The 2018 NFL Draft is over and eight former UCLA football players got the call that will bridge their football careers from the college ranks to the pros. But there are also a few that are still looking to get into the NFL. Go Joe Bruin takes a look at all of them.
Once again, the UCLA football team sent a handful of players to the pros. This year, the 2018 NFL Draft opened the door for eight Bruins to start the next chapter of their lives.
RELATED – NFL DRAFTEES
Josh Rosen | Kolton Miller | Kenny Young | Scott Quessenberry | Jordan Lasley
With that in mind, Go Joe Bruin takes a look at who got the call, who signed after the draft was over and those Bruins that did not sign and are still looking to make it into the NFL…
The Drafted
Josh Rosen, QB, 1st Round (10th), Arizona Cardinals
Rosen “fell” to the 10th spot and he made it known that the teams that did not draft him with the 1-9 selections made a “mistake”. As the player many analysts dubbed the “most NFL ready”, it seems as though the negative feedback about his attitude and being apparently injury prone scared a few teams.
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Still, Rosen made it as a top 10 pick as the Cardinals traded up with the Oakland Raiders to get the best passer in the draft. The “Chosen One” was excited to join his new club and should be in the running for the starting role as there does not seem to be a legitimate #1 guy on the Cardinal’s roster. Interestingly enough, Rosen could step in and take over after two former USC Trojans (Matt Barkley and Carson Palmer) failed to direct the team to a winning record.
Though it will be a transition, Rosen should be able to help the Cardinals rise above their 8-8 finish from last season. But keep in mind, Arizona is in the same division as the franchise on fire, the Los Angeles Rams.
Kolton Miller, OT, 1st Round (15th), Oakland Raiders
A bit of a surprise at 15, but then again, Miller surprised everyone at the NFL combine as he broke records for an offensive lineman. Miller has a big frame and is relatively quick for a player in his position. He has the ability to use his length to protect the weak side, but also has experience on the right and can be used on the other end if necessary.
Though he reunites with fellow Bruin DL Eddie Vanderdoes, he will have to prove is worth if he wants to secure a spot on the line as a starter or a backup. If he puts on some more weight, he could easily land a starting role, but he also needs to shore up his tendencies to let defenders slip by him. Still, a solid pick for Oakland.
The Drafted (cont.)
Kenny Young, LB, 4th Round (122nd), Baltimore Ravens
UCLA did not have a player taken in the second day (rounds 2-3), but once Day 3 came around, the flood gates opened. Starting the day off was the heart and soul of the defense. The last Bruin to wear #42 (Jackie Robinson’s number, which was retired throughout the UCLA athletic department), Young is a big pick up for the Ravens.
Despite the underachieving of the defense last season, Young carried the weight of the defense on his shoulders. Though the Bruins had a tough time stopping the run, Young was one of the few that got the job done as he had a team-high 110 tackles.
Young may not be able to get a starting gig just yet, but he will be able to learn from the likes of C.J. Mosley and Terrell Suggs. The good news is, as an inside linebacker, he could vie for a backup role as the Ravens are deep with outside LBs.
Scott Quessenberry, C, 5th Round (155th), Los Angeles Chargers
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What an amazing selection for both Quessenberry and the Chargers. Not only does “Scotty Q” get to stay in Los Angeles, but he also gets to stay in blue and gold (yellow, but lets not split hairs).
Shortly after Young got the call, Quessenberry got his. Sure, the offensive line was a work in progress with new coaches OC Jedd Fisch and OL Hank Fraley, but UCLA did have slight progress.
The run game was not as bad as it was in 2016 and the passing offense was the 4th best in the nation, so they were doing something right.
Q anchored the line in the middle, but can also play at the guard spot if needed, but with the Chargers stacked with OGs, the center position is probably where he will be needed the most.
Jordan Lasley, WR, 5th Round (162nd), Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore must really like what UCLA did last season as Lasley was the second Bruin taken by the Ravens. Though Lasley has the talent to be drafted higher, it seems as if his dropped pass percentage and his off-field issues contributed to his fall to the 5th round.
The upside is that when Lasley does hold onto the ball, he is a huge deep threat and has the ability to make plays in the open field. Though he will need a few seasons to fully develop into a pro threat, he will do so learning from the likes of Michael Crabtree.
Un-Drafted Free Agents Signings
Najee Toran, OL, UDFA, San Francisco 49ers
Toran did not get a call within the time frame of the 2018 NFL Draft but he was be able to sign with the 49ers. The one advantage he has is that he had played on both sides of the ball, so the insight he has will be key to his development in the pros.
Toran will also have to bulk up a bit because the DLs he went against in college are nothing compared to those in the pros. Toran also has to prove himself to be worthy of at least a backup role, though that might be difficult seeing how many OLs San Francisco already has. Though if he is inclined, he could possibly develop into a center.
Related Story: Three Bruins sign as undrafted free agents
Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DL, UDFA, Atlanta Falcons
JTM is another Bruin that was expected to make a team whether he was drafted or signed as a free agent. Last season, he proved his worth as an threat off the line as he had the most sacks and tackles for loss on the team.
Atlanta is a bit deep with their DLs, but he will be able to pick up some knowledge from his teammate from a year ago, Takkarist McKinley, who is slowly making waves with the Falcons.
Matt Dickerson, DL, UDFA, Tennessee Titans
Dickerson is another talent that was not drafted, apparently due to an injury. Last season he injured his collarbone seven games in and was done for the season. Up until that point he did not have the best stats, but that did not deter Tennessee from drafting him as he has a lot of potential.
The biggest thing (pun intended) that is working in his favor is his 6’5 frame. If he can continue to develop, then he can be a very effective lineman that can force the offense to stretch to the outside of the line.
The Undrafted
Darren Andrews, WR, undrafted
Here is another Bruin that was not taken due to injury, but for those that watched Andrews over the last few seasons knew he was the most consistent pass catcher on the team. Though he does not have the flashiness of Lasley, Andrews pretty much caught everything that came his way. He develop good chemistry with Rosen over the last two years and could be a solid backup for an NFL team in need of a solid receiver.
Kenny Lacy, OL, undrafted
A hip injury kept Lacy out for the 2017 season, which is never good for one’s draft stock, but Lacy was a serviceable lineman and has experience in both a power and spread offense. If a team needs players for their scout team, Lacy is someone that should get a look.
Eldridge Massington, WR, undrafted
Massingotn is a tall receiver, but he could not mesh with Rosen, which is funny because he was Brett Hundley’s go-to receiver four years ago. Though Massington was not able to get much time on the field the last two seasons, he has the talent and potential to work as a backup with a pro team.
Alex Van Dyke, WR, undrafted
Van Dyke is another player that was unlucky enough to get bit by the injury bug, which is unfortunate because having a 6’4 receiver is something pro teams would kill for. He did have inconsistencies, but his ability to use his size on smaller DBs is something a lot teams could build on.
Austin Roberts, TE, undrafted
The Bruins utilized a lot of tight ends last season, but Roberts was buried behind the talents of Caleb Wilson and Jordan Wilson. Though not as consistent as the Wilsons, he did have decent hands, but blocking needs improvement, which is probably why Roberts should get signed as a receiver in the next level.
Jaleel Wadood, S, undrafted
The knock on Wadood is his small frame (5’9), but for those that have been paying attention know Wadood is a smart player and can make big hits. UCLA has had some of the best secondary play the last few seasons and Wadood is huge reason why.
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If teams want a hard worker and a solid tackler, there is no reason why they should question the safety’s natural abilities, which can only go up from here.