Official 2015 Draft Discussion

[Classic]

BPA at #17. If that is OT than so be it. I have a feeling though one of the coveted pass rushers will be there. Although I hope we go with the Secondary and grab either Landon Collins or Marcus Peters. This would hopefully make our secondaries one of the best in the league. A far cry from what we where in 2012 and 2013. Verrett and Peters would lockdowns and we'd have Flowers for both to learn from.

[Beerman]

Gotta be OT or OLB IMO. A lot will depend what happen in FA.

[Formula 21]

O line ranking at 29. Doesn't take a lot of imagination to see where our top need is. Plus, some nice OTs look to be available at 17.

And I know going OL is not as sexy as taking any other position.

[CTrout]

O line ranking at 29. Doesn't take a lot of imagination to see where our top need is. Plus, some nice OTs look to be available at 17.

And I know going OL is not as sexy as taking any other position.

Yeah, taking OL on day one is a bit disappointing.....but once the season starts your happy they did.

[Formula 21]

2015 NFL Draft Big Board: Fowler, Cooper, Gordon help stock in bowls
by Rob Rang | NFLDraftScout.com
Jan. 7, 2015 1:05 PM ET

32 | Comments

Savvy scouts won't let one game dramatically alter a prospect's grade but there is no denying the impact that an impressive (or unimpressive) bowl game can have on a player stock.

Among the players who performed brilliantly under the bright lights were Florida pass rusher Dante Fowler, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa.

With the NFL early entry draft deadline on Jan. 15, and all-star games and the 2015 combine around the corner, much will change between now and the first round of the NFL draft on April 30. Here are my updated rankings on the top 50 potentially eligible prospects.

1. Southern Cal DT Leonard Williams, 6-4, 290, Jr, 4.88 in 40: Strong, athletic and passionate, the Trojans' star is earning comparisons to everyone from Texans DE J.J. Watt to the Bucs' DT Gerald McCoy for his ability to dominate the line of scrimmage while alternating between defensive tackle and defensive end. He's too quick for guards and too strong for tackles, wreaking havoc along the line of scrimmage against the run and pass.

2. Nebraska DE Randy Gregory, DE, 6-5, 242, Jr, 4.76: Gregory is the country's elite edge defender. From a two- or three-point stance, he's a natural pass rusher with an explosive get-off, flexibility, long arms and active hands and the tenacious style of play (including against the run) that will endear him to coaches. Gregory is lanky and needs to bulk up if he is to remain at defensive end in the NFL. He also struggled with injuries in 2014. An old knee injury was aggravated in the opener and required a knee scope that cost him the next game. Further, Gregory was sidelined in Nebraska's regular season finale with injury (reportedly head and ankle injuries).

3. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, 6-4, 215, rJr, 4.52: Mariota's mesmerizing physical traits have long captivated scouts and there is no question he earned the Heisman Trophy and is the key to Oregon's berth in the national championship. But he's not the "can't miss" prospect some imply. He is potentially a special weapon because of his speed in an era of dual-threat quarterbacks and has intriguing potential as a passer. He is a good, not great, pocket passer at this time and could struggle with the tighter windows he'll see in the NFL.

4. Florida State QB Jameis Winston, 6-4, 235, rSo, 4.83: If not for Winston's off-field issues, he'd rank not only as my top quarterback, but my top overall prospect. His combination of size, functional mobility, anticipation and arm talent warrant No. 1 overall consideration, and he could very well wind up overtaking Mariota as the favorite to land in Tampa Bay. In terms of accuracy from the pocket -- still most important when projecting quarterbacks to the NFL -- Winston clearly outplayed Mariota in the Rose Bowl.

5. Missouri DE Shane Ray, 6-3, 245, Jr, 4.54: Ray had to bide his time backing up Michael Sam and Kony Ealy but was dominant as a junior, leading the SEC with 14.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss -- despite missing most of the SEC Championship game after a hit on Alabama quarterback Blake Sims was deemed to be targeting. Voted the conference's Defensive Lineman of the Week three times, Ray is proving his phenomenal athleticism -- he's been credited with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch-plus vertical jump -- translates well to the gridiron. Ray might wind up a top-five pick, as the perception in the scouting community is that he is just scratching the surface of his potential.

6. Clemson OLB Vic Beasley, 6-2, 235, rSr, 4.58: With pressure on the quarterback priority No. 1 on defense, teams are more willing than ever to trade size for speed at the position. Like recent "undersized" first-round rushers Von Miller, Bruce Irvin, Barkevious Mingo and Dee Ford, Beasley boasts a lightning-quick first-step and the agility to stalk mobile quarterbacks.

