On the Mend - Finding Steals Among Injured Players

Every year it's the same story - a guy gets tagged with the "injury risk" label and takes a steep tumble on draft day. 

There are a few different versions of this story. 

Sometimes it's a guy who was typically durable in college but can't work out for teams because of a recent injury.  Sometimes it's a talented guy who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, the proverbial china doll.

Whatever the details of their tales of woe, injured players can present great late round value for teams that have enough depth to carry the attendent risk.

Here's a list of prospects for the upcoming draft whose injuries could affect where and when they're picked, and what kind of value they might hold for the Steelers, a team that is willing and able to stash away their later round picks for a year.

Michael Crabtree - WR - Texas Tech

The Steelers have no chance at him, but he's the best of the red cross bunch and is guaranteed to be a top 10 pick, whether he runs a forty before the draft or not.  Crabtree might actually be the rare player who only can lose by running a 40 - his tape is so good that his speed only has the potential to hurt him, not help him.

Brandon Tate - WR - North Carolina

Tate really came on as a receiver early last season.  His technique finally caught up to his athleticism, making him hard to stop.  He was clearly the number one option with Hakeem Nicks playing second fiddle.  Then he tore his ACL in early October against Notre Dame.

Tate is not yet 100% and isn't expected to run until June.  However, this is a player with too much talent to end up falling very far.  Tate is a brilliant return man with big play potential on offense, a guy who will work and a guy who will block.  He would instantly help the return game if healthy and would challenge Limas Sweed for the 3rd wide receiver spot.  The Steelers don't typically throw rookie wide receivers to the wolves, so they might be able to wait on Tate to get healthy.  I don't expect Tate to fall out of the 3rd round. 
 

Jason Phillips - LB - TCU

Phillips was having a great combine until a torn meniscus in his left knee ruined his weekend.

Phillips is an undersized, run and chase tackle machine who had posted a 4.6 forty yard dash to go along with a 34 inch vertical jump.

Phillips is only expected to be out for 6-8 weeks, so teams that are interested in him will be bolstered by the fact that he'll be ready for training camp.  But he went from climbing the draft boards to sliding down them in an instant in Indianapolis.

He should still be available in the 5th round, though he's not a prototype Steelers inside linebacker.

Brian Toal - LB - Boston College

The Toal of a few years ago looked like he could solve the Steelers' ILB depth and goal line problems in one fell swoop.

He was one of the top linebackers in the Big East in 2005 and 2006 while also contributing as a short yardage running back (his best position in high school), scoring 12 touchdowns in 2 years.

Then, he sat out 2007 with a torn labrum.  Upon returning 2008, he broke his leg in the 6th game of the season when he got rolled by teammate B.J. Raji.

Toal did not participate at the combine, but worked out at his pro day, running a 4.65 with a 37.5 inch vertical. 

Like Phillips, he's a little undersized for the Steelers' defense (he has worked out at safety), but is a tough, explosive difference maker when he's healthy.
 

Woodny Turenne - CB - Louisville

Turenne was having an up and down season before breaking his clavicle in late November.

Known as a bit of a gambler that makes and gives up big plays, Turenne has the size the Steelers typically look for (6'0") and ran an impressive 4.46 at his pro day a few weeks ago.

Turenne figures to be affected more by his film than by his injury, but he could still fall a little bit.  He's likely a 4th or 5th round pick.
 

Chase Coffman - TE - Missouri

A highly productive receiving tight end, Coffman broke his foot during the Alamo Bowl.

Coffman has great height and a natural feel for the TE position, though he lacks adequate bulk and strength as a blocker to succeed as an in-line tight end.  He's not a true seam-stretcher athletically, but he was able to use guile to beat teams down the middle at Missouri.

Coffman was unable to work out at the Combine and at his Pro Day, and it's unclear if he'll work out at all before the draft.  While he will still be drafted, he might slide a few rounds as questions about his speed won't be answered if he doesn't run in the next few weeks.  The Steelers aren't likely to be in the market for a tight end, but if Coffman were to fall too far he would be appealing.  If he could add weight and strength as a run blocker, he could be a poor man's Heath Miller.
 

