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Broaddus: Ranking The Top 50 Prospects In This Year’s NFL Draft Class
Monday, April 27, 2015 1:38 PM CDT
By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout
IRVING, Texas – Having spent four months researching draft prospects, it’s finally down to draft week.
We’ve covered just about every angle possible in trying to determine the Cowboys’ options in the 2015 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night in Chicago. Up until the picks start happening, it’s a tough task to predict what actually happens.
This isn’t about predicting the future, though. Having studied tape of 225 prospects for this draft, this is my projection of this year’s 50 best prospects. That’s not to say they’ll be drafted in that order, but this is how I’m ranking the elite players for 2015 heading into Thursday night.
1. Leonard Williams DT USC See a lot of Gerald McCoy in this player
2. Dante Fowler DE Florida Believe he is a better player than Anthony Barr '14.
3. Todd Gurley RB Georgia One of those backs that never comes off the field.
4. Amari Cooper WR Alabama Smooth and reliable. Makes plays down after down.
5. Trey Waynes CB Michigan State Receivers have a hard time getting away from him.
6. DeVante Parker WR Louisville Has some Dez Bryant to him in the open field.
7. Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest Love his length. Can deny the ball. Stays in position.
8. Kevin White WR West Virginia Size with the ability to adjust. Tough in the air.
9. Brandon Scherff OG Iowa Much better run blocker than pass. See him at guard.
10. Bud Dupree DE Kentucky Is a fit in a 4-3 or 3-4. Would play as a left end here.
11. Jameis Winston QB Florida State No questions about his leadership and physical traits.
12. Byron Jones CB Connecticut Can really cover some ground in coverage. Physical.
13. Marcus Mariota QB Oregon Accurate but lacks arm to make all the throws.
14. Marcus Peters CB Washington Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Outstanding in man.
15. Vic Beasley DE Clemson Might be better suited as a 3-4 OLB. Can really rush.
16. T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh Athletic enough to play either side. Works hard to finish.
17. La'el Collins OT LSU Is not the prettiest blocker but effective. Might be a guard?
18. Danny Shelton DT Washington Is a load to handle inside. Strong. Active down line.
19. Tevin Coleman RB Indiana One of the most complete backs in the draft.
20. Carl Davis DT Iowa Played as both a nose and under-tackle in Iowa's scheme.
21. Shane Ray DE Missouri Explosive first step quickness. Can capture the edge.
22. Duke Johnson RB Miami Great scheme fit. Does a great job of avoiding tacklers.
23. Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin Can run himself out of tight spots. Breaks tackles.
24. Erick Flowers OT Miami Mauler-Brawler. Works hard to finish blocks. Right tackle.
25. Dorial Green-Beckham WR Oklahoma Smooth athlete that plays effortlessly. Big time size.
26. Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA Is a sideline-to-sideline player in every sense of the word.
27. P.J. Williams CB Florida State Has the length and the movement skills to shut down receivers.
28. Bernardrick McKinney ILB Mississippi State Thumper as a MIKE. Could put his hand down a rush on 3rd down
29. Randy Gregory DE Nebraska Talented but off field questions now hang over head.
30. D.J. Humphries OT Florida Big man that is very light on his feet. Good in space.
31. Malcom Brown DT Texas Have seen him be a dominating player but also get dominated.
32. Shaq Thompson OLB Washington Can really run. Outstanding at creating turnovers. Can cover.
33. Jalen Collins CB LSU Can play on either side of the field and the slot as well.
34. Nelson Agholor WR USC Smooth route runner. Catches the ball well in his hands.
35. Maxx Williams TE Minnesota Plays all over the formation. Mismatch player. Hard to cover.
36. Phillip Dorsett WR Miami Can really fly - plays to his timed speed in the 40.
37. Cedric Ogbuehi OT Texas A&M Size and feet. Lacks some power now but has a chance to be great.
38. Cameron Erving C Florida State Best Center in the Draft. Could play Tackle as well. Smart.
39. Andus Peat OT Stanford Gets away from the line well in pass protection.
40. Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida Nice when he can run inside routes. Can adjust down field.
41. Damarious Randall S Arizona State Cowboys sent a coach to work him out - a true free safety here.
42. Jalen Strong WR Arizona State Not afraid to give up body to make a play. Great in the air.
43. Ronald Darby CB Florida State Has the speed and quickness to run with anyone. Physical at line.
44. Eddie Goldman DT Florida State Does a really nice job at holding the point of attack. Can push.
45. A.J. Cann OG South Carolina Powerful man that can get some push. Hard to move him.
46. Landon Collins S Alabama I would consider him as strong safety only. Could be an OLB?
47. Clive Walford TE Miami Position blocker and good at it. Can make plays down the field.
48. Eli Harold DE Virginia Is bigger in person than he looks on tape. Sharpens the edge.
49. Jay Ajayi RB Boise State Can run the ball inside or out. Needs to become a better blocker.
50. Davin Smith WR Ohio State Explosive down the field player. Makes big plays.
Monday, April 27, 2015 1:38 PM CDT
By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout
IRVING, Texas – Having spent four months researching draft prospects, it’s finally down to draft week.
