NFL Draft 2015: Predictions for Where Most Polarizing Prospects Will Land

Although there are never any guarantees in the NFL draft, the 2015 class certainly seems to boast a fair amount of polarizing prospects whom experts can't seem to agree on.

Whether it relates to the likelihood of their skills translating to the NFL level, injury concerns or off-field issues, some players enter the league with more baggage than others. It is up to the talent evaluators to determine if the pros outweigh the cons.

Every prospect still has plenty of time to improve his stock prior to the draft, but here are some predictions for where things currently stand with some of the most controversial players in the upcoming draft.

Jameis Winston

Great quarterbacks are worth their weight in gold in the NFL, but identifying which ones have the ability to be truly great is rarely easy.

Case in point is Florida State's Jameis Winston. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 as a freshman as he threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. He regressed significantly as a sophomore, however, with 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions during the regular season.

While that is troubling in and of itself, Winston's off-field problems are even more worrisome. The skilled signal-caller has been involved in a number of incidents during his time with the Seminoles, and it remains to be seen if he has truly grown up.

Another year in college could do him well in that regard, but few expect him to return. With that said, he hasn't committed yet either way, according to NFL.com's Bryan Fischer:

If he does declare for the draft as anticipated, he may be the most talked-about prospect leading up to draft night. He could be taken as high as No. 1 or No. 2 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans both needing quarterbacks, but his character concerns could just as easily push him out of the first round.

One person who sees Winston blossoming into an NFL star, though, is New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick, per Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

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I think he's a great player. I've been around so long, I appreciate guys coming out of college. I look forward to watching him. I have high expectations for him. I think he, over time, has made some poor decisions. Have I been there to know exactly what happened? No. 

But I do know one thing: He may make some poor decisions, but he gets on that football field and he plays his ass off. Yeah, he can mature. He'll mature. I see him maturing as time goes on. Like, this year hasn't been as bad of a year as the first year was for Jameis. I think the kid will continue to improve. I think he's the future of the NFL.

"

Vick's endorsement is somewhat ironic since the Jets appear to be a possible landing spot for Winston at No. 6. Geno Smith hasn't exactly worked out in New York, and the Jets have a new regime coming in after firing head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik. 

Winston comes with baggage, but he is also the potential face of the franchise and star quarterback that the organization desperately needs.

Provided he is still on the board when the Jets select in the first round, it is very difficult to envision them passing on him.

Todd Gurley

It wasn't long ago that Georgia's Todd Gurley was considered the obvious No. 1 running back in the 2015 NFL draft and a surefire first-round selection, but things have changed since he suffered a significant injury.

The dynamic rusher was lost for the season in November when he tore his ACL, and he now has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him. With so much uncertainty surrounding his immediate future, it wouldn't be surprising to see him drop much further than originally anticipated.

Gurley has decided to forego his senior season at Georgia despite the injury, and John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game is hearing that it was a smart decision since he is still considered a first-round prospect:

When Gurley plays, there is no doubt that he is elite. Per David Paschall of the Times Free Press, he remarkably averaged well over six yards per carry during his tenure with the Bulldogs:

While there is no denying Gurley's talent, rolling the dice on an injured running back in the first round is tough to fathom. Running backs have taken a huge hit in terms of draft value over the past several years regardless, so there is no reason to take an injured one early.

Gurley does have franchise-changing ability when he is healthy, though, so he won't last long in the second round if he makes it that far. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a team to watch near the top of Round 2 due to the fact that they don't have a clear answer at running back.

Also, young quarterback Blake Bortles could use some support, and Gurley will provide plenty when he returns to action.

Brett Hundley

The consensus seems to be that Marcus Mariota and Winston are the top two quarterbacks in the 2015 NFL draft, but there are differing opinions as it relates to No. 3. The name that is brought up most often, though, is UCLA's Brett Hundley.

The three-year starter for the Bruins has decided to enter the draft, and he does so with a very impressive resume. He has thrown for better than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of his three collegiate campaigns, and his completion percentage has improved with each passing year.

Despite that, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller is among those who don't believe he is deserving of a first-round grade:

All it takes is for one team to fall in love with him, however. That seems to happen more often than not with quarterbacks, and it is easy to see an organization falling for Hundley's impressive skill set and track record.

There are several teams that need a quarterback, and while they could wait until the second round, they would risk losing out on their guy. One team to consider is the Houston Texans, who will be picking at No. 16 in the first round.

Houston narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs in 2014 despite cycling through Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett and Case Keenum at quarterback. The Texans are a talented team that isn't too far off, but they desperately need a signal-caller.

There has been no indication regarding whether the Texans are interested in Hundley, but they'll strike at No. 16 if they are.

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