NFL Draft 2015: Overlooked Stars Who Will Offer Great Value Past Round 1

The beauty of the NFL draft is that the best talent isn't housed in the first round alone.

One of the more negative aspects of the NBA draft is that outside the top 15 or 20 picks, very little of value is generally to be had. The odds that a team outside of the lottery finds an All-Star are always slim.

That couldn't be any different in the NFL, where Pro Bowlers are regularly snagged well past the first day.

The four players below aren't guarantees to become the best at their respective positions, but they will offer more value than their likely draft position would lead you to believe.

David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa

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It's becoming easier and easier to unearth talented running backs later in the draft; the Arizona Cardinals grabbed Andre Ellington in the sixth round in 2013.

Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley are obviously immensely skilled and could blossom into Pro Bowlers. However, it arguably makes more sense to wait until at least the third or fourth round this year before targeting a running back.

Somebody who will almost certainly be available around that time is Northern Iowa's David Johnson.

Johnson invariably gets dinged for playing a division below many of his fellow draftees. He's unquestionably built for the NFL, though. At 6'1" and 229 pounds, Johnson is a physically imposing presence, especially when he's running at top gear.

Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen watched Johnson at the Senior Bowl and came away impressed:

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Johnson has an NFL frame at the running back position (6’1”, 224 pounds). That allows him to drop his pads on contact and drive through second-level defenders at the point of attack. However, the former UNI star also has good vision and cutback ability. I was also impressed with his route running out of the backfield.

Johnson won multiple matchups versus the linebackers on the basic option scheme and showed some lateral movement when he separated at the break point. I’ve talked about Minnesota’s David Cobb a lot this week, but don’t forget about Johnson. He’s another back with the size and speed through the hole that can produce in the NFL.

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Since he lacks top-end speed, Johnson's ceiling is somewhat limited. But he is more than good enough to be an every-down back in the NFL.

Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

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It wouldn't be a complete shock for Jake Fisher to go on Day 1, but more than likely, he'll be a Day 2 guy at the earliest.

In a way, Fisher might have actually benefited from his injury during the 2014 season. His value to Oregon became extremely clear in his absence. Once the Ducks had Fisher back, it was like they had a completely different offensive line:

Oregon's offensive line coach, Steve Greatwood, went so far as to compare Fisher to another former Duck, Kyle Long, who's made back-to-back Pro Bowls, per NFL.com's Bryan Fischer:

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Jake emulates Kyle in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to a tough attitude. Jake's been in the system a bit longer, so I think he's a bit more polished than Kyle was as far as fundamentals. Jake is still growing as a player, too. He's a true senior and didn't have that redshirt year. He's athletic and could carry a lot more weight, maybe 20 pounds, and not lose anything.

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There's some question whether Fisher is athletic enough to truly succeed as a left tackle in the NFL. His footwork and agility are both good but not great, which could mean skilled pass-rushers are able to blow by him with ease on their way to the quarterback.

Still, he's technically proficient and comes with almost no bust potential. At his worst, Fisher should be a slightly above-average right tackle, which would keep him employed in the NFL for a long time.

Lynden Trail, DE/OLB, Norfolk State

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Like Johnson, Lynden Trail will have question marks about his ability because he wasn't tested on a weekly basis like many others in his draft class.

Trail didn't end up in FCS for a lack of talent, though. He originally committed to Florida and was 150th overall in 247Sports' composite ranking for the 2010 recruiting class.

Moving to Norfolk State also allowed Trail to have opportunities he wouldn't have been afforded with the Gators, namely lots of playing time. In his three years with the Spartans, he had 255 total tackles, 41 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks.

"There's no such thing as a small-school guy, in my opinion," said Trail, per Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. "The only difference between us and a major Division I school is the money. At the end of the day, everybody has to play ball, throw their helmet on and hit somebody."

Trail is still a bit raw, but he has the frame necessary to be a consistent edge-rusher in the NFL. As long as the team drafting him is willing to be patient, taking the gamble on Trail could pay off major dividends in two or three years.

Cody Prewitt, FS, Ole Miss

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Cody Prewitt is arguably the best free safety in the 2015 draft, and yet, nobody will be taken aback if he fails to go in the first round. Much like center on the offensive side, free safety simply isn't a highly valued position, which inevitably means players like Prewitt don't get their proper recognition.

The Ole Miss playmaker is the total package. While not a world-class athlete, Prewitt is quick and agile enough to react quickly in coverage and find his man. He's also a strong tackler who doesn't needlessly fly into ball-carriers and pick up 15-yard penalties.

Prewitt attended the Senior Bowl this year and made a great impression in Mobile, Alabama. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel raved about the Rebels star:

There's little not to like about Prewitt's game. Some team is going to get a difference-maker on defense in the second or third round.