Slam dunks: 10 safest prospects in 2015 NFL Draft By Chase Goodbread

Elias

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Thoughts? Lots of names on here that are not talked about to be selected in the top 10. If you click the link there are some nice videos that play on loop, starting with Leonard Williams.


1. DL Leonard Williams, USC

You don't get to the position of being rated the top overall prospect in the draft unless NFL scouts need a magnifying glass to find any concerns. Williams' performance at the NFL Scouting Combine confirmed what he showed on the field for the Trojans -- that his quickness and agility is remarkable for a 300-pound man. He also has the versatility to play multiple spots on the defensive line, which will help him stay on the field for all three downs. If Williams isn't ready to make a difference as a rookie, nobody is.

2. WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

Cooper comes from a pro-style offense and has experience running every sort of pass route he could be asked to run in the NFL. He has the speed to get open deep downfield, the quickness to make the first tackler miss on screens and shorter throws, and the size and toughness to play in the middle of the field. Cooper also has as soft a pair of hands as there is in the draft. His work ethic and off-field behavior is unquestioned.

3. DL Danny Shelton, Washington

The former Huskies nose tackle might not be a great pass rusher in the pros, but that's not what the team that drafts him will be expecting, anyway. For what he'll be asked to do -- hold his ground against double teams and control two gaps when single-blocked -- NFL scouts have little doubt he will be a quick success. The offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl had more than enough trouble with Shelton, and there are no off-field concerns with the 340-pounder, either.

4. WR Kevin White, West Virginia

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has called the wide receiver position as a whole the safest position in the draft, and White is one reason why it's so safe. He erased any doubt about his straight-line speed with a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine, and he's a bit bigger than the aforementioned Cooper. When White first hit scouting radars last fall, some wondered why his production as a junior in 2013 was on the light side (35 catches, 507 yards), but as the draft approaches, the Kevin White who proved to be uncoverable in 2014 is the type of player NFL clubs believe they would be getting.

5. CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State

With the fastest combine 40-yard dash among defensive backs (4.31 seconds), Waynes went a long way toward establishing himself as the draft's top cornerback prospect. He plays a physical style downfield, which could draw pass interference flags, but as his NFL.com scouting report notes, he has a "very high floor." NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks said of Waynes: "An ideal press corner in the National Football League. At Michigan State in their system, he is lined up nose to nose on wide receivers, does a great job getting his hands on receivers, redirecting and disrupting their releases and making them work. It is a hard day's work when you deal with Trae Waynes, because he is sound and solid in his coverage."

6. OL Brandon Scherff, Iowa

The only question about the Hawkeyes' massive blocker is whether he'll be a tackle or guard in the NFL. Regardless of which position he plays, he is as ready to make a rookie impact as any offensive lineman in the draft. Scherff's work ethic and athleticism are near-legendary at Iowa. NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock sees Scherff starting at guard as a rookie, and had this to say about his all-around performance at the combine: "He checked off all the boxes he needed to check off."

7. DL Malcom Brown, Texas

Other than Williams, there might not be a defensive lineman in the draft more prepared to play all three downs than Brown. He combines size and strength with an ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage and be disruptive. Those skills will serve him well against both the run and pass. Another factor that makes him a safe pick: he's versatile enough to play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense.

8. LB Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Durability, instincts, production and character are just four of the areas where the former Bruins star excels. He is UCLA's all-time leading tackler with nearly 500 career stops, and his leadership ability is second to none. He called the defenses and made pre-snap adjustments for UCLA from the Mike linebacker position. And there are no questions about his desire, either -- Kendricks has already performed individual workouts for three NFL teams while rehabilitating a mild hamstring injury.

9. WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

Like Kevin White, the only question on Strong at the combine was how well he would run. He answered that emphatically with a 4.44 clocking in the 40-yard dash. He has an exceptional ability to win battles for the ball in traffic, making contested catches with strong hands and a 6-2, 217-pound frame. One NFL scout has compared him to the New Orleans Saints' Marques Colston, and Colston is approaching 10,000 career receiving yards in the NFL.

