All NFL teams expect significant and immediate contributions from the players that they select at the top of the draft. They hope for early contributions from the players that they select on the second and third days of the draft. Some are projects. Some dropped in the draft due to injuries. Some just slipped for reasons unknown or undisclosed. Here's a look at a player from each team that wasn't selected on the first night of the 2015 NFL Draft but could contribute as early as this season.
Minnesota Vikings
MyCole Pruitt, TE, Southern Illinois
-I didn't really know anything about Pruitt before the draft simply because I didn't expect the Vikings to pick a tight end in the draft. I like what I've heard and read. Comparisons to Charles Clay are great to hear. Pruitt will probably line up all over the place for the Vikings. Out wide, in the slot, in the backfield, on the line. He'll be a different sort of tight end from what they had on the roster. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner will have fun finding new and interesting ways to use his new weapon.
Green Bay Packers
Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan
-The Packers needed some help at linebacker and Ryan was one of the better "under-the-radar" linebackers in the draft. He's played inside and outside and is always prepared.
Chicago Bears
Adrian Amos, S, Penn St.
-He was cruising up draft boards as the draft approached at such a pace that I though he'd be selected well before the fifth round. Athletic and versatile, I could easily see him as a game one starter.
Detroit Lions
Gabe Wright, DT, Auburn
-One would expect that defensive tackle would be a weakness after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency. Trading for Haloti Ngata and drafting Wright should keep the position a strength. And a much more sane strength.
New York Giants
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
-The Giants found a defensive end that some thought could go in the first round in the third round. That's always a nice surprise. The Giants won a couple Super Bowls with a relentless pass rush. Odighizuwa should go a long ways in getting the pass rush back to that level.
Philadelphia Eagles
JaCorey Shepherd, CB, Kansas
I was alerted to Shepherd by NFL analyst Greg Cosell as one of his favorite "under-the-radar" corners. Shepherd could be a keeper that came out of the sixth-round.
Washington Redskins
Arie Kouandjio, G, Auburn
The Redskins interior offensive line should get better with Kouandjio as a part of it.
Dallas Cowboys
Damien Wilson, LB, Minnesota
-The Cowboys draft talk after the draft centered on the lack of running backs. I always find it sad when people bellyache about what a team didn't add and ignore the players that they did add. Wilson provides nice depth, perhaps even starts, at a position of need for the Cowboys.
New Orleans Saints
Davis Tull, LB, Tennessee-Chattanooga
-The Saints needed linebackers and Tull could be a very good one.
Carolina Panthers
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn
-The Panthers have had a running back committee for so long it's tough to remember a time in which they had a primary ball carrier. They lost DeAngelo Williams in free agency. Artis-Payne should pair nicely with Jonathan Stewart to continue the running committee tradition in Carolina.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU
Alexander looks like he could be a lot like Buccaneers current all-everything linebacker Lavonte David. The Buccaneers defense would be a nightmare with two linebackers like that.
Atlanta Falcons
Grady Jarrett, NT, Clemson
-It was a real surprise to see Jarrett still available in the fifth-round. The Falcons got a steal and Jarrett could start early.
San Francisco 49ers
DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech
-When Smelter completely recovers from a December torn ACL he could become a terrific receiver for the 49ers.
St. Louis Rams
Cody Wichman, G, Fresno St.
-The Rams had holes across their offensive line. Their selection of four offensive linemen in the draft is proof of that. Wichman could start early.
Arizona Cardinals
David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
-The Cardinals were fortunate to find Johnson still on the board in the third. He was one of the most complete backs in the draft. Big and versatile, Johnson's contributions should be immediate.
Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas St.
-Lockett should be an immediate contributor on offense and on returns. He's the versatile, explosive football player that the Seahawks thought they had with Percy Harvin.
Baltimore Ravens
Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech
-I'd sure like to have someone explain to me how triple option Georgia Tech produces so many receivers. Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas are two of the best receivers in the league. Stephen Hill was highly drafted. This year they sent DeAndre Smelter and Waller to the NFL. Waller is huge. 6'6" 238 lbs. Fast. 4.46 40-yds. You can't coach that sort of size and speed. Waller has a chance.
Cleveland Browns
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
-Ekpre-Olomu has to recover from a serious knee injury before he can do anything. If he recovers, the Browns found the biggest steal of the draft in the seventh round. He's small but a healthy Ekpre-Olomu might have been selected in the first round. Certainly the second.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami
-The Steelers defense has a lot of holes. Six of their eight draft picks were on that side of the ball. Chickillo can get to the passer. The Steelers like that.
Cincinnati Bengals
Marcus Hardison, DE, Arizona St.
-The Bengals didn't get to the quarterback much last year. Hardison has the talent to change that.
New England Patriots
Darryl Roberts, CB, Marshall
-The Patriots lost their starting cornerbacks this offseason. Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Then they cut Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington loose after the draft. Could the Patriots start undrafted Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler and seventh-round pick Roberts this year?
New York Jets
Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
-If there's a starting rookie quarterback this year not named Winston or Mariota, he's probably named Petty.
Buffalo Bills
Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas
-He might have come from a small school but I was stunned that Lewis wasn't drafted until the seventh round. He showed that he could play with the big boys at the Senior Bowl. He's 6'4" and can play.
Miami Dolphins
Tony Lippett, CB/WR, Michigan St.
-Lippett was one of my favorite players in the draft. You have to like any player that is talented enough to legitimately play corner and receiver in the NFL. The Dolphins could use help at both positions.
Indianapolis Colts
Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi St.
-Robinson should give Frank Gore some breathers. Defenses will hate getting bludgeoned by Robinson after being slashed by Gore. The Colts have a nice running combination behind Andrew Luck.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio St.
-The greatest mystery of the 2015 NFL Draft was continued availability in the sixth round. He was too good to be drafted that late and he'll be too good to keep off of the field in Jacksonville.
Tennessee Titans
David Cobb, RB, Minnesota
-Cobb could be a starter in Tennessee. Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey are there so he has some decent competition for the job. If nothing else, he'll get a share of the carries.
Houston Texans
Christian Covington, DT, Rice
-If Covington doesn't start opposite J.J. Watt he should make a nice contribution in the line rotation.
Denver Broncos
Darius Kilgo, NT, Maryland
-Kilgo has a chance to play early. The Broncos lost Terrance Knighton in free agency so the opportunity is there.
Kansas City Chiefs
Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon St.
-If Nelson was a couple of inches taller he might have been a first-round pick. The Chiefs found him in the third. With first-round pick Marcus Peters and Nelson the Chiefs got better and younger at corner.
San Diego Chargers
Kyle Emanuel, LB, North Dakota St.
-Another one of my favorite players in this draft. He should help the Chargers pass rush. His motor does not stop.
Oakland Raiders
Neiron Ball, LB, Florida
-Ball should pair nicely opposite Khalil Mack at linebacker. The two could form one of the top outside linebacker combos in the league.
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