricted free agents so who knows if they’ll even hit the open market.

CENTER: Nick Hardwick (Chargers)
Hardwick flirted with retirement following the season but he has since said the he will return for another year. He’s one of the better centers in the league when it comes to pass protection and he’s likely to be available if the Chargers want to get younger at the position. Hardwick would be a nice one or two-year signing for a pass-heavy team looking for a leader to fill the center position.

Get ready for the new season, and check out the preview below. Click here for more info on The Haney Project and Feherty on Golf Channel.

When it comes to the NFL draft, value can come in many different forms. Sometimes a player will be drafted two or three rounds past where he should have gone because of an injury, character concerns, or due to being a small school prospect.

The 2012 NFL Draft is still over two months away but I wanted to compile a list of players whom I believe will hold more value than where they could be selected come April. I used NFL Draft Scout.com to determine what round each prospect is projected to be selected, and then I used my own grades on each player to determine their potential value.

On Monday I took a look at the offensive positions and today I move on to the defensive side of the ball.

DEFENSIVE END: Cam Johnson, Virginia
I had a hard time finding a defensive end that I really thought would be a value in the middle rounds. That said, Johnson carries a late second or early third-round grade so if he falls into the middle of the third, he would be a value in my eyes. He wasn’t much of a sack artist at Virginia but he’ll get a look in both a 3-4 and 4-3 front because of his versatility. The physical tools are certainly there so if he lands with a team that allows him to learn for a year or two, Johnson could turn out to be a productive starter down the road. I like his ability to move laterally with ease and he does a nice job defending the run.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Alameda Ta’amu, Washington/Josh Chapman, Alabama
I couldn’t decide between Ta’amu and Chapman so I listed them both. Ta’amu carries a third-round grade but that’s low for a guy who could potentially anchor the middle of an NFL defense in either a 34 or 43 front. At 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds, he has tremendous size and is a presence in the interior of a defensive line. Chapman isn’t as big as Ta’amu at 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds, but Nick Saban has a knack for developing excellent interior defensive linemen. Like Ta’amu, Chapman has the ability to start at nose tackle in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 and is extremely tough to move off the ball. He has some medical concerns, which is why he has a fifth-round grade, but if he’s healthy he would be a steal if he fell that far.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: DeMario Davis, Arkansas State
Davis is one of my favorite values on either side of the ball. He’s very instinctive, is always around the ball, and is more explosive than people give him credit for. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he also has the ability to start either inside or outside in a 4-3 scheme, which offers teams versatility. Seeing as how the NFL is a passing league now, Davis might be a great fit for a team looking to add another sideline-to-sideline ‘backer in nickel packages. He’s projected to go in the seventh round and may even be undrafted, which would be shocking given his talent.

INSIDE LINEBACKER: Mychal Kendricks, California
Kendricks will fall to the fourth or fifth round because he lacks size at 6-foot-0 and 240 pounds. But even with his lack of size he does a nice job of shedding blockers at the second level and finds the football well in traffic. He’s a true thumper in run defense and has a very high motor. Again, his lack of size will cause him to slip on draft day but teams can’t sleep on this guy. He also offers a defense versatility as a blitzing ‘backer.

CORNERBACKS: Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
Considering how many teams play a cover two in the NFL, Hayward won’t have any trouble fitting into a scheme at the next level. He’s a ballhawk in every sense of the word and while he could have trouble in man coverage, he’s a perfect fit for a zone scheme because he’s smart and instinctive. He carries a fourth or fifth-round grade but he looks like one of the safer picks in this year’s cornerback class.

SAFETY: Brandon Taylor, LSU
This is not a great safety class but if Taylor falls into the middle rounds then he could be a great value. The LSU product is a solid tackler who is fluid in coverage. He battled issues with consistency in college but he could be a fine special teams player in his first couple of years before maturing into a starter down the road.

When it comes to the NFL draft, value can come in many different forms. Sometimes a player will be drafted two or three rounds past where he should have gone because of an injury, character concerns, or due to being a small school prospect.

The 2012 NFL Draft is still over two months away but I wanted to compile a list of players whom I believe will hold more value than where they could be selected come April. I used NFL Draft Scout.com to determine what round each prospect is projected to be selected, and then I used my own grades on each player to determine their potential value.

