NFL Draft 2015 Preview
INSIDE...
OUR BEST EVER NUMBER ONE PICKS,
THE PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT THE DRAFT,
BRITISH PLAYERS IN THE NFL,
AND OUR MOCK DRAFT
CONTENTS
2. THE BEST NUMBER ONE PICKS
3. THE PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR 5. ON FOREIGN SHORES
6. MOCK DRAFT: FIRST ROUND ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER
THE BEST NUMBER ONE PICKS
From Terry Bradshaw in 1970 to Peyton Manning in 1998, here are the five gr e a t e s t players to be drafted first overall.
1. John Elway - Drafted first overall in 1983 Elway was selected in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts although he was soon traded to the Denver Broncos after he kicked up some trouble in order to remain on the USA’s West Coast. A member of the so-called “quarterback class of 1983”, Elway was selected ahead of now-esteemed quarterbacks such as Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. His career honours list reads like a roll call of NFL awards, winning two Super Bowls and five AFC championships, as well as being selected for the Pro Bowl nine times. These are just some of the awards he received amid a host of individual honours and it is for this reason that Elway is still considered one of the best players to ever play in the NFL. 2. Troy Aikman - Drafted first overall in 1989 Selected with the first overall pick in 1989 by the Dallas Cowboys, Aikman led the team through a golden decade that produced three Super Bowl victories. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the quarterback though. Just as he was getting over the euphoria of being picked first overall, Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson also drafted Steve Walsh in the same position. The two battled hard during training camp for the starting spot and fortunately for Aikman, he was able to win the fight. The rest as they say is history. The aforementioned Super Bowl wins, NFC championships and Pro Bowl selections all followed and in 2006, Aikman was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
3. Peyton Manning - Drafted first overall in 1998 The 1998 Draft was painted as a battle between Manning and Ryan Leaf for the first overall pick. The Indianapolis Colts made the choice to go with the former and in the years since, although without the same level of success as the first two in this list, Manning has proved to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He has only won the Super Bowl once but in a 16-year career, Manning has made the most touchdown passes of any quarterback and is tied as the player with the most appearances at the Pro Bowl with 14. In 2010, he was selected as part of the 2000s all-decade team and will undoubtedly be inducted into the Hall of Fame when he calls time on his career.
4. Lee Roy Selmon - Drafted first overall in 1976 This list has belonged to quarterbacks so far, so it is only right that a defensive player features and there is no better player for this than Selmon. Drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976, Selmon played at defensive end for eight years for the Florida team until his retirement in 1984. During his career, Selmon demonstrated an ability to play on defence that had not really been seen before and it is no wonder that he was voted the NFL defensive player of the year in 1979.
PEYTON MANNING, DENVER BRONCOS
5. Terry Bradshaw - Drafted first overall in 1970 After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradshaw didn’t have the easiest of starts to his NFL career. He frequently threw interceptions and the media loved to make fun of his supposed lack of intelligence on account of his being from rural Louisiana. That all changed when he helped the team to their first Super Bowl, however. Success kept coming for Bradshaw, being the first quarterback to win three and then four Super Bowls. He made three Pro Bowl appearances and was voted as quarterback of the year in 1978. After the end of his career, Bradshaw was named in the Steelers’ all-time team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
THE PLAYERS TO
Potentially, hundreds of players could be drafted by NFL teams this year but as only some will utlimately have successful careers, and with the help of NFL Draft Zone’s Dan Turner, here are just a few who could realise their potential. Jameis Winston - QB, Florida State University
SINCE declaring for the Draft earlier this year, Winston has jumped right to the top of just about every analyst’s board. His incredible ability and obvious skill in the quarterback position that he demonstrated during his time at FSU, helping him to become the youngest winner of the prestigious Heisman Trophy, has left many of the opinion that this is a player who can be an immediate starter for most NFL teams. However, he has had problems off the field that have resulted in some embarrassing episodes for his university (stealing soda from a Burger King is just one bizarre example). Given the NFL’s expectations of model discipline, could this be a potential stumbling block as far as Winston’s draft stock is concerned and could it affect his chances of being picked first overall? Dan doesn’t think so. “The issue here is that Tampa Bay desperately need a quarterback who can start straight away,” he said. “Lovie Smith became the Buccaneers' head coach this time last year and his first season in charge resulted in only two wins. Head coaching jobs are more volatile in American football than they are in traditional football, so he needs to pick up a QB who can help him win this year. “Marcus Mariota has great potential but is a 'system' QB, so he won't be ready for the NFL immediately. After those two, only Brett Hundley offers any real hope for QB-needy teams, but he won't be an immediate starter either. “He has to take Winston, regardless of his off-the-field concerns. Winston has a ridiculously high football-IQ, the size, toughness and charisma to succeed, as well as the necessary arm strength. He has a chance to be a real success wherever he goes.”
