2015 NFL Draft: Safest Prospects in Class and Full 1st-Round Order
NFL teams are always looking for potential stars in the draft, but getting a safe pick is also useful.
While organizations are always trying to find game-changing players with huge upside, many of those prospects also come with a lot of risk. Front offices have to decide whether it is worth ending up with a wasted first-round pick for the chance to possibly get an elite player.
On the other hand, there are plenty of quality options who will almost certainly be top contributors in the NFL. They might not end up being the best at their positions, but their chances of failing are relatively low.
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No one can predict the future, but these players are the safest options in the 2015 class.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Plenty of people will debate whether Amari Cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White will end up as the better NFL player. White certainly has a quality argument with his speed and pure athleticism, but there is no question Cooper is the safer option at this stage.
Unlike most receivers in the draft, the Alabama star is already polished. Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen broke down his best attributes:
Cooper's technique and route-running ability allow him to get open at a high rate. With elite hands, he will almost certainly be a quarterback's best friend no matter where he lands.
Other receivers can learn these skills and become better receivers with more height or athleticism. However, Cooper is ready to dominate right now and is therefore an incredibly safe option.
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
There seems to be some debate whether Brandon Scherff will end up as a tackle or guard on an NFL offensive line. In reality, these options are part of what makes him such a quality pick in the draft.
The Iowa star is one of the strongest players in the class and will immediately be an elite run-blocker at the next level. Grantland's Robert Mays noted he has all the attributes for a big-time offensive lineman:
"He’s mean. Like, really mean. He enjoys finishing people, and that’s something any offensive line coach will salivate over. When you take that attitude and blend it with a guy who can squat the Willis Tower, it’s hard to see a future that doesn’t include Scherff anchoring someone’s line for the next decade.
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He was a quality tackle for the Hawkeyes, and if he sticks at the position, he could become a cornerstone player for any franchise. However, concerns about his arm length and pass-blocking allow some to debate whether a move inside would be better.
Of course, a move to guard could make Scherff one of the top players in the NFL at his position almost immediately. You really can't go wrong drafting the big man if you need offensive line help.
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Although there are plenty of other defensive linemen likely to be taken higher than Danny Shelton, many of those players are hybrid options who will line up on the outside or even as pass-rushing linebackers. However, you know where the 339-pound Shelton will be: right in the middle of a defensive line.
The defensive tackle has the size and strength to be a prototypical hole-clogging player at the next level. He knows how to take on multiple blockers and free up space for teammates while also often making a stop himself.
While most scouts would be scared stamina would be an issue for a player of this size, Shelton showed this past season he was capable of staying on the field as much as possible. At the combine, he explained this mindset, via Stephen Czarda of Redskins.com:
"The Pac-12 Conference, there's nine out of 12 teams running up-tempo. It's a demand for our defense to be able to compete and be able to stay out on the field. So I challenge myself every day to practice running to the ball, stripping the ball, working on turnovers. It's just a mindset we have at the University of Washington to be prepared.
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While Leonard Williams might be the best all-around lineman in the class, and Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley and others will compete as the best pass-rusher, Shelton will help out against the run as much as anyone available in this draft.
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
This will be somewhat of a debate considering Landon Collins comes into the draft with obvious flaws. He doesn't have elite speed, which hurts him in pass coverage, and he also displays inconsistency playing the ball.
On the other hand, Collins is as good as they come defending the run. The safety finds the ball-carrier and has great instincts to close the gap and make a play as quick as possible. There is a reason he led Alabama last season with 103 tackles.
The safety still has time to improve against the pass, but his work stopping the run will make him a valuable addition to a lot of teams.
Curtis Conway of NFL Network even thinks Collins could be a replacement for Troy Polamalu on the Pittsburgh Steelers:
While it's impossible to replace a future Hall of Famer right away, the young player has the tools to get it done.
| 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2 | Tennessee Titans |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 4 | Oakland Raiders |
| 5 | Washington Redskins |
| 6 | New York Jets |
| 7 | Chicago Bears |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 9 | New York Giants |
| 10 | St. Louis Rams |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 16 | Houston Texans |
| 17 | San Diego Chargers |
| 18 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo) |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 23 | Detroit Lions |
| 24 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 25 | Carolina Panthers |
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 28 | Denver Broncos |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts |
| 30 | Green Bay Packers |
| 31 | New Orleans Saints (via Seattle) |
| 32 | New England Patriots |
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