7. Iowa OT Brandon Scherff, 6-5, 315, rSr, 4.93: Scherff may just prove the best in the long line of blockers tutored by Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz, which is quite an accomplishment considering that 13 Iowa offensive linemen have been drafted since he took over in 1999. Scherff won big points with scouts for his toughness, battling back from a torn meniscus and corrective surgery on Sept. 8 to start against rival Iowa State five days later. Scherff doesn't possess special traits like long arms or the flashy athleticism scouts look for and likely won't be drafted as high as I grade him. He's powerful, tough and tenacious, however, and I see him as one of the "safer" prospects in the country.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper's stock may have improved due to his bowl performance. (Getty Images) Alabama WR Amari Cooper's stock may have improved due to his bowl performance. (Getty Images)
8. Alabama WR Amari Cooper, 6-1, 205, Jr, 4.56: Cooper's production this season looks like something out of a video game. Alabama's first Biletnikoff Award winner, Cooper shattered Alabama records with 124 receptions for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, including two scores against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl loss. It isn't just the production in Lane Kiffin's pro-style scheme that has scouts excited. Cooper possesses great agility and first-step acceleration to generate big plays. His lack of elite size and occasional dropped pass keeps him out of the elite category.

9. Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr., 6-3, 266, Jr, 4.84: A talented pass rusher with experience at outside linebacker and all over the defensive line, Fowler is an intriguing athlete with range, strength and flexibility. He isn't as explosive off the snap or productive as some of the other pass rushers on this list but Fowler's awareness and physicality make him better suited to handling the run. Fowler, who prior to the Birmingham Bowl announced his intentions of leaving early for the draft, ended his career in fine form, recording three sacks against East Carolina.

10. Oklahoma WR Dorial Green-Beckham, 6-5, 225, rJr, 4.49: The character concerns which prompted Green-Beckham's transfer from Missouri will certainly require investigating, but there is no denying his blend of size, acceleration and ball skills. The skill-set is so rare, in fact, that DGB is likely to earn first-round consideration in 2015 even with the NCAA ruling the junior ineligible to play this year.

11. Kentucky DE Alvin "Bud" Dupree, 6-4, 267, rSr, 4.63: The Wildcats may not have the history of churning out high-end defenders of some other SEC teams, but that won't stop Dupree from going in the first round. Dupree's length, agility and closing speed stand out on tape, as does his comfort playing out of the two- or three-point stance. Better yet, his traits translate into production against quality competition. Dupree leaves Kentucky with 24 sacks over his career, more than any other player in the SEC.

12. Alabama SS Landon Collins, 6-0, 215, Jr, 4.53: Instinctive, athletic and an explosive hitter, Collins looks the part of a top-10 pick. His downhill-playing style might be best suited to strong safety as he has been fooled deep on occasion this year because of his aggression. Further, scouts are certainly aware of the fact that few of the highly drafted defensive backs out of Alabama have performed as brilliantly in the NFL as they did for Nick Saban.

13. Washington DT Danny Shelton, 6-2, 323, Sr, 5.17: Broad-shouldered, powerful and surprisingly passionate in pursuit, Shelton is a classic two-gap run defender with the gaudy statistics to catch the attention of scouts. He has flashed first-round talent throughout his career but has played at a different level as a senior, boosting his stock considerably.

14. LSU OT Lael Collins, 6-5, 315, Sr, 5.12: Collins doesn't get the national attention of other tackles, but the big man is surprisingly agile in pass protection and is a mauler in the running game. Collins isn't an elite athlete and likely will wind up inside at guard or right tackle in the NFL rather than his customary left tackle position, but he has the square build and physical nature to handle the move.

15. Michigan State CB Trae Waynes, 6-1, 183, rJr, 4.53: While former teammate Darqueze Dennard won the Thorpe Award last season as the nation's top defensive back, some scouts wondered if Waynes weren't a better NFL prospect. Waynes possesses the length, fluidity and ball skills required of cornerbacks in today's pass-happy NFL and is stouter against the run than his frame implies.

16. West Virginia WR Kevin White, 6-3, 209, Sr, 4.49: No player improved his draft stock more in 2014 than White. Not only has production (110 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns) has impressed scouts, White's size, strength and ability to come down with contested grabs is something every NFL team looks for at receiver.

17. Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley, 6-6, 318, rSoph, 5.16: I generally don't include redshirt sophomores in rankings, especially offensive linemen. As Greg Robinson (also a redshirt sophomore) proved last year as the No. 2 overall pick, teams are willing to gamble on youth if the tools are there. Impressive efforts against Louisville's Lorenzo Mauldin (Nov. 22) and top-rated prospect Leonard Williams of Southern Cal showed why some think he'll soon follow Zack Martin, the man he replaced at left tackle for Irish, as a first-round pick. Stanley sports a well-proportioned frame with long arms. He's light on his feet and plays with strength and aggression.

18. Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings, 6-5, 305, rSr, 5.05: The Panthers boast two of the more exciting young players in college football in James Conner and Tyler Boyd, but Clemmings is a potential first-round talent in his own right. He's made steady progress at right tackle since making the jump from defensive end two years ago and boasts an exciting combination of length, agility and tenacity.

19. Washington OLB Shaq Thompson, 6-2, 231, Jr, 4.56: Boasting terrific athleticism, instincts and awareness, Thompson has proven a standout wherever he's played for the Huskies, earning him the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. While perhaps not as stout as preferred, Thompson's fluidity, reliable open-field tackling and big play moxie could earn him a hybrid linebacker/safety role.

20. Louisville WR DeVante Parker, 6-3, 209, Sr, 4.45: A broken left foot sidelined Parker for the first seven games of the 2014 season but he returned with a vengeance, averaging seven receptions for 140 yards and a score in his six games, including a Belk Bowl loss to Georgia. Parker can win with his height and ability to high-point passes. He also has impressive fluidity and acceleration for a receiver of his size.

21. Texas A&M OT Cedric Ogbuehi, 6-5, 300, rSr, 4.98: Former Aggies Luke Joeckel (2013) and Jake Matthews (2014) were the second and sixth overall picks in successive drafts, and Ogbuehi has more raw talent than either. He's remarkably light on his feet for a man his size and possesses the balance and long arms to catch up to pass-rushers even when beaten off the snap. Ogbuehi struggled with the transition from right to left tackle this season, however, and was moved back. That's certainly a red flag but Ogbuehi's upside is undeniable.

22. Florida State DT Eddie Goldman, 6-3, 314, Jr, 5.28: Teams are willing to gamble on difference-makers along the defensive line almost as much as quarterbacks, and no defensive tackle has captured the imagination of scouts more than Goldman. He's broad, powerful and surprisingly athletic, having stood at defensive end in 2013 before making the switch back inside this past season. Goldman was carted off the field with an ankle injury during the ACC Championship and didn't play up to his normal standards in the Rose Bowl loss to Oregon.

23. Michigan WR Devin Funchess, 6-5, 230, Jr, 4.55: Funchess began his college career at tight end but starred outside at receiver in 2014 and projects best in this role in the NFL. His combination of size, acceleration and body control make him a matchup nightmare, though he still drops more passes than he should. If Funchess runs in the 4.5s during workouts, it is hard to imagine him slipping out of the first round.

24. Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, 6-1, 207, rJr, 4.52: The Heisman finalist gashed Auburn for an Outback Bowl-record 251 yards and three scores, once again proving his speed stands out even against the SEC. Gordon boasts elite acceleration and great lateral agility to make defenders miss. With Georgia's Todd Gurley suffering an ACL tear -- and tumbling out of my Big Board rankings -- Gordon is the top running back.

25. Florida State CB P.J. Williams, 6-0, 190, Jr, 4.48: Williams has gone up against some of the nation's more talented receivers and succeeded, demonstrating the fluidity, balance and acceleration scouts expect out of a first-round corner. I'd like to see him wrap more securely, but as he proved again with solid hits in the ACC Championship victory over Georgia Tech, Williams doesn't lack confidence or physicality as a tackler.

26. Stanford OT Andrus Peat, 6-6, 312, Jr, 5.28: Peat signed with Stanford as a five-star recruit and possesses the size and athleticism scouts drool over. However, he experienced notable lapses this past season, from getting blown up by Notre Dame and struggling mightily against Utah's Nate Orchard. Peat's upside warrants early consideration, but unless he develops more nastiness to his play, there is doubt that he will fulfill his potential.

27. Washington CB Marcus Peters, 6-0, 198, Jr, 4.52: On the field, Peters is the top cornerback in the class. His aggression, length and ball skills (11 career interceptions) are first-round caliber. However, I have some reservations about his straight-line speed and the greater concern is his character. Peters was dismissed from the team by new Washington coach Chris Peterson Nov. 6 and he was suspended by the previous staff for the first quarter of the 2012 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, too. Pre-draft interviews will be critical for Peters.

28. Miami (Fla.) OT Ereck Flowers, 6-5, 322, Jr, 5.26: Flowers played left tackle at Miami but may need to move to the right side in the NFL. He is light on his feet and balanced in pass protection and aggressive and active as a run blocker -- including looking for defenders in pursuit. He dropped off the list after undergoing knee surgery in late October but certainly looked no worse for wear upon his return. If Flowers checks out medically, he's a likely first-round pick.

29. Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips, 6-6, 334, rJr, 5.10: With only 16 career starts, Phillips would be a gamble in the first round, but given his freakish combination of size and quickness, don't be surprised if it occurs. For that to happen, however, teams will need to confirm Phillips' health as he missed most of the 2013 season after undergoing back surgery.

