Buying or Selling Each 1st-Round Rookie as a Day 1 Starter
Expectations can be a heavy burden on drafted players, particularly those expected to become the new face of a franchise after being selected in the first round.
Not every player is ready to make the leap to the professional ranks and make an instant impact, nor is every prospect placed in the right situation in order to succeed.
The Cleveland Browns, for example, owned a pair of first-round selections in the 2014 NFL draft. The organization chose the class' No. 1 cornerback prospect, Justin Gilbert, and controversial quarterback Johnny Manziel. The duo contributed very little during their rookie campaigns.
However, that same class featured second-round pick Joel Bitonio and undrafted free agents Isaiah Crowell and Taylor Gabriel, who contributed at a high level.
Far too often, the draft process is about quantifying talent instead of trying to understand the individual being scouted and what his strengths and weaknesses are as a person off the field and a player on it.
Not every first-round pick gets an opportunity to start from the onset of his career. This year's class won't be any different.
Bleacher Report attempted to identify exactly which first-round selections are more likely to provide an instant impact while others might take a little longer to develop.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston
1 of 32
In the no-brainer category of potential starters, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't select former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick to sit on the bench.
This is especially true considering Winston's "competition" for the starting job remains Mike Glennon, who head coach Lovie Smith never truly gave a chance to develop into anything more than the former third-round pick he was.
Seth Lobato, who has yet to play in an NFL game, rounds out the Buccaneers' quarterback depth chart.
Last year's quarterbacks, which included veteran Josh McCown, completed 56.7 percent of their passes for 3,623 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
It shouldn't prove to be too difficult for Winston to eclipse most of those numbers and play at a higher level from the moment he steps onto the field for the first time Sept. 13 against the Tennessee Titans.
Starter: Buying
2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota
2 of 32
Prior to the draft, the narrative surrounding Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston was that the Florida State product was more worthy of being the No. 1 overall selection due to his experience in a pro-style system. Meanwhile, the Oregon quarterback needed time to develop after playing in the Ducks' spread offense.
Obviously, the Tennessee Titans didn't feel the same way after using the second overall pick to select Mariota as the new face of their franchise.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt already stated that Mariota will receive the majority of first-team repetitions during training camp, according to The Tennessean's Jim Wyatt.
Last year's sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger won't go down without a fight, though.
"People who know me know I'm not going down without a fight to the death," Mettenberger told ESPN.com's Adam Caplan (via ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky).
The Titans didn't select Mariota with the second overall pick with the intention of starting Mettenberger.
Of course, competition is a good thing, but Mariota is far too talented and is going to get every opportunity to become the team's Day 1 starter.
Starter: Buying
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr.
3 of 32
Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. will be a Day 1 starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars...in 2016.
Unfortunately, the talented defender won't get his first taste of real NFL action until next year after a freak injury he suffered during the first day of rookie minicamp. Fowler tore his ACL just an hour into his NFL career after never missing a game due to injury during his time in Gainesville with the Florida Gators.
The Jaguars selected Fowler with the third overall pick because the organization saw him as a building block for its future. The team and its fans will just have a wait longer than expected to see an eventual return on their investment.
Starter: Selling
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper
4 of 32
Wide receiver Amari Cooper shouldn't simply be expected to start from the onset of his career. The Oakland Raiders desperately need him to step in on Day 1 and become the team's top target.
A week after the team used the fourth overall pick to select Cooper, it released last year's leading receiver, James Jones. The veteran pass-catcher led the team in receptions (73), targets (111) and touchdown receptions (six).
No remaining wide receiver on the roster caught more than 47 passes last season. Cooper now joins a group that features Andre Holmes, Brice Butler, Rod Streater and the recently signed Michael Crabtree.
Any type of early success by Cooper is absolutely vital for the Raiders offense to become more potent this fall.
Starter: Buying
5. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff
5 of 32
The Washington Redskins wanted to get bigger, tougher and more physical in the trenches this offseason.