So without further ado, I give you the all-value offensive team for the 2012 NFL Draft. (On Tuesday I’ll compile the all-value defensive team so be sure to check back.)

QUARTERBACK: Aaron Corp, Richmond
Corp could wind up being a seventh-round flier but there’s also a good chance he could become a free agent after being passed up for more productive college quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and/or Kellen Moore. Corp wound up at Richmond but he started his career at USC before transferring. He has good size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, and throws a nice ball. Just like any late-round quarterback, he’ll need time to figure out the nuances of the pro game (especially seeing as how he didn’t get a ton of experience in college). But thanks to his size, quick release, and catchable ball, he’s an intriguing developmental guy and worth a draft pick.

RUNNING BACK: Robert Turbin, Utah State
Turbin is projected to go in the fourth or fifth round but based on his talent and potential, I like him in the late third. What impresses me most about Turbin’s game is his vision and cut back ability. At 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds, he has the size to square his shoulders and run north-and-south, but his cut back game is where he shines. While listening to him during interviews, you can tell he has a great attitude and work ethic, and could be a nice asset to a team that runs a zone blocking scheme.

WIDE RECEIVER: Jarius Wright, Arkansas
Anyone that watched Wright’s game versus Texas A&M this year knows about his physical tools. He has trouble getting off the line in press coverage so he’s probably destined for the slot at the next level, but that’s in no way a knock on his game. He’s a sharp route runner, is tough over the middle and he knows how to get open versus either man or zone. He also has the speed to attack defenses up the seam where he would be a mismatch against a safety. He’s projected to go in the fourth or fifth round but for a team that runs a lot of three and four-man sets, I think he’s talented enough to go in the third.

TIGHT END: Orson Charles, Georgia
Charles is projected to go in the second round so it’s not like teams aren’t aware of his talent. But when you consider how big of a mismatch he could be in the passing game, he’s worth a late first round pick in my eyes. The NFL is a passing league now and we’ve all seen what teams like the Patriots (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez), Packers (Jermichael Finley) and Saints (Jimmy Graham) have been able to do with athletic tight ends. Clemson’s Dwayne Allen and Stanford’s Coby Fleener might be drafted before Charles but based on athletic ability alone I like Charles slightly more.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Andrew Datko, Florida State
Datko couldn’t stay healthy in college, which is why he’s projected to drop into the fifth round or later. But this is a weak offensive tackle class and when you consider Datko has the skill set to start, he would be a massive grab for a team in the later rounds. He’s not much of a power player but he could be a solid fit in a zone-blocking scheme that allows him to get his hands on opponents quickly and re-directs them off the ball. Again, injuries are a concern but I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up cracking the starting lineup for some team two or three years down the road.

GUARD: Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
Carl Nicks is absolutely worth the money in free agency. He’ll be the best guard available this offseason and whichever team signs him will dramatically boost their offensive line. That said, this is a great draft class for guards so if teams want to save their money and find a starter in April, they’ll have an opportunity. I really like Miami’s Brandon Washington in the second but if you’re looking for value, it may not get better than Nix. Because of a knee injury suffered in October of last year and thanks to PITT’s issues with sacks this season, Nix could fall into the fourth or fifth round. But PITT only featured three seniors on its offensive line so that certainly played into the Panthers’ struggles with protection. Nix is a sound pass blocker and a very good athlete for his size (6-foot-6, 310 pounds). He looks like a potential starter by his second year and considering he won’t be selected until the middle rounds, he has value written all over him.

CENTER: David Molk, Michigan
Molk doesn’t offer the same type of value in my eyes that other players on this list, but he’s worth a flier in the fourth or fifth round. (He’s projected to go in the fifth.) That said, because he played in Michigan’s run-first spread offense, he might only be a fit in a zone scheme, which limits the list of teams that will be interested in his services. Still, he’s a compact player that uses his arms and leverage to seal off lanes in the running game. He would probably only start as a rookie if there was an injury or a team were desperate at center, but I can see him fighting for playing time down the line.

ESPN has released a statement following the backlash over Friday’s headline “Chink in the Armor,” which was either in reference to the Knicks losing their first game in 13 days or as a way to describe Asian-American Jeremy Lin. (Or both.)

Here’s ESPN’s statement, which is currently posted on the network’s official website:

At ESPN we are aware of three offensive and inappropriate comments made on ESPN outlets during our coverage of Jeremy Lin.

