2015 NFL Draft Thread
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Iamtdg
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He has David Johnson ahead of Ajayi. Enough said.
Iamtdg
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Yep, and it's a fact that the DL makes the secondary better more than vice versa. So, one is more important than the other.
dbair1967
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If we're there at 27 and they have a much better pass rush prospect than CB prospect, pretty obvious they'd take the pass rusher I believe. I think they could still get a DB or two in the 2nd/3rd/4th rd areas that could help them this yr.
dbair1967
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Maybe he has serious concerns about the guys knee issue
ThoughtExperiment
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Iamtdg has some mad Ajayi love...
Iamtdg
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dbair1967
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5 NFL Draft: 5 Bold Predictions - Dante Fowler follows QBs off board
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
April 29, 2015 1:53 pm ET
If the NFL Draft was predictable, it wouldn't continue to be the fastest-growing niche event in sports. The volatility of the draft, especially the first round, is what makes mock drafts the most visited pages on the internet each spring and drives television ratings for the draft higher than World Series games.
With that said, here are five bold predictions for the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday. They could all be hits, or they could all be misses, but that's what makes them bold.
1. Dante Fowler will be the first defensive prospect drafted:
Southern Cal defensive tackle Leonard Williams is the best player in the draft. That's my opinion and the opinion of several around the league. But Fowler could conceivably be drafted ahead of Williams because of his pass rush value. Assuming quarterbacks are drafted 1-2, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have several options from Williams to wide receivers Amari Cooper and Kevin White, but Fowler could be the pick because of his fit in the defense.
2. After two years of no first rounders, the running back position will have two top 20 picks:
In early April, I tweeted that an NFL scouting director told me two running backs would be drafted in the top 20. Although I received mostly "no way" responses to that prediction, I'm buying in and think there is a great chance both Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are drafted within the top 20. We know the two-year streak of no first round running backs will be snapped, but I'll up the ante and say two come off the board in the top 20.
3. OTs Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher will be first round picks:
This offensive tackle class is strange. How's that for an expert opinion? This year's class lacks a no-brainer top 10 pick at offensive tackle, but there could be five or six that land in the first round. And two of those tackles will be names not often found in mock drafts: Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi and Oregon's Jake Fisher.
Ogbuehi was a first round prospect a few months ago, but a torn ACL in the Aggies' bowl game put his future in doubt. Fisher is lighter than ideal, but the former tight end has the movement skills that could land him in the top 32.
4. Damarious Randall will be the first safety drafted, and in the first round.
If a needy team doesn't draft its safety early, it might be on the outside looking in because there are so few players at the position that scouts project as future NFL starters from this class. Alabama's Landon Collins is one of the safer picks in this draft for a team that needs a strong safety. But for a team seeking a free safety who can cover? Randall could be the guy, and that could get him into the later portion of round one, similar to nickelback/safety Jimmie Ward a year ago.
5. Bryce Petty will sneak into the late part of Round One.
This might be the biggest surprise of the first round if it happens. It would be tough to find many who think Petty is worth a first rounder, but quarterbacks are always overvalued because of simple supply and demand and Petty has workable traits that coaches covet, both physically and mentally.
He is likely in the early second round mix to a team like the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams or Buffalo Bills, so it shouldn't be a shock if one of those teams packages a third or fourth rounder to move up a few spots into the late first round to guarantee Petty, similar to what Minnesota did last year with Teddy Bridgewater. Drafting in the first round also guarantees a fifth-year club option at a very reasonable price, which is gold for a quarterback who will need time to adapt to the NFL game like Petty.
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
April 29, 2015 1:53 pm ET
If the NFL Draft was predictable, it wouldn't continue to be the fastest-growing niche event in sports. The volatility of the draft, especially the first round, is what makes mock drafts the most visited pages on the internet each spring and drives television ratings for the draft higher than World Series games.
With that said, here are five bold predictions for the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday. They could all be hits, or they could all be misses, but that's what makes them bold.
1. Dante Fowler will be the first defensive prospect drafted:
Southern Cal defensive tackle Leonard Williams is the best player in the draft. That's my opinion and the opinion of several around the league. But Fowler could conceivably be drafted ahead of Williams because of his pass rush value. Assuming quarterbacks are drafted 1-2, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have several options from Williams to wide receivers Amari Cooper and Kevin White, but Fowler could be the pick because of his fit in the defense.
2. After two years of no first rounders, the running back position will have two top 20 picks:
In early April, I tweeted that an NFL scouting director told me two running backs would be drafted in the top 20. Although I received mostly "no way" responses to that prediction, I'm buying in and think there is a great chance both Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are drafted within the top 20. We know the two-year streak of no first round running backs will be snapped, but I'll up the ante and say two come off the board in the top 20.
3. OTs Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher will be first round picks:
This offensive tackle class is strange. How's that for an expert opinion? This year's class lacks a no-brainer top 10 pick at offensive tackle, but there could be five or six that land in the first round. And two of those tackles will be names not often found in mock drafts: Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi and Oregon's Jake Fisher.
