2010 NFL Draft: Late Round Sleepers

As the teams and fans continue to count down the final days to the 2010 NFL Draft, it is time to take a look at the late round sleepers to see which players have the chance to pay big dividends on Sundays in the NFL.

Curtis Steele (RB Memphis Tigers)

The new trend in the NFL has been dual running back threat coming out of the backfield. Not only do the backs remain fresher, they often give the opposition a different look. Steele has the chance to be the perfect compliment to a power back.

While in Memphis, Steele used his elusive skills to help rack up over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2009 college season. If a team is looking to add burst speed to their back field and can make big plays on the outside, Steele fist the mold of the Chargers' Darren Sproles and would be a wise choice in the late rounds.

Jerome Murphy (CB South Florida)

When it comes to the 2010 NFL draft, the defensive side is loaded, resulting in a number of players who can be picked up for cheap in the later rounds. Murphy is one of those players.

This hard hitting cornerback made a name for himself in the Big East by racking up 73 tackles and 4 interceptions during the 2009 college season. Teams who select Murphy should expect him to take a year or two to adjust to the NFL game before he competes for a starting spot.

Mike McLaughlin (LB Boston College)

Though a NFL game is fought in the trenches, the defensive side of the game is dictated by the linebackers, who are the leaders on the field. Every so often there are those linebackers, like McLaughlin, who come along and remind us of the old-school linebackers like Butkus.

Though McLaughlin's performance in 2009 was less than expected, he still showed flashes of what he accomplished during the 2008 season. McLaughlin does have a lot to prove and will be ready to make an impact for the team that selects him during the later rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Aaron Webster (S Cincinnati)

The recent performance of safeties, Ed Reed and Darren Sharper, has shown the impact a quality safety can have on a game. The limited choices often leave NFL teams searching the late rounds for a sleeper selection to find next playmaker.

Webster has shown NFL scouts that he has the speed and size to play the position. He will make an immediate impact in the nickel and dime packages as he learns the nuances of the NFL game.

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2010 NFL Draft