NFL Draft 2015: The Biggest Steals from Day 2
Plenty of players slipped into the second day of the NFL draft. In the green room of the event alone, we saw that players like Randy Gregory of Nebraska and Jaelen Strong of Arizona State were left waiting after Day 1.
For some, the wait was due to medical concerns. For others, it was their character that led to a drop. Some just seemed to fall when there were stretches of teams that didn't need a certain position, and no one traded up.
Eight stand above the rest as massive talent-value picks. Every prospect has his flaws, but these, on film, should have gone much, much higher than their slotted value. Looking at these individuals from a team's perspective, giving them projected roles in their schemes, we'll break down who the top steals of the class were as we head into Saturday's selection.
Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers
1 of 8
Selected No. 41
At the university of Michigan, Devin Funchess was once a tight end. Listed at over 250 pounds at one point, many assumed he would be the top big-body pass-catcher whenever he declared for the NFL draft.
He had a change of plans, though. Between his sophomore and junior seasons, Funchess switched from being a jumbo slot player to a full-time receiver. A year after being named the Big Ten's Tight End of the Year, his stats dropped by nearly four yards per catch and two touchdowns.
Some of that had to do with quarterback Devin Gardner, who led the Michigan offense during one of its worst seasons in recent memory. If he had consistency at quarterback, Funchess would probably be looked at as a Brandon Marshall type of talent, not just a Marques Colston clone.
He can play on the outside as a big body, which is great for Carolina quarterback Cam Newton. Newton still has the tendencies of a spread passer, like throwing high. Pairing another giant target next to Kelvin Benjamin will only help him in the red zone.
Carl Davis, DL, Baltimore Ravens
2 of 8
Selected No. 90
Once again, the Ravens make out like bandits on draft day. General manager Ozzie Newsome has been noted for being one of the "best player available" drafters in the NFL, and this class is no different for him. Late in the third round, with the 90th overall pick, they took a rare upside defensive lineman by the name of Carl Davis.
At Iowa, Davis was very inconsistent. He had pretty good burst for a 4-3 nose tackle, plus he has strength that destroyed Big Ten offensive linemen. When you look at him from an athletic standpoint, he shouldn't have been a third-rounder, but a high first-round pick.
According to Mock Draftable, his closest combine fingerprint was Leonard Williams, the 5-technique from USC who was drafted sixth overall. His third closest was Ndamukong Suh, the All-Pro defensive tackle who was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in 2010. Sure, he's up and down, but the hit rate at a premier position like the defensive line, where you're asking giant humans to be freak athletes, makes Davis worth at least a round more of value than where he was taken.
Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns
3 of 8
Selected No. 77
Cleveland now has a stable of backs that can match up with its offensive line. Outside of the Cowboys last season, there's a case to be made that the Browns had the second-best line in the sport. In 2014, they also brought in two talented running backs.
The first was Terrance West of Towson, who was drafted in the third round. The second was Isaiah Crowell, the former Georgia back who transferred to Alabama State. Crowell was an undrafted free agent, but proved to have the higher upside and looked like the more talented back at the end of the season.
Now on top of that, Duke Johnson of Miami, who played like a top-five back in college football last season, appears to make the backfield a three-headed monster. Behind the likes of Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Joel Bitonio, Mitchell Schwartz and now first-round pick Cameron Erving of Florida State, the Browns should be able to keep the heat off of quarterback Johnny Manziel with their ground game.
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Jaelen Strong, WR, Houston Texans
4 of 8
Selected No. 70
Just a few weeks ago, Jaelen Strong was seen as a middle-of-the-first-round type of prospect. A late wrist injury pushed him down boards, though. That was until the Houston Texans finally made the move to trade up to snatch him.
The Texans are looking to replace wide receiver Andre Johnson, who is probably the greatest player to have worn a Houston Texans jersey. They hope to have done so by moving the 82nd overall pick, the 152nd overall pick, the 229th overall pick and receiver DeVier Posey to the New York Jets.
Strong was a player some had compared to Marques Colston. He's a longer pass-catcher, but he wasn't really a speed demon at Arizona State. Instead, he's more of a big-body player who uses his frame to his advantage. It shouldn't surprise anyone if he is used as a jumbo slot player, almost like a tight end hybrid.
Jordan Phillips, DL, Miami Dolphins
5 of 8
Selected No. 52
Just weeks after bringing in Ndamukong Suh as their future 3-technique stud, the Miami Dolphins made a huge splash with their second-round pick at defensive tackle. Jordan Phillips of Oklahoma would have contended with Danny Shelton of Washington, who was selected 12th overall in this class, for the top nose tackle spot in this draft, if not for Phillips' existing back injury.
Phillips has dealt with a back issue since 2013, and if there are two areas of the body where injuries seem to be degenerative, it's the feet and the back. If he can get over that speed bump, Phillips will be a sure-fire first-rounder in a re-draft in three years.
He will play 1-technique next to Suh, using his giant 6'6", 334-pound body to attract multiple blockers, freeing Suh to get after the passer with better efficiency. There are few selections that were better in this draft, let alone in the second round. The Dolphins got a steal.
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Tennessee Titans
6 of 8
Selected No. 40
If you've followed college football or the draft, Dorial Green-Beckham's story has come across your screen multiple times already. For those who haven't heard, though, while at Missouri he was arrested for marijuana twice and was allegedly involved in an altercation with a woman, but wasn't charged.
After the alleged altercation, he was kicked off of Missouri's football team. He then chose to join Oklahoma's squad but had to sit out a year, redshirting due to the transfer. Before seeing the field for Oklahoma, though, he declared for the draft.
Green-Beckham came out of high school as a blue chip recruit and might be the most talented receiver in the class on tape. He's a Plaxico Burress clone, and at 6'5", he should make new quarterback Marcus Mariota's transition to the professional level much easier, as long as he stays out of trouble.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, EDGE, New York Giants
7 of 8
Selected No. 74
Near the center of the third round, the New York Giants made what has a case to be the best pick value of this class so far. Owamagbe Odighizuwa is a Brian Orakpo clone from UCLA who might be the best base end in the draft. He has a giant, glaring issue, though.
During his time at UCLA, he struggled with hip issues. Because of said issues, he was a one-year wonder as a redshirt senior. Having two surgeries on his hips while in school, he's a medical risk at the next level, but it seems the Giants were willing to put those thoughts aside when he dropped all the way into the third round.
Odighizuwa might have to line up wide in base sets, but he can also be an interior pressure player. This would allow him to play the Justin Tuck role which the Giants have since lacked. Pairing Jason Pierre-Paul with Odighizuwa would be a scary sight for NFC East quarterbacks, especially when Tony Romo of the Cowboys, Sam Bradford of the Eagles and Robert Griffin III of the Redskins have what seem to be lingering injuries themselves.
Randy Gregory, EDGE, Nebraska
8 of 8
Selected No. 60
Randy Gregory of Nebraska failed the combine drug test, which to most teams is a test of accountability. Could a team count on Gregory, who has the case to be the top edge-rusher in this draft class? Up until the end of the second round, the answer was no.
Justin Houston of the Chiefs failed the combine drug test coming out of college and dropped all the way to the third round. Last season, he led the NFL in sacks, and he hasn't had a drug issue as a professional. That's what the Cowboys hope to get out of Gregory.
Gregory is long, explosive and fluid. He blew through Ereck Flowers of Miami in college, the left tackle who went ninth overall to the in-divisional rival New York Giants in the first round. Tested over and over, he was one of the best pressure players in the sport last season, let alone just college. If Dallas can manage his personal issues, he will be an All-Pro player.
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