NFL Draft: Who will be the number one pick?
Friday 24 April 2015 11:18, UK
The NFL Draft is coming up fast on April 30, and we are still no closer to working out who is going to be the No 1 NFL pick. Will it be Jameis Winston? Will it be Marcus Mariota? Will it be Leonard Williams?
The biggest question is: Who’s the best player at each position in this year’s draft?
Our US sports blogger Alex Ferguson tries to answer those questions...
Quarterback - Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
This might surprise some bearing in mind how many people are talking up Florida State’s Jameis Winston, but the last time I looked, Marcus Mariota didn’t throw 18 interceptions last season like Winston did. Mariota makes better decisions than Winston. He’s got better mobility in the pocket. Sure, he’s not the ‘bomb thrower’ that Winston is – and that’s probably because he played in a system that was akin to the Philadelphia Eagles at Oregon - but he’s still got fantastic accuracy. Plus, we haven’t seen Mariota in any trouble off the field either, which is not the case for Winston.
Running Back - Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)
It was a close run thing between Gordon and Georgia’s Todd Gurley. Gurley has the highlight-reel talent, with the ability to hurdle defenders or blow past them with his speed and violence on the run. But Gordon has stability, while Gurley lost a ton of time to injuries in 2013 and 2014. He’s been a constant JJ Watt’s alma mater over the last two years, totalling well over 500 rush attempts. His speed and tenacity helped him put up 2,587 yards - the second-most in college football history, as well as 29 TDs in 2014. He’s also got good hands too, catching 3 TDs as a receiver.
Wide Receiver - Amari Cooper (Alabama)
There’s been a lot of love for West Virgnia’s Kevin White recently, particularly after the player had a sparkling NFL Combine. But Amari Cooper has been sensational for Alabama in the last three seasons. He was voted best WR in the county in 2014... a deserved accolade after he pulled in 1,727 yards on 126 receptions and 16 TDs. He’s not overly spectacular, but he’s an incredibly smooth runner. And although he’s been cited as someone who drops the ball too much, he’s still a wonderful combination of home run threat and great possession receiver. He has been compared to Marvin Harrison.
Offensive Lineman – Andrus Peat (Stanford)
At 6 foot 7 and 313 pounds, Peat has been called by NFL pundits “the most game-ready offensive linesman in the draft”, and was certainly a bona fide blocker for Stanford when they won back-to-back Pac-12 Championships. He’s durable and tall, and better than any blocker in the draft. And yes, that includes you, Brandon Scharff of Iowa.
Tight End – Nick O’Leary (Florida State)
Jameis Winston may have been awarded the Heisman in 2013, but Nick O’Leary helped him get there. He caught seven TDs for 557 yards that year to go with 618 yards and 6 TDs in 2014, and was an immense blocker with his 6-foot 3, 225-pound frame. Is he quick? Probably not. Is he a reliable catcher and touchdown threat? Yep. Could well be the next Heath Miller.
Defence
Defensive End/Tackle – Leonard Williams (USC); Arik Armstead (Oregon)
Williams could easily be the No 1 pick in the Draft – that’s how good he is. At 6 foot 5 and 300 pounds, he was almost unstoppable at the collegiate level, where he totalled 21 sacks, 218 tackles, five forced fumbles and even two interceptions. The guy is a supreme athlete, with long arms and quick feet. He’s something special. Any team that’s going to get this two-time All-American is going to be better off for it.
For the defensive tackle position Armstead has been touted as a fantastic run-blocker. He can also get to the quarterback – he had four sacks last year.
Linebacker – Vic Beasley (Clemson)
A lot of people have touted Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr as the best outside linebacker prospect, but I prefer Beasley. He was totally dominant in his career at Clemson, scoring 33 sacks, 90 tackles (52.5 of them for a loss), nine passes defended and seven forced fumbles. Most of those excellent numbers were in the last two years. NFL scouts love this “explosive athlete who’s quick off the snap”, and he’s been moving up experts’ mock drafts lately. About time, guys.
Cornerback – Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
Even if his interception numbers over the last two years - six in total - didn’t turn the heads of the scouts, Waynes’ 4.31 40-yard dash speed at the Combine certainly did. He’s definitely got the speed, if he can keep his hands to himself. The fact that he defended 13 passes in 2013 and 2014, and had 96 tackles (69 solo) shows how good he can be. We still wonder what his numbers might have been in a pass-orientated conference like the Pac-12.
Safety – Landon Collins (Alabama)
Collins is an aggressive bruiser who will go in the first round because of the fact he can play linebacker as well as safety. His 103 total tackles, 3 interceptions and 3 passes defended in 2014 were excellent numbers, although scouts worry that his issues in coverage may be exploited by NFL quarterbacks.
