Live 2015 NFL Draft Grades

These Live 2015 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2015 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Team Grades

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State: C Grade
Five-Year Grade: C Grade

I was concerned about Jameis Winston’s off-the-field problems, especially in regard to the Tampa party lifestyle. Winston certainly had his fair share of controversy, such as allegedly groping an Uber driver. However, Winston’s on-field performance has been far worse. He’s brilliant at times – he threw for 5,100 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019 – but he’s just as careless with the football. Along with the 30 touchdowns came 30 interceptions, which epitomized Winston’s tenure in Tampa Bay. He’s had moments of sheer brilliance, but he has disappointed greatly just as often. Thus, a “C” grade seems correct for the Winston pick.

Original Write-up:

I’m going to lock this pick in. It’s almost certain that the Buccaneers will select Jameis Winston. Of course, this was apparent months ago when Tampa refused to hire Marc Trestman as its offensive coordinator because the former Chicago coach wanted to take Marcus Mariota No. 1 overall.

I’m with Trestman on this one, and we’ve spoken to some teams that agree. Though Winston is the slight favorite amongst the league, I’d rather have Mariota, and the reasoning, as you may guess, has to do with the off-the-field issues. Some of Winston’s problems have been overblown – the fact that he was suspended for shouting in the student union was ridiculous – but the Buccaneers really have to worry about Winston staying clean. I especially wonder what’ll happen to him in Tampa’s crazy (and underrated) party environment. I’ve joked about Mons Venus, one of the nation’s most famous strip clubs, renaming its establishment to “Mons Jameis” for all the money he’s going to spend there, but I sincerely believe that Winston may have trouble staying focused in his new home, much like one of his predecessors, Josh Freeman. And I’m not alone in this; someone I trust called Winston the “demon spawn of JaMarcus Russell and Johnny Manziel.”

I can’t give the Buccaneers a terrible grade because this selection could totally pan out. But if I’m investing the No. 1 overall pick into a player, I wouldn’t want to be worried about what he’s doing Monday through Saturday. Winston has told enough people that he has grown up and matured, and he has aced all of the pre-draft events, but we heard and saw the same exact thing from Manziel last year. Winston is much more talented than Manziel, but if he gets into trouble and can’t stay on the field, what difference does it make?

Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon: A Grade
Five-Year Grade: C Grade

Marcus Mariota has been similar to Jameis Winston in that he’s had highs and lows, though his haven’t been as extreme. Mariota led the Titans to a playoff victory – something Winston hasn’t done – but he never developed into a lethal, albeit erratic passer like Winston. Mariota hasn’t thrown 30 interceptions in a season either. I still think Mariota can be developed into a solid quarterback, but things obviously didn’t pan out in Tennessee.

Original Write-up:

This was the right move all along. Marcus Mariota doesn’t fit what Ken Whisenhunt ideally looks for in a quarterback, but talent should always trump any system, and Mariota definitely has the talent. Seen as a taller Russell Wilson, Mariota automatically takes the Titans out of the NFL cellar and will have them competing for a playoff spot as early as 2016. The Titans simply couldn’t go into the 2015 season with Zach Mettenberger as their starting quarterback; otherwise, everyone would’ve lost their jobs after another poor year.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Dante Fowler didn’t live up to expectations in Jacksonville. He recorded eight sacks in his third season, but struggled the following year before being traded to the Rams for third- and fifth-round picks. It’s nice that the Jaguars got something for Fowler, but they were anticipating much more when they selected him third overall. Still, it must be noted that Fowler had a breakout 2019 campaign with the Rams, recording 11.5 sacks.

Original Write-up:

There was a huge misconception amongst the media that Leonard Williams was the No. 1 player in this draft. Teams we spoke to said otherwise, and several franchises had Dante Fowler as the top prospect. This includes the Jaguars, and Charlie Campbell deserves credit for first reporting that Jacksonville was going to select him. The Jaguars have needed a pass-rushing LEO for quite some time now. They rightfully passed on Dion Jordan and perhaps wrongfully eschewed Khalil Mack, but I think they’re getting it right with Fowler. He’ll provide a big boost for their defense, which needs help to battle Andrew Luck (and also Marcus Mariota).

Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: B- Grade

Amari Cooper has flashed his play-making ability many times throughout his career thus far. However, he had just one great season in Oakland, as he otherwise spent time being injured, dropping passes and quitting on routes. We began to see some of his lethargy surface late in 2019 with the Cowboys. Cooper is a special talent, but the Raiders wanted more from him. The good news is that they were able to turn him into a first-round pick via a trade with Dallas.