General manager Scot McCloughan accomplished his stated goal during the draft when he selected this year's top offensive lineman, Iowa's Brandon Scherff, with the fifth overall pick.
Scherff, who was projected as a guard by many, will start his career at right tackle after serving as the Hawkeyes' blindside protector.
“Obviously, moving over to right tackle is not just a transition that’s going to be immediate and easy for him,” Redskins head coach Jay Gruden told CBS DC's Brian McNally. “He’s going to have to take some lumps.”
Lumps or not, Scherff is a major talent upgrade over both Morgan Moses and Tom Compton.
Starter: Buying
6. New York Jets: Leonard Williams
6 of 32
USC's Leonard Williams was generally considered the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2015 NFL draft class. However, Williams slid to the sixth overall pick before the New York Jets decided to swoop in and select him.
Williams' addition to a defense that already features Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon "Snacks" Harrison is simply unfair. But that impressive talent along the starting defensive line will also keep Williams from making his way to the top of the depth chart.
Richardson and Wilkerson are arguably the NFL's best pair of starting defense ends in the Jets' 3-4 base defense. Harrison, meanwhile, is merely a two-down defender, but he's an absolute beast against the run.
New head coach Todd Bowles is a brilliant defensive mind, which is a positive for Williams. The Jets will find ways to utilize the talented defender, but it's unlikely he'll find his way into a starting role to open the season.
Starter: Selling
7. Chicago Bears: Kevin White
7 of 32
When a player of Brandon Marshall's caliber is traded to another team, it leaves a major void on the roster.
The Chicago Bears decided to address the hole at wide receiver by selecting West Virginia's Kevin White with this year's seventh overall selection.
With Marshall out of the lineup, the Bears needed to account for 61 receptions and 721 yards of production. White is certainly capable of providing this level of production even as a rookie due to his rare combination of size (6'3" and 215 pounds) and speed (4.35-second 40-yard dash).
Alshon Jeffery remains on the roster as the team's top target, while veteran Eddie Royal was signed in free agency, but he'll serve as the team's slot receiver.
White might not be the Bears' primary offensive weapon at this point in his career, but he's certainly talented enough to be a legitimate starting option opposite Jeffery.
Starter: Buying
8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley
8 of 32
The Atlanta Falcons defense finished 30th overall last season with 22 total sacks.
During Vic Beasley's final two seasons with the Clemson Tigers, the All-American edge-rusher amassed 25 sacks.
It's pretty easy to figure out why this was a perfect marriage between team and talent. Plus, Beasley is an ideal fit in head coach Dan Quinn's defensive scheme as the team's new "Leo" end.
After years of abysmal pass rushing, Kroy Biermann, Adrian Clayborn, Stansly Maponga, and Malliciah Goodman aren't going to keep Beasley out of the starting lineup.
Starter: Buying
9. New York Giants: Ereck Flowers
9 of 32
The New York Giants offensive line remains in flux. Unlike previous seasons, this is actually a good thing.
Injuries forced constant shuffling along the Giants offensive front in recent years, but the team added multiple talents high in the draft during the past three classes in order to build stability.
The latest addition was Miami's Ereck Flowers, who the team selected with the ninth overall pick. Flowers is expected to start, but he doesn't know where he'll be lining up this fall.
"I haven't been told anything," the 21-year-old lineman told NJ.com's Jordan Raanan during rookie minicamp. "Just come out here and work. I'm going to compete at everything. I'm here to get on the field. David Diehl can come here and say he's the left tackle. I'm trying to get on the field and play wherever I can get on it."
Flowers will likely earn a starting spot at right tackle due to his massive size and length (6'6" and 329 pounds, 34.5-inch arms), plus a nasty disposition in the run game.
Starter: Buying
10. St. Louis Rams: Todd Gurley
10 of 32
Todd Gurley is a very talented running back. One certainly has to be after being selected in the top 10 overall despite coming off a torn ACL. Gurley's rookie season, though, could be delayed as he continues his rehabilitation.