Ogbuehi was a first round prospect a few months ago, but a torn ACL in the Aggies' bowl game put his future in doubt. Fisher is lighter than ideal, but the former tight end has the movement skills that could land him in the top 32.
4. Damarious Randall will be the first safety drafted, and in the first round.
If a needy team doesn't draft its safety early, it might be on the outside looking in because there are so few players at the position that scouts project as future NFL starters from this class. Alabama's Landon Collins is one of the safer picks in this draft for a team that needs a strong safety. But for a team seeking a free safety who can cover? Randall could be the guy, and that could get him into the later portion of round one, similar to nickelback/safety Jimmie Ward a year ago.
5. Bryce Petty will sneak into the late part of Round One.
This might be the biggest surprise of the first round if it happens. It would be tough to find many who think Petty is worth a first rounder, but quarterbacks are always overvalued because of simple supply and demand and Petty has workable traits that coaches covet, both physically and mentally.
He is likely in the early second round mix to a team like the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams or Buffalo Bills, so it shouldn't be a shock if one of those teams packages a third or fourth rounder to move up a few spots into the late first round to guarantee Petty, similar to what Minnesota did last year with Teddy Bridgewater. Drafting in the first round also guarantees a fifth-year club option at a very reasonable price, which is gold for a quarterback who will need time to adapt to the NFL game like Petty.
dbair1967
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Ten believable things amid so much NFL draft misinformation
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Media draft analyst
Published: April 29, 2015 at 06:58 p.m.
Updated: April 29, 2015 at 07:42 p.m.
With so much smoke billowing from the draft rumor mills, what can we trust as the information rolls in prior to the start of Round 1 on Thursday in Chicago? Here are 10 things to believe amid so much chatter.
1. Leonard Williams goes second to the Titans: Let's get real for a second. While Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota play the most important position in football, those guys are both graded lower than Williams by just about every team that I've heard from. If the Titans are bluffing regarding their interest in Mariota, Williams is truly the best player available with the second overall pick.
2. The trade-up spot for Marcus Mariota is more likely to be No. 5 than No. 2: If the Titans aren't in love with Mariota and fail to find a trade partner, Mariota could fall to the fifth pick, where Washington might find suitors including Cleveland, Philadelphia and even New Orleans.
3. Todd Gurley goes early: So is Gurley's draft stock truly rising, or is the talk of his ascending stock just more draft smoke? It is hard to tell at this juncture, but Gurley has just about every tool you want from a workhorse runner and it appears as though ACL injuries simply don't produce the fear they once did with NFL teams. Gurley and Melvin Gordon are head and shoulders above the rest of the running back prospects and teams looking for a first-round rusher might decide that this "deep running back class" isn't as appealing as taking the best back on the board early on.
4. Randy Gregory and Shane Ray will go outside of the first round: Both of these players are legitimate top-10 talents in this draft, but there might be too much negative buzz around them to stay inside the first round. Ray was cited for marijuana possession earlier this week and Gregory failed a drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. As one executive told me: "If you are the GM who takes Ray or Gregory despite their current issues, then he had better not bust on them or you can pack your bags because the fans and media will never let you live that down."
5. Jake Fisher will be drafted in the first round: For much of the draft process, Fisher, an offensive tackle from Oregon, has been left out of first-round mock drafts. However, as the draft gets closer, more and more organizations are beginning to feel like Fisher is safer than some of the alternative selections that could be available after guys like Brandon Scherff, Andrus Peat and D.J. Humphries are gone.
6. Six wide receivers will be picked in the first round: We've known that Kevin White and Amari Cooper are the position's headliners for quite a while now, and DeVante Parker is a close third, but Breshad Perriman's size and speed will gain him access into the first round as well. Nelson Agholor, Phillip Dorsett and Jaelen Strong all have enough buzz around them to expect that at least two of the three will go in Round 1.
7. Look out for a run on cornerbacks: If 2014 produced a banner crop of wide receivers and this year's draft is expected to be loaded with receivers in the first round, then why wouldn't the players who cover them go early as well? Trae Waynes and Kevin Johnson could both go inside the first half of the first round, which might create an itchy trigger finger for teams looking at Marcus Peters and Jalen Collins as well.
8. Bryce Petty is getting drafted earlier than we all think: We hear plenty of talk about how lacking this quarterback class is, and NFL teams have been saying the same thing behind the scenes. However, as the draft inches closer, I'm starting to hear more and more whispers about teams talking themselves into considering Petty earlier than their initial grades might have merited. Petty has size, decent athleticism and a good arm and let's face it -- teams just can't quit quarterbacks.
9. The top three centers could come from the tackle class: The conversation in offensive line circles around the league was that finding a guard to play center was going to be the next trend as teams look for more power and mass to battle against 3-4 nose tackles. Now, with teams going to speedy sub-packages, it appears as though tackles with a background in pass protection are the next big thing. Cameron Erving, Mitch Morse and Ali Marpet all played tackle (with Erving moving to center during the 2014 season). All three could end up being taken ahead of the natural centers in this class and converted to that position.
