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
Brandon Scherff, G, Iowa Last week, I was digging around looking for information as to who a few teams picking just outside the top 10 were targeting. Around that area of the 2015 NFL Draft, there could be some offensive linemen who go off the board but from conversations with league sources, they think Scherff will be gone. Sources say they project Scherff to go in the top 10 and he’s too clean of a prospect to escape the top 10. That is higher than some projections, but teams think he’ll hear his name called quickly on Thursday night.
Chris Conley, WR, Georgia A sleeper wide receiver who a lot of teams are hoping continues to go under the radar is Conley. A lot of attention has been paid to the first-round receivers, and Conley is a player who has an early-round skill set, but will be available in the mid-rounds. Conley (6-2, 213) commanded that NFL teams take notice of him with his tremendous 40 time at the Combine of 4.35 seconds. Not only was Conley extremely fast, he also has good size and was respectable in the field work. The senior hauled in 36 receptions for 657 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014. In 2013, he caught 45 passes for 651 yards and four touchdowns. Conley is a sleeper pick who could be a mid-round steal in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida A week ago, Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett made this list for the second-straight week, and now, Perriman takes a turn with a repeat performance. There have been rumors that some teams in the teens are considering Perriman with their first-round pick. It isn’t a stretch to see why a team would fall in love with a 6-foot-2, 212-pound receiver that runs extremely fast. Perriman could end up going in the top 20 of the 2015 NFL Draft, and it looks like a serious possibility that he’s selected on Thursday night.
Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson The arrow for Anthony continues to trend up as it has for the past six months. The senior was an unheralded player coming into 2014, but that has changed. He had a quality year and has used the the lead up to the 2015 NFL Draft to continue his ascension. Anthony had a strong Senior Bowl and Combine, and has interviewed well for teams. Anthony looks like a safe second-round pick who could go in the top 50 of the 2015 NFL draft.
DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech It can be hard for wide receivers to break out as draft prospects in Georgia Tech’s running-based offense. Smelter didn’t get a lot of opportunities in 2014, but he made the most of the limited chances as he caught 35 passes for 715 yards (20.4 average) and seven touchdowns. Sources say Smelter (6-3, 222) has excellent hands to go along with his size. The big-framed Smelter does have a knee injury that could force him to have a redshirt season on injured reserve, but teams are intrigued with Smelter and are grading him as draftable.
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest There has been a lot of attention paid to Michigan State’s Trae Waynes and Washington’s Marcus Peters, but there are a lot of cornerback-needy teams that aren’t picking high enough to land Waynes and aren’t interested in taking Peters because of his off-the-field issues. In speaking with teams, Johnson has a lot of admirers and a number of landing spots in the back half of the first round. Teams like his size, man-coverage skills and ability to get physical. Johnson has worked out well for teams, and he’s solidified his stock in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA Hundley’s final season of college tape hasn’t blown away NFL evaluators, who see a lot of issues for him to work on as a pocket passer. However, Hundley has done well in the team interviews according to sources. Teams like his attitude, work ethic, commitment and willingness to learn. Hundley has given some teams that were already interested more reason to consider him as a developmental quarterback. With his arm and athletic ability, Hundley has the tools to work with. It wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up going in the second or third round to a team that buys in to what they believe they can turn him into.
Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State I’m surprised that Williams has made it on this list because a few months ago he seemed likely to head to the undrafted ranks. It still is possible that every team passes on Williams because he has lots of off-the-field concerns, but lately, many mock drafters have been projecting Williams to be selected on Day 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft, so perhaps he has some momentum. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder is fast yet strong. He didn’t have a season of big production, but has upside to develop, which could cause him to get selected on the third day of the 2015 NFL Draft.
2015 NFL Draft Stock Down
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington Since an electric Senior Bowl many have been projecting Shelton to be a top-10 pick. Shelton had a strong career for the Huskies and finished it off by manhandling offensive linemen in Mobile. While Shelton still is a likely first-round pick, multiple teams have indicated to WalterFootball.com that they don’t have Shelton rated that high on their draft boards. One team in the teens said they expect Shelton to be there and will pass on him because they don’t feel the need at the position. Another general manager picking in the 30s says he thinks Shelton will go in the 20s.
Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor Every year, the media has a tendency to overhype some quarterback prospects, and if you speak with a variety of NFL teams, they will tell you that the media is doing it with Bryce Petty. They feel that there could be a team out there that likes Petty enough to draft him in the mid-rounds, but many teams are very down on Petty. They say that he needs a huge amount of class room and playbook development as he hasn’t called a play in Baylor like he will have to in the NFL. He also has accuracy issues. Some teams have told WalterFootball.com they graded Petty in the seventh round, while others have him as an undrafted free agent. Don’t be surprised if Petty falls lower than many media pundits expect.
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