"I would want to be back as soon as possible," Gurley told ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner. "But I’m not a doctor or a therapist so I can’t really tell you when I’ll be back. I’m just taking it day by day really."
There is absolutely no reason for the Rams to rush Gurley back from the injury. Second-year running back Tre Mason is a legitimate starting option. Mason rushed for 765 yards in 12 games last year. The former third-round pick did so while carrying the ball 20 or more times twice during the season.
Gurley and Mason will eventually form a dynamic duo, but Gurley needs to be brought along slowly from his surgery to make sure his knee is fully healthy before the Rams decide to place a heavy workload on the former Georgia Bulldog.
Starter: Selling
11. Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes
11 of 32
Most top-10 selections are expected to become instant starters. They're supposed to be the cream of the crop. Once those prospects outside of the top 10 are discussed, their likelihood of becoming Day 1 starters doesn't always appear to be preordained.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes with the 11th overall pick, but he'll have stiff competition to start from veteran cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.
Munnerlyn is at his best, though, when he's lined up as a team's nickel corner.
Waynes already lined up at left corner during rookie minicamp to play opposite Xavier Rhodes, earning praise from head coach Mike Zimmer because he "caught on probably faster than I've ever had a guy in the first day," per 1500 ESPN Twin Cities' Andrew Krammer.
Starter: Buying
12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton
12 of 32
Since 2011, two teams—the Cleveland Browns and St. Louis Rams—have spent a pair of first-round picks on defensive tackles. The Browns are the only team to do so with a pair of nose tackles.
Phil Taylor hasn't exactly worked out as well as the team originally envisioned, and he's set to enter free agency after this season. Plus, the team still finished 32nd against the run last year with or without Taylor in the lineup.
With a heavy emphasis on getting more stout against the run, the Browns selected Washington's 339-pound nose tackle Danny Shelton with 12th overall selection. His massive presence in the middle of the line is expected to have a drastic effect on how stout the Browns become at the point of attack.
“He’s a guy that’s going to command four hands or two bodies on him that keeps linebackers clean," defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil told the Orange and Brown Report's Fred Greetham.
The Browns own plenty of depth along the defensive line, but the organization hopes Shelton becomes a true presence in the middle to set the tone for the unit.
Starter: Buying
13. New Orleans Saints: Andrus Peat
13 of 32
There is a point in the draft where teams see a value that's too good to pass even though it doesn't fit an immediate need.
The New Orleans Saints experienced this when Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat was available once they were on the clock with the 13th overall pick. The Saints, though, are already set at tackle with Terron Armstead covering the blind side and Zach Strief handling the right side.
Peat proved to be too tempting, though. Now, Strief, who turns 32 years old in September, knows his time is limited.
“Look, he’s taking my job eventually," Strief told ESPN.com's Mike Triplett. "That is definitely happening at some point. So my job and my role is to make sure that takes as long as possible. And that’s how I’ll approach it."
It's unlikely that "eventually" will turn into the start of the 2015 season. Strief is still one of the NFL's most reliable right tackles and a leader in the locker room.
Starter: Selling
14. Miami Dolphins: DeVante Parker
14 of 32
The Miami Dolphins used this year's offseason to reassess its offense.
The team's wide receivers were found wanting. Mike Wallace was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, while Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson were both released from their contracts.
Meanwhile, quarterback Ryan Tannehill agreed to a six-year, $96 million contract extension Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Tannehill is now in full control of the offense, but he needs weapons to step up on the outside. The team traded for wide receiver Kenny Stills prior to the draft to add a true vertical threat. Jarvis Landry will enter his second season as one of the NFL's best slot receivers. And the team decided to draft Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker with the 14th pick of the first round.