Brennan Marion - WR - Tulsa

Here's a guy who, if healthy, could potentially replace what Nate Washington brought to the table.  Marion was averaging an astonishing 25.9 yards per catch (43 catches for 1,112 yards) when he blew out his right knee against East Carolina.

Though he will not participate in any workouts before the draft, it's obvious from his play at Tulsa that he's got elite speed and playmaking ability.  It's likely that he'll be drafted late by a team that can afford to wait a year for him.  If the Steelers could get a WR that can play right away in the 3rd or 4th round, Marion would be a very intriguing x-factor to take a chance on later in the draft.
 

Xavier Fulton - T - Illinois

Fulton showed his athleticism at the combine, running a 5.01 forty to go along with 27 reps on the bench.

A newcomer to the offensive tackle position, Fulton moved from defensive tackle in 2007 and his inexperience showed as he struggled with technique.

Fulton had surgery on his right shoulder shortly before his scheduled pro day, and it will likely make his draft stock plummet.

Fulton has too much athletic ability to not get drafted, but his injury (along with a torn ACL a few years ago) and his lack of experience will push him down in the draft, probably past the 5th round. 

If he can get healthy and add weight, he's got the potential to start at left tackle some day.  The Steelers generally prefer a more stout LT, but it's rare to find a guy with LT tools in the later rounds.
 

Jeremy Perry - G - Oregon State

Perry was one of the most highly regarded guards in the nation in 2006.  However, he broke his leg early in the 2007 season and then, upon returning late in the year, blew out his knee.  He had multiple knee surgeries and wasn't ready to play in 2008, missing the entire season.

Perry has an uphill climb to get drafted after basically not playing for two seasons, but he will attempt to work out at Hawaii's pro day on April 2nd.  If he proves himself there, he would be worth a late round pick despite his injury history - this guy was a dominant blocker not so long ago.  If not for two years of injuries, Perry would likely be near the top of the Steelers' list of guards.
 

Chris Crane - QB - Boston College

He's a big, mobile kid who was improving in his first crack at a starter's job until he broke his collarbone in November.  Crane has a strong arm, but had some problems with interceptions and inaccuracy last season, but he's very inexperienced.

Crane is healthy now and threw at his pro day, where he put up a 4.71 forty at 6'5", 231.

Crane won't be drafted, but he has potential and didn't get much of a chance at BC playing behind Matt Ryan for 3 years, so he figures to improve.  BC has a history of producing QB's, and Crane also has the Matt Cassel effect in his favor.  He would be an interesting camp arm, a guy with lots of upside.
 

Eddie Williams - FB - Idaho

Williams was having a very productive year as a receiver and blocker, catching 54 passes for 687 yards while dominating as a lead blocker before tearing his left ACL late in the season.

He was invited to the combine, but was unable to work out.

Williams will not be drafted but would be an interesting undrafted free agent prospect who has the size (6'1", 241) to block and the receiving ability to threaten the edges.  The Steelers almost always bring in a free agent FB or two, and Williams would fit the new FB job description.

Roger Allen - G - Missouri Western

One of only a handful of Division II players to be invited to the combine, Allen was unable to participate after suffering a hernia in the Texas vs. The Nation game.

Allen participated in Missouri's pro day and did drills but did not run.  He did take a crack at the bench press, and put up 225 an impressive 38 times.

Allen is a huge road grader of a guard (6'3", 326) who moves well for a man his size.  His injury likely won't affect his draft status - he's on the cusp of the 7th round but is more likely to be an undrafted free agent.  He has the size and strength to catch the Steelers' attention.

Rylan Reed - T- Texas Tech

A sad story but a guy who deserves to get a shot. 

Reed quit minor league baseball to battle cancer, then lost his father in a car accident shortly after being told that he was in remission.  Reed joined the Red Raider football team as a 23 year old freshman and worked his way from a tight end to a behemoth tackle with the quickness and strength to possibly get a shot at RT in the NFL at the age of 27.

After putting up 44 reps on the bench at his pro day, Reed suffered a torn patella while running his 40 yard dash.

Reed probably won't get drafted, but should be a priority free agent assuming he recovers from this most recent injury.  He's got a ton of heart and enough ability that teams simply shouldn't bet against him.  The Steelers have a long history of giving chances to good guys who had some bad luck, and Reed certainly qualifies.