2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Prospects Who Underperformed at Combine

Too much stock is put into the numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine. Unless a kid shows up drastically over- or underweight, the combine should be used to confirm what scouts have seen on film as they evaluated collegiate prospects through the year.

Unfortunately, players such as the Carolina Panthers' Stephen Hill fly up draft boards because of the way they flew on the track at the combine. Hill ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, and it nearly landed him in the first round despite a more nondescript collegiate career at Georgia Tech University.

The New York Jets selected Hill 43rd overall. In two seasons, he never had more than 24 receptions. He hopes to realize his potential with the Panthers in 2015.

Teams are hoping not to find another Hill.

On the flip side, there are also solid players who underperform at the combine who turn out to be studs. Then there are some who have their perceived weaknesses confirmed. You never know for sure.

Here's a look at the latest mock draft with a concentration on prospects who didn't shine as much as they might have liked at the combine.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5	Washington	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
6	New York Jets	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
7	Chicago Bears	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
8	Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, OLB/DE, Clemson
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
14	Miami Dolphins	Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
15	San Francisco 49ers	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
16	Houston Texans	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
17	San Diego Chargers	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
25	Carolina Panthers	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26	Baltimore Ravens	Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
27	Dallas Cowboys	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
28	Denver Broncos	Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
29	Indianapolis Colts	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
30	Green Bay Packers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State

Brandon Scherff

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Coming into the combine, there were rumblings that Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Brandon Scherff might be the strongest prospect in Indianapolis. Scherff might have been, but he didn't show it.

He only managed a disappointing 23 reps on the bench press, which was a full 14 behind the Miami Hurricanes' Ereck Flowers, who led everyone with 37. This statistic isn't everything when it comes to predicting the impact of an offensive lineman, but a better performance might have allowed Scherff to move into the top five.

As it stands, he'll likely still hear his name called within the first 10 picks of the draft. That said, the door might be open for players such as Flowers or the Stanford Cardinal's Andrus Peat to pass him.

If Scherff does indeed land with the New York Giants, he still projects as a longtime starter on the right side.

DeVante Parker

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Let's be clear: 4.45 speed is not slow. That's especially the case for a 6'3" 209-pound wide receiver. However, it's not good enough to be considered one of the 15 fastest receivers in this year's draft.

This crop of receivers is among the best the draft has seen in years. Despite Parker's "slow" time, he is still right in the mix of the players at his position who are considered elite. He'll likely hear his name called anywhere from seventh to the Chicago Bears down to 15th to the San Francisco 49ers. 

Parker's size, run-after-the-catch ability and great hands make him one of the most intriguing wideouts in the draft. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Parker to the Indianapolis Colts' Hakeem Nicks: "Parker won't win the NFL Scouting Combine, but he will win when the ball is in the air. With his height and an exceptional wingspan (80 inches), he consistently catches everything in his vicinity."

Teaming him with another go-up-and-get-it receiver such as Alshon Jeffery is a great idea. That would allow Chicago to maintain the solid tandem of receivers it had last year with Jeffery and the since-departed Brandon Marshall.

Randy Gregory

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Nebraska Cornhuskers' Randy Gregory didn't wow anyone with his speed or maturity at the combine. He ran a decent 4.64 40-yard dash. Some might have expected he would be faster considering he came in weighing just 235 pounds.

More damaging was the fact that he failed a drug test in Indy.

That put a stain on a prospect who already has perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust potential of any player slated to go in the first round of the draft. I have him at No. 17 to the San Diego Chargers, but it's possible he slips even further down than that.