Saturday we apologized for two references here. We have since learned of a similar reference Friday on ESPN Radio New York. The incidents were separate and different. We have engaged in a thorough review of all three and have taken the following action:

• The ESPN employee responsible for our Mobile headline has been dismissed.

• The ESPNEWS anchor has been suspended for 30 days.

• The radio commentator is not an ESPN employee.

We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin. His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees at ESPN. Through self-examination, improved editorial practices and controls, and response to constructive criticism, we will be better in the future.

I would rather believe that the headline was unintentional and just a massive oversight by ESPN employees because then that would mean racism never entered the minds of those involved. They simply posted “Chink in the Armor” because it served the purpose of describing that the Knicks finally displayed a weakness or a flaw since “Linsanity” started.

But then again I’m not that naïve. There are tons of other headlines that ESPN could have used to describe the loss. Here’s one: “Flawed after all.” It’s short and sweet, it rhythms, and hey, it’s devoid of any ethic slurs, which I think is its best attribute. Win-win-win.

Even if this situation was just a bad mistake, how anyone could be that dim as to not think the headline would cause a stir is beyond me. Headlines are supposed to draw attention, so you’re telling me people at ESPN didn’t stare at that thing 20 times before posting it to the site? It’s almost more believable that someone posted the headline as a terrible crack at humor rather than foolishly thinking it wouldn’t create controversy. And to use the slur twice in one day (once in print and once out of an anchor’s mouth) is brutal.

What’s done is done. ESPN took measures to correct the mistake and apologized, so it’ll take it’s medicine and hopefully learn from the experience.

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Free agency in the NFL begins on March 13 and leading up to that date I’ll go position by position while highlighting the best players, best bargains, as well as the riskiest investments. Let’s start with the quarterbacks.

Best in Class: Drew Brees, Saints
While his agent Tom Condon is “baffled” by how slowly long-term contract negations have been going with the Saints, Brees is highly unlikely to land outside of New Orleans this offseason. In addition to breaking Dan Marino’s single-season passing record with 5,476 yards, Brees also set league records for completions (468) and completion percentage (71.2 percent) in 2011. If he were to hit the free agent market, there would be a mad scramble of teams willing to break the bank for his services. But again, all indications are that he’ll wind up back in New Orleans, ready to terrorize NFL defenses again in 2012.

The Biggest Risk: Matt Flynn, Packers
Flynn completed 31 of his 41 pass attempts for 480 yards with six touchdowns in just one start last season versus the Lions, which understandably turned some heads. But was his performance a product of the offense that he was running or is Flynn a bona fide starter that deserves a chance to shine? Everyone looks good driving a Cadillac but 480 yards and six touchdowns is 480 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterbacks don’t put up those kinds of numbers by accident, I don’t care what defense they were playing against. The Dolphins seemingly make the most sense to sign Flynn because they hired former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as head coach. But with Mike Sherman now the OC in Miami, the Dolphins could lean towards prospect Ryan Tannehill instead. (Tannehill was Sherman’s quarterback at Texas A&M the past few years.) Either way, there are plenty of quarterback-starved teams that could be interested in Flynn’s skill set. Which team will take the risk is the question.

The Best Value: Jason Campbell, Raiders
Given the ransom that former head coach Hue Jackson parted with in order to acquire Carson Palmer from Cincinnati last year, it’s highly likely that Campbell will be searching for his third home in the last three years. But at 30 he still has plenty left in the tank. A broken collarbone limited him to just six games last season but he had resumed throwing again back in December and will be completely healthy by the time OTAs start. While he’s never been a quarterback that can win on his own, surround Campbell with enough talent and he’s more than capable of getting the job done. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he’s got great size and has always thrown a nice deep ball. He was also on his way to having one of his best seasons in the pros before he was injured last season. The biggest question is whether or not he can stay healthy moving forward because if he can, he’s proven that he can be productive in the right environment.

The Rest…
David Garrard would be worth a look as a backup and Kyle Orton fits the same mold as Campbell in that if a team surrounds him with enough talent, he can be productive. I wouldn’t touch Chad Henne with a 10-foot pole but he’s available, as is Detroit backup Shaun Hill, who like Henne does have starting experience. Vince Young is perhaps the biggest wildcard on the market but if no team wanted him as a starter last year, he’ll find it tough sledding again this offseason. While he’s likely to wind up back in San Francisco with a new deal, Alex Smith is a free agent as well.

