The college season has ended, the NFL Draft all-star games have come and gone, and we have crowned the 49th Super Bowl champion in NFL history. It’s officially NFL draft season and now is a perfect time for the first edition of the 2015 NFL Draft Big Board.
In this first version I will lay out every player that I have a first or second round grade on. Keep in mind that I haven’t watched every prospect for the draft, so there may be players that could end up with second round grades but don’t right now.
1. Leonard Williams, DL, USC, Top 10 Grade
Williams is by far the safest pick in this weak draft class and he doesn’t have an awful ceiling either. He has outstanding physical traits and a high football IQ. He consistently keeps offensive linemen off balance with his lateral agility and technique.
2. Marcus Martioa, QB, Oregon, Top 10
Mariota will likely get the Teddy Bridgewater treatment of over-analyzing. His knees are too small, his frame is too skinny, he doesn’t have a leader’s personality, etc. Just know one thing, Mariota is the best QB in this class and a QB needy team would be stupid to pass on him in the top 10.
3. Dante Flower Jr., Edge, Florida, Top 10
Not only is Fowler Jr. and athletic freak on the edge, but he also has the best functional strength in this class of edge rushers. He can win in multiple ways on the edge and can also win as a run defender in multiple ways.
4. La’el Collins, OT, LSU, Top 10
Collins certainly has his flaws. His feet are slow on the edge and he struggle at times with rushers who run the arc well. He makes up for it with his massive frame and fantastic strength at the point of attack.
5. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama, Top 10
Cooper will get dropped down the board by some because he’s too small and can’t win at the catch point. The good news is that he won’t have to win at the catch point too often in the NFL because he creates separation so well in his routes. Oh, and he’s also a great big play threat.
6. Randy Gregory, Edge, Nebraska, Top 10
Gregory is far from a finished prospect at this point in his development, but he has tons of room to grow. He has amazing natural tools and coaches will love to mold those tools into a finished product.
7. Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington, Mid 1st
Thompson may not have a perfect fit at any position, but that is part of the intrigue he brings. Thompson offers a ton of versatility to a team as he is able to make plays as a linebacker, safety, and running back.
8. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville, Mid 1st
Parker is one of the most polished receivers that I’ve ever watched coming out of college, even though I haven’t watched too many draft classes. He can threaten in many ways in all parts of the field.
9. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, Mid 1st
If Winston didn’t have any off the field issues to speak of he would be my number one quarterback in the class. He has everything you want in a potential franchise quarterback, except for questions about his maturity.
10. Brandon Scherff, OG, Iowa, Mid 1st
Scherff played offensive tackle at Iowa, but he is a prime candidate to switch to the interior in the NFL. He doesn’t have the lateral agility to survive on the outside, but his power and ability to get to the second level will be showcased on the interior.
11. Alvin Dupree, Edge, Kentucky, Mid 1st
Dupree isn’t great at any one thing, but he offers tremendous versatility on the edge as a pass rusher, run defender, or pass rusher.
12. Malcom Brown, DL, Texas, Mid 1st
The first thing that jumps at you, literally the first play I saw on the first game I watched of Brown, is his upper body strength to shed blockers at will. He offers tremendous versatility on the defensive line.
13. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State, Mid 1st
Waynes is a fluid mover with good technique on the perimeter and has the size to match up with receivers as a boundary corner.
Oct 25, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers defensive end Eli Harold (7) stands on the field against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
14. Eli Harold, Edge, Virginia, Mid 1st
Eli Harold may not have great size and will need to add functional strength to be an NFL edge rusher, but he has other fantastic tools. His athleticism, hand use, and bend on the edge are fantastic.
15. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia, Late 1st
The West Virginia wide receiver will wow you with his ability to win balls that aren’t necessarily thrown great to his high pointing ability and great athleticism.
16. Eric Rowe, CB, Utah, Late 1st
Rowe has the natural ability and the traits learned from playing time at safety that, when combined, provide you with an ideal number one corner.
17. Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State, Late 1st
Sambrailo doesn’t have great strength, but that isn’t where he wins. He wins with his great feet and technical ability. He could also be a candidate to move to the interior.
18. Melvin Gordon III, RB, Wisconsin, Late 1st
Melvin Gordon will fall down the board due to his value to NFL teams as a running back and due to the fact that he ran behind the Wisconsin offensive line. Don’t let that fool you. He’s the best running back prospect in a long time.
19. Cam Erving, C, Florida State, Late 1st
Erving struggles at offensive tackle while at Florida State, but once he made the switch to center he thrived against college competition. This is exactly where he belongs at the next level, as well.
20. Jordan Phillips, DL, Oklahoma, Late 1st
Phillips is one of the most athletically gifted 320 pound men that I’ve ever watched. He has length, lateral agility, and even plays with pretty good pad level for someone with his size.
21. Paul Dawson, LB, TCU, Late 1st
If there’s a second version of Lavonte David in this draft class, then Dawson is exactly that. He has movement skills, pass rush ability, run defending ability, and pass coverage ability, and the versatility to play multiple positions.
22. Alex Carter, CB, Stanford, Late 1st
Carter is a very athletic boundary corner on the edge who also has a good football IQ and physical playing style. Not to mention he hails from my high school.
23. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota, Late 1st
In a very weak tight end class Williams is far and away the best at the position. He offers everything teams want out of a slot, in-line, or h-back tight end.
24. T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh, Late 1st
Clemmings isn’t a finished project by any means, but he has the tools that any offensive lineman would love to mold. He has athleticism, power, and a massive frame to dominate on the edge.
25. Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA, Early 2nd
26. Chris Hackett, S, TCU, Early 2nd
27. Nelson Agholar, WR, USC, Early 2nd
28. Kevin White, CB, TCU, Early 2nd
29. Vic Beasley, Edge, Clemson, Early 2nd
30. Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke, Early 2nd
31. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Edge, UCLA, Early 2nd
32. Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami(FL), Early 2nd
33. Xavier Cooper, DL, Washington, Early 2nd
34. Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State, Early 2nd
35. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, S, Oregon, Early 2nd
36. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia, Early 2nd
37. Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan, Early 2nd
38. Eric Fisher, OT, Oregon, Early 2nd
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39. Terry Williams, DL, East Carolina, Early 2nd
40. Grady Jarrett, DL, Clemson, Early 2nd
41. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State, Early 2nd
42. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami(FL), Mid 2nd
43. Shane Ray, Edge, Missouri, Mid 2nd
44. Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State, Mid 2nd
45. Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami(OH), Mid 2nd
46. Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon, Mid 2nd
47. Preston Smith, Edge, Mississippi State, Mid 2nd
48. Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest, Mid 2nd
49. Carl Davis, DL, Iowa, Mid 2nd
50. Marcus Peters, CB, Washington, Mid 2nd
51. Max Valles, Edge, Virginia, Mid 2nd
52. Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana, Mid 2nd
53. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State, Mid 2nd
54. Nate Orchard, Edge, Utah, Late 2nd
55. Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwester, Late 2nd
56. Clive Walford, TE, Miami(FL), Late 2nd
57. Eddie Goldman, DL, Florida State, Late 2nd
58. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami(FL), Late 2nd
59. Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina, Late 2nd
60. Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State, Late 2nd
61. Danny Shelton, DL, Washington, Late 2nd