PALM BEACH COUNTY – This is the moment we have all been waiting for.
Over the past several years, we have followed a host of soon-to-be NFL players from their high school and college football days. Some have turned out exactly as we projected them to, while others have exceeded our expectations with style and grace.
With that being said, the NFL Draft has finally come upon us, and it will be held starting tonight (Apr. 25) at 8 p.m. The first round, which comprises of the first 32 draft picks, will be nationally televised on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
For Day 2, the second and third rounds (picks 33-96) will be televised on Friday (Apr. 26) beginning at 7 p.m. And for Day 3, the fourth through seventh rounds (picks 97-254) will be aired on Saturday (Apr. 27) starting at 12 p.m.
Make sure to check your local listings so you don’t miss out on the action. If you can’t watch it live, you can DVR the broadcast if you have the means to do so.
TIME FOR LOCALS TO CASH IN
Palm Beach County has a lot of talent year in and year out. This is something we all know about.
But for this year in particular, it feels special in more ways than one. This could be due to the fact our team has followed many of these NFL-bound prospects in the trenches and when they have had their biggest successes on the field.
Getting that out of the way, there is a likelihood that the potential draftees will be selected by NFL teams starting in Day 2 of draft weekend.
After gleaning through months of intel on the players, it’s unanimous that no credible source sees any of our locals as first round picks – and that’s OK.
But in a unanimous view from a multitude of sources, it appears that running back Devin Singletary (FAU’s all-time leafing rusher; American Heritage-Delray alum) will be selected by a team in either the second or third round. He has been our area’s most accomplished and consistent overall player for the past several years, to say the very least.
It’s almost certain that the second area player drafted will be linebacker Te’Von Coney (Notre Dame alum/Palm Beach Gardens alum). The ferocious and hard-hitting defender is slated to be picked anywhere between the third and fifth rounds.
After Coney could be cornerback Jimmy Moreland, who came from humble beginnings at James Madison and blossomed into the FCS school’s all-time No. 1 corner in terms of overall production. The Reese’s Senior Bowl pick and Royal Palm Beach alum is seen by analysts as a fourth-round selection, but could go higher or lower in the draft – depending on team needs.
Don’t be surprised if offensive lineman and Florida alum Fred Johnson is selected anywhere between the fourth and seventh rounds of the draft. Like Moreland, the probable Day 3 pick and NFL Scouting Combine selection is a Royal Palm Beach alum.
Our most celebrated local over the past few years has been running back Travis Homer, who starred for Miami. The Oxbridge Academy alum, who shined in the NFL Combine two months ago and on Miami’s Pro Day last month, is likely going to be drafted between the fifth and seventh rounds.
ESPN’s Todd McShay told reporters earlier this week that Homer “has room to grow”, which is a good thing. We expect him to shine on special teams and have a chance at being an NFL starting running back this year and beyond.
The seventh and final likely local to be selected is running back Kerrith Whyte. The former FAU standout and Seminole Ridge alum is seen as a possible sixth-or-seventh-round pick due to his eye-popping Pro Day performance (4.36 in 40-yard dash; 42-inch vertical leap).
There are other players who could happily surprise us all are seen as either borderline NFL picks or potential success stories as undefeated free agents. Here’s the list of those who could also be late draft pickups:
•WR Johnnie Dixon (Ohio State alum/Dwyer alum) – NFL Combine performer
•WR Jamarius Way (South Alabama alum/Glades Central alum) – NFL Combine performer
The following list of players are likely to be undrafted free agents and will have a chance to impress a team at next week’s NFL Rookie Minicamp:
•CB Kyron Brown (Akron alum/Boynton Beach alum)
•WR Darrell Langham (Miami alum/Santaluces alum)
•DB Jonathan Istache (Duquesne alum/Glades Central alum)
•DB Clinton Stephens (Bowling Green alum/Dwyer alum)
NOTE: Please let us know if we’re missing anyone else. We wish all of our locals the very next in their next respective endeavors.
