2015 Draft Sleepers Who'd Fit Perfectly with the Jacksonville Jaguars

The "sleeper" is a rare but extremely important breed in the NFL draft, especially for the Jacksonville Jaguars. As a team that is looking to make up ground and reach a competitive level in the NFL, finding the sleeper picks and good-value picks is one of the best ways to get ahead.

The big issue with the sleeper pick, however, is finding it. It takes a lot of scouting, confidence in a player's ability and the courage to take the risk of selecting an "under-the-radar" type of player.

But when a team does find one, it can mean greatness. An example that comes to mind? Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. That was not a bad selection, in my opinion.

While the Jaguars won't be finding a Tom Brady in this year's draft, there are some low-profile guys who could make a difference. It's a big risk to take, but that's what the NFL draft is all about.

The Jaguars don't have too many holes left on the roster, but there are some spots where the team could sign guys with the long-term investment in mind. Picking the guy without the spotlight—but with the work ethic and natural skills—can pay off big with the right development.

The Jaguars' draft plan is unknown, and no one is sure which position they may select and where. With that in mind, these picks will be guys who may have some popularity but aren't respected as much as they should be.

Without further ado, here are the 2015 NFL draft sleeper picks the Jaguars can pounce on.

Leterrius Walton

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Like the up-and-coming Central Michigan Chippewas, Leterrius Walton has made huge strides in the past couple of years, and he's not done. In fact, Walton looks like a guy with all the physical talent in the world but just needs some proper development to reach his potential.

At 6'5" and 319 pounds, Walton isn't just a big defensive tackle; he's a monstrous one. Walton played three different sports in high school and has stayed in shape throughout college. Some of those 319 pounds may be from dessert, but the majority is muscle.

Despite his size and position, Walton is all about speed. He's an incredible athlete and can explode off the snap extremely quickly. His hands need some work, but they are also quick for those of a DT.

Walton was initially considered to be a strong offensive lineman, but after switching to the opposite side of the ball, he's improved immensely for the Chippewas.

Over the past three years, Walton has started 31 games and made 99 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss. Those are not the brightest numbers by any means, but they are consistently strong ones for a guy who doesn't have the most experience.

Walton is a guy the Jaguars can get in the fifth round, according to CBS Sports. For a fifth-round pick, Walton is worth the risk. He seems to have tremendous upside, and he's only gotten better through college.

The Jaguars could use a young DT to learn from guys like Sen'Derrick Marks and Roy Miller. The interior of the defensive line is one of the oldest groups on the team, and bringing in a young talent like Walton could set the Jaguars up for when the older guys pass their primes.

David Cobb

John Raoux/Associated Press

There may not be a more disrespected running back in the entirety of the draft than David Cobb. Cobb took over the Minnesota Gophers offense and was nearly unstoppable in 2014. Considering the Jaguars' need for a running back, Cobb may be a steal.

Cobb was the starting running back for the Gophers during the past two seasons, much to their benefit. Through two seasons, Cobb had 2,828 yards rushing, 20 touchdowns and an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Those numbers are impressive, to say the least.

Cobb is the classic power back, and he looks to face defenders head-on rather than beating them with speed—which is understandable, especially when you look at his 4.81-second 40-yard-dash time from this year's combine.

However, his speed isn't why he's projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, according to CBS Sports. Cobb's strength and vision are his best qualities—a powerful combo that has made him a tough matchup for many defenders in the Big Ten.

Cobb reminds me of a younger Maurice Jones-Drew. He has terrific balance, and his short height (5'11") allows him to stay grounded. His stout frame makes him incredibly hard to knock over, and wrapping him up is no easy challenge.

The Jaguars may take their chances on a guy like Melvin Gordon or Jay Ajayi if one is available in the second round, but should they pass them up, Cobb would be my guy.

Mike Hull

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Penn State and linebackers seem to go together like Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q and sweet tea. Linebacker Mike Hull is no different. An outside linebacker, Hull could be an important investment for a late-pick, should the Jaguars look to add a guy who could be molded to either outside linebacker position.

Hull didn't assume a major starting position for the Nittany Lions until the 2014 season, but he played an important role at Happy Valley for a few years. Over the past three seasons, Hull racked up 273 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Hull is excellent when defending against the pass, evidenced by his two interceptions and nine passes defended. However, his lack of size limits him against the run, despite his best efforts.

Hull is 6'0" and 237 pounds, which is small for a linebacker. However, we've learned from Telvin Smith that size isn't everything—and that speed and technique can more than make up for a lack of size.

Hull's career stats are impressive, and he's proved that he can be a contributor on a successful football team. His initiative to take a leadership role in 2014 is a big plus as well, and he has the type of mindset and work ethic you want in the locker room.

Hull may be too small to reach a starter level for the Jaguars, but he offers a lot as a pass-coverage linebacker and could be brought in for depth and certain packages. For a fourth- or fifth-round pick, as projected by CBS Sports, Hull could be a good-value, under-the-radar move.

Stefon Diggs

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Stefon Diggs is a receiver who's been electric since his rookie year, save for an injury or two that have held him back. However, Diggs is by no means damaged goods. His incredible speed and big-play ability have earned him a lot of respect without the hype.

An initial look at Diggs' career numbers might scare off a lot of consideration. Through three years with Maryland, Diggs' highest yards total in a season was 848 in 2012, and his highest number of catches was 62 in 2014.

However, Diggs needs to be praised for what he can do—not what he did. Diggs has a great combination of speed, technical ability and intelligence. He makes instinctive decisions to get open and uses the best of his natural speed to burn defenders.

Diggs is a bit smaller than the typical all-around receiver and weighs in at 6'0" and 195 pounds. He's just big enough to handle himself, but if he joined the Jaguars, he'd need more upper-body strength.

Diggs has an immense amount of talent—it's just a case of using him correctly and training him properly. He's been on a good track at Maryland, and he was coached by Maryland wide receivers coach and former Jaguars star Keenan McCardell.

Diggs has the talent to do big things, it's just a question of whether he's worth the risk of a draft pick. Projected by CBS Sports in the fifth round, Diggs would be available if the Jaguars decide to wait at wide receiver.

Jordan Richards

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Jordan Richards is a safety who can play both the run and the pass and looks to lead. For the Jaguars, that one-two combo is tough to beat. Richards is projected by CBS Sports to be taken in the fifth round, so the Jaguars could have good value on their hands.

Richards is a "box safety" and has played a role similar to that of current Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien. Richards was often on the field for both pass and run situations, but he's at his best when defending the run.

However, a look at Richards' stats shows that he has good instincts and great hands. He's had nine interceptions in the past three years—three each season. He's quick and decisive to get to the ball, which could translate to a successful NFL career.

Richards' main downside is that he's not as good defending the pass as he is the run. He's not terrible, per se, but he'd need serious work for pass-heavy defending if he were to become a starter.

Richards would be a player whom the Jaguars would sit and train for a year or two. It's crucial that Richards gets better in deep pass coverage before competing with Cyprien for the starting job.

Cyprien has to be careful, however. If the Jaguars select a safety—and they go with Richards—he could be gunning for Cyprien's spot come the 2016 season.