By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
May 7, 2015
2015 NFL Draft Winners and Losers – Day 3:
Winners
Tennessee Titans The Titans were able to come away from Day 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft with a few players who have the potential to start early in their careers. Fullback Jalston Fowler is a definite starter and has Pro Bowl potential because he can be effective fullback as a blocker, receiver and runner. Running back David Cobb could form a nice duo with Bishop Sankey, and Cobb was a steal in the fifth round. Some teams had Cobb rated in the top five at running back.
Center Andy Gallik was a bargain in the sixth round. He gives Tennessee good depth behind Brian Schwenke. In the seventh round, the Titans landed yet another steal in Tre McBride. He’s a fast receiver who could work out of the slot or outside. McBride could have been a third- or fourth-round pick, so he was pure robbery in Round 7. Tennessee did tremendous work on Day 3 in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville ended up netting three players on Day 3 who all could easily have been second- or third-rounders. The Jaguars had a strong 2015 NFL Draft with good talent acquired on all three days. Included in the team’s third-day haul is a potential starting safety in Louisville’s James Sample. He is a well-rounded defender who could form a nice duo with Jonathan Cyprien. Wide receiver Rashad Greene should compete to be the Jaguars slot receiver and is a nice candidate to replace Cecil Shorts.
Jacksonville got an absolute steal in defensive tackle Michael Bennett in the sixth round. He could be a situational pass-rusher quickly for the Jaguars. Bennett was on a tear to close out the 2014 season, and it is a real head-scratcher as to why he fell so low. To conclude the 2015 NFL Draft, the Jaguars landed more receiving depth and a blocking tight end in Ben Koyack. Jacksonville’s front office appears to have had a fabulous third day.
Minnesota Vikings The Vikings also killed it on the third day of the 2015 NFL Draft. T.J. Clemmings never graded out as high as the draft media projected, but Clemmings still was an excellent value in the fourth round. Most teams had him graded on Day 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he has a lot of upside.
In the fifth round, Minnesota landed a nice backup receiver in Stefon Diggs, and he is also a possible returner. Tyrus Thompson could be a steal from the sixth round. The 6-foot-5, 324-pounder has excellent speed and athleticism with good size, but he rubbed teams the wrong way with his work ethic. If properly motivated, Thompson could push the organizations’ starters at guard or tackle.
The Vikings got some excellent depth and players with upside on Day 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots The Patriots made two questionable picks on the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft, but as a pair, their two selections in the fourth round look better than what they landed on Day 2. Defensive end Try Flowers is an underrated player who provides tough run defense and has some pass-rush ability. He was a nice value to start Round 4. Shortly later, the Patriots landed a potential starting guard in Tre Jackson. He is a solid run-blocker who needs to improve his pass protection, but he is safe pick to turn into a quality guard. New England then used its final pick of the fourth round to land Shaq Mason, who could have starting potential at center.
The rest of the Patiots’ third-day group didn’t impress, but their three fourth-round picks could all be solid contributors.
Baltimore Ravens The Ravens did well in the 2015 NFL Draft and continued to make good picks on Day 3. Za’Darius Smith is a good replacement for Pernell McPhee and provides some pass-rushing depth for Baltimore. The team also was thin at running back and landing USC’s Buck Allen (6-0, 221) in the fourth round was a value. He can help the Ravens in the passing game as well as lightening the work load for Justin Forsett. Fifth-round guard Robert Myers also has developmental potential to help provide depth for Baltimore.
Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers had to address their secondary in the 2015 NFL Draft, and they were able to get two potential steals on the third day. Cornerback Doran Grant has starting potential with man- and zone-cover skills. Grant is a polished player who could compete quickly for Pittsburgh. In the seventh round, Pittsburgh grabbed free safety Gerod Holliman. He led the nation in 2014 with 14 interceptions and is a pure ballhawk. The Steelers have to teach him to tackle, but in the seventh round, they might have landed an impact player. Defensive end Anthony Chickillo also could be a nice backup defensive end. Pittsburgh did some nice work on Day 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins Last but not least, the Dolphins did some nice work on Day 3 during the 2015 NFL Draft. Fourth-rounder Jamil Douglas could provide some instant competition for Dallas Thomas at guard. Miami needed guard help and was fortunate that Douglas made it to the organization’s fourth-round pick. The Dolphins were even luckier to land running back Jay Ajayi in the fifth round. Ajayi has starting potential and is a three-down weapon as he can make a real impact as a receiver as well. He is a great fit in their offense and should form a nice tandem with Lamar Miller. Ajayi could have gone in the second or third round, so he is a major steal in the fifth round. With these picks, Miami did a nice job of making up for being without a third-round pick.
Losers
St. Louis Rams I love what the Rams did in the first round, but the rest of the draft was a disappointment. They committed three reaches on the second day and continued to take inferior talents on Day 3. In the fourth round, St. Louis took Iowa tack Andrew Donnal, but could have gotten him later. There also were some better offensive linemen available like Mark Glowinski and Max Garcia.
The rest of the Rams’ picks on Day 3 were nothing special, especially wide receiver Bud Sasser and guard Cody Wichmann. The Rams also gave away Zac Stacy for only a seventh-round pick. Considering Gurley is coming off a torn ACL, it would make sense to hold onto Stacy until Gurley is 100 percent. Plus, a team could have a rash of injuries at running back in training camp, and thus the Rams probably could have gotten a 2016 pick a few rounds higher for Stacy.
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