25 Players Who Should Think Twice Before Declaring for 2015 NFL Draft
We are approaching the end of college football season, which means juniors and third-year sophomores have begun to announce their NFL intentions.
A record 107 underclassmen declared for last year's NFL draft, but according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports, at least one source thinks that number might be "dwarfed" in 2015.
But not all who enter the draft are wise for doing so. Some go undrafted. Some fall to the sixth or seventh round. And others who might have gone high are still not maximizing their potential.
This list includes a combination of all three, with a focus on the second and third.
It does not include players who stand nothing to gain by returning. It does not include players who have no shot at getting drafted and know it. It only includes players who have a legitimate case to declare but could improve their stock by staying in school.
Sound off below and let us know who else you would add.
LB Kwon Alexander, LSU
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LSU has hemorrhaged underclassmen to the NFL these past two seasons. Roughly every single draft-eligible player has declared.
The Tigers deserve a break.
Kwon Alexander has had a nice season at weak-side linebacker and would make for a viable draft pick, but he doesn't cut the cloth of an instantly ready NFL prospect such as teammates Danielle Hunter, Jalen Collins and Jalen Mills. He would make for a valuable depth piece but could stand to see a few more live reps.
The NFL wouldn't provide Alexander that opportunity, but a return to school would. He and a young LSU defense blossomed before our eyes this season and have a chance to be special in 2015.
And that would do a lot for his stock.
RB Javorius Allen, USC
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It's not that Javorius Allen isn't good enough to play in the NFL; it's that he won't be drafted as high in 2015 as he might be in 2016.
This upcoming class of running backs is one of the strongest in recent history. Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah and Tevin Coleman would all go ahead of Allen. So might players such as Duke Johnson, Jay Ajayi and Mike Davis, if they declare.
Allen is a special talent in his own right but could use another year to improve his quickness. Plus, if he returns, he and Cody Kessler might form the No. 1 backfield in the country. USC would have the look of a playoff contender, which might help Allen crack the top 50.
DL Arik Armstead, Oregon
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Arik Armstead has improved every year he's been at Oregon, and one more year might vault him into the top-10 conversation.
But he isn't there yet. He is 6'7", 290 pounds and athletic enough that he moonlit as a forward on Oregon's basketball team, but he hasn't mastered technical hand skills or how to sustain his motor. He has only recorded four sacks over the past three seasons.
Despite that, Armstead is as doubtful to return as any player on this list. NFL scouts will drool over his potential, even though it isn't fully realized. He might still be a first-round pick in 2015.
But Armstead should be more than just a first-round pick. He has the skills of a top-three or -five overall player.
If he returns, that is likely what he would become.
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QB Jacoby Brissett, NC State
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Jacoby Brissett has shown flashes of greatness (see: the first half against Florida State) and has the tools of an NFL quarterback.
He doesn't get mentioned as a first-round prospect, though, because he didn't play with consistency and barely snuck his team into a bowl game. A 6'4" quarterback with a rocket arm and Ben Roethlisberger's leg strength should not be a middle-round pick.
Brissett, then, would stand to gain a lot by returning. He is one of the few quarterbacks who could start the year off the radar and legitimately rise into the first round. His top seven receivers are all set to return, and Brissett has the arm to take advantage.
QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
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Connor Cook said he plans to return next season, citing "unfinished business" to accomplish at Michigan State, per Noah Trister of The Associated Press.
Thought to be a first-round prospect, Cook also has some improvements to make to his game. He is 6'4", tough, athletic and has a giant arm, but his repetitive accuracy needs improvement. He made some difficult throws in 2014, but he also missed some easy ones.
Reaction to Cook's "decision"—which has not been made official—has been skeptical, with many scared he'll be the next Matt Barkley. And that's definitely a risk he's running. No one thought Barkley would ever flame into the fourth round either.
But Cook is bigger and stronger than Barkley and has a higher ceiling and a lower floor. He can improve his accuracy and become a top-five pick in 2016. Or, he can stall and still be a first-rounder.
DT Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
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Sheldon Day has been good but never great for Notre Dame, which is a shame because he's capable of greatness.
"Sheldon Day can be the best lineman that we’ve had here," Irish coach Brian Kelly told SI.com in November. "He’s going to have to play a whole season and prove it on the field and stay healthy, but I believe he can be the best defensive lineman I’ve had here."
