2015 NFL Draft: Pros and Cons of Every Potential Top Overall Pick
The 2015 NFL draft is quickly approaching, which means there are rumors spewing from every direction. Which team is interested in particular players isn’t what we’re going to worry about right now, though. It’s time to look at the pros and cons of every potential top overall pick.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned the right to select first overall. Whether they actually spend the pick or deal it away remains to be seen. Regardless of who makes the top pick, there are five players with a legitimate claim to be the best overall player in the draft.
Working off Bleacher Report lead NFL draft writer Matt Miller’s latest big board, I picked five of his top 10 overall players who should be considered as the best overall talent in the class. It’s unlikely that anyone but a quarterback goes No. 1, but the discussion for the pros and cons is still important no matter the draft position. Let’s jump in.
Quarterback Jameis Winston
1 of 5
Pros
The former Florida State quarterback possesses the ideal “look” for an NFL signal-caller. He’s 6’4”, 231 pounds and able to take a beating in the pocket. His toughness and football intelligence should endear him to coaches and fans alike.
Winston’s aggressiveness as a passer is what makes him special. He routinely shows NFL-caliber anticipation when throwing over the middle. His ability to stick tough passes into tight windows will be a key asset in the NFL.
When the game really matters, Winston is a safe bet to perform. He’s a tremendous player on third down and in pressure situations. He always seemed to make the big play at the right time for the Seminoles.
Cons
Winston has a history of immature decisions off the field. Teams must dig deep to see whether they can trust him to be a professional off and on the gridiron. If he cannot be a reliable person, it’s unlikely he will be a reliable player.
2014 also brought forth the negatives to his playing style. Aggressive decisions can lead to interceptions. Winston must improve his field vision, especially over the middle. He threw too many interceptions to roaming linebackers that read his eyes.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota
2 of 5
Pros
The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner was an electrifying player for the Oregon Ducks. His historic statistics are mind-bending, especially when looking at his 105 career touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Marcus Mariota orchestrated one of the more powerful offenses in the nation at a time when offenses are surging.
Mariota brings a more consistent style of play to the table. He doesn’t make as many dangerous throws, and he’s content to nickel-and-dime the defenses down the field. He has a good arm, but no one will place his arm talent among the best in the league.
His skill set and size are easy to love as well. Mariota has a slender look to his build, but he is 6’4”, 222 pounds. His ability to create with speed and suddenness is a terrific asset to the offense.
Cons
Mariota’s playing style and willingness to run out of the pocket after his first read must be concerning. He will need to win within the pocket in the NFL, instead of scrambling so much. He suffered an AC joint injury in his shoulder against Ohio State, and he can expect to be hit by even bigger, stronger players.
Although Mariota had just 14 interceptions, he also had 27 fumbles in his career. He must hold on to the ball to maximize his running traits. If he cannot be a reliable runner, some of his appeal is lost.
There should also be concern about Mariota’s ceiling. He’s comparable to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, as he doesn’t like to take risks, and his arm is average. Unless he develops his anticipation and improves his intermediate accuracy on tough throws, Mariota is far from a safe bet.
Edge-Rusher Vic Beasley
3 of 5
Pros
What do you get when a defensive edge-rusher has elite physical traits and on-field production? The result is a top-tier prospect. That’s Clemson’s Vic Beasley in a nutshell. Beasley dominated in college, logging 52.5 tackles for loss and 33 sacks over three seasons.
His blend of speed, natural power and hand usage helped him develop into a terrific playmaker. At the NFL combine, Beasley put any athletic concerns to rest. He scored in the 90th percentile or better for all but one athletic measure for his position.
Beasley is a high-upside, high-floor player. It’s hard to see how he wouldn’t succeed with his skills and natural gifts.
Cons
The only significant negative for Beasley is his size. He added more than 10 pounds between his last collegiate game and the combine, but he still posted elite numbers. He’s only 6’3”, which is well below average.
Beasley would fit best in a 3-4 rush role. His fit as a defensive end may be less than ideal because of his length, so his value there could be lowered.
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Defensive Tackle Leonard Williams
4 of 5
Pros
USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams is one of the strongest players on the field you’ll find. At 6’5”, 302 pounds, Williams is extremely violent with his hands as he sheds blockers effortlessly. He’s tough as nails, too, playing through injuries.
Williams amassed 36.5 tackles for loss and 21 sacks in three seasons as a 5-technique for USC. His job to eat blocks and penetrate occasionally likely limited his production as a pure pass-rusher. In a 4-3 3-technique role, he could become a very good disruptor.
At worst, Williams will be a tremendous run-stuffer who brings the occasional pressure in the passing game. He’s extremely smart and aware of the play around him. His very high floor should be considered a major positive.
Cons
No one should confuse Williams with pass-rushing dynamos such as Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Gerald McCoy. Williams is not the athlete those two are, instead testing like an average tackle. His explosiveness off the line is something that likely holds him back from becoming elite.
Williams struggled to stay 100 percent healthy during his career. He played through injuries, but can he ward off the nagging ankle and lower-body injuries?
Running Back Todd Gurley
5 of 5
Pros
Georgia’s 6’1”, 222-pound running back Todd Gurley has been heralded as the next elite running back prospect. His blend of size, power and quickness is awesome. His skills helped him produce 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns on just 510 career carries.
Gurley dominated throughout his career, splicing through defenses. He has the talent to be a great player anywhere and in any scheme. He’s a complete back.
Cons
Gurley struggled with nagging injuries throughout his career. He reached 25 carries only five times in 29 games, so he’s not quite the bell-cow back he might be portrayed as. Of those five games, three came in his final three contests before tearing his ACL.
Coming off that torn ACL, Gurley will likely start 2015 on the PUP list to ensure his full recovery. Even if he comes back 100 percent, he could still experience pain or stiffness in the knee moving forward. The medicals will be critical for Gurley.
Finally, there should be a strong argument that running backs shouldn’t go this high anymore. Gurley likely isn’t in the running for the top overall pick, but his talent indicates he’s that good. Is the difference between Gurley and a Day 2 back great enough to justify taking Gurley highly?
All stats used are from sports-reference.com.
Ian Wharton is an NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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