2015 NFL Draft Potential Busts: Defense
2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Offense | 2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Defense
2015 NFL Draft Potential Busts: Offense | 2015 NFL Draft Potential Busts: Defense
2015 NFL Draft Day-Three Sleepers
Published April 23, 2015.
By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
In the recent weeks, there have been a lot of questions about which players to avoid in the 2015 NFL Draft class. Every draft has some players who are selected early only to becoming massive disappointments in the NFL. Here, we breakdown some potential busts in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Mario Edwards, Florida State There is no doubt that Edwards is a talented athlete. He has some natural strength to go with speed. However, Edwards never produced up to his potential at Florida State. His motor, motivation and effort seemed to go dormant at times. He needs to develop more pass-rushing moves and only had 6.5 sacks over the past two years.
The 279-pounder doesn’t have the weight or the length to have a fit in a 3-4 defense. Team sources say that after the weight loss, they lowered Edwards’ grade to the late second round. His weight is too low for a nose tackle, and he isn’t tall or long enough to be a five-technique in a 3-4 defense. That rules out a lot of teams.
The weight limitations also extend to a 4-3. He is too small to play a nose tackle and eat up blockers in the trenches. Below 290 pounds, Edwards only real fit comes as a three-technique in a 4-3. That limits the number of organizations that Edwards could play for as there aren’t a lot of teams running a Tampa 2-type system that is predicated on a fast three-technique. Not all of the other 4-3 defenses in NFL that have some flexibility with inserting a three-technique occasionally actually have a need for that.
Bernardrick McKinney, Mississippi State Last year, I was half right in my projection of Chris Borland. I was wrong because he had a quality rookie year, but his sudden retirement changes how you grade that pick. This year was a tough decision between McKinney and Paul Dawson. Both of them have the off-the-field concerns that make being a bust a possibility. McKinney was a good player in college, but he never had huge production, thus he’s my pick. Dawson was a good player with huge production for TCU. He also could end up being a third-day pick, and you can’t really call a pick after the third round a bust since the majority of picks from Day 3 don’t last in the NFL.
P.J. Williams, Florida State This could easily be Marcus Peters because of off-the-field issues, but if he stays out of trouble, he should be a good NFL corner. Williams has flaws on and off the field while also being projected to go in the first three rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft. Aside from his recent DUI arrest, some teams feel that Williams could be beaten for some long plays in the NFL. He is a big corner, but doesn’t always prevent separation. Taking on NFL receivers will be an even bigger challenge and Williams could give up some big plays. Thus, he’s my pick for the biggest bust potential.
Gerod Holliman, Louisville There weren’t many options to pick from considering there probably won’t be many safeties selected in the first three rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft. Holliman could be, although I know some teams have graded him as a fourth- or fifth-rounder. He has some coverage and ball skills, but he struggles as a tackler, which is very concerning considering NFL receivers and running backs will be bigger and faster than the skill position players of the ACC. If Holliman misses a lot of tackles that result in big plays, that could lead to him getting benched and not panning out. If Holliman is selected on Day 2, he has serious bust potential.
2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Offense | 2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Defense
2015 NFL Draft Potential Busts: Offense | 2015 NFL Draft Potential Busts: Defense
2015 NFL Draft Day-Three Sleepers
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