10. G Laken Tomlinson, Duke

It's hard to find a bad scouting word about Tomlinson, who really turned heads at the Senior Bowl by holding his own against the aforementioned Shelton. He's not considered a high-end first-round draft pick because of the position he plays -- guard simply isn't a premium position. But the senior has every physical tool to play the position and is considered a player of high character, as well. You want durability? He made 52 career starts at Duke. And when football is over, he plans to go to medical school.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...m-dunks-10-safest-prospects-in-2015-nfl-draft
 
J

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Is that really a person's name or stage name or corporation? Chase Goodbread? Really?

If you notice, he has not a single pass rushing nor QB prospect. Does he think they're all busts? Whatever.
 

Green Jets & Ham

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My dozen safest (safest is not necessarily best):

  1. Amari Cooper
  2. Kevin White
  3. Leonard Williams
  4. Danny Shelton
  5. Dante Fowler
  6. Avin Dupree
  7. Devante Parker
  8. Eddie Goldman
  9. Todd Gurley
  10. Melvin Gordon
  11. Tevin Coleman
  12. Jaelen Strong
 

Jet Fan RI

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Glad to see neither of the Heisman QB almost certain busts are on the list. Hope the Jets' thinking is similar.
 

Elias

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Glad to see neither of the Heisman QB almost certain busts are on the list. Hope the Jets' thinking is similar.

Agreed. I prefer we pass on a QB this year. I do think of Winston is there it will be real hard for the team to pass up. Jets have a private workout scheduled for Mariota, hope he doesn't impress
 

Jet Fan RI

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Agreed. I prefer we pass on a QB this year. I do think of Winston is there it will be real hard for the team to pass up. Jets have a private workout scheduled for Mariota, hope he doesn't impress

Well, the article you posted at the top of this thread is suggestive that neither of those QB's should go higher than the 11th pick. Let's hope the Jets' brain trust is similarly disposed.
 

Elias

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Well, the article you posted at the top of this thread is suggestive that neither of those QB's should go higher than the 11th pick. Let's hope the Jets' brain trust is similarly disposed.

I don't think the article suggests they should fall out of the top ten pick. Most top selections in the draft are selected due to their potential. The QBs are probably going to be in the top ten because their ceiling will be high despite them not being complete products as of now. I'm scared of potential though, remember DeWayne Robertson? We traded a bunch of picks for him Bc he had the speed to possibly be the next Warren Sapp. a sure thing is a good thing!
 

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If you notice, he has not a single pass rushing nor QB prospect. Does he think they're all busts? Whatever.
3-4 edge rushers are scary because history tells us they have a pretty high bust rate, partly because the best ones almost always require a transition from 4-3 DE in college. Honestly, I love Fowler and I was a little apprehensive about even putting him on my list. Alvin Dupree made it too because he's one of the rare edge rushers who did play some 3-4 OLB in college, so its not entirely a projection, and also because his size/speed ratio significantly limits his bust potential in my view, even more than Gregory, Ray and Beasley who all carry a higher consensus ranking.

I think he didn't rank the QB's for the same reason, high bust potential for QB's unless they are the super elite QB prospects like an Andrew Luck. Thats also why I put three RB's on my list, its a devalued position, but the best ones have a low bust rate in my view, which makes them safe picks.
 

Jet Fan RI

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I don't think the article suggests they should fall out of the top ten pick. Most top selections in the draft are selected due to their potential. The QBs are probably going to be in the top ten because their ceiling will be high despite them not being complete products as of now. I'm scared of potential though, remember DeWayne Robertson? We traded a bunch of picks for him Bc he had the speed to possibly be the next Warren Sapp. a sure thing is a good thing!

Just as a point of clarification, I didn't mean that the article itself suggested that. But, by the fact that neither QB appears in the 10-best list, that fact alone is suggestive neither one should be taken in the first 10 picks. And if the first 10 teams have a "best player available" strategy and they agree that the 10 players listed are in fact the best players, then neither QB should be selected in the top 10 selections. Of course I am sure they will in fact be chosen. I'm just hoping not by the Jets.
 

