NFL Draft 2015: Underrated Skill-Position Prospects to Watch

Every team wants to stockpile elite first-round prospects when it comes to the NFL draft, but there are only so many Jameis Winstons and Amari Coopers to go around. With seven rounds of draft picks on the board, teams must find the perennially overlooked players to build up their depth and bolster their long-term postseason outlooks.

The 2015 draft is no different. 

Fortunately for teams, there are plenty of underrated skill players with the ability to step in right away on an NFL roster and compete for playing time and production. Here is a look at a few of them as the draft approaches (first round is April 30).

Duke Johnson, RB, Miami

It has almost become blasphemous in today’s NFL to draft a running back in the first round, but Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon could hear their names called in the top 32 picks. The good news for those looking for running backs a bit later is the position is loaded with quality depth this year.

Miami’s Duke Johnson is part of that depth considering he was first-team All-ACC last year and tallied more career rushing yards (3,519) than any other Hurricane in program history. He picked up 1,652 of those yards in 2014, and he ran for at least 88 yards in every single game and reached the 100-yard barrier in seven of Miami’s 13 contests.

Johnson’s NFL.com draft profile should catch the eyes of some teams looking for help in the running back department:

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Explosive burst and plays with suddenness. Elusive in tight quarters. Has lightning in his feet. Has hips and feet to stop and start without stalling. Rare ability on stretch plays to hit cutback lanes that other backs can't get to. Runs with patience and a well-timed burst. Has great feel as zone-scheme, one-cut runner. Changes direction without breaking stride. Courageous runner. Shows no fear when getting downhill. Strong-willed competitor with toughness.

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That certainly sounds like someone who can immediately compete for playing time wherever he goes, which is exactly what teams are looking for when they draft a running back.

Johnson checks in at 5’8” and 206 pounds, and he has the size and speed combination that so many desire from the position. He has the physical toughness to pick up critical touchdowns on the goal line and the speed to break games open with explosive plays in the middle of the field. 

All he does is produce, and he will continue to do so at the next level.

Nick O’Leary, TE, Florida State

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Johnson isn’t the only productive prospect from a college in the state of Florida who could help a team in the middle rounds.

Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary is the defending John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s best tight end, which should be enough to land on the NFL’s radar. O’Leary doesn’t bring game-breaking speed to the table, but he understands positioning and torched zone looks in the Seminoles offense last year by simply finding the open space.

He is also an excellent blocker at 6’3” and 235 pounds, which is the versatility necessary to consistently stay on the field for three downs as a tight end.

Still, the thing that jumps out about O’Leary when studying his film is his ability to step up in the biggest moments. He was often the security blanket for Winston on critical third downs in the numerous comebacks Florida State had this season and finished with 618 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Florida State teammate Terrance Smith described O’Leary, per Jared Shanker of ESPN.com: “Nick’s just a football player, man. He doesn’t get all that flashy stuff. He goes out and plays. He’s going to block anybody, catch on anybody. His routes are some of the best routes I’ve had to cover. Nick is just an old-school football player. He just comes to play ball.” 

That route-running ability will help O’Leary endear himself to NFL coaches right away.

Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Auburn’s Sammie Coates finished the 2014 season with 741 receiving yards and four touchdowns, which doesn’t exactly jump off the page.

However, he dealt with injuries all year and was part of an offense that did not effectively throw the ball. With his size at 6’1” and 213 pounds and speed, he would have been much more productive in another offense.

Coates did flash his overwhelming potential in the annual rivalry clash with Alabama and finished with 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five catches. That was good enough for an incredible average of 41.2 yards per catch, as the Crimson Tide’s secondary simply couldn’t keep up with him when he turned on the accelerators.

Coates helped reveal a fatal flaw in Alabama’s defense that Ohio State then exploited in the College Football Playoff—it couldn’t stop the deep ball.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Coates can high-point passes on red-zone opportunities with his athleticism and use his size and physicality to outmuscle defenders on underneath routes. He also has the speed to beat corners deep as well, as he demonstrated against the Crimson Tide.

Don’t focus too much on just the stats with Coates considering the run-first offense Auburn used. Coates is all about potential and should be available in the middle rounds of the draft. 

Some team will be happy it took a chance on him.

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