NFL Combine 2015: Analyzing Sleeper 1st-Round Candidates After Workouts

Each year, the NFL Scouting Combine gets the draft community in a tizzy. Debates over which players performed well enough to garner consideration as a top-five selection, top-10 selection, etc. run rampant. Already, 2015 has been no different.

Did West Virginia's Kevin White and his 4.35-second 40-yard dash leapfrog Alabama's Amari Cooper as the draft's top wide receiver? Will Clemson linebacker Vic Beasley's monster showing in Indianapolis solidify him as a top-10 pick? These arguments are ongoing, yet they won't be settled for sure until the draft rolls around on April 30.

Rather than joining in on those debates, let's take a look at a different contingent of prospects—let's talk sleeper first-round candidates.

We saw a bevy of impressive workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium, and many of them came from players who weren't originally being heralded as prospects likely to be selected within the draft's first 32 selections. Here's a look at three such players who did enough at the combine to warrant first-round consideration.

Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU

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Former LSU defensive lineman Danielle Hunter entered the combine with enormous potential but lacked the polish required to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Well, after watching his performance in Indianapolis, teams may be considering taking a flier on Hunter late in the first round based solely on his exceptional athletic ability.

At 6'5" and 252 pounds, Hunter was able to run a 4.57-second 40-yard dash—the fastest time among all defensive linemen. Taking into consideration his 1.58-second 10-yard split, he boasts the explosiveness equal to one of the draft's top-rated defensive ends, according to Dion Caputi of the National Football Post:

Not only does Hunter have great athleticism, but he boasts a long, muscular frame and is highly intelligent, according to a former LSU coach, via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

"If he walked into your living room, your eyes would pop out of your head. He looks that good on the hoof. He's going to blow up the combine, and then ace all of the interviews and NFL teams are going to fall in love with him. He still needs someone to unlock all that talent, though."

Any team in the latter portion of the first round looking to add a pass-rusher with both a high floor and a high ceiling will likely take a long look at Hunter. If he wows teams during his pro day and impending interviews, we'll hear his name called sooner than originally anticipated.

Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Following Jake Fisher's performance at the combine, it appears as though quarterback Marcus Mariota may not be the only Oregon product to be drafted in the first round this year. A converted tight end, Fisher's draft stock wasn't overwhelming before the combine due to technique issues, but he may have changed that after a brilliant showing.

At 6'6" and 306 pounds, Fisher boasts a great blend of size, length, speed, agility and overall athleticism. He ran a 5.01-second 40-yard dash—an impressive time for a man of his stature—recorded a 32.5-inch vertical jump and ran a 7.25-second three-cone drill and a 4.33-second 20-yard shuttle. He was a top performer in each of those drills.

Fisher didn't only impress with those numbers, he showed nicely during positional drills as well. Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated tweeted his take on the lineman's quick feet:

Fisher will likely have to continue to add some weight and spend some time building his strength to truly excel as an offensive lineman in the NFL. However, with the quickness to play left guard, the intelligence to play the right side and the potential of sliding inside to play guard, teams will be highly intrigued by this versatile athlete in the late first round.

Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The NFL fell in love with tall, athletic cornerbacks right around the same time Richard Sherman began terrorizing opposing offenses. Well, LSU's Jalen Collins fits that mold nicely, measuring in at 6'1" and 203 pounds while running the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

The biggest knock on Collins is his inexperience. He started just 10 games with the Tigers and is extremely raw. In fact, the NFL Draft Advisory Board suggested Collins return to school rather than entering the draft. Well, he didn't listen, and it appears to be paying off.

Collins showed off his athletic ability in Indianapolis, recording a 36-inch vertical, 124-inch broad jump, 6.77-second three-cone drill, 4.27-second 20-yard shuttle and 11.32-second 60-yard shuttle. He impressed during positional drills as well, moving with fluidity and quickness while showing good ball skills. Caputi tweeted his assessment:

Due to inconsistencies in Collins' game—stemming from inexperience—he may not be able to contribute until he learns the position and develops accordingly. His raw athleticism allowed him to make plenty of plays at LSU, but that won't fly in the NFL. There are some cornerback-needy teams near the back half of the first round, and Collins should be under consideration.

All prospect measurements and combine results courtesy of NFL.com's results tracker.