Every year there are some small-school gems who warrant attention in the draft.

Derek Carrier is one of those players. He is a huge receiver with great measurables. But he is from tiny Beloit College.

Among the teams seriously investigating Carrier are the Raiders and the Broncos. He had made two visits, one to Oakland and another to Seattle. Other teams have been checking into him.

If Carrier went an SEC school, he’d likely be an early-round pick; as things stand, he is expected to go in the sixth or seventh round. There is no doubt that he is a project, but there is a lot to like.

He is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and ran a 4.49 40-yard dash. He has a 40-inch vertical jump and did a three-cone run in 6.69 seconds, which is off the charts.

Most important, Carrier has shown he can produce. He had 75 catches and l12 touchdowns last season. The only knock on this specimen is the level of competition he has faced.

Still, someone is going to get a potential standout -- and there is a chance he lands in the AFC West.