Parker is completely different than both Stills and Landry; he's an explosive playmaker with the size and ability to serve as the team's X receiver and develop into a true No. 1 target. His development will start from the onset of his rookie season when he's on the field for team's first snap.
Starter: Buying
15. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon
15 of 32
When a team trades up to acquire a prospect's services, it sends a statement. It says the organization was eager to add that prospect's talent to their lineup.
Without Melvin Gordon's acquisition, the Chargers would have been left with Branden Oliver as the team's primary ball-carrier.
Instead, it quickly became obvious during the team's rookie minicamp the difference that Gordon will bring to the team.
"He makes a few of those moves and cuts, you understand why we took him where we did," Chargers head coach Mike McCoy told U-T San Diego's Michael Gehlken.
Not only should Gordon be an instant starter for the Chargers, he may be the preseason favorite to claim Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Starter: Buying
16. Houston Texans: Kevin Johnson
16 of 32
Veterans Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson are already set as the Houston Texans' starting cornerbacks. There is no reason whatsoever to rush first-round pick Kevin Johnson into the lineup if he's not ready.
In fact, the Texans coaching staff views the Wake Forest product as a versatile piece of the puzzle to play multiple positions until he's ready for a full-time role.
Head coach Bill O'Brien explained the team's plan for Johnson, per ESPN.com's Tania Ganguli:
"So here’s a guy that is going to come in here and compete as an outside corner. We think that he can do some things on the inside of the coverage, special teams, as you can tell right here he’s a humble young man that’s a hard-working guy, he’s a competitive guy, he doesn’t feel entitled, he feels like he’s got to go out there and earn everything he’s going to get. That’s why he’s here.
"
Joseph's time with the Texans will end sooner rather than later, but cornerback depth isn't a bad thing to have entering the season until the team finds its rhythm.
Starter: Selling
17. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead
17 of 32
The overlying theme to the 49ers' offseason is who the organization lost over the past five months. Now, it's all about replacing lost talent.
Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, guard Mike Iupati, cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver, linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and veteran defensive ends Ray McDonald and Justin Smith are all gone.
Smith, in particular, was a big blow to the defensive line in spite of the fact that the 49ers prepared for his eventual retirement.
The organization addressed defensive end during the offseason with its first-round selection of Arik Armstead and the free-agent acquisition of veteran Darnell Dockett.
When healthy, Dockett is one of the game's best 5-techniques, and he should hold down one starting spot. Tank Carradine and Tony Jerod-Eddie will likely compete for the other spot during training camp. This will allow the team to bring the 21-year-old Armstead along slowly by working him into the defensive line rotation.
Starter: Selling
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters
18 of 32
To be "the man" at cornerback, it means being able to lock down the opposing team's best receiver. It also means being left out on an island without any help and still excelling in coverage.
From a purely man-to-man cover perspective, Marcus Peters was the best cornerback in this year's draft class, which made him an ideal fit for defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's aggressive scheme.
With Peters on one side, the rest of the secondary can roll coverage to Sean Smith's side. Smith wins at the line of scrimmage with length, but he struggles when asked to recover and close ground once he's beaten off a wide receiver's stem.
Peters' presence allows the Chiefs to play more man coverage on the opposite side of the field. The rookie might get beat a few times early on in his career, but he'll certainly be on the field trying to become a potential shutdown cornerback.
Starter: Buying
19. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving
19 of 32
After addressing the defensive front with the 12th overall pick, the Browns continued to improve their trenches with the selection of Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving.
The Browns want to be a run-dominated, defense-first football team, and the organization felt the right side of the offensive line needed to be upgraded.
Erving isn't guaranteed a starting spot, but right tackle Mitchell Schwartz operates at an athletic disadvantage on the strong side. Guard John Greco graded well last year, but Erving, who played left tackle and center in college, is a far better athlete overall. It's unlikely both will be able to hold off the rookie.
The Florida State product opened rookie minicamp at right tackle, but the team expects to move him all along the offensive line until the staff finds a spot for him.