Original Write-up:

The Raiders were torn on Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper. Williams told them that he wanted to play for them, but that apparently didn’t matter to Reggie McKenzie. I have no problem with the Cooper selection. Derek Carr is going to have a tough task in his sophomore campaign without offensive coordinator Greg Olson, so Oakland needed to compensate. Providing Carr with a legitimate No. 1 receiver makes a ton of sense; Carr really had nothing to work with after James Jones predictably busted.
Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, G/OT, Iowa: C Grade
Five-Year Grade: B- Grade

I think No. 5 overall is too early to select a guard. Brandon Scherff has been a terrific guard for the Redskins, but the lack of positional value must be mentioned. Also, Scherff’s health has been a major concern in recent years. He hasn’t played a full season since 2016, and he has missed 13 games in the past two years. I’ll upgrade the “C” grade I issued back in 2015, but this didn’t turn out to be a great pick.

Original Write-up:

Wow… with Leonard Williams available? I know Williams was slightly overrated by the media, but he should be the fifth-overall pick. Not a guard. I like Brandon Scherff a lot, and I think he’ll be a solid player for the Redskins, but guards just don’t have the same impact as a dominant defensive lineman. I’m not going to give the Redskins a “Millen,” or anything, because they had to upgrade Robert Griffin’s pass protection. However, spending the fifth-overall selection on a guard just doesn’t seem like a smart idea. If anything, Washington should’ve moved down a couple of spots and snagged Scherff at No. 7 or 8.
New York Jets: Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC: A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: B Grade

Leonard Williams has been a force in the trenches when it comes to stopping the run, but he’s been an inconsistent pass rusher throughout his career thus far. That, along with Quinnen Williams, was the Jets’ justification for trading Williams. This was still a decent pick, but it wasn’t as great as the Jets envisioned it being.

Original Write-up:

Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson… and Leonard Williams!? Crazy. I can’t blame the Jets for this, and I don’t think it’s a bad pick. On the contrary, I like it a lot. The Jets are taking the best player available, so there isn’t much to complain about. Besides, there have been rumors floating around regarding New York trading Wilkerson. That may not happen now, but the Jets could deal him down the road. If they do, they won’t have to worry about addressing a need on the defensive line. In the meantime, Williams can provide solid depth up front.

Chicago Bears: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: F Grade

Yuck. Kevin White isn’t even in the NFL anymore. Well, at least the Bears didn’t trade up for a pedestrian quarterback in this draft class…

Original Write-up:

This pick makes so much sense. The Bears traded away Brandon Marshall this offseason, leaving a big need at receiver across from Alshon Jeffery. White has the size Marshall had, and he’s also a downfield threat. The issue with White is that he’s considered a raw, one-year wonder, but the potential is too great, and it could be argued that he was the best player available. This is definitely a strong choice, though I’m a bit upset that the Chicago fans didn’t boo like their Jet counterparts.
Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson: A Grade
Five-Year Grade: C Grade

Vic Beasley had a great year when the Falcons reached the Super Bowl (15.5 sacks), but he has barely done anything since. He recorded five sacks in both 2017 and 2018. He saw that number rise to eight in 2019, but it seemed as though he lucked into some sacks. He was also a liability in run support.

Original Write-up:

This is an awesome pick. Vic Beasley had the talent to be a top-five selection, so the Falcons are getting a slight steal with the eighth-overall pick. Beasley also fits exactly what the Falcons were looking for from a scheme and athletic standpoint. Oh, and most importantly, he fills a huge need. The Falcons had absolutely no pass rush last year, which was disastrous in a division with Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and now Jameis Winston. Beasley was a pass-rushing monster for Clemson, and he should automatically improve Atlanta’s defense.
New York Giants: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: F Grade

My apologies to Ereck Flowers, who is a reader of this Web site. However, this is a “F” re-grade because Flowers failed miserably with the Giants. He at least still has an NFL job, unlike Kevin White, but this selection was definitely a failure.

Original Write-up:

So much for Mel Kiper’s assertion that no offensive linemen were worth taking at No. 9. Ereck Flowers is definitely worth the selection, and I’m not just saying that because he’s a reader of the site. Flowers was the best pure tackle prospect in this draft, and I had him going No. 10 in my mock draft, so the range definitely makes sense. Flowers also fills a big need, as the Giants had to protect Eli Manning, who has been battered and bruised the past couple of seasons.

St. Louis Rams: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: B- Grade

This is a tough re-grade. On one hand, Todd Gurley was special in 2018, helping the Rams achieve a first-round bye, which allowed them to reach the Super Bowl. On the other hand, Gurley is now dealing with arthritic knees, and the only reason the Rams aren’t going to cut him this offseason is because they’d have too much dead money after doing so. These are the perils when it comes to selecting a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Original Write-up:

I ordinarily wouldn’t be a fan of a team drafting a running back in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, but we’ve spoken to enough teams that were super high on Todd Gurley. In fact, one team considered him to be the next Jim Brown. If it wasn’t for his torn ACL, Jacksonville probably would’ve chosen him at No. 3. Gurley definitely could be considered the top prospect available, so this is a solid choice. However, the need is questionable after Tre Mason looked so good last year. Still, I don’t know what the Rams could’ve done otherwise. They wanted either Ereck Flowers or Brandon Scherff, but both were off the board.
Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State: A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: C Grade

Trae Waynes never lived up to his potential as the No. 11 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t been terrible either. Waynes has played at a decent level at times, and he’s currently considered a passable starter. I’d say he’s worth a re-grade in the B-/C range, or so.

