Takeaways from the First Round of the 2015 NFL Draft

By Shane Marshall

With the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in the books, we won’t truly know who made good or bad selections until these young men are game tested. That said, there were some surprises and some head scratchers in the first 32.  

Top Surprises 

6. New York Jets  - Leonard Williams, DE, Southern Cal

Admittedly as a Jets fan, I was excitedto see Gang Green get the opportunity to select Vic Beasley or Bud Dupree because I never thought Williams would fall past Washington. Williams was a no-brainer, and makes the Jets defensive line even scarier.

 

10. St. Louis Rams – Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Todd Gurley is easily the best running back in the draft, and the Rams get their first talented running back since Stephen Jackson departed. However, the offensive line could limit the production of Gurley in his rookie season, but you can’t argue with the talent or the fit.

 

22. Pittsburgh Steelers – Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

I was part of a mock draft with The Saratogian, and drafted for the Miami Dolphins at 14, and laughed at the thought of Dupree still being on the board at 14. Then he falls to Linebacker Heaven in Pittsburgh at 22. We all questioned the Steelers taking Ryan Shazier last year, and he did just fine. Mike Tomlin sees something he likes in Dupree, so who am I to argue. Black and Yellow got a steal.

 

29. Indianapolis Colts – Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (FL)

With a receiving corps that boasts T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, and Donte Moncrief, I never would’ve thought the Colts would go receiver in the first round. Dorsett gives Andrew Luck a dangerous weapon for years to come. The former Hurricane gets his first consistent quarterback after suffering with Jacory Harris and Brad Kaaya in Miami.

 

Head Scratchers

25. Carolina Panthers – Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

The Panthers struggled to the playoffs last season because Cam Newton wasn’t getting good protection from his offensive line. I thought the need at O-line was much greater than the need at linebacker. Plus, Thompson I could also play safety. I find it hard to believe Carolina couldn’t have taken Thompson in the second round.

 

30. Green Bay Packers – Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State

A lot of people say the Packers see Randall as a cornerback which might be the only way to justify this pick. Yes, they struggled in pass defense last season, but it was tough to see how Randall was more attractive than Landon Collins.

 

31. New Orleans Saints – Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson

I love that the Saints addressed the linebacker position at 31. I thought they would have taken Shane Ray if he dropped that far. However, I think Anthony was a bit of a reach. I thought Randy Gregory, Eric Kendricks, or Denzel Perryman would have been better fits for the Saints.

 

The Eagles trade failures

It is draft related, so I’ll put it here. We all know how much Chip Kelly wanted Marcus Mariota, but did the second-year coach hurt his own chances?

I believe so. If Kelly had kept Nick Foles there might have been more reason for the Titans to give up the No. 2 pick in a package deal. Foles just seems more attractive than Sam Bradford given the fact that Foles has not endured two torn ACLs. Regardless, Kelly is now stuck with a trio of quarterbacks he didn’t intend to keep.