2015 NFL Draft: 1st-Round Order and Projections for Underrated Prospects
While early, it is clear which 2015 NFL draft prospects can already receive the "underrated" label.
With the official order through the first 20 picks set in stone, it is time to begin the evaluation process.
Whether it's a matter of simply falling behind bigger names at the position or doing work away from the careful eye of the nation, underrated players truly deserving of the spotlight will soon find out as scouts from most of the teams in the league get to work.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Stay ahead of the curve with a review of the current order and some names who will be fast risers in the coming months.
2015 NFL Draft Order
| 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2 | Tennessee Titans |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 4 | Oakland Raiders |
| 5 | Washington |
| 6 | New York Jets |
| 7 | Chicago Bears |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 9 | New York Giants |
| 10 | St. Louis Rams |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 16 | Houston Texans |
| 17 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 18 | San Diego Chargers |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo) |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 21 | Carolina Panthers |
| 22 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 23 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 24 | Detroit Lions |
| 25 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 26 | Indianapolis Colts |
| 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers |
| 29 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 30 | Denver Broncos |
| 31 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 32 | New England Patriots |
Underrated Prospects to Watch
Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
It is easy for any number of talented receivers to get lost in the shuffle right now.
After all, Alabama's Amari Cooper is a Heisman Trophy finalist. Others such as Louisville's DeVante Parker and West Virginia's Kevin White are soaking up all of the headlines for the time being.
Just try not to forget about Jaelen Strong out of Arizona State. Experts such as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller have not:
Strong's two years with the Sun Devils were productive, to say the least:
| 2014 | 82 | 1165 | 14.2 | 77 | 10 |
| 2013 | 75 | 1122 | 15.0 | 69 | 7 |
Receivers with sure hands and proven production at 6'3" and 215 pounds do not come around all that often.
Teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs surely have Strong on the radar right now. By the time the scouting process is complete, he may be above some of the names that rule the headlines as bowl season winds down.
Prediction: Kansas City takes Strong in the middle of the first round.
Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Few defenders' names ring out as Shilique Calhoun's does.
The Michigan State star is a bit of a tweener prospect at 6'5" and 256 pounds, which knocks him down a few hype levels behind others such as Nebraska's Randy Gregory and Missouri's Shane Ray.
Sheer talent can trump size, though. It takes just one NFL coaching staff seeing the traits Joe Marino of BuffaloBillsDraft.com illustrates from the Cotton Bowl to fall in love:
Calhoun can apply a strong rush with his hand in the dirt or upright, something NFL teams will covet regardless of scheme.
Other names hog the spotlight, but should Calhoun declare, it will be a quick ascension up draft boards. Look for a team such as Cleveland—which could use more athletic, versatile linemen up front—to pull the trigger.
Prediction: Cleveland takes Calhoun in the middle of the first round.
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Stats can only carry a receiver so far.
Auburn senior wideout Sammie Coates only caught 30 passes this year, although that was enough to tally 717 yards and four scores. In each of his past two seasons, though, he has averaged more than 21 yards per catch.
A 2015 Senior Bowl participant, Coates' situation was best summed up by Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage.
“Sammie has the unique opportunity of participating in our game as a fourth-year junior graduate,” Savage said. “On the field, he has the size and speed to project well to the next level, as evidenced by his performance in the Iron Bowl.”
It sounds cliche, but size-speed blends such as what Coates brings to the table are rare. He is 6'2" and 201 pounds, and CBSSports.com indicates he has posted 40-yard dash times in the 4.3-second range.
Coates' raw talent may not be enough to make him a first-round pick outright, but an early second-round slot is the floor at this point.
Prediction: Oakland takes Coates early in the second round.
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
It is understandable that most backs are lost behind Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley at this point.
Tevin Coleman will not stay there long, though.
At 6'1" and 210 pounds, Coleman is a complete three-down back the NFL covets, as CBS Sports' Dane Brugler muses:
Coleman teased the globe as a sophomore with 958 yards and 12 scores on an average of 7.3 yards per carry. He exploded this year for 2,036 yards and 15 scores on 7.5 YPC.
Production and consistency such as this can be difficult to find. Coleman will demand national attention once scouts and fans realize that his gaudy numbers are not a byproduct of a favorable offense or schedule.
Coleman is the real deal, and a team in need will scoop him up in the early second round.
Prediction: Miami takes Coleman early in the second round.
Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