Original Write-up:

It was either Trae Waynes or DeVante Parker, and either would’ve made a ton of sense. But whereas Parker was the No. 3 receiver, Waynes was the top cornerback on the board. With that in mind, doesn’t it seem like a huge steal that the Vikings were able to obtain the No. 1 corner in the draft with the 11th pick? This is a strong choice, as Waynes fills a need as a starter across from Xavier Rhodes. The Vikings had to find another corner to help them against all of the talented receivers on Green Bay, Chicago and Detroit.
Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton, NT, Washington: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

I called Danny Shelton overhyped when he was drafted because he could only play two downs in the NFL. Shelton has done exactly that. He’s been a force against the run, but he’s provided nothing as a pass rusher throughout his career thus far, recording only 4.5 sacks through five seasons. This is not the sort of player teams should draft in the first round, especially as high as No. 12 overall.

Original Write-up:

I always thought that Danny Shelton was a bit overhyped. He’s a force in the middle, but it really worried me that he was gassed during the Senior Bowl. He’ll be just a two-down defender, but to be fair, the Browns desperately needed to improve their run defense. They have to go up against Le’Veon Bell, Jeremy Hill and Justin Forsett twice per year, and they had a huge hole at nose tackle. I never bought him as a top-10 prospect, but he makes sense at No. 12.

New Orleans Saints: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Andrus Peat failed at tackle, so the Saints kicked him inside to guard. Peat has been better there, though only by default. He’s still the weak link of the offensive line unless there are other injuries, so this re-grade can’t be very favorable.

Original Write-up:

Andrus Peat looked shocked to be chosen at this spot, and I’m just as surprised. The Saints were projected to pick a defensive talent, so Peat is a bit of a shocker. I don’t think it’s a bad choice, however. Peat was projected to go between Nos. 10 and 19, so this is the right range for him. Protecting Drew Brees, especially as he enters his late 30s, is paramount, and Peat will definitely offer an upgrade on the offensive line.
Miami Dolphins: DeVante Parker, WR, Lousville: A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: ??? Grade

I have no idea how to re-grade this pick. DeVante Parker was a massive failure in his first four seasons in Miami, but as we discovered last year, this was because of Adam Gase. Parker, like Kenyan Drake and Ryan Tannehill, was able to thrive when he separated from Gase. He was outright dominant in the second half of the 2019 campaign. It wouldn’t surprise me if Parker becomes a perennial Pro Bowler. How do you grade someone like that when they did nothing in their first four years? I have no clue, but this dilemma at least allows us to appreciate how horrible of a coach Gase happens to be.

Original Write-up:

The Rams and Vikings were considering DeVante Parker at Nos. 10 and 11, so this is a slight bargain for the Dolphins. Parker also fills a big need at receiver; Miami signed Greg Jennings, but he never factored into the decision of this selection. Ryan Tannehill already had his possession receiver in Jarvis Landry, but he had to have a legitimate No. 1 wideout at his disposal. Parker is projected to be a primary option, so I like this selection.
San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers: B- Grade
Five-Year Grade: B- Grade

Here’s another first-round running back who has dealt with injuries. Gordon has played a full season on just a single occasion in his career. Granted, he has played very well when healthy, but Gordon hasn’t quite lived up to his draft status because of his injuries.

Original Write-up:

Chris Berman is gushing about this pick. I’m not as crazy about it. I don’t know why the Chargers leapt the Texans and gave up a fourth-rounder in the process because the Texans were not going to take Gordon. Still, this is a somewhat decent choice, as Gordon will provide a big boost out of the backfield. The Chargers had no consistent running game with Ryan Mathews gone, so this definitely makes sense, as Philip Rivers needs all the help he can get as he enters the final years of his career.
Houston Texans: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest: B Grade
Five-Year Grade: D- Grade

Speaking of injury-prone players, Kevin Johnson missed 29 of 64 possible games while with the Texans. He has since moved on to Buffalo, where he was a part-time player in 2019.

Original Write-up:

The Texans weren’t going to select Melvin Gordon because they targeted Kevin Johnson all along, once they realized that Todd Gurley was not going to fall to them. We were advised to put Johnson in the top half of our mock drafts by several teams leading up to the draft. Johnson didn’t get much buzz amongst the media because he wasn’t a sexy name, but he’s a very skilled cornerback and a very underrated prospect. He projects as a strong No. 2 corner across from Kareem Jackson once Johnathan Joseph moves on.