10. The "little guys" make a move: Aaron Donald proved last season that size matters, but strength, leverage, talent and heart matter even more. Look for undersized Clemson nose tackle Grady Jarrett and Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett to buck the traditional size concerns and go even earlier than current projections, as teams love their play demeanor and consistency of performance on the field.
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Media draft analyst
Published: April 29, 2015 at 06:58 p.m.
Updated: April 29, 2015 at 07:42 p.m.
With so much smoke billowing from the draft rumor mills, what can we trust as the information rolls in prior to the start of Round 1 on Thursday in Chicago? Here are 10 things to believe amid so much chatter.
1. Leonard Williams goes second to the Titans: Let's get real for a second. While Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota play the most important position in football, those guys are both graded lower than Williams by just about every team that I've heard from. If the Titans are bluffing regarding their interest in Mariota, Williams is truly the best player available with the second overall pick.
2. The trade-up spot for Marcus Mariota is more likely to be No. 5 than No. 2: If the Titans aren't in love with Mariota and fail to find a trade partner, Mariota could fall to the fifth pick, where Washington might find suitors including Cleveland, Philadelphia and even New Orleans.
3. Todd Gurley goes early: So is Gurley's draft stock truly rising, or is the talk of his ascending stock just more draft smoke? It is hard to tell at this juncture, but Gurley has just about every tool you want from a workhorse runner and it appears as though ACL injuries simply don't produce the fear they once did with NFL teams. Gurley and Melvin Gordon are head and shoulders above the rest of the running back prospects and teams looking for a first-round rusher might decide that this "deep running back class" isn't as appealing as taking the best back on the board early on.
4. Randy Gregory and Shane Ray will go outside of the first round: Both of these players are legitimate top-10 talents in this draft, but there might be too much negative buzz around them to stay inside the first round. Ray was cited for marijuana possession earlier this week and Gregory failed a drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. As one executive told me: "If you are the GM who takes Ray or Gregory despite their current issues, then he had better not bust on them or you can pack your bags because the fans and media will never let you live that down."
5. Jake Fisher will be drafted in the first round: For much of the draft process, Fisher, an offensive tackle from Oregon, has been left out of first-round mock drafts. However, as the draft gets closer, more and more organizations are beginning to feel like Fisher is safer than some of the alternative selections that could be available after guys like Brandon Scherff, Andrus Peat and D.J. Humphries are gone.
6. Six wide receivers will be picked in the first round: We've known that Kevin White and Amari Cooper are the position's headliners for quite a while now, and DeVante Parker is a close third, but Breshad Perriman's size and speed will gain him access into the first round as well. Nelson Agholor, Phillip Dorsett and Jaelen Strong all have enough buzz around them to expect that at least two of the three will go in Round 1.
7. Look out for a run on cornerbacks: If 2014 produced a banner crop of wide receivers and this year's draft is expected to be loaded with receivers in the first round, then why wouldn't the players who cover them go early as well? Trae Waynes and Kevin Johnson could both go inside the first half of the first round, which might create an itchy trigger finger for teams looking at Marcus Peters and Jalen Collins as well.
8. Bryce Petty is getting drafted earlier than we all think: We hear plenty of talk about how lacking this quarterback class is, and NFL teams have been saying the same thing behind the scenes. However, as the draft inches closer, I'm starting to hear more and more whispers about teams talking themselves into considering Petty earlier than their initial grades might have merited. Petty has size, decent athleticism and a good arm and let's face it -- teams just can't quit quarterbacks.
9. The top three centers could come from the tackle class: The conversation in offensive line circles around the league was that finding a guard to play center was going to be the next trend as teams look for more power and mass to battle against 3-4 nose tackles. Now, with teams going to speedy sub-packages, it appears as though tackles with a background in pass protection are the next big thing. Cameron Erving, Mitch Morse and Ali Marpet all played tackle (with Erving moving to center during the 2014 season). All three could end up being taken ahead of the natural centers in this class and converted to that position.
10. The "little guys" make a move: Aaron Donald proved last season that size matters, but strength, leverage, talent and heart matter even more. Look for undersized Clemson nose tackle Grady Jarrett and Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett to buck the traditional size concerns and go even earlier than current projections, as teams love their play demeanor and consistency of performance on the field.
ThoughtExperiment
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Been saying this for a while now...
Can't believe Ray and Gregory go outside the first, though. We'd take one of them.
dbair1967
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That's really no different than any other draft class genius. QB's are almost always over drafted.
dbair1967
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cough...cough....Jerruh
Wonder where he rates on our draft board right now. I think he is an idiot for doing what he did, but his situation kinda looks like Warren Sapp a little all over again. Gregory's story is a little different than Ray's from what I understand but he is an explosive rusher as well.