The 2015 NFL Draft is finally in the rear view mirror. Just like Christmas, it takes so long to get here and then, "poof," it's done. Despite the incredible need to grade every pick seconds after it's made we won't know if any of these picks are great, even good, picks for a few years.
For now. Congratulations to all 256 football players that are now in the National Football League. Best of luck to all of you. Make the most of the opportunity.
Chicago was the host of the 2015 NFL Draft. It was the first time that the draft was held outside New York City since the 1964 draft. Seemed like a fine event with the large presence and presentation outside the theater. Having Commissioner Roger Goodell make a presence outside and inside the theater looked to be an error in judgement. There was a lot of waiting as he made his way from one location to the other. Roger got a workout.
Players drop in the draft every year. I can't recall another draft that included so many top players that dropped during the week leading into the draft. Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory dropped due to his strong desire to smoke pot as well as questions regarding his overall mental state. Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings suddenly had injury issues with a fractured foot that he's apparently had for a while without an issue. Missouri defensive end Shane Ray was cited for pot possession the Monday before the draft. And then there is the ongoing drama of LSU tackle La'el Collins. He had to leave Chicago to be questioned by the police for the tragic murder of a woman and and her unborn son. The police have maintained that Collins is not a suspect but the NFL teams really couldn't touch him until everything cleared. All of these players were expected to be drafted in the first round. The result of these issues:
-Gregory dropped to the Dallas Cowboys with the 28th pick of the second round.
-Clemmings dropped to the Minnesota Vikings with the 11th pick of the fourth round.
-Ray stayed in the first round but dropped to the Denver Broncos with the 23rd pick.
-Collins wasn't drafted at all. He first requested entry in the Supplemental Draft. When that request was denied he threatened to sit out the 2015 season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. He'll be a highly sought after undrafted free agent whenever he's cleared of this very unfortunate situation.
It was great to see former players announce the selections on the second day of the draft. The best of which was the presence of Jim Kelly. His reception was very warm and sustained.
It was sad to hear that Rick Upchurch is fighting leukemia. Hopefully he can beat this disease like he so often beat kick coverage and defenses.
Mel Blount at 67 looks like he could still play the game.
It was great to see Kenny Easley. I can't recall seeing him since his fantastic playing days of about four decades ago. He should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Donald Driver hacked up his opportunity to announce the second round pick of the Green Bay Packers. He announced Quinten Groves when he should have announced Quenten Rollins.
Thanks to their trade last year for Sammy Watkins, the Buffalo Bills had no first round pick this year. The Bills didn't pick until #50. They found Florida St. corner Ronald Darby there.
The Seattle Seahawks also sat out the first night of the draft. That absence was due to their offseason trade for New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. The Seahawks selected Michigan defensive end Frank Clark with the 63rd pick of the draft.
This was supposed to be the draft that brought back running backs. The draft was loaded with them. It didn't work that way. Only two were selected in the first round. Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. Two more were selected in the second round. T.J. Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah. But that total was doubled in the third round to bring the total to a robust eight after three rounds of drafting.
18 of the 32 players selected in the first round were underclassmen.
43 of the 99 players selected in the first three rounds were underclassmen.
84 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft. 60 were drafted.
When the Vikings selected UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks in the second round another brother combination arrived in the league. Mychal Kendricks is a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. The younger Kendricks hoped to be selected before the older Kendricks. Younger won. Eric Kendricks was selected with the 45th pick. Mychal Kendricks was selected with the 46th pick of the 2012 draft.
No Cal players were among the 256 drafted players. Big surprise there as no Cal players were invited to the Scouting Combine and the team has been in a bit of a talent lull. Receiver Chris Harper has the talent to make it in the big leagues. The New England Patriots signed him as an undrafted free agent. Cal might have a highly sought quarterback next year.
The draft broken down by college conference:
SEC (54)
ACC (47)
Pac-12 (39)
Big Ten (35)
Big 12 (25)
AAC (11)
MWC (10)
CUSA (6)
MAC (4)
MVFC (4)
Sun (3)
The draft broken down by position:
Defensive backs (47)
Linebackers (37)
Receivers (34)
Tackles (26)
Defensive ends (23)
Running backs (23)
Tight ends (18)
Defensive tackles (16)
Guards (16)
Quarterbacks (7)
Centers (5)
Nose tackles (2)
Punter (1)
Long snapper (1)
Leave it to the New England Patriots to draft a long snapper. Navy's Joe Cardona in the fifth round. Selecting a long snapper in the fifth round is a bold move.
The Miami Dolphins finished their draft work early. They were done with the their last pick of the fifth round. They did some great work in the fifth.
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St.
Cedric Thompson, S, Minnesota
Tony Lippett, WR/CB, Michigan St.
I like all of those picks. Lippett in particular was a favorite of mine due to his unique positional versatility.
The draft came to a close with the annual announcement of Mr. Irrelevant. The last pick of the draft:
Gerald Christian, TE, Louisville.
256 new NFL players.
The race for undrafted free agents started before the draft was even over.
And, Adrian Peterson is still with the Minnesota Vikings. Looks like nothing but months of nonsense.
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