Marcus Mariota - QB, University of Oregon
MARIOTA was widely considered to be the best quarterback in the 2015 draft class and was tipped to be this year’s first pick overall, until Jameis Winston declared his intentions to enter the Draft that is. Despite this setback however, Mariota is still expected to go high in the first round due to a college football career that saw him lead his Oregon team to three Bowl Championship victories and an appearance in the National Championship final earlier this year. Like Winston, Mariota is also a recipient of the Heisman Trophy, picking up the award last year. His perceived weakness in being what is described as a “system QB” is a problem for some draft analysts however, with some questioning just how able he is to adapt to playing in that position in the NFL. Dan shares these concerns and sees one comparison, saying: “Mariota is similar in a way to Jonny Manziel from last year. “Both played in a certain style in college that obviously won't translate over to the NFL. Manziel fell (in the draft order) due to that and Mariota could suffer the same fate. “The difference between the two though is obviously the off-the-field stuff. Mariota is an esteemed student, hard worker and respected leader who doesn't have any red flags,” he said. What then could this mean for him in terms of which team he ends up at come the end of the Draft? “There is a chance that Mariota goes to Tennessee at second overall but Zach Mettenberger (Titans QB) was pretty good albeit with limited opportunities last year,” said Dan. “The New York Jets at number six are another possibility and would probably be considered joint favourites for him at this time.”
MARCUS MARIOTA, OREGON DUCKS
O LOOK OUT FOR Leonard Williams - DE, University of Southern California
FOR NFL teams to succeed and realise their ambitions to win the Super Bowl, they can’t just rely on scoring points. They have to be able to defend well and it is no surprise in this regard that the Seattle Seahawks, with their “legion of boom” defence, have reached two Super Bowls in a row. This leads us to the next player to look out for in this year ’s Draft. Williams is without question an absolute monster on the defensive line. If you watch clips of him playing for USC last year, you see a player who is a nightmare for opponents. Offensive linemen have to block defenders to give their quarterbacks time to pass the ball, only they often find it hard to prevent Williams from breaking through. Standing at six-and-a-half feet and weighing over 20 stones, Williams is a powerhouse defender that would probably be picked first overall if it wasn’t for Tampa Bay’s quarterback problems. Dan agrees, saying: “Williams is pound-for-pound the best player in this class and no one else comes close.” As for how he will have to adapt to life in the NFL, Dan believes that: “he was virtually impossible to block at the college level but playing against NFL offensive guards will be an entirely different prospect. “The main things he will need to learn are more ways of making plays while on blocks, as guards can generally lock on to defenders with their hands.” Dan doesn’t think this should be a problem for Williams however, saying: “he is easily talented enough to achieve this and should be a quality player in the NFL, even if he has some issues in his first year.”
Marcus Peters - CB, University of Washington
SEVERAL teams are in need of fresh blood in the cornerback position this season and it just so happens that this draft class is stocked with plenty of talent in that position. There has not been one particular player who has been a stand out so far though and so draft analysts have been conflicted on who can be considered as the best. Peters has been rated highly by many and has even been rated as the number one cornerback by some analysts, however he did not have the best time at the NFL’s Scouting Combine in February and has dropped further down those analyst’s boards in the time since. His college career hasn’t exactly helped in terms of his prospects either. Despite playing well for the University of Washington, he had some disciplinary problems that resulted in suspensions, such as an incident that was officially cited as a “side-line tantrum”, and collectively these problems resulted in him being kicked off the team in November. Peters has star backing however. Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch has been mentoring Peters during his time at college and has offered to help him with his disciplinary problems (a bit rich on Lynch’s part). However, what does this mean for his draft stock? “Peters was never my number-one CB. He was always behind Trae Waynes, Alex Carter and Jalen Collins for me,” said Dan. “His Combine wasn't great but we knew that it wouldn't be. He isn't a player to win with speed or agility. He wins with technique, vision and physicality, so the Combine shouldn't be considered too much of a disappointment for him.” Not exactly bad news for Peters then but he still has to place his hopes in just how much attention that NFL scouts pay to Combine performances.
