Too busy to catch up on the entirety of the college-football season? Don’t worry—we’re here to help.
With the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft set to begin Thursday night, here’s everything you need to know:
You can find the entire draft order here.
THE TOP PICKS:
Jameis Winston, QB (Florida State): Winston is essentially a lock to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 1 overall pick. The former Heisman Trophy winner is a pure pocket passer with elite arm talent, but a bevy of off-field concerns were the one thing holding him back.
Marcus Mariota, QB (Oregon): Mariota presents an interesting case. The Oregon quarterback has more upside than Winston but he’s not a traditional passer. Spread-system quarterbacks have had varied levels of success at the NFL level. If Tennessee passes on him at No. 2, don’t be surprised if another team—Cleveland, Philadelphia and San Diego are possibilities—trades up to land him.
Amari Cooper, WR (Alabama): Cooper doesn’t have the height-speed combination of a Calvin Johnson, but his route running and production were exceptional in the SEC, the toughest conference in college football. He reminds some of former Pro Bowl wideout Torry Holt.
Leonard Williams, DT (USC): Many scouts view Williams as the best and safest pick in the draft, but the latter isn’t always a good thing (see Aaron Curry). Williams is a disruptive interior defensive lineman with really good hands. However, there’s concern whether he offers enough pass-rush ability to be drafted in the top five.
Kevin White, WR (West Virginia): White has the best collection of YouTube highlights (see below) of any player in the draft. The big receiver is an athletic freak who posted ridiculous numbers at the Combine. He has the size and speed of a young Larry Fitzgerald, but he’s had only one year of production. That is a problem for some teams.
COOLEST NAMES:
Trae Waynes, CB (Michigan State): Hard to beat that name. Waynes is a lock to go in the middle of the first round and appeals to secondary-needy teams such as Minnesota, Miami and Pittsburgh.
Shaq Thompson, LB (Washington): It’s unclear if Thompson will be drafted on Thursday, but he’s one of the most interesting draft prospects. He played both linebacker and running back in college and some teams view him as a safety at the next level.
Breshad Perriman, WR (Central Florida): Perriman’s skill-set is reminiscent of Torrey Smith. He offers electric speed (ran a 4.22 40-yard dash) and an ability to get down-field, but he had too many drops last season. His draft stock is all over the place—some think he could go at the end of the top 10, but he could also drop to the end of the first round.
WHOSE STOCK IS RISING?:
Todd Gurley, RB (Georgia): Gurley may be the most intriguing prospect in this year’s class. The power runner who closely resembles Marshawn Lynch was regarded as a top offensive prospect before tearing his ACL last season. According to NFL.com, he is the No. 1 prospect on at least one team’s draft board. His knee reportedly checked out well in recent medical examinations.
Bud Dupree, DE/OLB (Kentucky): Dupree has gained steam throughout the draft process. He hasn’t received as much hype as other pass rushers such as Florida’s Dante Fowler or Clemson’s Vic Beasley, but Dupree’s game projects well to the next level. His athleticism, size and speed have stood out to pass-rush needy teams.
Nelson Agholor, WR (USC): Agholor doesn’t offer many unique qualities that stand out, but he’s a very reliable player who’s really grown on people. He was originally considered a second-round prospect but as teams dug into his film, they were impressed with his quickness off the line of scrimmage and ability to get open. He’ll be drafted somewhere in the middle of the first round. Houston is a possibility.
WHOSE STOCK IS DROPPING?:
Randy Gregory, DE (Nebraska): On film alone, Gregory would probably be the top pass rusher in the draft but off-field issues are a significant concern. Gregory reportedly failed a drug test at the combine and teams are questioning whether he will be able to handle the mental aspect of the NFL. He might not be worth the risk.
Shane Ray, DE (Missouri): Before Ray was cited with possession of marijuana earlier in the week, there were already concerns about the Missouri pass rusher. Ray was unable to work out at the Combine due to a foot injury, and his medical reports have not been great. On the field, Ray is a good fit for a 4-3 defence, but he may slip to the bottom of the first round.
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR (Missouri): Green-Beckham is a true boom-or-bust prospect. He has the body type of Calvin Johnson with a ridiculous catching radius but he has more red flags than other first-round prospects. Green-Beckham was dismissed from Missouri prior to last season after several drug-related incidents. He transferred to Oklahoma, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA. His situation reminds some of receiver Josh Gordon, who will be suspended for the 2015 season.
POSITIONS OF STRENGTH:
Wide receiver: Just like last year, the draft class is loaded with receiving talent. There could be up to eight receivers drafted in Round 1.
Running back: A running back hasn’t been drafted in the first round for two straight years, but that’s about to end. At least two running backs are expected to be selected in the first round (Gurley and Melvin Gordon) and there are plenty of other intriguing options that will go on Day 2 (rounds two and three). The “devalued” position could be the deepest group in this draft class.
POSITIONS OF WEAKNESS:
Tight end: There’s good reason Jacksonville spent big on Julius Thomas in free agency and Seattle traded for Jimmy Graham—this draft doesn’t offer much in terms of tight-end talent. It’s an overall weak crop that lacks a true athletic game changer. It would be a major surprise if a tight end gets drafted on Thursday night.
Safety: It’s not a good year if your team needs help in the back of the secondary. There are a couple names that could be called towards the end of the opening round (Alabama’s Landon Collins and Arizona State’s Damarious Randall), but neither is a sure-thing prospect. Many teams are considering converting some of the bigger cornerback prospects into safeties.