"They want to see where I fit in best and what I do the best, so it's a going to be a good experimentation throughout this rookie minicamp and OTAs and everything else," Erving told The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot.
Ultimately, Erving will likely play center if Alex Mack options out of his current contract after this season. Until then, the Browns will find a way to get him onto the field.
Starter: Buying
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor
20 of 32
The Philadelphia Eagles' options at wide receiver are limited.
Jeremy Maclin, who led the team with 85 receptions and 1,318 yards in 2014, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs during free agency. The only receiver the team added in return prior to the draft was 10th-year veteran Miles Austin.
Head coach Chip Kelly then decided to select Nelson Agholor with the 20th overall selection, and he will join Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, Josh Huff and Austin as the team's wide receiver corps.
The USC product should transition seamlessly into the Kelly's uptempo offense.
"He's going to be very familiar with the dynamics of going no-huddle and tempo and how to practice and how to manage your body, all of those types of things that go into that type of system," USC wide receivers coach/pass game coordinator Tee Martin told PhiladelphiaEagles.com's Chris McPherson. "It's going to be a smooth transition for him."
Agholor probably won't demand 143 targets like Maclin did last year, but his style of play and natural ability should prove to be a suitable replacement for the veteran.
Starter: Buying
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Ogbuehi
21 of 32
Point blank: The Cincinnati Bengals' selection of Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi with the 21st overall selection wasn't made with this season in mind.
Ogbuehi tore an ACL on Dec. 29 during the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers. He isn't expected to be fully healthy for the start of the season.
"There’s no timeline, there’s no race and so forth, but he’s able to stay up to speed with the things mentally and watch the techniques and so forth," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said during a rookie minicamp, per Cincy Jungle's Josh Kirkendall.
According to MMQB.com's Peter King, the Bengals considered Ogbuehi a "top-five player without being hurt."
But he is hurt. That's OK, though.
Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith are arguably the NFL's best offensive tackle tandem when they're on the field together. Both happen to be free agents after this year. It will then be Ogbuehi's time to take over as a Day 1 starter for the 2016 season.
Starter: Selling
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alvin "Bud" Dupree
22 of 32
The Pittsburgh Steelers' four outside linebackers combined for 19 sacks last year.
Over a third of that production was taken away this offseason when Jason Worilds abruptly retired after the season. Worilds tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks.
In a defense predicated on creating pressure, particularly from its outside linebackers, the Steelers lacked the type of pressure necessary for the scheme to succeed. As a result, an old and undermanned secondary was routinely exploited.
The organization swung and missed two years ago when it selected Jarvis Jones with a first-round pick. It then went in the opposite direction with the addition of Alvin "Bud" Dupree. The Kentucky product didn't produce at the same level in the SEC as Jones, but he's a superior all-around athlete.
Pittsburgh can only rely on James Harrison for so long. Dupree will try to be a worthy successor, but he will likely serve as his bookend during his rookie campaign.
Starter: Buying
23. Denver Broncos: Shane Ray
23 of 32
The Denver Broncos traded up to select Missouri's Shane Ray with the 23rd overall selection. It was an interesting move on a number of levels.
First and foremost, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware already reside on the Broncos roster. Ray isn't unseating either as starters at outside linebacker in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defensive scheme, but he will learn from the best.
However, the team apparently saw an opportunity to select a player that was often projected as a top-10 talent much later in the draft. Concerns over a marijuana citation just days before the NFL draft only compounded a growing sentiment that Ray would slide after it was revealed he was battling a turf toe injury.
The Broncos merely capitalized on Ray's misfortune, and now the team owns the most talented trio of pass-rushers in the NFL.
Starter: Selling
24. Arizona Cardinals: D.J. Humphries
24 of 32
Nothing will be handed to the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick, Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries.
Humphries will compete with incumbent Bobby Massie to start at right tackle.
