NFL Draft 2015: Best Available Players for Friday

The first round of the 2015 NFL draft is complete, but there is still plenty of talent to be had as the proceedings move forward to Friday’s second and third rounds. With some big-name players still on the board, the start of Day 2 will be must-see TV.

Some of the top players still on the board—such as Nebraska edge defender Randy Gregory and Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckahm—have not yet been selected due to red flags that were already expected to hurt their stocks. Others, however, might still be available simply because they did not fit with any of the teams picking late in Round 1, or because they were stuck in a logjam of talent at their positions.

Either way, the following 15 prospects could all be in high demand Friday. They all have on-field skill sets which warrant early-round consideration, and should have teams seriously considering whether one of these prospects is the player they should target with their second-round selection.

Note: The following rankings have been drawn from Matt Miller’s final big board. All analysis, however, is my own unless otherwise noted.

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Matt Miller's Best Available

The players that are still in full color in the widget above are those who have not yet been selected. You can use the widget to sort through Matt Miller's big board to see who the best available players are at each position.

For full analysis of the top overall prospects who are still available, check out the following slides.

1. Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

Prior to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, the idea that Randy Gregory would still be available on Day 2 of the draft would have been laughed at. An explosive edge defender with terrific length, Gregory has huge upside as a pass-rusher and was widely projected throughout the 2014 college football season to be a top-10 overall pick.

Two big concerns that emerged at the combine, however, led to his fall out of Day 1 of the draft.

At 6’5”, Gregory weighed in at just 235 pounds, making him very thin for a defensive end. Expected to continue working to put on weight, Gregory has failed to do so; according to Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei, he weighed below 230 pounds on a team visit just weeks before the draft. Gregory’s lack of bulk is a legitimate issue that shows up in his game film, as he gets pushed backward off the line of scrimmage too easily.

Additionally, Gregory failed a drug test for marijuana at the combine, giving teams reason for concern about whether he will be able to stay clean and avoid suspensions in the future.

Because of that, his fall out of Round 1 cannot be considered a shock; NFL Media’s Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport also noted earlier this week that “according to more than a dozen coaches, scouts, personnel chiefs and GMs, there is concern about Gregory's ability to handle the mental rigors of professional football.”

All of that said, Gregory should come off the board quickly in the second round. While he certainly would have qualified as a high-risk pick in Round 1, it is far more likely that a team will take a chance on Gregory in Round 2 and hope that it can get the most of his effervescent potential.

2. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

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A 6’5”, 237-pound wide receiver with terrific ball skills and athleticism for his size, Dorial Green-Beckham has as much potential to be a star as any player drafted in Round 1. He is a matchup nightmare who has enough speed to beat cornerbacks outside but can also use his length, strength and body control to make catches even when he is covered.

All of those traits could have made Green-Beckham a first-round pick, potentially even a top-10 selection, had he not been dismissed from Missouri’s football program last April after an incident in which he allegedly broke into an apartment and pushed a woman down at least four stairs.

Green-Beckham’s disconcerting off-field rap sheet—which also includes two previous marijuana-related arrests—gave teams reason not to draft him in Round 1. The fact that he has not played a single down of football since 2013 also does not help his cause.

All of that said, it’s likely a team will take a chance on Green-Beckham on Day 2. His past makes him a risky pick for any team, but the reward for putting faith in his development could be a wide receiver who affects the game plans of every defense his team faces.

3. Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State

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An athletic cornerback with true track speed, Ronald Darby has the tools to blossom into a terrific playmaker on an NFL defense. He has fluid hips, good length and adequate ball skills, and his ability to move fast—highlighted by his 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—significantly raises his upside.

All of those traits could have made Darby a first-round pick, especially for a team that emphasizes long-term potential. Instead, he fell in the draft as five other defensive backs—Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson, Washington’s Marcus Peters, Connecticut’s Byron Jones and Arizona State’s Damarious Randall—came off the board in Round 1.

Waynes, Johnson and Peters are more polished cornerbacks than Darby is, Jones is an even more spectacular athlete than Darby and Randall has the ability to play both free safety and cornerback, giving him intriguing versatility. The value of those players might be the primary reason Darby is still available going into Day 2.

On top of that, however, Darby suffered some bad beats in his Florida State career, and he is best suited to go into a situation where he can be groomed into a starting role rather than thrown immediately into the fire. That makes him a better fit for Round 2, where teams become less concerned with the ability to make an instant impact and place more emphasis on what a player can do in the long term.

