{"id":2965,"date":"2015-04-30T12:51:17","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T17:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gridironstuds.com\/blog\/?p=2965"},"modified":"2015-04-30T12:51:56","modified_gmt":"2015-04-30T17:51:56","slug":"top-5-players-in-the-2015-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gridironstuds.com\/blog\/top-5-players-in-the-2015-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"GridironStuds.com Top 5 Players in the 2015 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By: Chad Wilson – Editor GridironStuds Blog<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There have been mock drafts, draft shows, draft analysis, draft previews and draft insight. \u00a0Doesn’t matter where you go, \u00a0the NFL draft is in your face. \u00a0Well here’s one more draft article. \u00a0Over the years there have been a fair amount of draft busts and some superstars that have come out of the first round which will be spotlighted tonight. \u00a0This 2015 draft will once again produce busts and perhaps some guys that will end up in Canton. \u00a0In my opinion, \u00a0here are the Top 5 players in this year’s NFL draft. \u00a0I base the list on ability, production and risk.<\/p>\n

1. Leonard Williams – DT – Southern California:<\/strong> \u00a0Defensive lineman have been all the craze in this pass happy era of the National Football League. \u00a0Williams is a physical freak that is one of the more chiseled 300 lb. athletes you will ever see. \u00a0He was a highly productive player at USC with 21 sacks and a ton more mayhem caused. \u00a0While most 300 lb. defensive lineman are lined up at tackle, \u00a0Williams’ athleticism allow him to play the defensive end spot where many project him to play in the NFL. Anyway you look at it, \u00a0Williams is tough matchup for any offensive lineman, a problem for all offensive coordinators and one of those can’t miss prospects that come around every now and then. \u00a0Williams a 4 star rated player by Rivals coming out of high school and was the 5th ranked strong side defensive end in his class.<\/p>\n

2. Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama:<\/strong> \u00a0There are many that will say you can find a ton of wide receivers in the NFL draft. \u00a0There aren’t many like this guy. \u00a0Underrated coming out of high school, \u00a0Cooper’s athletic gifts combined with his work ethic struck fear in defensive backs across college football during his career with the Crimson Tide. \u00a0Jon Gruden says Cooper has “a large inventory of routes” and that would accurately describe his game. \u00a0Whether its the go route, comeback, dig or curl, \u00a0Cooper is running it with precision. \u00a0He can catch the ball and do something dangerous with it afterwards. \u00a0He’s a nightmare off of the line of scrimmage and goes hard all game long. \u00a0He is essentially Jerry Rice with 4.42 speed. Picture that. \u00a0Wide receivers have a high bust rate in the draft but Cooper’s determination will not allow that to happen. \u00a0Cooper was a 4 star prospect out of high school according to Rivals and was listed 45th in their Top 100 the year he graduated.<\/p>\n

3. Dante Fowler – DE \/ OLB<\/strong> \u00a0– Florida: \u00a0Pass rushers have become key in the NFL game. \u00a0With rules making it tough on the secondary to stay in contact with wide receivers, \u00a0defensive ends and pass rushing outside linebackers have been given the task of disrupting the high octane passing games. \u00a0Moving the quarterback off of his spot is the name of the game and that is what has brought Dante Fowler his fame. \u00a0While Fowler did not rack up huge numbers in terms of sacks, \u00a0if you viewed any Florida games during his time there, \u00a0he contributed to an enormous amount of failed plays by opposing offenses. \u00a0The relentless edge rusher tallied 34 tackles for a loss in his career at Florida and has excited teams at the top of the draft with his physical abilities. Fowler’s 4.60 forty yard dash at 260 lbs. makes him a candidate to play either DE in a 4-3 scheme our OLB in one of the growing number of 3-4 schemes popping up in the league. \u00a0He was a consensus 5 star prospect coming out of high school in 2012 and was the 3rd rated weak side defensive end prospect.<\/p>\n

4. Cameron Erving – OT<\/strong> – Florida St.: \u00a0While Iowa’s Brandon Scherff has been considered the top OT in this draft and is likely to be the first offensive lineman selected, \u00a0I am riding with Cameron Erving as the best OL in the pool. \u00a0Erving came to Florida St. as a defensive lineman where he played his freshman year and sophomore year. \u00a0He then moved to the other side of the ball to offensive tackle and became a dominant player. \u00a0His junior year, \u00a0Erving earned All ACC honors along with 2nd team All American. \u00a0He was a top candidate for the Outland Trophy entering this past season but made a switch to center when FSU starting center Austin Barron season ended with an injury. \u00a0It is rare that a 6’6″ tackle makes a seamless move to the center position. \u00a0Erving was a leader on the FSU front and that has to impress you. \u00a0Erving has played defensive tackle, offensive tackle and center. \u00a0The lessons learned from all of that will pay off huge at the next level. \u00a0On top of that Erving is 6’6″ with longer arms and range than Scherff and for my money, \u00a0he seems more of a sure thing.<\/p>\n

5. Melvin Gordon – RB<\/strong> – Wisconsin: The consensus is that Gurley will be the first taken but most analysts say Gordon not too far behind. \u00a0In my opinion, \u00a0he’s the guy I want if I am looking for a back in this draft. The knock on Gordon is inconsistent hands. \u00a0That’s nice but I need my running back carrying the rock not running routes. \u00a0I am sure Gordon can execute the screen play and the check down with no adventure. \u00a0If that’s all he does while tallying up 8 or 9 1,000 yard seasons for my franchise then I hit a home run. You can’t argue Gordon’s production for Wisconsin. \u00a0He put up 2,500 + yards this year after cranking out a 1,600 yard season in 2013. \u00a0There’s noting like being the hunted going into a season and performing above expectations. \u00a0I prefer Gordon over Gurley because Gordon can avoid contact, \u00a0while Gurley seems more apt to invite it. \u00a0This means Gordon is more likely to stay in the lineup and be on the field on Sundays. \u00a0Ultimately, \u00a0your first round pick needs to be on the field and not only was Gordon durable for Wisconsin, \u00a0his 4,915 yards and 7.8 yards per carry average makes him one of the most productive college football backs of all time. \u00a0Gordon was a 4-star rated back by Rivals coming out of high school in 2011 and was ranked the 24th RB overall in the country. \u00a0Tonight he will be one of the Top 32 men selected in the 2015 NFL draft.<\/p>\n

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