We’ve covered just about every angle possible in trying to determine the Cowboys’ options in the 2015 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night in Chicago. Up until the picks start happening, it’s a tough task to predict what actually happens.
This isn’t about predicting the future, though. Having studied tape of 225 prospects for this draft, this is my projection of this year’s 50 best prospects. That’s not to say they’ll be drafted in that order, but this is how I’m ranking the elite players for 2015 heading into Thursday night.
1. Leonard Williams DT USC See a lot of Gerald McCoy in this player
2. Dante Fowler DE Florida Believe he is a better player than Anthony Barr '14.
3. Todd Gurley RB Georgia One of those backs that never comes off the field.
4. Amari Cooper WR Alabama Smooth and reliable. Makes plays down after down.
5. Trey Waynes CB Michigan State Receivers have a hard time getting away from him.
6. DeVante Parker WR Louisville Has some Dez Bryant to him in the open field.
7. Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest Love his length. Can deny the ball. Stays in position.
8. Kevin White WR West Virginia Size with the ability to adjust. Tough in the air.
9. Brandon Scherff OG Iowa Much better run blocker than pass. See him at guard.
10. Bud Dupree DE Kentucky Is a fit in a 4-3 or 3-4. Would play as a left end here.
11. Jameis Winston QB Florida State No questions about his leadership and physical traits.
12. Byron Jones CB Connecticut Can really cover some ground in coverage. Physical.
13. Marcus Mariota QB Oregon Accurate but lacks arm to make all the throws.
14. Marcus Peters CB Washington Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Outstanding in man.
15. Vic Beasley DE Clemson Might be better suited as a 3-4 OLB. Can really rush.
16. T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh Athletic enough to play either side. Works hard to finish.
17. La'el Collins OT LSU Is not the prettiest blocker but effective. Might be a guard?
18. Danny Shelton DT Washington Is a load to handle inside. Strong. Active down line.
19. Tevin Coleman RB Indiana One of the most complete backs in the draft.
20. Carl Davis DT Iowa Played as both a nose and under-tackle in Iowa's scheme.
21. Shane Ray DE Missouri Explosive first step quickness. Can capture the edge.
22. Duke Johnson RB Miami Great scheme fit. Does a great job of avoiding tacklers.
23. Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin Can run himself out of tight spots. Breaks tackles.
24. Erick Flowers OT Miami Mauler-Brawler. Works hard to finish blocks. Right tackle.
25. Dorial Green-Beckham WR Oklahoma Smooth athlete that plays effortlessly. Big time size.
26. Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA Is a sideline-to-sideline player in every sense of the word.
27. P.J. Williams CB Florida State Has the length and the movement skills to shut down receivers.
28. Bernardrick McKinney ILB Mississippi State Thumper as a MIKE. Could put his hand down a rush on 3rd down
29. Randy Gregory DE Nebraska Talented but off field questions now hang over head.
30. D.J. Humphries OT Florida Big man that is very light on his feet. Good in space.
31. Malcom Brown DT Texas Have seen him be a dominating player but also get dominated.
32. Shaq Thompson OLB Washington Can really run. Outstanding at creating turnovers. Can cover.
33. Jalen Collins CB LSU Can play on either side of the field and the slot as well.
34. Nelson Agholor WR USC Smooth route runner. Catches the ball well in his hands.
35. Maxx Williams TE Minnesota Plays all over the formation. Mismatch player. Hard to cover.
36. Phillip Dorsett WR Miami Can really fly - plays to his timed speed in the 40.
37. Cedric Ogbuehi OT Texas A&M Size and feet. Lacks some power now but has a chance to be great.
38. Cameron Erving C Florida State Best Center in the Draft. Could play Tackle as well. Smart.
39. Andus Peat OT Stanford Gets away from the line well in pass protection.
40. Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida Nice when he can run inside routes. Can adjust down field.
41. Damarious Randall S Arizona State Cowboys sent a coach to work him out - a true free safety here.
42. Jalen Strong WR Arizona State Not afraid to give up body to make a play. Great in the air.
43. Ronald Darby CB Florida State Has the speed and quickness to run with anyone. Physical at line.
44. Eddie Goldman DT Florida State Does a really nice job at holding the point of attack. Can push.
45. A.J. Cann OG South Carolina Powerful man that can get some push. Hard to move him.
46. Landon Collins S Alabama I would consider him as strong safety only. Could be an OLB?
47. Clive Walford TE Miami Position blocker and good at it. Can make plays down the field.
48. Eli Harold DE Virginia Is bigger in person than he looks on tape. Sharpens the edge.
49. Jay Ajayi RB Boise State Can run the ball inside or out. Needs to become a better blocker.
50. Davin Smith WR Ohio State Explosive down the field player. Makes big plays.
right off the bat.
