Read Pete D. Camarillo and Kenneth Berry’s mock draft HERE
With so controversy in this year’s draft, it’s hard to sift through what’s fact or fiction. Here’s what we do know:
1. These rookies have some serious baggage.
If it’s not former LSU Tiger offensive tackle La’el Collins being questioned by police for the murder of his ex-girlfriend who gave birth to a child that might be his it’s players like former LSU corner Jalen Collins, and defensive ends such as former Nebraska Cornhusker Randy Gregory, and former Missouri Tiger Shane Ray all admitting to failing multiple drug tests in college, at the combine and in Ray’s case, when he received a marijuana citation on Monday. All these transgressions will make these players slip because despite their talent, you can’t play football from a courtroom or a jail cell. Just ask former 2006 sixth overall pick and Nebraska running back and Lawrence Phillips, who recently is believed to have murdered his cellmate. These guys are highly sought after prospects who are proving to be incredibly suspect at the moment.Collins might be the only one who can redeem his draft stock because the police said that he is not a suspect in the murder of his ex-girlfriend, even though Louisiana authorities said Collins nor his lawyers have talked to the police yet. All three of these players reputations are dropping faster than P.F Chang’s TV dinner sales and Iggy Azalea’s rap career (if you can call it that).
2. Life is great if you’re a fringe pick
Players with no red flags like former Baylor Bear quarterback Bryce Petty, former University of Southern California Trojan wide receiver Nelson Agholor, University of Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, Mississippi St. Bulldog defensive lineman Preston Smith, Virginia Cavalier Eli Harold, Clemson Tiger linebacker Stephone Anthony, UCLA defensive end Owamaghe Odighizzuma and former teammate and bruin linebacker Eric Kendricks who is the brother of current Philadelphia linebacker Mychal Kendricks are squeaky clean, high character players with low risk and high reward who will be rise in the draft due to the transgressions of more highly touted players. It just goes to show you that it pays to do things the right way, especially in today’s NFL.
3. Trades are a definite reality every draft, and it’s usually because of a quarterback.
With talk of the Cleveland Browns trying to trade their first round picks to get either Florida State Seminole Jameis Winston or Heisman-winning Oregon Duck quarterback Marcus Mariota, the first round of the 2015 NFL draft will be beautiful chaos, just as long as you’re favorite team doesn’t pull a boneheaded move and reach for a player. Other teams like the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets are willing to trade down for more value than cashing their stock in just one player. It’s anyone’s ball game in this draft and you can always count on a controversial pick to be drafted really early or a great player to fall, both for a litany of reasons so sit back, relax, and beg the football gods for clarity for the sake of your team because football is life. Football is forever.
