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Maryland Football: Recapping where each Terp landed in the NFL Draft

By Chris Bengel

Nov 7, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Alex Erickson (86) gains yards after his catch defended by Maryland Terrapins defensive back Sean Davis (21) at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Alex Erickson (86) gains yards after his catch defended by Maryland Terrapins defensive back Sean Davis (21) at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL Draft was held this past weekend in Chicago and the Maryland football team did very well.

Three former Terrapins were selected in the first five rounds of the 2016 Draft. In addition, three others went undrafted, but inked free agent deals with NFL teams.

The action began on Friday evening when the Pittsburgh Steelers took defensive back Sean Davis with the 58th overall pick (second round). Ironically, Davis was the highest drafted Terp since wide receiver Torrey Smith was taken with 58th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Davis was the 10th defensive back selected in a draft where the position was very deep. Eli Apple, Artie Burns, Vernon Hargreaves, William Jackson III, Karl Joseph, and Jalen Ramsey were all drafted in the opening round.

Just 11 picks later, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue came off the board as he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 69th overall pick (third round). Ngakoue was projected to go anywhere from the second to the fifth round due to his ability to rush the passer.

It was the first time since 2006 that two Terps were drafted in the first 70 picks. In the 2006 Draft, tight end Vernon Davis was selected sixth overall by the San Francisco 49ers and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson went 34th overall to the Cleveland Browns.

On Day Three, the Seattle Seahawks attempted to rebuild their front seven when they selected defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson with the 147th overall pick (fifth round). Jefferson was only selected one spot away from where wideout Stefon Diggs was picked in the 2015 NFL Draft (146th overall).

After the draft concludes, it’s normally a mad scramble for NFL teams to scoop up the top undrafted free agents.

Kicker Brad Craddock, running back Brandon Ross, and offensive guard Andrew Zeller all signed contracts with NFL teams. Craddock signed with the Cleveland Browns, Ross will be with the Vikings alongside Diggs, and Zeller is reunited with former coach Randy Edsall with the Detroit Lions.

Let’s take a look at each former Terp and how they could fit in with their new team.

Next: A potential Steel in Pittsburgh

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