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Three undrafted free agents who could star in the NFL this season

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David Sills

The Buffalo Bills drafted a couple of tight ends (Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney) but whether they will be used in the passing game remains to be seen.

They already had Zay Jones and Robert Foster on the roster and added the speedy John Brown and Mr Slot, Cole Beasley but it’s the 23-year-old out of West Virginia that has caught my eye as the season draws closer.

He has taken one of the more unconventional routes to the NFL but now he’s in, he doesn’t intend on letting the chance pass him by. With 18 touchdowns in his junior year he led the nation, adding another 15 in his final year and over 2,000 yards receiving it was easy to see why GMs across the league were interested in the former quarterback.

But it was actually when Brandon Beane went to see Will Grier that he noticed how good Sills was. Sills height and reach was a game changer, playing on the outside he was able to make a lot of plays on contested catches. “A savvy route runner” is how Beane described him.

I’d really fancy him to ease out either Foster or Jones throughout the season and watch for him in the Red Zone, just throw it up and let him go get it.

       

DeMarkus Lodge

Ole Miss were loaded at the receiver position last year. All the talk was about DK Metcalf because of his size and AJ Brown for his stats. For the record I don’t rate Metcalf and absolutely love Brown.

But I’d like to focus on Lodge. Given his landing spot (Tampa Bay) I can see opportunities coming his way.

With Humphries and Jackson now gone and the two main wide outs being Mike Evans and Chris Godwin there is scope there for someone to creep in under the radar and make their presence felt, enter DaMarkus Lodge.

His route running is incredible! He has the ability to snap out of runs and ghost in behind DB’s. Once he has beaten you, he’s very hard to catch. When in full stride and the ball placed in front of him you can guarantee a catch and yards after it. Line him up on the outside for some pitch and catch or in the slot and wait for him to get behind the defence, a nice headache to have for Bruce Arians.

Jamie Gillan

Find yourself a player who can kick, punt and totally destroy any returner.

       

Well, I think the Browns have found just the player. Known as the Scottish Hammer, Jamie Gillan has the leg of a caber and the build like the side of a house. It was a chance Facebook post that his friend saw that triggered his rise to the NFL, along with his father (who was in the RAF) moving to the USA.

His range on field goals in practice were close to 70 yards, he would go on to break Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s field goal record with a booming 52 yarder!

He did both kicking and punting at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, averaging close to 44 yards a punt as a junior with nearly 30 punts landing inside the opponents 20 yard line, it was clear to see he had a talent.

At rookie minicamp he burst a couple of balls during punting drills!

His workout is more like a line-backer than a punter. The 6’2, 210 pound boasted a 38 inch vertical leap and a 4.6 second 40 time. It’s not just Britton Colquitt that should be looking over his shoulder at the Browns; I’m looking at you Myles Garrett and company.

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