NFL Draft 2015: Top Prospects Flying Under the Radar
With a little more than a month until the NFL draft, teams have started to put the closing touches on their draft boards and will start looking deeper into the prospect list to find the next Tom Brady or Russell Wilson.
Even though the elite prospects have earned their spots at the top of many a mock draft, only one team is going to get Randy Gregory or Kevin White. So for the teams that won't be able to draft those standouts, the real value in the draft lies in the less hyped players who will fall to the middle rounds.
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Here are five such players, who have flown under the radar for one reason or another.
Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
More than any other position in football, it feels like quarterbacks are under a bigger spotlight when they choose to return to school for an extra season.
UCLA’s Brett Hundley became the next in a long line of quarterbacks who saw their stock slip because of an extra year in school. Considered the third- or fourth-best signal-caller in the draft this year, he has the ability to surprise some people as a mid-round pick.
Despite all the chagrin he received last season, partially because of the Bruins’ failure to live up to lofty preseason expectations, Hundley’s numbers actually improved from his sophomore season as a passer, with only a slight decrease as a runner.
In the video below, Hundley shows off his abilities as a dual-threat QB who can break down defenses with his arm and legs.
Michael Bennett, DL, Ohio State
You have to feel for Michael Bennett and his draft projection. Once considered a lock in the first round, the former Ohio State Buckeye returned to school for the championship run last season.
But in doing so, Bennett was overshadowed by consensus All-American Joey Bosa and has seen himself slip down draft boards into the second round or lower.
Although Bennett is a little undersized as an interior lineman, his abilities more than make up for that, with seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss for Ohio State last season, and he could be a huge sleeper in the upcoming draft, as the video demonstrates.
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State
After back-to-back poor seasons, this might be more of an indictment than a compliment, but Jay Ajayi has the potential to be better than former Boise State Bronco Doug Martin.
As a two-dimensional back—Ajayi ran for 1,823 yards while also catching 50 passes for 535 yards last year—Ajayi brings a versatility looked for from today’s running backs and could be a player who eliminates the need for a two-back system. As can be seen in the video below, Ajayi is a skilled runner and receiver.
He is shifty yet strong and capable of running players over. He will fall in the draft, however, because of other stars in the class, such as Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley.
Nick O’Leary, TE, Florida State
The tight end position has come so far in the past few seasons. With the growth of players such as Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen, the position is no longer considered a place for blockers who can catch the ball but rather receivers who can block.
Florida State’s Nick O’Leary fits the bill on both counts, and draft experts are criminally underrating him. As the Seminoles' second-leading receiver in 2014, O’Leary had a standout season with Jameis Winston throwing him the ball, which you can see in the video below. He should be able to replicate that in the modern NFL.
Even though Maxx Williams from Minnesota has the spot as the draft’s top tight end locked up, look for O’Leary to turn some heads wherever he lands.
Rob Havenstein, OT, Wisconsin
The draft isn’t won with the flashy first-round picks, such as the speedy wide receiver or the Heisman quarterback. No, the draft is won with the middle-rounders who can instantly contribute to a team despite the lack of huge expectations. The draft is won with players such as Rob Havenstein.
Starting three seasons in Wisconsin, which has become known for its stellar offensive lineman, Havenstein has some flaws—scouts point to stiffness in the knees as a possible issue—but none that can't be fixed with the right coaches.
As a big contributor on the line that helped Melvin Gordon approach a number of NCAA records, Havenstein has the skill set needed to be a good starting right tackle in the NFL.
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