Would the best defensive lineman Kelly has ever had post 38 tackles and one sack then flee for the NFL draft as a junior? Or would he come back and play like the next Stephon Tuitt or Louis Nix III? As an athlete, Day is very much a hybrid of those two players.
He, Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell and Andrew Trumbetti would give the Irish a nice defensive line to build around.
WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland
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Stefon Diggs has as much talent as any receiver in the country. He is slightly undersized (6'0", 190 lbs) but has terrific speed, agility and ball skills and plays with a refreshing edge.
Unfortunately, his past two seasons have been derailed by injuries, which has capped his production. So has playing with C.J. Brown, a noodle-armed quarterback who is unfit to stretch the field.
But Brown was a senior in 2014, so Diggs could return to an offense run by stronger-armed Caleb Rowe, who averaged 9.1 yards per attempt on 54 passes this season. (Brown averaged 6.4.) He would get one more chance to stay healthy and showcase his talents, and he could rocket up the draft board as a result.
OLB Leonard Floyd, Georgia
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Leonard Floyd has already announced his decision to return in 2015, per Tanya Sichynsky of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He made the right choice.
NFL teams would have loved to take a shot on Floyd's potential and likely would have gotten him for a discount because that potential has yet to be realized. But with another year at Georgia, he has a chance to grow into his role as a stand-up outside linebacker and force his way into the first round in 2016.
Floyd led the Bulldogs with 6.5 sacks in 2013 and 6.0 this past season. If he puts it all together as a senior, he has a chance to match the sum of those numbers. He is that good.
…Or at least he can be.
WR Devin Funchess, Michigan
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Devin Funchess made the switch from tight end to receiver in the middle of his sophomore season and stayed there his junior year. He is a once-every-five-years type of athlete in terms of size (6'5", 230 lbs), leaping ability and catch radius.
But it's amazing how much Funchess underwhelmed after a fast start to the 2014 season. Some of that can be blamed on quarterback play, and it's not like he "struggled," per se. But he dropped a lot of catchable passes and often looked too slow to survive.
Todd McShay of ESPN.com (Insider access required) projected Funchess No. 15 overall in his first mock of the season, but I would be aghast to see him go that high—at least in 2015.
If he comes back to Michigan and smooths out the rough edges of his game, I could see it in 2016. But now? No way in heck.
DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
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Eddie Goldman was the most important player on Florida State's defense this season and might have been the outright best.
The 6'4", 314-pounder was the only thing holding FSU's run defense together, emerging as one of the best two-gap linemen in the country. If he declares for the 2015 NFL draft—which Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports reports is likely—he has a chance to be a first-round pick.
But there are still parts of Goldman's game that need fine-tuning, chief among them consistency on passing down. He is raw and might get bypassed in a defensive tackle-heavy draft that includes Leonard Williams, Danny Shelton, Michael Bennett and Malcom Brown.
Another year of improvement at FSU could launch Goldman toward the top 10 in 2016. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com agrees that he "needs experience," which would be hard to come by as a rookie.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
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Dorial Green-Beckham was the No. 1 overall recruit in 2012 and started to reach his potential during the second half of last season, helping Missouri come this close to winning the SEC.
But the Tigers dismissed Green-Beckham after a domestic violence incident this offseason, casting his future into doubt.
Oklahoma took a flier on his talent, and if you believe what Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman reported in October, the early returns have been good. Co-offensive coordinator Jason Norvell said DGB is "like a different guy."
But he still needs to put his money where his (coaching staff's) mouth is and prove that he's ready to behave. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com said DGB would have challenged Amari Cooper to be the No. 1 receiver off the board in 2015 if he didn't have such glaring red flags.
One good season in Norman would dull the shade of red on those flags. There is no reason Green-Beckham should enter the NFL draft if he's not going to be a top-15 pick.
Because on paper, that's what he is.
OT Jerald Hawkins, LSU
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Jerald Hawkins was solid as a redshirt freshman in 2013 and even better this past season but could still stand a little fine-tuning.
He is a fantastic athlete for a player his size (6'6", 309 lbs) and is light on his feet in pass protection. He was also vital a part of LSU's over-tackle rushing formation. But he still suffers from occasional lapses in judgment and overall inconsistency.
Whether he stays on the right side or slides left to replace La'el Collins, Hawkins could do a lot to improve his stock as a redshirt junior. He is talented enough to be mentioned as a first-rounder, which is not where he's at right now.
