The 2015 NFL Draft produced many players who were considered expendable by their teams long before the 2020 season. It is the classic example of how much of a guessing game the draft process can be. This first round will go down as forgettable as opposed to memorable.
32. Patriots: Malcom Brown
Malcom Brown was drafted out of Texas. The defensive lineman spent four seasons with the Patriots before having his fifth year option declined. He wound up in New Orleans. Brown had 8.5 sacks as a Patriot and added two with the Saints. Can’t take away the two Super Bowl rings he has. Grade: C
31. Saints: Stephone Anthony
Stephone Anthony came to the Saints from Clemson. He’s bounced around in his time in the NFL. He is with New Orleans for the second time, was traded to Miami in 2017 and was also cut by the Falcons and Jets before returning to New Orleans last season. Grade: D
30. Packers: Damarious Randall
The Packers aimed for a solid DB when they took Damarious Randall from Arizona State. The good news was 10 intereceptions over three seasons. The bad was he only played 30 games. Randall was dealt to Cleveland for DeShone Kizer and a swap of both fourth and fifth-round draft picks in 2018. Grade: C-minus
29. Colts: Phillip Dorsett
The wide receiver with great speed from Miami was hoped to be a deep threat for the Indianapolis Colts. Seven starts and 26 games played over three seasons doesn’t equate to much. Dorsett had 51 receptions for the Colts before being sent to New England for Jacoby Brissett. Dorsett remains a Patriot, however, despite having Tom Brady at QB, he only has 73 catches in three seasons. Grade; C-minus
28: Lions: Laken Tomlinson
Laken Tomlinson played two seasons with Detroit before landing in San Francisco. He has started every game he has played as a 49er. The Niners declined his fifth-year option but then gave him a three-year contract worth $18 million. Grade: C-plus
27: Cowboys: Byron Jones
Byron Jones became a phenom at the Combine with his athletic performance. He’s been a staple in the Dallas secondary and made his first Pro Bowl in 2019. There has been much speculation that Dallas and Jones will part company via his impending free agency. Grade: B-plus
26. Ravens: Breshad Perriman
Breshad Perriman was injury-riddled after being chosen by Baltimore. He also played for Cleveland before finding a home with Tampa Bay in 2019. Perriman averaged almost 18 yards per catch on his 36 grabs. Grade: D
25. Panthers: Shaq Thompson
The Panthers got a solid LB out of Washington in Shaq Thompson. He has made 61 starts and has 9.5 sacks. Thompson has been in on nearly 356 tackles. Grade: B-plus
24. Cardinals: D.J. Humphries
D.J. Humphries came to Arizona from Florida. He finally found a groove and was been on the field with the offense for all plays in 2019. Arizona likes what it has as it gave the tackle a three-year, $45 million contract extension in February. Grade: B
23. Broncos: Shane Ray
Shane Ray spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He made 15 starts while playing in 49 games. Ray had 14 sacks. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens before the 2019 season but was cut in August. Grade: D
22. Steelers: Bud Dupree
The Steelers’ Bud Dupree has started 55 of this 70 g games as a Steeler. The LB from Kentucky came into 2019 with 20 sacks and had a career year, adding 11.5 to his total. Grade: B
21. Bengals: Cedric Ogbuehi
Cedric Ogbuehi made 25 starts in four seasons as a Bengal. He currently is with the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not start a game with the Jaguars while appearing in 14. Grade: D
20. Eagles: Nelson Agholor
The Eagles drafted Nelson Agholor out of USC. He has 18 touchdowns on 224 receptions in five seasons. Agholor has a Super Bowl ring, too. However, he has been inconsistent and is not approaching the play the Eagles hoped for when they drafted him. Grade: C-minus
19. Browns: Cameron Erving
Another Browns pick who did not stick long in Cleveland. Cameron Erving was selected out of Florida State and played two seasons in Cleveland. He’s been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2017 and has made 21 starts. He has a Super Bowl ring. That’s not going to boost his grade. Grade: C
18. Chiefs: Marcus Peters
Marcus Peters was drafted by Kansas City, moved to the Rams and is now with the Baltimore Ravens after being dealt in 2019. Peters has 27 career picks and led the league with a pair of Pick-Sixes as a rookie. One of the better DBs in the league and isn’t shy to let you know it. Grade: A-minus
17. 49ers: Arik Armstead
Arik Armstead has made 43 starts for the San Francisco 49ers. The former Oregon defensive lineman had a big year in 2019. He recorded 54 tackles (32 solo) and a team-leading 10 sacks. He also ranked second on the 49ers regarding tackles for loss. Grade: B-plus
16. Texans: Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson made only 18 starts while playing 35 games for Houston. He currently is a Buffalo Bill and made one start in 2019. He has one interception in his career and that came with Houston. Grade: D-plus
15. Chargers: Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon came to the Chargers from Wisconsin. He is a two-way threat, carrying the ball or catching passes out of the backfield. Gordon held out for training camp and the early part of the 2019 season and that had a huge impact on his production. With the Bolts locking up Austin Ekeler for four seasons, one has to think Gordon could be looking for a new home via free agency. The 2019 season drops his grade a bit. Still, he has quite a productive career. Grade: B
14. Dolphins: DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker came to the Dolphins from Louisville. He has 235 catches and 18 TDs for Miami. On Dec. 13, 2019, Parker signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension with the Dolphins. Overall in the 2019 season, Parker had his best season, catching 72 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns, which are all career-highs.
