Third round! Quite a few good picks but here are three players I was looking at.
WR Howie Baek - Washington State - 6'0" 196lbs
Selected by Death Valley, pick 3 - 21 (85)
Immediately after landing with Washington State, Howie Baek flashed big-play ability and looked like had the potential to be a star. However, Baek's underclassmen years were hindered by inconsistent quarterback play along with a weak offensive line. A coaching change set the program back even further and as a result, Baek did not produce much though his college career, only gathering 1,700 yards and six TDs total over four years.
Most of that yardage occurred in his senior year and, ripping off 884 yards and 10 touchdowns on 62 receptions. He also handled 25 carries for 205 more yards and one TD. That Senior Bowl was Baek's opportunity to get on scouting radars and he certainly impressed with his explosive playmaking ability.
Baek is a special wide receiver who is phenomenal at creating separation a threat to rip off a long gain on any reception. He can be a mismatch even at the CFL. Cornerbacks really struggle to run with Baek, who is extremely quick on top of being extremely sudden and explosive in and out of his breaks. When he gets the ball, he is deadly, gaining tremendous amounts of yards after the catch with his elite explosion and elusive moves in the open field. On top of his offensive skills, Baek is a dynamic returner who could contribute on special teams.
However, the weakness in his game is a big one-- the connection with his QBs at Washington State was very hit or miss. They regularly missed timing throws where Baek was expected to be somewhere and he simply wasn't. His routes themselves can be a bit lazy and careless even though the moves are sharp. I believe this can be cured through coaching and pairing with a more talented QB, but only time will tell.
QB Jumbo Lynn - Wyoming - 6'3" 238lbs
Selected by Alaska, pick 3 - 24 (88)
Some prospects take time to emerge as CFL candidates, and that was the case with Lynn at Wyoming. Lynn was recruited to the Cowboys by former head coach Earnest Sheldon to be a pocket passer in Sheldon's pro-style offense. In 2059, Lynn was set to compete for the starting quarterback job, but an accidental hit in practice knocked Lynn out for the season.
He took over during his sophomore year and showed progress week-by-week in 2060, eventually completing 67% of his passes for 2,600 yards, 20 TDs and just six interceptions. Though Wyoming did not have a good offensive line or consistent running game, Lynn had Wyoming in winning positions more often than not.
In 2061, Lynn and the Cowboys dominated the Mountain West and completed 69% of his passes for 4,026 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Despite a plethora of injuries to the team's top receivers, he was able to spread the ball to tight ends and running backs alike.
For the CFL, Lynn is a well-developed pocket passer. He possesses excellent pocket presence and can carve up a defense given time. He can make most throws but excels with shorter routes that lead to yards after the catch and always knows where his checkdowns are. His thick build and height allow him to hang tough in the pocket but he lacks the athleticism to scramble and evade defenders. Designed plays were used to decent effect at Wyoming but it is unlikely they will succeed at the next level.
He looks to be a solid second-day pick in the CFL Draft due to his lack of mobillity but will be a great pocket passer with the right supporting cast. A good offensive line and some playmaking receivers would be ideal.
OT Stephen Ihler - Kansas - 6'4" 307lbs
Selected by Brooklyn, pick 3 - 30 (94)
Stephen Ihler turned in two quality seasons at left tackle for the Jayhawks, showing good balance in both pass protection and run blocking, but consistency issues could cause him to fall in the CFL draft. He shows some length and athleticism on the edge and was able to put on strength after his freshman year to face up against stiffer competition. He has good agility and light feet and can cut off the edge from speed rushers, but lacks the strength to handle elite power rushes to the inside.
As a run blocker, Ihler sometimes lacks the explosion on contact to hold gaps open. He can finish blocks and wrestle defenders with physicality but it needs to happen more consistently. He would probably be better off playing in a zone-blocking system but with training, these issues can be overcome.
Scouts liken him to a smaller OT Kaleb Eliot out of SDSU, but the size difference will likely prevent him from moving to the right tackle position like OT Eliot has.
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