This section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2015 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2015 NFL Draft Stock Up
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia In speaking with sources, NFL teams are hearing that Gurley should be ready for the start of training camp. After tearing an ACL last November, Gurley is on pace to recover in time to begin his rookie season without having to go on the PUP (physical unable to perform list). The on-time recovery could really help Gurley’s draft stock and his chances of going in the top-25 picks. Sources say that Gurley is a top-five talent, so he could be an excellent value in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Kwon Alexander, OLB, LSU As a surprise early entry into the 2015 NFL Draft, there hasn’t been much attention paid to Alexander, but sources with multiple teams have said they like him and have graded him as a third-round pick. Alexander had quality production in his final season for the Tigers and showed off his sideline-to-sideline speed at the Combine with an official 40 time of 4.55 seconds. This isn’t a particularly strong class of outside linebackers, so Alexander’s stock could rise in the final weeks before the 2015 NFL Draft.
Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami It took awhile for the media to catch on to Flowers, but WalterFootball.com had reported back in the fall that teams were grading Flowers firmly in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has excellent tape with a skill set that illustrates serious power to go with quickness and athleticism for a 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive line. In speaking with NFL teams last week, they felt that Flowers could go in the top 12 and it isn’t out of the question for him to be selected at the end of the top 10. Flowers looks like a Day 1 starter at right tackle, and the 20-year-old has a lot of upside to eventually become a left tackle as a pro.
Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford Flowers isn’t the only offensive tackle who could crack the top 16 in the 2015 NFL Draft. Peat also has the potential to go that high, and some teams could prefer him to Flowers. The 6-foot-7, 313-pound Peat has great size and length to play left tackle in the NFL, but could use more refinement with his technique. Still, Peat has a lot of upside and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get selected by the Rams or Browns in the top half of the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama Sources said that teams timed Yeldon in the 4.4-second and 4.5-second ranges at the Alabama pro day, which were marked improvements over his Combine performance. Yeldon has gone under the radar in the media during the lead up to the 2015 NFL Draft, but in speaking with scouts, they all like Yeldon and feel he has three-down starting potential for the NFL. They feel that Yeldon is a smooth runner with a nice combination of size and quickness. He could end up going higher on Day 2 then most observers anticipate.
Jalston Fowler, FB, Alabama It is very rare to have a fullback in the Stock Report, but Fowler has managed to put his name in there. Sources who were at the Alabama pro day said Fowler was very impressive. He showed natural receiving skills and looks like he could be a mismatch weapon as an athletic fullback. Fowler also packs a punch and can run the ball well for a physical lead-blocker. There were teams hoping he would slide under the radar, but isn’t the case any more after his pro-day performance. Fowler should go in one of the first two rounds on Day 3.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama The draft media seems to have West Virginia’s Kevin White as the consensus top receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft, but that isn’t a consensus with NFL teams. In speaking with sources, plenty of teams have Cooper as the top wideout in the 2015 NFL Draft. With his quickness, route-running and big-play ability, Cooper could easily be the first receiver selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. At his pro day, teams came away with more positive feelings towards Cooper. It wouldn’t surprise any teams around the league if Cooper was the first receiver taken.
Arie Kouandjio, G, Alabama Since the end of the season, the guard prospect who has received the most acclaim is Duke’s Laken Tomlinson, but Kouandjio has received a lot of praise from sources as well. They feel Kouandjio has the strength and athleticism to start quickly in the NFL while being able to fit in any kind of blocking scheme. He had an underrated senior year as a run-blocker and improved his pass protection. Kouandjio could go higher than most expect on the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft.
2015 NFL Draft Stock Down
Jesse James, TE, Penn State Minnesota’s Maxx Williams made a good decision to enter the 2015 NFL Draft because this was a weak year among the senior tight ends. James was another early entry, but it looks like he made a poor choice as he has failed to generate much buzz into his draft stock. The 6-foot-7, 261-pounder put up a slow time in the 40 at the Combine and never had much production in college. He could slide deep into the third day of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn At one point, there was talk of Coates being a first-round pick, but that has subsided and he looks secure on the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft. In speaking with league contacts, they haven’t been very excited about Coates. They feel he has a nice skill set but needs a lot of development and is a work in progress. Teams are looking at him as a candidate for second-day selection, and he isn’t in the first-round discussion among receiver-needy teams.
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