OT D.J. Humphries, Florida
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D.J. Humphries was the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2012 recruiting class but hasn't met that billing through three seasons.
Sure, he's played well enough to warrant a look from the NFL. It's not like he would plummet down the board. It's hard to find a tackle this athletic, even at a lighter frame.
Humphries just doesn't have the strength of an NFL tackle, nor does he have the technique. He hasn't received the proper coaching since arriving in Gainesville. But he would if he stuck around to learn from head coach Jim McElwain, whose left tackle at Colorado State, Ty Sambrailo, is a much better 2015 draft prospect than Humphries.
For what it's worth, Humphries tweeted Dec. 18 that he has not made a decision on his future, refuting a report by Zach Abolverdi of the Gainesville Sun which said he is expected to declare early.
He is right to take his time with this decision.
TE Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
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Tyler Kroft saw his numbers slashed in half this season. He caught 43 passes for 573 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore in 2013—after which he was named an All-America honorable mention by SI.com—but just 23 passes for 247 yards and no touchdowns in 2014.
Kroft, however, thinks the numbers might be deceptive after a switch from Ron Prince to Ralph Friedgen at offensive coordinator.
"I feel like if you put on the tape you'll see that it really wasn't a step back by any means," Kroft told Dan Duggan of NJ.com. "Coach Prince's offense is obviously very tight end-friendly. Coach Friedgen likes to get it to a lot of different guys...Football is a team game, and I think I did my job to the best of my ability this year."
He's right, in part, but actions speak louder than words. Kroft is an interesting specimen (6'6", 240 lbs, great athlete), but he has to prove he can adapt to a system. Great tight ends don't catch 24 passes in a season at Rutgers—no matter the offensive coordinator.
He could stand to add some muscle and work on blocking, too.
WR Kenny Lawler, California
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Kenny Lawler led a deep Cal receiving corps with 54 receptions and 701 yards. Three other players (Stephen Anderson, Chris Harper and Bryce Treggs) had between 46-52 receptions and 583-661 yards.
Why break up a good thing?
Lawler is the top NFL prospect of that foursome, but he still has a lot to learn. He is Internet famous for some of his ridiculous catches but doesn't have the technical skills of Harper and Treggs. He could benefit from playing one more season next to his teammates.
He could also benefit from playing one more season with quarterback Jared Goff, a 2016 NFL draft prospect in his own right. Cal has a chance to build something truly special on offense next season. Lawler coming back would be the first big step toward getting there.
DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson
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Shaq Lawson played well opposite Vic Beasley on Clemson's defensive line—one of the deepest units in the country.
Eleven Tigers recorded between 1.5 and 3.5 sacks this regular season, but eight of those 11 were seniors. Tack on Beasley, who led the team with 11 sacks, and Clemson is losing at least nine of its top 12 pass-rushers. Lawson declaring early would make it 10.
If he returned, then, Lawson would be the leader of a rebuilt but still talented Clemson front seven, a role that he could thrive in.
He could go cash a paycheck now, and no one would argue. It would likely be middle-round money. But if he returned and had the season he is capable of, he could cash a much bigger paycheck in 2016.
LB Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn
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No Auburn player stands to gain more from the hiring of Will Muschamp at defensive coordinator than Cassanova McKinzy.
It always felt like McKinzy was out of place in Ellis Johnson's two-linebacker scheme, which required him to do a little bit of everything. But in Muschamp's scheme, which oscillates between three- and four-man fronts, he could turn into a pure "Buck" linebacker.
Florida's current Buck linebacker, Dante Fowler Jr., is listed at 6'3", 260 pounds and is likely to be a top-10 pick in 2015. McKinzy is listed at 6'3", 250 pounds and has a lot of the same raw tools as Fowler.
The chance to learn and play under Muschamp could turn McKinzy from a mid-round prospect into a first- or second-round pick.
That is a tough thing to pass up.
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
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There is—or was—temptation for Dak Prescott to strike while the iron is hot and declare for the draft after a fine junior year.
But the second half of the season showed he still has a long way to go. He has NFL arm strength and the mass to stay durable against anyone, but he's only 6'2" and does not have the repetitive accuracy to compensate. Plus, he's never run a pro-style offense.
Receivers De'Runnya Wilson and Fred Ross will both be back next season. So should running back Josh Robinson. Mississippi State could field one of the best skill-player units in the country, and Prescott would be a preseason Heisman front-runner because of it.
