Murph's most wanted
More Murphy: Day 2: Sleeper picks
Day 1 of the 2006 NFL draft is complete. All 32 teams will reflect on the day that was and re-order their boards for the start of rounds four through seven on Sunday.
The draft's second day is when you build the depth chart of your franchise and find those late-round success stories, which can greatly improve your salary cap situation if you can locate a late-round starter – even if it's a special-teams ace.
The following are my 12 best players still on the board for the start of Sunday's fourth round. Let's just call them Day 2's "Dirty Dozen."
1. Darnell Bing, S, USC – He had high hopes after declaring, but some teams felt he was too big to play safety and might have to be converted to outside linebacker. Durability and overall health issues likely caused him to fall out of the first three rounds.
2. Demetrius Williams, WR, Oregon – A fluid receiver with excellent hands. That he ran in the 4.5-second range probably has caused him to slip to this point, but has the ability to become a starter at the NFL level.
3. Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan – Offers someone who is looking for a potential run stuffer. He's a proto-type guy but comes with his drawbacks, mainly his weight, conditioning and dedication to play every down. If the motor ever meets his natural skills, then you will be getting a steal. The same can be said for Texas DT Rodrique Wright, who is not on this list but remains on the board.
4. Mark Anderson, DE, Alabama – He's an edge rusher who stood out at the Senior Bowl and then blew scouts away with his all-around numbers at the scouting combine. Several teams that employ a 3-4 scheme evaluated Anderson to possibly switch him to outside linebacker. At worst, he's a situational pass rusher early in his career.
5. Gerrick McPhearson, CB, Maryland – One of the fastest cover corners available in this year's draft, McPhearson compares favorably to Fabian Washington, who was taken in the first round of last year's draft by the Raiders. He has an excellent pedigree, too, as his father played in the NFL with New England and his young brother, Derrick, will be a starting wide receiver at Illinois next season.
6. Ko Simpson, DB, South Carolina – The junior free safety flashed very good ball skills during his two-year run with the Gamecocks. Some had initially felt he could go as high as the late first round, but at the combine, there were some concerns with his ability to learn an NFL defensive scheme quickly. That could be the reason he has slid to Day 2.
7. Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georgia – He entered his senior campaign as the top-rated offensive guard on some boards. However, questions about his weight, conditioning and ability to be more than a short-area run blocker have him still undrafted.
8. Antoine Bethea, DB, Howard University – He's a small-school defender with very good speed and range. He surprised many with his sub-4.4 time in the 40 at the combine and caught the eye of several teams with his superb private workouts. Expect him to be taken by either Cleveland or Seattle on Day 2.
9. Marques Colston, WR, Hofstra – Colston is a big, physical pass catcher that wowed scouts at the East-West Shrine Game. He caught a pair of touchdowns and then nearly won the game in the final seconds with a highlight-reel catch between two defenders. The Division I-AA program has turned out guys like Wayne Chrebet (Jets), Lance Schulters (Dolphins) and Arlen Harris (Lions). Colston is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds and ran 4.5s at the combine. He's worth watching on the team that lands his services.
10. Justin Holland, QB, Colorado State – The underrated quarterback impressed at his pro day after being passed over by the combine committee. His stats are equal or even better than guys like Brodie Croyle and Charlie Whitehurst, who were taken in the third round.
11. Will Blackmon, DB/WR, Boston College – He's a versatile performer that started at both cornerback and then wide receiver during his college career. Blackmon is thought of by most teams as having more upside as a defensive back, but he is also a very talented return man. He's an excellent value choice in terms of his versatility.
12. Jasper Harvey, OL, San Diego State – The Aztecs' team captain started at both center and guard during his college career. His pro-day workout numbers would have ranked among the top three to five among centers at the combine. He has good footwork and displayed a real nasty streak at his postseason all-star games.