"It’s not D.J.'s job. D.J.'s got to do a helluva lot to ever get that job," Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told AZCentral.com's Kent Somers.
However, general manager Steve Keim might have given away Humphries' eventual status by providing insight into how highly the organization thought of the offensive tackle prospect.
"With his skillset, I truly believe if went back to school he'd probably be a top-five pick," Keim told the Big Red Rage radio show (via FoxSports.com). "We still consider him to be one of the best tackles in this draft class, from a skillset standpoint."
Massie is more experienced and a bigger, more physical blocker, but Humphries is a superior athlete with tremendous footwork. Arians' offense is predicated on the deep passing attack, which requires offensive tackles with nimble footwork to keep the quarterback upright.
Starter: Buying
25. Carolina Panthers: Shaq Thompson
25 of 32
The Carolina Panthers' late-season resurgence in 2014 came courtesy of a midseason youth movement. One of those players to step up when the team needed him was strong-side linebacker Adarius Glanton. But Glanton only served as a two-down player.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera coveted Washington's Shaq Thompson due to his versatility and athleticism. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott won't be forced to play as much nickel defense with Thompson now a part of the linebacker corps.
Rivera described what Thompson brings to their scheme, per Black and Blue Review's Bill Voth:
"What it’ll do for us is allow us to keep three linebackers on the field when a team goes to 12 [personnel]—a person on two tight ends, and one of those tight ends is a Jimmy Graham-style football player. You’ve got to be able to matchup with those types of guys, and when you bring a defensive back in you create different types of matchup problems, or they do for you. This gives us an opportunity if we have to match a certain situation by personnel; we can do it.
"
Thompson, a hybrid defensive back/linebacker, is comfortable at strong-side linebacker, but as a former safety, he also presents the type of athleticism to play in space.
Starter: Buying
26. Baltimore Ravens: Breshad Perriman
26 of 32
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was very happy after the first two rounds of this year's NFL draft.
“I was excited, definitely,” Flacco told BaltimoreRavens.com's Garrett Downing. “And I think part of the reason I was excited is that everybody around here seemed to be excited. It definitely felt good.”
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome selected UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman in the first round and Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams in the second.
The inclusion of the 6'2", 212-pound receiver with 4.26-second 40-yard-dash speed instantly becomes a vital component for an offense that features Flacco's ability to threaten any part of the field.
“I’m happy with Breshad,” Flacco said. “He looks really good. He looks big, powerful, runs well. “His hands look like they’re really good. He looks like he has big, strong hands. He snatches the ball out of the air.”
The quarterback's final comment is somewhat surprising since a major knock on Perriman was inconsistency as a pass-catcher. Even if Perriman displays shaky hands during training camp, his combination of size and speed is far too important to the offense to be kept off the field.
Starter: Buying
27. Dallas Cowboys: Byron Jones
27 of 32
Amazingly, the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick, UConn cornerback Byron Jones, has been overlooked since being selected, mostly because owner Jerry Jones decided to take Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory in the second round and then signed LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins as an undrafted free agent.
Also, there are question marks regarding exactly where Jones will play. Is he a cornerback or a safety for Big D?
It didn't matter when the Cowboys selected him simply because the team was searching for secondary help of any kind.
"We had him rated high on our board, in the top 15 picks," Jones said, per CBSSports.com's Rob Rang. "We were never tempted to move around for any other players. I can sleep if we come out of the draft without a running back or a pass rusher. We would have had trouble getting a nap without help in the secondary."
Help is a bit different than an actual starting role. The Cowboys have experienced players at both cornerback and safety that can enter the season as starters while Jones eases into the mix.
Starter: Selling
28. Detroit Lions: Laken Tomlinson
28 of 32
All the Detroit Lions have to do with this year's first-round pick, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson, is insert him into the lineup at the start of training game and forget about him for the next eight to 10 years.
