Russ Lande expects Tyler Bray's NFL draft stock to rise.
Lande, who serves as the Scouting Director for the National Football Post, joined Sports 180 on Thursday. How does Lande grade Bray following his performance at last week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis?
"I really think Bray is a third-round player," Lande said of the former Tennessee quarterback. "The immense upside is there but he needs to be more consistent, especially with his footwork."
Bray has time to work on that between now and March 20, when Tennessee will hold its Pro Timing Day.
Lande said he believes Bray will be "spectacular" when he works out for NFL scouts on UT's campus thanks to the opportunity to throw passes to his former Tennessee teammates.
"Accuracy, timing, that will all be taken care of," Lande said. "It's going to be a scripted session, so I'm sure nothing is going to surprise him. There are not going to be any pass rushers in his face.
"He will be tremendous. I think a coach will fall in love with him and I think in the bottom of the first or the top of the second (round), he's going to get drafted because of that."
Lande said he expects Bray's former teammate, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, to be drafted in the first round. But there are still questions about Patterson following his performance at the NFL Combine.
"There's no question physically the tools are there," Lande said. "He's a big kid, he's got rare talent running with the ball in his hands, he can make highlight reel catches. But I think when you watched him in the physical part of the workout, you saw there were times where he didn't run the sharpest routes and he had trouble getting in and out of his breaks.
"And I don't think it's due to an inability to do it. I think it's due to sometimes he loses focus and I think I see that in games, so it wasn't shocking to see it during his workout."
There were also questions about Patterson following his interviews with certain NFL teams.
"They said he really wasn't impressive and led them to think that the problems he had on the field may not correct themselves as quickly as they would hope," Lande said.
What did Lande say about former Tennessee receivers Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers as well as other top NFL prospects?
Click here to listen to the full interview.
4:17PM February 28, 2013