13. Saints: Andrus Peat
Andrus Peat has been one of the key protectors for Drew Brees in New Orleans. He has played in 65 games and has started 60 of them. He’s a big-time free agent in the upcoming class. Will New Orleans open up the checkbook or is Peat going to become a key for another team. Grade: B
12. Browns: Danny Shelton
Danny Shelton had 1.5 sacks in three seasons in Cleveland. He had 61 tackles, three sacks, two tackles for loss, six QB hits, one forced fumble in 16 games with New England in 2019. He’s heading into free agency. Will Bill Belichick keep his space-eater or will agent Drew Rosenhaus take Shelton to his third NFL team? Grade: C-plus
11. Vikings: Trae Waynes
Trae Waynes heads into free agency and Minnesota has a big decision to make about one of the keys in its secondary. Waynes was solid last season for the Vikings in man coverage situations, allowing just 71 yards receiving on 134 man coverage snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire believes the Texans should target Waynes. Grade: B
10. Rams: Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley was a great selection for the Rams. He led the NFL in rushing TDs twice and has 58 overall. Gurley has three 1,000-yard seasons. However, he’s been battling knee and hip injuries and his production has diminished and many questions surround his future. The Rams used Gurley more at the end of 2019. He’s locked up long-term. Grade: A-minus
9. Giants: Ereck Flowers
Ereck Flowers was a flop with the New York Giants. He took a beating on the field and in the media. He’s currently playing offensive line for Washington and found his legs in 2019. Still, there is a long way to go after the awful run with Big Blue. Grade; D-plus
8. Falcons: Vic Beasley
Vic Beasley’s best season was 2016 when he led the NFL in sacks with 15.5. Over the past two-plus seasons, the former Clemson star has 13 sacks, less than he had in his second season alone. Everything points to him heading elsewhere as free agency approaches. Beasley can produce sacks if a team needs an edge rusher. However, he has missed 32 tackles in the past three seasons and his run defense is non-existent. Grade: C
7. Bears: Kevin White
Kevin White was often injured and did not succeed with the Chicago Bears or in a short stop in Arizona. Nineteen of his 25 NFL catches came in his rookie season. Grade; F
6. Jets: Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams became the trivia answer to who was the first player to be traded between the Jets and Giants. He didn’t live up to expectations for Gang Green and now Big Blue is faced with the challenge of signing the free agent. This gets tricky for the Giants because they gave up a pick for Williams and it is questionable whether he merits a big deal. Grade: C
5. Redskins: Brandon Scherff
Brandon Scherff has been a mainstay of the Washington offensive line since being selected out of Iowa. He has started all 65 games in which he has played in his NFL career. Washington has said it hopes to bring Scherff and Ereck Flowers back in 2020. Washington has two of the top 10 picks in this draft on its O-line. Grade: B
4. Raiders: Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper played three-plus seasons in Oakland before being shipped to Dallas for a first-round pick. He’s done well in Dallas and figures to be in the Cowboys’ future despite impending free agency. Exempting a rough go in 2017 with Oakland, Cooper has been a star. Grade: A-minus
3. Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr.
Dante Fowler Jr. was drafted by the Jaguars and had 14 sacks in two-plus years before being dealt to the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are keeping him in their plans after he had 11.5 sacks in 2019. They have to believe their is more upside. Grade: B-minus
2. Titans: Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota was injured often and played his way to a seat on the bench behind Ryan Tannehill. The Titans lit up under the former Texas A&M star and that seals Mariota as having a future elsewhere. He’s not a franchise QB and needs to find a better place to continue his career. Grade: C-minus.
1. Bucs: Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston has not produced what the Bucs wanted out of a No. 1 overall pick. His 30-30 season in 2019 is the perfect example of how erratic the former Florida State star is. Heading into free agency, it is hard to believe any team will see him as a franchise quarterback. Bruce Arians and Tampa Bay would do well to let another team try and fix Winston. Grade: C-minus
