Jermaine Gresham Remains A Top Ten 2010 NFL Draft Prospect Despite Knee Surgery

By Haley94 | Thursday, September 10, 2009 | ( 0 )

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Oklahoma senior tight end, Jermaine Gresham, will miss the entire 2009 season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He is expected to make a complete recovery. The initial prognosis was Gresham could miss anywhere from two weeks to the rest of the season depending upon what the doctors saw during the operation. The decision was made to shut Gresham down for the season and ensure he returns 100%.

The initial knee-jerk reaction is this must hurt Gresham’s draft stock in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft. I believe Gresham will still be considered one of the draft’s elite talents and a very high 1st round pick. NFL teams have plenty of quality film on what the big and athletic Oklahoma tight end can do on the football field (namely, score plenty of touchdowns!). Gresham would have been a high 1st round selection in last year’s draft had he decided to enter the draft early. He returned to Oklahoma because he wanted another shot at winning a national championship and he genuinely enjoyed the college experience. I applauded his decision to return because it speaks volumes about his competitiveness and the fact that he does not play the game just for money. Gresham will be a multi-millionaire in the NFL and he wanted his full college experience. There is nothing wrong with that.

The fact that Gresham’s college career ended with an injury should not drop his draft standing very much, if at all. Antonio Cromartie was the 19th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Chargers. He missed his entire junior season with an ACL tear and was not even a full-time starter at Florida State his first two seasons. San Diego saw an elite athlete when he worked out for NFL teams in March of 2006. The Chargers thought Cromartie had too much potential to pass up and spent a 1st round pick on a player who spent his junior year rehabbing from knee surgery. San Diego was correct as Antonio Cromartie has emerged as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. Willis McGahee was selected in the 1st round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. The Bills chose McGahee despite the fact that he suffered a devastating knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl only four months prior. A running back that tears multiple knee ligaments is certainly a high risk selection. However, Buffalo believed in the surgical advancements and that modern rehabilitation would result in the talented McGahee being a productive NFL player. That turned out to be the case and McGahee’s knee has not been an issue.

Jermaine Gresham’s knee injury is not as serious as Cromartie’s or McGahee’s. Michael Crabtree is another player whose draft stock did not drop much despite having foot surgery and being unable to run prior to the 2009 NFL Draft. Crabtree was selected with the 10th pick by the 49ers and was passed up by the Browns more for his prima donna attitude (looks like a good call) than his injury. Jermaine Gresham does not have any attitude issues and I fully expect him to be a very high 1st round pick come April. The fact is that tight ends that are 6 foot 6 and 260 pounds, run like an NBA power forward and catch touchdown passes in bunches are highly sought after.

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