2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: 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 25, 2015
By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Defense
By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
2015 NFL Draft Day-Two Values: Defense
In the recent weeks there have been a lot of questions about who are my value picks in the 2015 NFL Draft. A value or sleeper prospect is basically a player who gets drafted after the first round and proves to be a steal. The second day of the draft is where the men are separated from the boys among NFL general managers. All the players have strengths and flaws, but the top evaluators find future starters and team building blocks on Day 2. Every year, I pick my favorite second-day value. Here is my record.
2015: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
2014: Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU
2013: Larry Warford, G, Kentucky
2012: Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati
2011: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
2010: Brian Price, DT, UCLA and Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
2009: Mike Wallace, WR, Ole Miss
2008: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Overall, this list is very strong with the one exception being Brian Price. Unfortunately, family tragedies robbed him of being able to put an NFL career together. Flowers has had a Pro Bowl career. Wallace has been a good pro receiver and helped get the Steelers to a Super Bowl. Houston is a pass-rushing terror for the Chiefs, while Warford is one of the best young guards in the NFL. Hill flashed as a rookie and could be in store for some huge years as soon as next fall.
Here is a breakdown of a sleeper prospect at each defensive position for the 2015 draft class. All the players will be prospects who are going on the second or third day of the 2015 NFL Draft. If a player is a possible late first-round pick, I don’t include him as an option.
Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State I double-checked with sources, and they have Bennett graded as second-rounder, so I feel safer picking him for this. I think Bennett is going to be an impact pass-rusher from the inside as a seriously speedy three-technique. The 6-foot-2, 293-pounder came on strong in 2014 to help push the Buckeyes to a National Championship. Bennett recorded 41 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three passes broken up and three forced fumbles for the year. He is very fast with the ability to close on the quarterback in a hurry. I think Bennett is going to be a very good interior pass-rusher, but he has to go to a 4-3 defense. He would be wasted in a 3-4. I think Bennett could be a valuable second-rounder similar to Jonathan Babineaux or Brandon Mebane.
Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami I wish I could pick Eric Kendrics for this, but he’s a first-rounder, so he doesn’t count. Of the second-day prospects, I think Perryman is going to be a solid NFL player who has a lengthy career. Sources say they view Perryman (5-10, 242) as more likely to go in Round 2 because of height concerns. In 2014, Perryman recorded 110 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, five passes batted and an interception. He is a physical football player who is an enforcer in the tackle box. Perryman has excellent instincts, and I think his pass coverage has been critiqued more than is justified. With some development, I think Perryman could be a three-down starter who will be the heart and soul of his defense. I could see him being a DeMeco Ryans-like defender in the NFL.
Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State Darby is most likely to be a second-round pick, and he is my selection as the top Day-2 value at corner. The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder is very fast and agile. Darby is skilled at not allowing separation and blanketing receivers. He has the track-star speed to run with fast receivers yet is put together well and can battle bigger wideouts. Darby notched 43 tackles with four passes broken up in 2014. He needs to improve playing the ball and his ball skills in the NFL, but I think he is going to be an asset as a cover corner who doesn’t allow his man to get open.
Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State There has been some late first-round buzz on Randall, but more than likely, he’s going to be selected on Day 2. I like Randall because he is a deep center fielder who covers a lot of ground as a free safety. Randall also has cover skills after playing some cornerback, so I think he is going to be an asset to go one-on-one against slot receivers, tight ends and other wideouts running downfield. The senior had a strong 2014 season with 101 tackles with three interceptions, eight passes broken up, two forced fumbles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. He was a big presence for the Sun Devils’ defense and stayed around the ball. Randall followed that up with strong performances at the Senior Bowl and Combine. The 5-foot-10, 194-pounder is short, but he has the skill set to be a solid free safety in the NFL.
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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