Undrafted Jeff Maehl of Oregon fame was let go by the Texans. He was on the practice squad last year then activated for the last 3 games and caught zippo.
Once Maehl was hailed as the second coming of Welker, maybe a little faster. He's a tough nut. Don't know why he made no progress in Houston but he might fit right here - then we'd have three smurfs! Edelman, Welker and Jeff Maehl. He seemed to be Brady's kind of guy last year before the draft. He's a gamer.
His draft overview from nflsoup.com-
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Oregon
Height: 6’1
Weight: 190
Hand: 9 1/8
40 Time: 4.62
Strengths
Maehl is a fiery competitor and an offensive leader, stepping up in the moments when his team needs him the most, and performing in the clutch when asked. These traits were perfectly on display in Oregon’s loss to Auburn in the 2011 BCS title game, where he was a focal point of the offense, and caught the game-tying two-point conversion near the end of the game.
Maehl doesn’t possess elite speed, but he’s not far off. Regardless, he has great speed with the pads on, and is a threat to break a big play anytime the ball is in his hands. In addition to his solid speed, Maehl is a natural, fluid athlete, and can work the seams for any pass, while possessing excellent route-running ability and the understanding of angles and defensive coverage.
While shifty and athletic, Maehl also provides his team with reliable hands and a knack for the tough catch, while never showing fear in going over the middle, or going up for a ball. Maehl won’t leave his quarterback hanging, and rarely drops even the toughest of passes. Maehl excels on screen passes and intermediate routes, while also displaying an ability to reel in deep passes and fight for passes in the air. Maehl is also a stellar blocker at the college level.
Weaknesses
Maehl shows flashes of big-play speed and ability, but when timed, it just hasn’t matched up. He benefited from playing in a weak Pac-10 conference, but still came up big against a tough SEC team in Auburn on college’s biggest stage. Regardless, as a skill player at the next level, he’ll have to prove he can separate against NFL corners, while possessing enough speed to make the same plays in the pro’s as he did in college.
With speed in question, Maehl will also have to face size and durability concerns, as he doesn’t have a huge frame and at first glance is a tad wiry. His frame actually suits the slot position at the next level, but he’ll still need to bulk up to handle the rigors of the beating slot receivers experience at the next level. Not going up against elite competition on a consistent basis in his career may also hinder his draft stock, although his impressive BCS title game showing should curb some of those concerns.
Draft Range
Maehl has inconsistent 40 times when timed, so how he performs at the 2011 NFL Combine will largely impact his draft stock. He has the field speed and hands of an NFL slot receiver, with the ability to make big plays. He definitely has a place at the next level, but still doesn’t quiet match up with many of the more explosive receivers ahead of him. Look for Maehl to be plucked by a team looking for a well-rounded receiver somewhere in the third or fourth round.
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