According to several published reports, four football players were among 17 TCU students arrested on drug charges Wednesday. An arrest warrant for one of the players also alleges that at least three players were dealing drugs.

Three of the four players arrested were from Gary Patterson’s defense, including junior linebacker Tanner Brock, junior safety Devin Johnson, and junior defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey. Sophomore tackle Tyler Horn was the lone offensive player.

Brock entered the 2011 season as a starter and was regarded as one of the team’s best defenders after leading the Horned Frogs in tackles with 106 in 2010. But the former All-Mountain West player hurt his ankle in September and missed the rest of the season.

Here are more details about the arrest courtesy of an ESPN report:

The investigation continued for several months, and on Jan. 18, the officer asked to purchase a half-ounce of marijuana from Yendrey. The warrant states that Yendrey said he was out, but a friend could get the drugs. The officer then was able to buy marijuana from a man who turned out to be Brock.

The officer allegedly again bought marijuana from Brock a few days later. On Feb. 1, the officer was alerted by the TCU police force that the football team was surprised with a drug test. The officer contacted Brock and spoke about the test on the phone.

The officer went to Brock’s residence and bought $220 worth of marijuana, according to the warrant. The officer told Brock that the drug test was “bull—-,” and Brock responded, “I failed that b—- for sure.”

According to the warrant, Brock said that he wasn’t worried because there “would be about 60 people being screwed.” Brock is alleged to have said that he and Horn had looked over the TCU roster and concluded that only about 20 players could pass the test.

The officer then asked Brock if he could get him any Xanax or hydrocodone pills. According to the warrant, Brock said he knew a girl who could get them and that he used to buy pills from two other football players, but they had graduated.

Per the report, TCU released a statement late Wednesday afternoon that said the school tests its athletes for drug use “on a regular basis.” Thus, it’s unclear at this point whether or not Brock embellished the number of players that would have been able to pass the drug test.

Either way, TCU has become the latest college football program to come under major scrutiny.

Throughout the next couple of months I’ll take a look at each position group leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft. After previewing the quarterbacks last week, today I break down the running backs.

The Best in Class: Trent Richardson, Alabama
At 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds, Richardson is built to withstand the pounding at the NFL level. He has strong legs, a muscular lower half, and runs with a combination of power and explosion. He essentially is everything a power running team looks for in a lead back, which is why some believe he’s the best running back prospect to come out since Adrian Peterson. As of this date, Richardson is the only running back in this year’s class that is projected to be selected in the first round. He’s the real deal and can be viewed as a workhorse in Year 1.

The Challenger: David Wilson, Virginia Tech
Honestly, there is no “challenger” to Richardson. It’s Trent Richardson and then there’s everybody else, although that isn’t intended to be a knock on the rest of the backs in this year’s draft. There are several backs that are projected to go in the second round or third round that could contribute as rookies. Wilson, for example, isn’t a very big back at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, but he runs stronger than you’d think for a guy his size. He has excellent explosion, balance and quickness, and runs a 4.42 to Richardson’s 4.52. While he’ll need to work on being a more patient runner, Wilson should contribute as a rookie and could start in his second year assuming he learns how to pick up the blitz.

Don’t Sleep On: Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
Gray will likely never be an every down workhorse in the NFL like Richardson is projected to be, but that shouldn’t matter much. The NFL is a passing league now and a backfield committee approach is quickly becoming the norm. Gray isn’t very dynamic but he’s a natural runner with very good instincts who can decipher information quickly. He also possesses good balance and has the size to take a pounding at the next level. Again, he may not be a lead back but he can be productive as the second runner in a two-back system. He’s projected to go somewhere in the third round.

Mid-Round Sleeper: LeMichael James, Oregon
More quick-footed than fast, James will draw comparisons to Falcons’ 2011 fifth-round pick Jacquizz Rodgers because of his scat back abilities. James will be severely limited as an inside runner but put him in the hands of a creative offensive coordinator and he could be a weapon on third downs. He’s a natural pass catcher and his vision allows him to find daylight quickly. He constantly makes defenders miss in open space and he also has experience on special teams as a return man. Oregon’s all-time leader in rushing (4,923) and rushing touchdowns (52), James is worth a flier in the middle rounds (fourth – sixth) for a team looking to add more playmakers on offense.