The first round of the 2015 NFL draft is over, and it was fairly subdued. Now we head into day two, and a few impressive day one prospects remain on the board. The top available players are likely to go quickly on day two, although a few of them may continue slipping due to off-field issues -- the main reason they're even available at this point.
This is what the top of Dan Kadar's 2015 nfl draft rankings look like:
5. Randy Gregory, 6'6, 240 pounds, OLB/DE, Nebraska |
12. La'el Collins, 6'4 5/8, 308 pounds, OT, LSU |
13. Eddie Goldman, 6'4, 320 pounds, DT, Florida State |
17. Dorial Green-Beckham, 6'6, 225 pounds, WR, Oklahoma |
19. Eric Kendricks, 6'0, 230 pounds, ILB, UCLA |
22. T.J. Clemmings, 6'4 5/8, 307 pounds, OT, Pittsburgh |
23. Landon Collins, 6'0, 222 pounds, S, Alabama |
28. Jaelen Strong, 6'3, 212 pounds, WR, Arizona State |
29. Maxx Williams, 6'4, 250 pounds, TE, Minnesota |
30. Paul Dawson, 6'2, 230 pounds, OLB, TCU |
31. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, 6'3 1/2, 266 pounds, DE, UCLA |
32. P.J. Williams, 6'0, 196 pounds, CB, Florida State |
33. Jalen Collins, 6'2, 198 pounds, CB, LSU |
35. Preston Smith, 6'4 3/4, 270 pounds, DE, Mississippi State |
37. Jay Ajayi, 6'0, 216 pounds, RB, Boise State |
38. Jordan Phillips, 6'6, 334 pounds, DT, Oklahoma |
39. Denzel Perryman, 5'10 5/8, 242 pounds, ILB, Miami |
41. Carl Davis, 6'4 5/8, 321 pounds, DT, Iowa |
42. Benardick McKinney, 6'5, 249 pounds, ILB, Mississippi State |
Todd McShay largely agrees with that ranking, though he plugs in Ohio State receiver Devin Smith , Virginia pass rusher Eli Harold and Michigan receiver Devin Funchess.
The two best remaining players are edge rusher Randy Gregory and offensive tackle La'el Collins, both of whom are likely to wait quite a bit longer. Most reporters seem to think Collins may go completely undrafted now that he's being interviewed by police in relation to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, although he's not a suspect. Meanwhile, Gregory's own, mostly marijuana-related, off-field issues make him a risk on his own, much more so than Shane Ray who did manage to get drafted on day one.
The Buccaneers aren't likely to target either player, as Collins looks like a massive risk and Gregory is both a risk, and not really a fit for them -- he's too light to suit up as a 4-3 defensive end, even in Lovie Smith's speed-focused defense. Instead, T.J. Clemmings is a likely pick: the Pittsburgh tackle is widely seen as the best remaining offensive lineman, and he has the nasty streak the Bucs could fall in love with as well as the athletic tools to develop into a quality starter, even though he's inexperienced. Oregon tackle Jake Fisher is the other possible offensive lineman, but his lack of run-blocking prowess may put the team off him.
Other less likely targets include linebacker Eric Kendricks, defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa and safety Eric Rowe. Any of those players would fit the Buccaneers, but their need at offensive line is probably too pressing to genuinely consider them.