2014 NFL Draft, Day Three open thread: Here come the Gators

Once more into the Draft we go. This Saturday, though, we should see several Gators selected, a welcome change from the single Florida product — Dominique Easley, snagged by the New England Patriots in the first round — taken over the first two days of the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Gators who didn't go in the first three rounds may well stream off the board today. Jaylen Watkins, thought by many to be a likely Day Two pick, could be selected at any point in the fourth round, and might be joined by Marcus Roberson. It would be surprising to see Ronald Powell and Roberson last beyond the fifth round, and shocking for Watkins to last to that point. Loucheiz Purifoy, despite his legal issues (that obviously also include worries about drug abuse), would seem likely to go in the fifth or sixth round, though his stock has tumbled more than nearly any other player in the 2014 NFL Draft.

And then there are the Gators on the borderline between being taken late and trying to catch on as undrafted free agents (UDFAs). Jon Halapio and Solomon Patton are both probably skilled enough to merit picks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be interested in both players. Jonotthan Harrison, who has the misfortune of playing center, a position that rarely merits the expenditure of a draft pick, is another Gator who might come off the board, but he'll have to wait until the final round.

And then there are Trey Burton and Damien Jacobs, two servicable players at the collegiate level who seem like sure UDFAs. If either player is selected, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Day Three coverage of the 2014 NFL Draft is on ESPN and ESPN3 and NFL Network and its online streaming component again, and I'll be in the comments and updating with posts as Gators get selected.