ON FOREIGN SHORES American football is not the sole domain of American players that many think it is. Many British players have made the trip across the pond in recent years. ONE of the greatest representations of American culture is the National Football League (NFL). The league and the wider sport of American football is so synonymous with the USA that if you were to show someone a simple picture of a helmet, images of huge star spangled banners and sensational advertising would come almost immediately. It is the number one sport in America and no other professional league comes close in terms of viewership. The same cannot be said for the sport in the UK however, although the NFL has successfully been able to increase its popularity each year. You would think that this would lead to a number of British players having the ambition to go to America and realise their dream of playing the sport professionally in the years to come. However, this would ignore those who have already made the trip and who ply their trade in the NFL today. Jack Crawford, born and raised in London, moved to America in 2005 to complete the last three years of his high school education. This greatly improved his chances of gaining a football scholarship at a university and he achieved this goal when he moved on to Pennsylvania State to play at defensive end for their Nittany Lions team. He was a fifth round pick for the Oakland Raiders in the 2012 NFL Draft and played in California for two years before moving to the Dallas Cowboys last season. The move meant he was able to play in front of his hometown fans at Wembley last year before making it to the divisional round of the playoffs in January. Crawford isn’t the only player to make the move across the pond. Menelik Watson was a promising footballer as a
JACK CRAWFORD, DALLAS COWBOYS
teenager in Manchester, playing for the youth sides at Manchester City. However, an injury forced him to change his attention to basketball, which fortunately led to him being spotted by American coaches. He first played basketball at Marist College in New York in 2009 but after being perceived as weak in regards to his height (he is a meagre 6’5), he moved on to Saddleback College to play American football before finally settling in at Florida State as an offensive tackle. The switch proved to be the right decision as Watson shone and was eventually picked in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, again by the Oakland Raiders, where he still plays. These are just two examples, of course. There have been a number of British players who have succeeded in the NFL, most notably Osi Umenyiora, the Londoner who has won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants as well as making two appearances at the Pro Bowl. The relative success of these players gives British players and fans sufficient reason for optimism for the future, which could come to fruition as soon as this year’s Draft. Born in England in 1993, Jay Ajayi moved with his family to Maryland in 2000. Developing as one of the highest rated running backs in the country, Ajayi committed to play American football at Boise State where he went on to win three championships. He announced his decision to enter the Draft earlier this year. While he may not be the best in his position in this current Draft class, Ajayi is still expected to go as high as the second round. We can only hope that he achieves his goal and that in doing so, he can be a fresh inspiration to young British players who want to realise their dream.
Mock Draft: First Round In the months preceding the Draft, everyone with an interest tries to guess where each player will end up. Do you agree with these first round selections?
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston, QB (FSU) 2. Tennessee Titans - Leonard Williams, DE (USC) 3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dante Fowler Jr, OLB (UF) 4. Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper, WR (UA) 5. Washington Redskins - Shane Ray, DE (UMO) 6. New York Jets - Marcus Mariota, QB (UO) 7. Chicago Bears - Vic Beasley, OLB (CU) 8. Atlanta Falcons - Brandon Scherff, OG (UI) 9. New York Giants - Andrus Peat, DT (SU) 10. St. Louis Rams - Kevin White, WR (WVU) 11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes, CB (Mich St.) 12. Cleveland Browns - Devante Parker, WR (UL) 13. New Orleans Saints - Jalen Collins, CB (LSU) 14. Miami Dolphins - Landon Collins, SS (UA) 15. San Francisco 49ers - Arik Armstead, DT (UO) 16. Houston Texans - La’el Collins, OT (LSU) 17. San Diego Chargers - T.J. Clemmings, OT (Pitt) 18. Kansas City Chiefs - Devin Smith, WR (Ohio St.) 19. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, NT (UW) 20. Philadelphia Eagles - Marcus Peters, CB (UW) 21. Cincinatti Bengals - Ereck Flowers, OT (UM) 22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Bud Dupree, OLB (UK) 23. Detroit Lions - Malcolm Brown, DT (UT) 24. Arizona Cardinals - Eddie Goldman, DT (FSU) 25. Carolina Panthers - D.J. Humphries, OT (UF) 26. Baltimore Ravens - Melvin Gordon, RB (UW) 27. Dallas Cowboys - Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE (UCLA) 28. Denver Broncos - Jordan Phillips, NT (UO) 29. Indianapolis Colts - Benardrick McKinney, ILB (Miss St.) 30. Green Bay Packers - Stephone Anthony, ILB (CU) 31. Seattle Seahawks - Todd Gurley, RB (UGA) 32. New England Patriots - Cameron Erving, C (FSU)
GENO SMITH, NEW YORK JETS
ALL WRITING, EDITING AND DESIGN BY AIDAN SCOTT