It’s also possible that Darby could be down on some boards because of a few questionable moments in his off-field history. He was one of two additional Florida State players investigated when Jameis Winston was charged with sexual assault. Darby was also a passenger in an alleged hit-and-run by fellow Florida State cornerback and 2015 draft prospect P.J. Williams, as documented by Mike McIntire and Walt Bogdanich of The New York Times in 2014.

Darby never faced criminal charges in relation to either of those incidents, however, and might not necessarily have his draft stock adversely affected by character concerns.

4. La’el Collins, G/OT, LSU

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As of Monday, La’el Collins was considered to be a first-round lock. Now, despite the fact that he remains one of the draft’s top talents, it’s uncertain whether the LSU offensive lineman will be drafted at all.

Taking only his on-field talent into account, Collins would be a tremendous value selection on Day 2 of the draft. A powerful, athletic lineman who dominates with his hands, Collins has experience playing both offensive tackle and guard and could potentially play either position in the NFL, though he projects best to play inside.

Off the field, however, Collins is being sought for questioning by police after Brittany Mills, a pregnant woman believed to be a former girlfriend, was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last week. “Collins is not believed to be a suspect in the shooting,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but police want to “talk to him to see if he can provide them with information.”

Despite the fact that he has been neither charged nor accused with any crime, Collins has been removed entirely from multiple teams’ draft boards, according to Schefter. Furthermore, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole and NEPatriotsDraft.com’s Mike Loyko have both reported, each citing multiple league sources, that Collins could be set to go undrafted.

Collins’ agent made a pitch to the NFL for his client to be withdrawn from the draft so he could enter the supplemental draft later, as reported by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, but that request was denied. The fact that Collins’ camp felt it necessary to even make that request, however, indicates that his draft stock is in serious jeopardy.

All in all, it appears as though Collins—presuming his innocence—could be a victim of truly horrible timing. Should a team take a chance on him and his name is ultimately cleared, Collins could be one of the draft’s biggest steals. It’s understandable, though, that risk-averse teams would stay away from Collins, given the lack of information available regarding the situation at this time.

5. Eddie Goldman, NT, Florida State

A big, powerful nose tackle at 6’4” and 336 pounds, Eddie Goldman was believed to be a likely first-round pick largely because of the scarcity of prospects who can do what he does. Possessing the size and strength to anchor the middle of a 3-4 defense while having enough quickness to be a 4-3 defensive tackle, Goldman is one of the most solid interior defensive line prospects in the draft.

Teams typically put a premium on pass defenders over run defenders in the first round of the draft, and that hurt Goldman, who is very good at holding his ground at the point of attack but is not much of a pass-rushing threat. He also tended to be more of a flash player than a consistent force at Florida State, and it could take him some time to reach his potential.

Goldman was widely projected to be a possibility for the New England Patriots at the No. 32 overall pick, so the fall of Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown to the end of Round 1 did not help Goldman’s cause.

With that being said, the options for teams that could be looking for nose tackles on Day 2 remain limited. A team looking to upgrade its interior defensive line would be smart to target Goldman early in the second round to increase its presence against the run.

6. Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

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Despite being widely regarded as the top safety prospect in this year’s NFL draft class, Landon Collins is still waiting to hear his name called going into the event’s second day.

Built like a linebacker at 6’0” and 228 pounds, Collins is a solid athlete for his size who hits hard and can make an impact both around the line of scrimmage and on the back end of the defense. He is a typically sound tackler who also shows good playmaking range and an ability to make plays on the ball.

With that being said, Collins is not a player who should be trusted as a single-high safety deep over the middle of the field. He had some inconsistency in coverage during his junior season, and Collins is best suited for an in-the-box, enforcer-type role as a strong safety who can even play linebacker in some situations.

Collins could quickly emerge as an impact player in that role, but box safeties are not typically valued as first-round picks. So while Collins might be a more complete and NFL-ready player than No. 30 overall pick Damarious Randall, it was Randall who ended up being the only first-round pick among safeties because he is a superior athlete with better coverage skills.

It would come as a bigger surprise, however, if Collins faces a long wait on Day 2. There are numerous teams with picks early in the second round, including the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, who have major needs at the safety position and should snap him up if they get the chance.

7. Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA

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Kendricks can be considered the most complete off-ball linebacker prospect in this year’s draft, as I detailed in a Bleacher Report article in late March. However, Kendricks was not valued highly enough by any NFL team to end up being a first-round pick.