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
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Reggie Ragland has NFL-ready tools but hasn't had a chance to become the leader in the middle of Alabama's defense. C.J. Mosley occupied that role until 2013, and Trey DePriest took over this season.
Ragland is the next in line.
And not that this really matters, but there's a standard for Crimson Tide defenders to live up to. Mosley, for example, has been one of the best rookies in football for the Baltimore Ravens. Ragland deserves a chance to hone his leadership skills and play another year under Nick Saban and Kirby Smart so he can reach Mosley's level.
Believe it or not, he's talented enough to get there.
OT Donovan Smith, Penn State
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Donovan Smith has started since his freshman year at Penn State and might be looking for a new challenge at a higher level.
But PSU's offensive line was a disaster this season—the group more than Smith in particular, although Smith was far from inculpable. He is a fluid athlete with NFL size (6'5", 335 lbs) and All-America potential. He just has to make the pieces fit together.
First-year offensive line coach Herb Hand is one of the best in the business, despite how his unit played this season. Another year under Hand should do wonders for Smith (and quarterback Christian Hackenberg), who has the talent of a late-first-round pick.
OLB Eric Striker, Oklahoma
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Eric Striker is one of the best pure pass-rushers in college football, but there are questions about his height (6'0") and run defense.
"He makes plays, but he's so small," one scout told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I'm just trying to figure out what you do with him. He's not going to get any bigger..."
True, Striker is not going to get any bigger, but he can get stronger. He can get faster and better in coverage, too. He can work on every skill besides height (which he'll never fix) and pass rushing (which he already does at an NFL level) to become a more complete prospect.
He would do well to come back as a senior.
DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
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There's an element of timing to declaring for the NFL draft. You want to make the jump after your best collegiate season.
Not after across-the-board-regression.
The latter happened to Charles Tapper in 2014, when his tackles dropped from 49 to 36, his sacks dropped from 5.5 to 3.0, his tackles for loss dropped from 9.0 to 7.5 and his QB hurries dropped from eight to two. Granted, he still has the bowl game against Clemson to even those numbers out, his junior year was still a mild flop.
Oklahoma shifted to a 3-4 defense this season, which may have had an impact of Tapper's production. But he still looked raw and at times disappeared from the action.
He is a tough competitor with a bright future ahead of him, but he would benefit from one more year in school.
WR D'haquille Williams, Auburn
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D'haquille Williams has an NFL frame (6'2", 216 lbs) and is good enough right now to be a top-75 draft pick.
But why should he settle for the top 75?
Sammie Coates declared early for the draft and Quan Bray is a senior, so if Williams returned in 2015, he would be the only Auburn receiver who finished with more than 200 yards this regular season. He would be a true No. 1 target for quarterback Jeremy Johnson, who is a better pure passer than Nick Marshall.
"I think there are some things that he would do very well that would translate (in the NFL)," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said of Williams, per Brandon Marcello of AL.com. "I think there are some things that he would benefit from staying."
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller didn't rank Williams among the top 10 receivers on his November 25 big board. If he returns, he would have a chance to become a first-rounder.
RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
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Jonathan Williams is another junior running back who should wait a year and avoid the stacked 2015 draft class.
The 2016 class looks a lot weaker at the running back position, so if Williams stays healthy and enjoys another productive season next to Alex Collins in Bret Bielema's ground-heavy system, he has a chance to go a few rounds higher and cash a little more money.
There is risk involved with banking on staying healthy when Williams could leave, latch onto a roster and cash a paycheck as soon as this season. A lot of NFL teams could use a 6'0", 230-pound bruiser.
But Williams would stand out as one of the best backs in next year's draft instead of being Just Another Guy in this year's.
And that might be worth the risk.
DT Anthony Zettel, Penn State
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Anthony Zettel made the switch from defensive end to tackle look easy and appears to have found a home on the inside.
Once known as a solid rotational lineman, Zettel reinvented himself as a high-level interior pass-rusher, finishing the regular season with eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He lacks ideal size (6'4", 274 lbs) but is quick enough to knife through blockers and make plays.
Because of his size, though, NFL scouts might look dubiously at his production. Fair or not (it's not), undersized tackles have to prove themselves twice as hard. He is tall enough to play the position but needs to add some weight and post another season of strong tape, at which point his production will be validated.
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