Oregon Football: 2015 NFL Draft Tracker, Analysis and Results
The Oregon Ducks could have the most players selected in the 2015 NFL draft of any Pac-12 program.
Leading the charge is quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Heisman Trophy winner out of Hawaii figures to go early Thursday night. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead also appears to be in good shape in terms of becoming a first-round selection.
Depth truly is the name of the game when it comes to this draft class. Outside of Mariota and Armstead, there are multiple players with the ability to contribute as first-year players. Additionally, almost all of the potential draftees were All-Pac-12 performers during their time in Eugene.
This piece will highlight the Oregon draft hopefuls. Prior to the draft, we will analyze all of the prospects and their respective strengths as football players. We will also discuss predictions on draft positioning.
Once the draft ends, we will update the slides, detailing each player and his fit with his future team.
QB Marcus Mariota
1 of 7
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 2 to Tennessee
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 222 lbs
Analysis
Marcus Mariota instantly becomes the face of the Tennessee Titans' franchise. Without question, he'll be expected to come in and start from day one. Fortunately for Mariota, his new head coach—Ken Whisenhunt—is noted for his work with quarterbacks. Both Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers developed under Whisenhunt's tutelage.
It would behoove Tennessee to tailor its offensive scheme around Mariota's strengths as a player. In fact, Whisenhunt told The Tennessean he would in fact incorporate spread principles into the offense. It's now imperative the Titans can surround Mariota with talent at the skill positions. It'll make his transition that much easier.
Replacement
Reserve signal-caller Jeff Lockie figured he'd assume the role of the starter...until Oregon brought in dynamic quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. from Eastern Washington. While Adams isn't technically enrolled until June, there's no question he'll be the favorite to win the job. At EWU, Adams threw for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns in three seasons.
DL Arik Armstead
2 of 7
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 17 to San Francisco
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 292 lbs
Analysis
With Justin Smith's future with the team in limbo, the selection of Arik Armstead seems like a shrewd move. A Northern California native, Armstead figures to instantly impact the 49ers depth chart along the defensive line. With his versatility, he can function as both a defensive end and as a defensive tackle. The key for Armstead is playing with consistency. If he can continue to develop and play with constant effort, the sky is truly the limit in terms of Armstead's potential.
Replacement
Tui Talia will likely get the first crack at replacing Armstead at defensive end. The former junior college transfer registered only 18 tackles a season ago in limited time. Oregon also will likely look at T.J. Daniel for production.
OL Jake Fisher
3 of 7
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 53 to Cincinnati Bengals
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 306 lbs
Analysis
With starting lineman Andrew Whitworth approaching 34 years of age, Jake Fisher makes a lot of sense in round two for the Bengals. The athletic Michigan native will battle fellow 2015 draftee Cedric Ogbuehi for playing time as first-year players. Interestingly, all three of Cincinnati's top offensive tackles on its roster are under contract for only one more year. Fisher can get physically bigger and stronger while apprenticing behind players such as Whitworth, Andre Smith, and Eric Winston. This is definitely a selection for the future.
Replacement
Tyler Johnstone will return from injury and man the vacant spot. Before an ACL injury, he was arguably Oregon's best lineman. Assuming he's back fully healthy, he'll help to bolster a strong rushing attack led by Royce Freeman.
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C Hroniss Grasu
4 of 7
Drafted: Round 3, Pick 71 to Chicago Bears
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 297 lbs
Analysis
With Will Montgomery the only center under contract for the Bears (on a one-year deal), taking Hroniss Grasu was a move looking towards the future. Grasu will be able to develop for a year before presumably taking over the starting spot as a second-year player. His tough, aggressive, nasty style of play will surely resonate with the Chicago fanbase. Don't be surprised if he becomes a fan favorite in the Windy City.
Replacement
Doug Brenner is slated to replace Grasu as the starting center. Staying true to most Oregon offensive linemen, Brenner is undersized at 6'2", 305 pounds, but he's mobile and athletic. He'll have to continue to put on both weight and strength. At times last year, the opposition's sheer size overwhelmed him.
DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
5 of 7
Drafted: Round 7, Pick 241 to Cleveland Browns
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 192 lbs
Analysis
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu's future truly centers around his knee. If he can prove he's fully healthy, he'll be a BIG steal for the Browns. He'll impact their depth chart—likely as a nickelback covering receivers in the slot initially. However, a player of his talent dropping to the seventh round says a lot about his knee injury. There's really no telling how he'll be with Cleveland, until the situation with his injury gets some clarity.
Replacement
Chris Seisay seems like a sure bet to fill in as Ekpre-Olomu's replacement. Seisay played a good amount of the time last year as Oregon's third corner. Unlike Ekpre-Olomu, Seisay has great height (6'1") and length for the position. Simply put, his best football is ahead of him.
DB Troy Hill
6 of 7
2015 Draft: Not Selected
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 182 lbs
Analysis
Troy Hill came into his own as a player in 2014. He led the team with 18 pass breakups and also accrued 71 total tackles. Although he has a slight frame, Hill wasn't bashful about coming up toward the line of scrimmage and smacking an offensive player in the mouth. This also speaks about the tenaciousness he plays with. A 4.52 time in the 40-yard dash answers any questions about his top-end speed.
Hill might ultimately be the most underrated Oregon draft-eligible prospect in this draft. He was often overshadowed by his highly publicized partner in the secondary. Regardless, his play a season ago demonstrated his ability in a big way.
Replacement
Speedster Arrion Springs out of San Antonio looks like Hill's replacement. According to secondary coach John Neal, via Andrew Greif of The Oregonian, Springs has "probably been overwhelmingly my most improved player in every way. Really pleased with what he's doing. He gives us so much flexibility right now."
DB Erick Dargan
7 of 7
2015 Draft: Not Selected
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 210 lbs
Analysis
Erick Dargan is a pure football player. He led the Ducks in tackles a season ago with 95, and he also had seven interceptions. Both statistics speak to Dargan's immense intelligence on the field and ability to put himself in the right spot.
Dargan's speed is his biggest issue. The California native ran a 4.74 40-yard time at the Oregon pro day. His strength lies in playing up in the box to fill run lanes, as opposed to turning his hips and covering in space. At this point, Dargan's immediate future on the NFL level will be on special teams.
Replacement
There doesn't appear to be a concrete replacement for Dargan. However, the eventual starter has big shoes to fill. Dargan was not only productive, but he was the leader in the secondary. The three potential options include Khalil Oliver, Juwann Williams and Tyree Robinson.
Note: Draft projections courtesy of Matt Miller's mock draft. Stats via GoDucks.com.
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