A fluid athlete who excels in pursuit, Kendricks is a sound tackler who is also adept at dropping back into coverage. He has the range to make plays from sideline to sideline and should be ready to step in as a starting NFL linebacker from the beginning of his rookie season.

One big reason Kendricks is still available on Day 2 is that he is undersized. At only 6’0” and 232 pounds, Kendricks can struggle to get off blocks and is not a player who projects as a big difference-maker around the line of scrimmage.

As solid as Kendricks’ all-around game might be, players like him are often valued as second-rounders rather than top-32 selections.

Nonetheless, a team in need of an instant contributor at linebacker—ideally, a team that runs a 3-4 defense and can play him inside—should snap him up early in Round 2. He might never be a household name at the next level, but he should provide solid play week in and week out.

8. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

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Despite being the most athletic offensive tackle in this year’s draft, Jake Fisher was left to watch and wait as seven other offensive linemen went off the board in Round 1.

There is a lot to like about Fisher as a potential left or right tackle prospect. He has good length and quick feet at 6’6” and 306 pounds, and though he is no bulldozer as a run-blocker, he demonstrates functional strength to keep defensive opponents away from the backfield.

Ideally suited to play in a zone-blocking scheme, Fisher might not have been as appealing as the draft’s other top offensive tackle prospects to teams that have power-based offenses. Furthermore, his game remains a work in progress, as he has had some issues with hand placement and drawing holding penalties.

Nonetheless, Fisher’s physical traits will likely make him too good to pass up for one team or another early in the second round. With more than a half-dozen offensive linemen already off the board, they should continue to be picked up quickly on Day 2; Fisher could be a beneficiary of that.

9. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

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A long, athletic cornerback who has flashed man-to-man coverage skills and great playmaking ability, LSU’s Jalen Collins could be a star if he continues his development on a positive plane. He has great size for his position (6’1”, 203 lbs) and above-average long speed and foot quickness.

Collins has shown that he can play with physicality and effectively utilize his length to make plays on the ball. All in all, Collins has the raw tools from which a No. 1 cornerback can be made.

Even so, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Collins is still available heading into Day 2. In addition to being an inconsistent player at LSU who needs to improve his technique, Collins is coming off foot surgery and, as reported by NFL Media’s Albert Breer last week, failed multiple drug tests in college.

While Collins has enough potential to warrant an early second-round draft selection, it’s also possible he could fall as far as the third round because of his numerous red flags. The team that drafts him will be taking a chance on his upside, with confidence that it can hone Collins into a player who maximizes his skill set on the field and avoids further issues off it.

10. Eli Harold, OLB/DE, Virginia

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As the draft stocks of pass-rushers Shane Ray (who ended up going No. 23 overall to the Denver Broncos) and Randy Gregory slid due to numerous concerns leading up to the draft, it looked as though Eli Harold might be able to take advantage and sneak his way into the late picks of Round 1. That did not come to fruition Thursday, however, and the Virginia edge defender instead looms as one of the top prospects available for Day 2.

Just as athletic as any of the top pass-rushers in this year’s class, Harold is both explosive coming forward and agile laterally. He turns the corner as well as any edge prospect in this year’s draft and has the burst to bring pressure into the backfield in a hurry.

With that being said, he is more of a project than teams want a first-round pick to be. He has limited size at 6’3” and 247 pounds, and he not only needs to bulk up but continue to refine his technique and develop more effective pass-rushing moves.

Harold has some growing to do before he can become a regular impact player in the NFL, but his physical traits make him a strong candidate for a conversion to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Any team looking for a pass-rushing specialist on Day 2 of the draft would be smart to consider Harold.

11. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

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With six wide receivers already off the board through 32 picks, Jaelen Strong very well could be one of the first players picked when Friday’s proceedings begin.

A team looking to avoid the controversy of selecting Dorial Green-Beckham while hoping to land a No. 1-caliber wideout might be able to do so by targeting Strong. A 6’2”, 217-pound wide receiver with a 4.44-second 40-yard dash time, Strong fits the physical prototype for an outside starter at the position in an NFL offense.

The second round is probably a more appropriate draft range for Strong than Round 1 would have been. As Bleacher Report’s Cian Fahey demonstrated in an April breakdown, Strong has numerous flaws in his game. He does not play as fast as his 40 time indicates, and he also needs to improve as a route-runner.

Despite those flaws, Strong is a player who has regularly shown the ability to make challenging receptions, using his strength, length and body control to win contested plays at the catch point.

