Worst Pick For Every Team In The 2015 NFL Draft
In our previous article, Football Nation MVPS Dave Holcomb and Brendan Cassidy examined the best picks for every team in the NFL draft. In this segment we will look at each team’s worst pick of the 2015 draft. Keep in mind this isn’t necessarily the worst player in a draft class, but worst in terms of value as to where the player was selected and team’s needs.
NFC EAST:
Dallas Cowboys: Chaz Green, Round 3, Pick 27 (91st Overall) OT
Green isn’t necessarily a bad prospect; however, with one of the best offensive lines in recent memory, we would have rather seen them address other positions. Besides Dez Bryant (Terrance Williams is coming off a horrible season) there isn’t much at the wide receiver position and they have a glaring hole at running back. With the draft so deep at both positions there were still several good prospects available that would have helped out more than a lineman that will most likely be a reserve for the next few years.
Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff Round 1, Pick 5 (5th Overall) OT/OG
Before Redskins fans crucify us, we believe Scherff will be a very good player in this league for a long time. However, to spend the fifth overall pick on a player that projects to most likely be a guard at the next level seems like a reach. Especially when you take into consideration that the best overall prospect in this draft was still available in Leonard Williams and he filled a huge need for the Redskins. Like we said, we think Scherff will be a very good player in this league but this was a big head scratcher for us.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Hicks Round 3, Pick 20 (84th Overall) OLB
Hicks seemed to be very underwhelming on game tape and a bit of a reach in the third. Add in durability issues (had season ending injuries in 2012 and 2013 missing 19 games totoal,) and you have a prospect that could very well be out of the league in the next few years.
New York Giants: Mykkele Thompson Round 5, Pick 8 (144th Overall) FS
The Giants had an excellent draft; however if there was one weak spot it was reaching for Thompson in the fifth round. While this filled a huge need, the general consensus before the draft was he could have been had as an undrafted free agent. However, Jerry Reese and company must have seen something they liked. Regardless this was too much of a reach to justify taking.
NFC NORTH:
Minnesota Vikings: MyCole Pruitt Round 5, Pick 7 (143rd Overall) TE
The Vikings had one of, if not the best draft this year. However, every class has a weak link. Pruitt looked very underwhelming on tape and he looks to be nothing more than a practice squad or third string tight end at the next level. The Vikings could have done better with this selection.
Chicago Bears: Jeremy Langford Round 4 Pick 7, (106th Overall) RB
It’s no secret that Matt Forte is getting up there in age and the Bears need to eventually find his heir apparent. However, if they were looking for a replacement we would have rather them had looked at some of the higher rated running backs still on the board. Jay Ajayi, Karlos Williams, and David Cobb are all players more talented than Langford in our opinion.
Green Bay Packers: Ty Montgomery Round 3, Pick 30 (94th Overall) WR
With two star wide receivers locked up long term in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb and an up and coming receiver in Devante Adams, this pick doesn’t make a ton of sense. We would have rather had the Packers look to address the outside linebacker position in the third than reach for Montgomery.
Detroit Lions: Laken Tomlinson Round 1, Pick 28 (28th Overall) OG
This is a hard for us, because there are few prospects in this draft more likeable than Tomlinson. While he is easy to root for, he projects to be a solid guard in the NFL but tough to justify spending a first rounder on him. Would have rather seen the Lions address the defensive tackle position, especially with Malcom Brown and Eddie Goldman still on the board when they picked and long Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in the offseason.
NFC SOUTH:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston Round 1, Pick 1 (1st Overall) QB
How can the top overall pick in this year’s draft be a team’s worst pick? Well it’s simple when you are drafting the top prospect in this year’s class you shouldn’t have any question marks or character concerns. I’m not arguing Winston’s talent as he has elite talent; however, when you have run-ins with the law and have been accused of rape, it’s just too much risk to take with the first overall pick. The Buccaneers would have been better off taking Mariota or Leonard Williams if they weren’t convince Mariota is a franchise quarterback.
Carolina Panthers: Devin Funchess Round 2, Pick 9 (41st Overall) WR/TE
Funchess isn’t necessarily a bad prospect; however, he was a bit of a reach in the first half of the second round and they passed on other pressing needs such as offensive line. Add in the fact they traded their third round selection to grab him and this pick doesn’t make much sense. The Panthers would have been better off taking one of the tackles on the board and grabbing a wide receiver in the third where there was still a good amount of talent available if they were dead set on adding another target for Cam Newton. No matter how many good wide receivers the Panthers have, it won’t matter if Newton can’t stay on his feet.
