The Great Debates of the 2015 NFL Draft
By: Jordan Katz
My favorite part of the draft process is the debates that lead up to draft day. They may be a debate between two players, and which one a team should draft. They may be a debate whether to trade down, trade up, or stay put, or sometimes they are as simple as who is the next best player in a crowd of mediocrity. So in this article, I’ll shed some light on what I feel are some of the bigger “debates,” that surround the first two rounds of the draft.
1) The Case: Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota?
The Facts: This is obviously the biggest debate out there. Does a team chance Winston’s talent, despite his character issues? Does a team draft a system quarterback with off the radar intangibles? Which does a team (maybe Tampa Bay) take first, or does a team pass on them all together?
Personally, I think this debate is actually not as close as people make it out to be. Yes, I’m a believer that Marcus Mariota can succeed, despite the lack of an inventory of throws that come with a system quarterback. His accuracy and decision-making are proof that he can succeed at the next level. However, Jameis Winston is the better prospect. Let’s neglect the off the field issues for a second. Winston is better in the pocket, his arm is bigger, he can make every throw in the book, and he has the same intangibles that Mariota possesses. In fact, you could argue that between the lines of the gridiron, Winston is a better leader, having shown more poise under duress and better ability to play through adversity. Winston’s character flaws may prove to be too much for him to overcome, but in terms of a talent level, there’s not a lot of debate here.
The Verdict: Jameis Winston
2) The Case: What Should the Tennessee Titans Do with the Second Overall Pick?
The Facts: It doesn’t seem like Ken Whisenhunt is quick to move away from the quarterbacks he has, at least right now. That’s why many are not mocking one of the top two quarterbacks to the Titans. However, is that the right move? Should the Titans pass on the quarterback that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t take?
If I were in charge of the Titans draft, and I watched the Buccaneers take Jameis Winston first overall (because if they don’t, I’m drafting Winston), I would tempt the Jets and the Eagles to move up for Marcus Mariota. The Eagles connection is obvious, and if I could somehow swing Nick Foles and a second or third round pick for the number two selection, I’d take it and run. However, I doubt that Chip Kelly is doing nothing more than blowing smoke in this regard, and that he isn’t very serious on moving up for his former quarterback.
The Jets are much more likely to move up. If the Jets have the offseason they expect to have, based on the immense amount of cap room John Idzik left them, they could find themselves heading into draft day with only one glaring need, a franchise quarterback. While the Titans may not believe Mariota is that guy, the Jets may believe he is (and my gut tells me they do).
If no team bites, then I would draft Leonard Williams. Simply put, Williams is a “can’t miss,” prospect, and the Titans just need talent. Yes, this is a quarterback driven league, but since there are doubts about Marcus Mariota, I wouldn’t chance it. Rebuilding in the NFL is a marathon, not a sprint.
The Verdict: Trade Down, or Draft Leonard Williams
3) The Case: Amari Cooper or Kevin White?
The Facts: This debate may not be on a lot of people’s radar, but I think it’s a lot closer than people think. Cooper is a route running technician, he’s quick in and out of his cuts, he has great hands, and despite his size, he’s still a red zone threat.
However, Kevin White does things that Cooper doesn’t. White is a great jump ball receiver. He high points a throw very well, and can stretch the defense down the field with his speed. While Cooper is fast, he’s not a premier deep threat, nor is he a jump ball receiver. What makes this debate interesting is that White is also a very accomplished route runner for the collegiate level.
Personally, I graded Cooper just slightly better than White from watching them on tape. However, and this is a rarity for me, I think the combine will settle this debate. If both run good 40 times, Cooper will retain his slight edge. If White runs an explosive 40-yard dash, he may become the top wide receiver in the class, because he is better suited for the pro game, in my opinion.
The Verdict: Amari Cooper (for now)
4) The Case: Who’s the Next Best Quarterback after Winston and Mariota?
The Facts: I’ll go with Brett Hundley, with Garrett Grayson close behind. I don’t believe that any of these quarterbacks will wind up translating to the pros besides the top two, but I think Hundley has the best chance.
Hundley is tough to bring down, and when you compile that with his ability to scramble, he could change games with his legs. He has a good arm and shows the ability to step into his throws, when the pocket is protected well.
The problem is Hundley isn’t particularly accurate, and when he senses the slightest bit of pressure, he gets happy feet and is quick to run, rather than sliding in the pocket and buying himself time. He also has a tendency to fumble when he takes off, which is not a quality you want in a quarterback.
Despite the mixed bag, Hundley is so much further along than almost all of the “other,” quarterbacks in this draft, that he’s the clear-cut choice for being the third quarterback off the board.
The Verdict: Brett Hundley
5) The Case: When will the First Running Back be drafted, and who will it be?
The Facts: Running backs have become devalued in the NFL, which means they have become devalued in the draft process as well. The interesting thing about this draft is that the running back class is loaded. On my personal board of prospects I have four running backs in my top 35 players for this upcoming draft. There’s a big debate as to who the first running back should be, and where he should go, but, to me, there’s no debate. The first running back off the board should be Todd Gurley.
Gurley tore his ACL, which could steer teams away from him. However, there’s no doubt he’s the best running back in this class, in my opinion. He’s runs downhill and has lightning quick cutback ability. He has great vision and if you’ve seen any film on him or watched a Georgia game in the past few years, you know he’s an athlete.
Yes, Melvin Gordon was incredible at Wisconsin. However, Gordon played behind a better offensive line and in a weaker conference. Gurley put up massive production in the SEC, and I believe that he’s a more physical runner than Gordon, making him much better suited for the professional game. I still don’t see a team taking a running back in round one, but when the time comes, the name that should be called is Todd Gurley.
The Verdict: Todd Gurley, Round Two
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