30. LSU DE Danielle Hunter, 6-6, 240, Jr, 4.68: Hunter sports a lanky build, but he is surprisingly strong at the point of attack and uses his length and lateral agility very well to harass quarterbacks -- rushing after them or batting down passes at the line of scrimmage (he knocked down three vs. Alabama, for example). Like many pass rushers on this list, Hunter is a work in progress, but his exciting skill-set and the value of his position in today's NFL could push him into the first round.

31. Florida State OL Cameron Erving, 6-5, 308, rSr, 5.16: Don't blame Erving for Florida State's Rose Bowl loss. In making a seamless transition from left tackle to center, Erving won the ACC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the conference's top blocker after winning the same award last year while playing on the blind side. He also captured the imagination of scouts, who see Erving's length, agility and selflessness as traits worthy of a first-round selection.

32. UCLA DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, 6-3, 270, rSr, 4.79: Quarterback Brett Hundley (listed below) earned much of the attention for the Bruins' win over Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl, but Odighizuwa also performed brilliantly, recording six tackles (two for loss), a sack and two passes broken up. It is that kind of well-rounded effort that could help the instinctive and muscled-up Odighizuwa to slip into the tail end of the first round.

Just missed the cut: Malcom Brown, DT, 6-4, 320, 5.24, Jr, Texas Markus Golden, DE, 6-3, 260, 4.72, Sr, Missouri Jaelen Strong, WR, 6-4, 212, 4.55, rJr, Arizona State Eli Harold, OLB, 6-4, 235, 4.73, Jr, Virginia AJ Cann, OG, 6-3, 318, 5.18, Sr, South Carolina Ty Sambrailo, OT, 6-5, 315, 5.27, rSr, Colorado State Lorenzo Mauldin, DE/OLB, 6-4, 243, 4.73, Sr, Louisville DeForest Buckner, DE, 6-6, 286, 4.89, Jr, Oregon Benardrick McKinney, OLB, 6-4, 245, 4.58, rJr, Mississippi State Arik Armstead, DT, 6-7, 296, 4.96, Jr, Oregon Nate Orchard, DE, 6-4, 255, 4.76, Sr, Utah Shilique Calhoun, DE, 6-4, 257, 4.72, rJr, Michigan State Nelson Agholor, WR, 6-1, 190, 4.49, Jr, Southern Cal Maxx Williams, TE, 6-4, 250, 4.85, rSo, Minnesota Mario Edwards, Jr., DE, 6-3, 294, 4.88, Jr, Florida State Cody Prewitt, FS, 6-2, 212, 4.59, Sr, Mississippi Brett Hundley, QB, 6-3, 227, 4.64, rJr, UCLA Ameer Abdullah, RB, 5-09, 195, 4.48, Sr, Nebraska

[Formula 21]

I don't see anything to dislike about this guy's reviews.

Ronnie Stanley, OT
School: Notre Dame | Conference: FBS Independents
College Experience: Junior | Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Height/Weight: 6-6 / 318 lbs.
Projected Ranking
Overall Position Proj. Rnd.
29 7 1-2

Player Profile
News
History

Player Lowdown
Combine Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill
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Workout Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill
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Mock Draft Expert Analysis

Rang
Brugler
Prisco
Kirwan

No Analysis Available


Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Stanley's long arms and fluid slide allow him to protect the edge, even when matched up against speed pass rushers. Plays on the balls fo his feet with his knee bent, displaying good lateral agility and balance to mirror rushers. He has heavy hands and long arms, allowing him to catch and control opponents.

Also shows strength and determination in the running game. Drives defenders off the ball in short-yardage situations, and speed and terrific effort getting to and effectively blocking at the second level.

Besides size, athleticism and toughness, Stanley shows other traits that will earn him kudos with scouts, including good awareness and competitiveness. Keeps his head on a swivel and looks for peel back blocks on defenders in pursuit. Will block one defender before switching off to hit another.

Further, he's more technically sound than one might expect for a young player. Stanley shoots his hands to stun defenders but isn't over-aggressive, demonstrating the patience that most blockers don't develop for years. He understands blocking with angles, using arm bars and running with defenders downfield to keep his opponent from making the tackle.

WEAKNESSES: Young player still developing his immense skillset.

IN OUR VIEW: Stanley demontrates the balance, strength and aggression that screams first round pick. His balance and wingspan could allow him to remain at the blind-side role at the next level.

--Rob Rang (12/7/14)

[Formula 21]

[Fleet]

Ezekial Elliot is such a stud.

[Formula 21]

OT, but AT$T stadium is a good looking stadium.

[Bolt-O]

Gutsy.

[richpjr]

Ezekial Elliot is such a stud.

No kidding.

[oneinchpunch]

Ezekial Elliot is such a stud.

Yup.