If he can refine his route-running skills and separation technique to unlock his full physical potential, Strong could prove to be a great value as a Day 2 draft pick.

12. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE/OLB, UCLA

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Considering that the commissioner couldn’t even correctly pronounce Marcus Mariota’s name, Roger Goodell was probably relieved that he didn’t have to sound out Owamagbe Odighizuwa on Thursday night. As he passes the buck to former NFL players to announce the second-round picks Friday, it’s likely that one of them will have to take on the task of announcing Odighizuwa, as he should be well within the mix to be one of the first players drafted on Day 2.

Odighizuwa is an intriguing physical prospect at 6’3” and 267 pounds, with impressive athleticism for his size as well as length and strength. He is both violent and skilled with his hands and is very good at holding his ground as an edge-setter versus the run.

In comparison with the edge players who were selected in Round 1, Odighizuwa does not have the same ability to bend around the corner and get after the quarterback. With that being said, he is a versatile player who could also kick inside in pass-rushing situations.

Odighizuwa is likely to be medically red-flagged by some teams, as he has had two hip surgeries in his career, and that concern could cause him to fall further in the draft than expected.

Beyond questions of injury, however, Odighizuwa is a scheme-versatile player who should be able to take on multiple roles in any defensive front. He is unlikely to ever be a guy who posts high sack numbers, but his ability to play the run and move around a formation could make him a valuable asset.

13. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Florida)

Teams seeking a feature back that missed out on Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon in Round 1 could turn their attention to Duke Johnson on Day 2.

Johnson is a quick, elusive runner who exhibits the ability to bounce off contact and keep plays going in the open field. He is also an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield. At only 5’9” and 207 pounds, Johnson is not the biggest back by NFL standards, but he has a good burst to get going and shows toughness in his running style.

While Gurley and Gordon are star talents who were able to transcend the taboo against first-round running back selections, Johnson was never likely to break that trend. Despite being highly productive at Miami, with more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2014, he does not have the spectacular qualities required for a tailback to break into the top 32 in a modern draft.

Once the second round begins, however, Johnson should have his phone in hand and be ready for a call at any time. He is arguably the most complete running back left on the board.

14. Paul Dawson, LB, TCU

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An instinctive linebacker who is always looking to make a play on the field, Paul Dawson is coming off a highly productive senior season at TCU in which he thrust himself into the conversation as a projected early-round pick.

As he showed by registering 136 tackles in 2014, Dawson is often a step ahead of the action and is able to make big plays all over the field as a result. That could make him an enticing prospect as either a 4-3 outside linebacker or 3-4 inside linebacker.

Even so, Dawson was not expected to come off the board in Round 1. His draft stock took a significant hit at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, where poor testing results across the board exposed him as a player who has below-average athleticism in comparison to most pro linebackers.

As the game moves faster in the NFL than it does in college, Dawson’s instincts and aggressiveness will not give him the same advantages they did at TCU. He is also undersized, at only 6’0” and 235 pounds, and will need to polish up his tackling form.

Despite his physical disadvantages, however, Dawson’s game film shows a player who will get to the ball and be a defensive difference-maker. Likely to be drafted by a team that values production and what it sees on tape over metrics and measurables, Dawson could end up being a steal if he slides significantly down the board.

15. Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana

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The aforementioned Duke Johnson will have some competition to be the first running back selected Friday, and that challenge will come from Tevin Coleman.

Coleman is coming off an outstanding junior season in which he ran for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns despite being on a bad Indiana team and playing the final seven games of the year with a broken bone in his foot, as documented in April by Bleacher Report’s Mike Tanier. A fast back with breakaway speed, Coleman is a dangerous runner in the open field who also shows toughness through contact.

Not a particularly big or powerful back at 5’11” and 206 pounds, Coleman tends to be a straight-line runner. He lacks the agility to be consistently elusive, especially between the tackles, and that could limit his ability to be a star NFL runner.

Still, it’s not hard to see Coleman’s talent with his ability to be highly productive despite an injury and a subpar offensive line in front of him. Given the opportunity to work behind a more powerful blocking unit in the NFL, Coleman’s vision and ability to run away from defenders could make him a dangerous weapon out of the backfield.

After proving himself to be healthy and running the 40-yard dash between 4.35 and 4.4 seconds at his pro day, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, Coleman should be on track to be a second-round draft choice on Day 2.

All measurables courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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