Sports

Alabama’s Milliner sees draft stock dropping amomg injury concerns

Dee Milliner could be the victim of some very bad timing Thursday night.

Pegged early on in the NFL Draft process to go as high as No. 2 overall to the Jaguars, the Alabama cornerback finds his stock dropping because of questions about the health of a torn labrum Milliner had repaired in March.

Concern among scouts started to rise after teams recently got a second medical look at him, and Milliner confirmed it publicly last week by admitting he might not be cleared to practice until August.

ESPN then added to the buzz last night by reporting Milliner’s file also has three other issues not previously known to the public: a rod inserted into the tibia near his ankle, arthroscopic knee surgery and hernia problems.

Yikes.

Milliner, who declared early after a standout career for the defending BCS national champions, tried to put the best face on it by saying the reaction from teams has been calm.

“They all seem fine with it,” he told The Cleveland Plain Dealer after a visit with the Browns, who have the sixth overall pick. “They know I’m going to come back strong from it. I don’t think it will hurt my draft status.”

Milliner probably shouldn’t be too sure about that. While talk of Jacksonville with the second pick appeared to fade long ago (the Jaguars appear set on an offensive tackle, most likely Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher), there is now buzz Milliner could fade all the way to the Titans at No. 10 or even the middle of the first round.

Not only that, but there also has been so much recent interest in Houston corner D.J. Hayden — NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock now lists Hayden as his top-ranked player at the position — Milliner might not be the first corner taken.

That would be a shocking fall, especially considering Milliner clocked an eye-popping 4.31 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and was encouraged by Alabama coach Nick Saban — who knows a quality player when he sees one — to declare early.
 The knock on Milliner is he didn’t play much press coverage and is a poor tackler, and the shoulder injury has compounded the worry.

Then again, Milliner almost certainly won’t plummet. Several teams would be willing to trade up to the middle of the round to get him, with the Falcons likely being the most eager suitor.

* Speaking of Hayden, Rex Ryan attended his workout yesterday in Houston — the only NFL head coach to do so.

With the Jets seemingly locked in on LSU pass-rusher Barkevious Mingo with the ninth overall pick, Hayden — who nearly died on the practice field last November in a freak accident, when he severed a vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart — looks like a candidate for the No. 13 choice the Jets picked up Sunday in the Darrelle Revis trade.

Corner, of course, would be a newfound need for the Jets in the wake of Revis’ departure to the Buccaneers.

Hayden’s workout was private, but reports indicated he performed well in the roughly 40-minute session.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay caused a stir yesterday by slotting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert instead of Milliner for the Browns at No. 6, but that wasn’t entirely out of left field.

Not only does Cleveland badly need playmakers to get a better assessment of quarterback Brandon Weeden, but new coach Rob Chudzinski and new offensive coordinator Norv Turner have always placed a high priority on tight ends in their schemes.

Although Eifert has always been the top-ranked tight end in this year’s class because of his soft hands and prolific college career, sixth overall would still be a shocker.

Most analysts have him pegged to the Cowboys at No. 18 or Bears at No. 20, in large part because many scouts consider him almost useless as a blocker.

bhubbuch@nypost.com