NFL Draft 2015: Predictions for Most Polarizing 1st-Round Prospects

Every draft class comes with its Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles. 

"Polarizing" prospects are what make the draft worthwhile, as it takes just one team to believe it can be the hero that saves a troubled young man (on or off the field) to create a chaotic ripple effect on the entire process.

Jameis Winston is the new leader of the pack when it comes to this term and scenario. Off-field distractions and an up-and-down finale to his collegiate career are to blame.

The Florida State product is not alone in his dividing traits that will have all NFL front offices working overtime and then some this offseason.

In fact, he is just the tip of the iceberg.

Top Polarizing Prospects

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Before Winston's world spiraled into unexpected territory, UCLA's Brett Hundley owned the title of most polarizing quarterback prospect in the 2015 class.

Funky mechanics and poor vision and accuracy at times lead many to slap the "developmental" tag on Hundley. To be fair, he did complete 70.4 percent of his passes on the year for 3,019 yards and 21 touchdowns to five interceptions.

Where Hundley will really make his money as a pro is with his versatility as a dual-threat weapon. His 548 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground this year attest to that talent.

That would be the trait that has scouts abuzz, as one told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times:

"

He's got everything you want physically. You just question his process and vision at times. He doesn't have elite accuracy. With that said, he's a dual-threat guy and that's hard to find. I think he'll stack up well against some of the other quarterbacks in this draft.

"

Hundley is a niche product. Either it will take a coach who enjoys bringing along projects or a niche schematic fit for him to come off the board in the first round.

Look no further than Bruce Arians and the Arizona Cardinals. The quarterback guru is surely tired of riding the quarterback carousel of Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley.

At the very least, Hundley gives Arians a dual-threat option who can develop into something special.

Prediction: Arizona selects Hundley in the first round.

Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

With great talent comes great baggage.

Well, only with the polarizing prospects.

Marcus Peters fits the shoe, or something cliche like that. Arguably the top cover corner in college football, the former Washington star did not finish his final season after being dismissed by the team due to alleged clashes with the coaching staff.

"I don't think anybody on either side was happy with the whole situation," Peters said after the news broke, per ESPN.com.

Regardless, Peters is still a top-tier cover corner who excels in press or off the line. A survivor in the rigors of Pac-12 football, it is no wonder Bleacher Report's Matt Miller does not see off-field rumblings as a major red flag:

Peters will be the most thoroughly researched prospect this side of Winston this offseason.

The NFL will dig deep into his past in order to find the answers. Was the issue at Washington a one-time deal, or is there a character trait there that is persistent over the course of his football career?

Regardless, Peters remains a first-round talent. Look for a team in need of secondary talent, such as San Francisco, to roll the dice, especially if everything checks out.

Prediction: San Francisco selects Peters in the first round.

Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Controversy surrounds Michigan's Devin Funchess. 

The boring kind of controversy.

The globe seems split. Funchess is a receiver in the eyes of some. Others view him as a tight end. A vocal minority say it does not matter.

All agree they have no idea where he will end up and in what round.

Funchess regressed from a statistical standpoint in 2014, catching 62 passes for 733 yards and four scores. It is important to keep things in perspective, though, as does Nick Baumgardner of MLive Media Group:

It is difficult to discredit Funchess' output on a five-win team. ESPN's Mel Kiper did not earlier this year when he ranked him as the No. 1 tight end in the draft (subscription required). Then again, CBS Sports ranks him as a potential second-round pick—at wide receiver. 

Funchess is a hybrid with a rare speed-size combination and a gigantic catch radius, so look for a team such as the New England Patriots to come calling in the first round. Tom Brady could use another weapon who can line up at any spot on the field.

Prediction: New England selects Funchess in the first round.

Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State 

About Winston. 

Keep it on the field for a moment. It is apparent that his second year does not hold a torch to his Heisman-winning debut:

YEAR	CMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
2014	276	422	65.4	3559	8.4	24	17
2013	257	384	66.9	4057	10.6	40	10

More than errant throws, strange decisions and a habitual lack of quality play in the first half of games this season, Winston's off-field shadows are all the talk.

Look at a note by NFL.com's Chase Goodbread back in September concerning what a scout told NFL Network's Albert Breer:

"

It'll hurt him significantly. Especially with all the stuff going on in the league. This may force him to stay another year to clean up his image. He's a fraud. You can't believe anything he says, because he keeps doing the same things over and over. In my mind, there are night-and-day differences between (Johnny) Manziel's and his character concerns. Winston has some serious issues.

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Think the homework done on Peters is bad? Imagine the lengths teams will go to vet Winston, who is a candidate to come off the board much higher but may come with worse baggage than a guy named Manziel.

Such is life in the NFL when it comes to quarterbacks. From an on-field standpoint, players such as Winston are rare. Issues or not, his escaping the top five seems impossible. 

With the way the draft order aligns, Oregon's Marcus Mariota will come off the board first, but Winston will be right behind at No. 2 overall to the Tennessee Titans. If it works out, the franchise is set for a decade or more. 

If not, the team can fall back on Zach Mettenberger, who showed flashes this season.

Prediction: Tennessee selects Winston in the first round.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of December 30 at 4 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).