“Obviously we were a little thin at the position,” Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford told DetroitLions.com's Tim Twentyman. “And to add a guy that has great character, played great the last two years at Duke, I was fired up.”
Much like new teammate Larry Warford, Tomlinson is a tailor-made NFL guard. At 6'3" and 323 pounds, the Duke product has the girth and functional strength to play at a high level from the onset of his career.
With the additions of Tomlinson and center Manny Ramirez, who was acquired during a draft-day trade with the Denver Broncos, the Lions are now bigger and far more physical along their offensive interior.
Starter: Buying
29. Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett
29 of 32
Speed kills, but it needs to be on the field to actually make a difference.
Former Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett presents a rare combination of straight-line speed and short-area quickness. Not only can he blow the top of a defense with legitimate 4.2-second 40-yard-dash speed, but he also separates well in and out of his routes.
However, he was selected by a team that already features Andre Johnson and T.Y. Hilton at wide receiver. The Indianapolis Colts aren't taking those two proven commodities out of the starting lineup simply to get Dorsett's speed onto the field, but they were willing to add quality talent.
"This just shows that we stick to our guns when it comes to taking our best player on our board," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said, per the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer. "It's not just party talk."
Quarterback Andrew Luck now has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with Johnson, Hilton, Dorsett, Donte Moncrief and Duron Carter at wide receiver. Dorsett will certainly need to earn playing time as a result.
Starter: Selling
30. Green Bay Packers: Damarious Randall
30 of 32
After selecting Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round of last year's draft, the Green Bay Packers doubled down by choosing Arizona State's Damarious Randall in the opening frame of the 2015 NFL draft.
The Packers secondary needed to be revamped, particularly after the team lost cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency.
General manager Ted Thompson used his initial two picks on defensive backs with Arizona State's Damarious Randall coming off the board first, followed by Miami (OH) cornerback Quinten Rollins in the second round.
Randall, a safety last year with the Sun Devils, will convert to cornerback for the Packers.
But the former center fielder isn't an instant starter. Micah Hyde and Casey Hayward will likely compete for the starting spot opposite Sam Shields while Randall eases into the role of nickel and dime corner as a rookie.
Starter: Selling
31. New Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony
31 of 32
Two veterans currently sit in front of former Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony becoming the starting "Mike" linebacker for the New Orleans Saints.
David Hawthorne is slotted to take over the position after Curtis Lofton was released. The Saints also acquired Dannell Ellerbe via a predraft trade with the Miami Dolphins.
However, the Saints didn't trade away All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham for a first-round pick that is going to sit on the bench during his rookie season. Anthony is ready to play in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's system due to his preparation at Clemson. The linebacker played the same position and received the bulk of the responsibilities over the past two seasons with the Tigers.
“He’s a prototypical pro already, Day 1 when he comes in there,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables told ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
Venables added, "He’ll have this sense of desperation coming in there, that whatever the Saints expected him to be, he wants to exceed those expectations more than anybody."
Starter: Buying
32. New England Patriots: Malcom Brown
32 of 32
What did the New England Patriots do once the team finally decided to part ways with a franchise cornerstone like nose tackle Vince Wilfork? In typical Bill Belichick fashion, the Patriots found a suitable replacement to fill the cog in the machine.
Texas' Malcom Brown was never supposed to fall all the way to the 32nd overall pick, but he did for some unfathomable reason, and the Patriots gladly snatched up the talented defensive tackle.
However, Brown may not be a true replacement for Wilfork as a pure nose tackle. The Texas native projects as a 3-technique or even 5-technique in three-man fronts. His versatility and overall polish, though, are intriguing.
“He’s quick, he’s explosive, he uses his hands [and] he understands blocking schemes," Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford told WEEI.com's Christopher Price. "A lot of young players don’t understand those things today, but he does."
Brown only adds to the Patriots' defensive line rotation, but his talent is a welcome addition to a defensive interior that features Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga and Dominique Easley, who has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons.
Starter: Buying
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