Elias

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Just as a point of clarification, I didn't mean that the article itself suggested that. But, by the fact that neither QB appears in the 10-best list, that fact alone is suggestive neither one should be taken in the first 10 picks. And if the first 10 teams have a "best player available" strategy and they agree that the 10 players listed are in fact the best players, then neither QB should be selected in the top 10 selections. Of course I am sure they will in fact be chosen. I'm just hoping not by the Jets.

Agh okay. Thanks for clarifying. I think we are in agreement. I'm on the fence with Winston!
 

Jet Fan RI

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Agh okay. Thanks for clarifying. I think we are in agreement. I'm on the fence with Winston!

Hey, no problem. If you think Winston can be the 3rd man in history to win a Heisman as a QB then win a SB, that's fine. For me though all those Heisman QB busts through the years are a huge source of concern. And of course, being a Heisman QB winner in a NY setting just could be the straw...
 

Elias

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Hey, no problem. If you think Winston can be the 3rd man in history to win a Heisman as a QB then win a SB, that's fine. For me though all those Heisman QB busts through the years are a huge source of concern. And of course, being a Heisman QB winner in a NY setting just could be the straw...

Winston plays in a Pro ready offense and has been successful. He makes all the NFL throws. Not sure what the percentages of heisman winners in the past played in such offense. I'll look it up.
 

Jet Fan RI

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Winston plays in a Pro ready offense and has been successful. He makes all the NFL throws. Not sure what the percentages of heisman winners in the past played in such offense. I'll look it up.

And didn't he have trouble in his bowl game? Reminds me of Vinny. I was living in Orlando when the Bucs chose Vinny, so I am well aware of the hype and expectations that went along with picking him. I realize Vinny almost made a late-career comeback with the Jets, and may have followed in Plunkett's footsteps in winning a late-career SB if he didn't go down in 1999. Unfortunately, close doesn't count in football.
 

Football51

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Just as a point of clarification, I didn't mean that the article itself suggested that. But, by the fact that neither QB appears in the 10-best list, that fact alone is suggestive neither one should be taken in the first 10 picks. And if the first 10 teams have a "best player available" strategy and they agree that the 10 players listed are in fact the best players, then neither QB should be selected in the top 10 selections. Of course I am sure they will in fact be chosen. I'm just hoping not by the Jets.




Isn't it a list of the 10 "safest" prospects, and not the 10 "best" prospects? Unless we're talking about Luck or Peyton Manning, qb's are rarely considered "safe" prospects.
 

Jet Fan RI

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Isn't it a list of the 10 "safest" prospects, and not the 10 "best" prospects? Unless we're talking about Luck or Peyton Manning, qb's are rarely considered "safe" prospects.


That is a subtle point. But you are right. Hope the Jets take a safe pick.
 

Football51

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That is a subtle point. But you are right. Hope the Jets take a safe pick.



It's not just the qb's either. IMO, edge rushers like Fowler, Beasley, and Gregory, are better prospects then most that were listed. It's just that in the eyes of this writer, they're not considered safe. I'd love us to select Beasley(or one of the other olb's) if we stayed at 6.
 

Jet Fan RI

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It's not just the qb's either. IMO, edge rushers like Fowler, Beasley, and Gregory, are better prospects then most that were listed. It's just that in the eyes of this writer, they're not considered safe. I'd love us to select Beasley(or one of the other olb's) if we stayed at 6.

OK. But please not another Vernon Gholston.
 

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I'm not sold on Beasley as he added 29 lbs to his frame just for the Combine. The question with him is can he maintain that 260 lb frame or revert back to a 230 lb OLB as a senior. Gregory also is on the lean size. Picking 6th I would want as close to a sure thing as possible, not another Vernon Gholston. Our need is for an OLB and I believe Fowler will be gone. Or do we go BPA, which could end up being a WR, CB, OL or NT.
 
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