PALM BEACH COUNTY – Lifetime dreams came true this weekend, to say the least.
In what was an eventful NFL Draft, we didn’t see any local players selected in the first round. But four were picked in Day 2 and Day 3, with three of them coming in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Our top pick came in the third round, as running back Devin Singletary (FAU/American Heritage-Delray Beach) was chosen by the Buffalo Bills at No. 74 overall. It fell in line with almost all draft analyst projections for the Owls all-time leading rusher.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was succinct with his analysis on Singletary.
“He is a fun runner to watch with his jump-cuts and quickness,” Jeremiah said. “It’s fun to watch him on tape.”
Moving down the draft board, there was plenty of excitement and agony when it came to our potential local selections. We didn’t get a pick on Day 3 until the sixth round, when running back Travis Homer (Miami/Oxbridge Academy) received a call from the Seattle Seahawks with the 204th overall selection.
NFL Network’s Marc Dulgerian provided his take on Homer’s placement in the draft.
“The Seahawks have an affinity for running backs who stand out on special teams coverage units,” Dulgerian said. “Homer is no exception and should make his presence felt on coverage units, while serving as a rotational back in the Seahawks’ run-oriented offense.”
In the seventh round, we got two off the board: running back Kerrith Whyte, Jr. (FAU/Seminole Ridge) and cornerback Jimmy Moreland (James Madison/Royal Palm Beach).
Whyte, who made history by becoming the first-ever Seminole Ridge alum to get drafted, was chosen by the Chicago Bears with the No. 222 pick. Just five spots later (No. 227), the Washington Redskins selected Moreland as the Muck’s only draft pick this year.
“The Bears ranked dead last with a 19.1 kick return average last season,” Dulgerian said. “If (head coach) Matt Nagy wants to find a replacement for Tarik Cohen on that unit, Whyte offers plenty of home run ability as a replacement.”
Dulgerian on Moreland:
“Moreland will get every shot at making this team as a nickel defender,” he said. “You don’t often find a player with his ball skills and return ability this late in the draft.”
LOCAL UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
It was a disappointing time for at least two potential draft picks: linebacker Te’Von Coney (Notre Dame/Palm Beach Gardens) and guard Fredrick Johnson (Florida/Royal Palm Beach). But their down moments came and went pretty quickly, as they were picked up as undrafted free agents last night by the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
Meanwhile, cornerback Kyron Brown (Akron/Boynton Beach) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. It’s a chance for Brown, as well as Coney and Johnson, to prove their worth to their respective NFL teams.
Brown won’t be participating in rookie minicamp next week with the Jets. However, the Jets will instead host a four-day rookie orientation from May 9-12 at the team facilities in Florham Park, according to the team’s offseason workout program.
The Jets change of plans was first reported by USA Today.
Also noteworthy: wide receiver Johnnie Dixon (Ohio State/Dwyer) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans, while wide receiver Jamarius Way (South Alabama/Glades Central) was picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Both wideouts were invited to perform in the NFL Scouting Combine two months ago at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Defensive end Walvenski Aime (Florida State/Olympic Heights) was signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He will be joining Homer as NFL teammates, at least through next week’s rookie minicamp.
Wide receiver Ron’quavion Tarver (Utah State/Glades Central) was chosen as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears. He’ll be with Whyte as his teammate for rookie minicamp next week, and hopefully beyond that very critical point.
This is all we have for now. We’re awaiting word on the UFDA (undrafted free agent) status of other notables such as safety Jalen Young (FAU/Seminole Ridge) and cornerback Jonathant Istache (Duquesne/Glades Central).
If there are any other players from our area we missed, please let us know. We appreciate it a lot.
NOTE: As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team may hold one post-draft rookie minicamp on either the first or second weekend following the NFL draft. Minicamp gives drafted and undrafted players the opportunity to get immersed with the playbook and get a feel for the NFL before training camp begins.
Article sources: NFL Network (nfl.com) and USA Today’s Sam Neumann (usatoday.com)