Atlanta Falcons: Tevin Coleman, Round 3, Pick 9 (108th Overall) RB
The Falcons had a really solid draft, so it’s hard to knock any one pick. However, since we have to pick one, we’re going to go with Coleman. This isn’t a knock on Coleman as a prospect per say, yet more based on the other prospects at the position that we’re available. Someone like Duke Johnson could have been a better fit and was still on the board.
New Orleans Saints: Andrus Peat Round 1, Pick 13 (13th Overall) OT
We’ve mentioned in previous articles that Peat was a big reach at 13th overall. Some draft pundits had him ranked rather high; however, we believe he still has a lot of work to do to be a successful tackle and the Saints would have been better off getting one of the edge rushers on the board or one of the other top tackles. Peat could be a solid tackle; however, there’s a chance he could be out of the league in three years also.
NFC WEST:
St. Louis Rams: Sean Mannion Round 3, Pick 25 (89th Overall) QB
Mannion can develop into a solid back up; however, we don’t see starter potential in him down the line. With questions about the quarterback position for the Rams, it is understandable they wanted to address the position; however, they should have gone for a quarterback with more upside like Bryce Petty.
San Francisco 49ers: Jaquiski Tartt Round 2, Pick 14 (46th Overall) SS
This was one of the biggest reaches of the draft with Tartt considered a fourth round prospect by most. While safety wasn’t very deep in this year’s class, the 49ers could have waited a few rounds and acquired Tartt or a a prospect of similar value.
Arizona Cardinals: Markus Golden Round 2, Pick 26 (58th Overall) DE
The Cardinals are another team that had a very solid draft. However, if we were to pick one for worst pick, we will have to go with Golden who was a bit of a reach in the second round. He is an extremely hard worker and will give one hundred percent every play; however, he’s not as talented as some of the other defensive lineman prospects that we’re still on the board.
Seattle Seahawks: Frank Clark Round 2, Pick 31 (63rd Overall) DE
No one is questioning Clark’s talents as an NFL player. However there are a ton of character concerns with Clark. Many teams took him off their board all together, so there is definitely concern here. We would have rather seen them get a player with this pick without the off the field concerns.
AFC EAST:
New York Jets: Deon Simon Round 7, Pick 6 (223rd Overall) NT
While very little is invested in Simon as a seventh round pick, it is hard to ever see him making it on to the field. He is one of the older draft prospects in this class and has had several issues with his knees. We can see the intrigue with his size; however, we would not be surprised if he is a camp folder come August.
Miami Dolphins: Jamil Douglas Round 4, Pick 15 (114th Overall) OG
The Dolphins are another team that had a very solid draft class. This pick isn’t so much a knock on Douglas, yet more questioning why they waited until the fourth round to address their offensive line. Douglas may be nothing more than a reserve lineman and the Dolphins would have greatly benefited from getting a stud lineman in one of the first two rounds.
Buffalo Bills: Ronald Darby Round 2, Pick 18 (50th Overall) CB
This pick doesn’t make sense for a few reasons. For starters, the Bills already have two very solid cornerbacks in Leodys McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore. Not to mention Darby’s off the field concerns, including an arrest and this is a real head scratcher. We would have liked to see the Bills address some of their other needs with this pick especially without a first rounder in this year’s draft.
New England Patriots: Jordan Richards Round 2, Pick 32 (64th Overall) SS
Richards is a very smart safety who has average speed and athleticism. He seems like the type of safety that would fit well in Bill Belichick’s system. However, this was a reach in the second round and the Patriots probably could have grabbed him in the third or fourth.
AFC NORTH:
Pittsburgh Steelers: Sammie Coates Round 3, Pick 23 (87th Overall) WR
Coates was solid value in the third round, and the Steelers have a knack for finding good receivers in later rounds, but Coates’ skill set is very similar to Martavis Bryant, who was drafted last season. Unless the Steelers are already anticipating losing Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton or Bryant down the road, then Coates provides little other than depth.
Cleveland Browns: Vince Mayle Round 4, Pick 24 (123rd Overall) WR
It’s not that Mayle was a bad pick, but he will need more development to become an NFL wide receiver. At best, he is a four or five receiver even on the Brown’s depth chart, which is depleted at the wide receiver position. We would have liked to see them address the receiver position earlier in the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals: Mario Alfred Round 7, Pick 21 (238th Overall) WR
We strongly dislike the fact Cincinnati waited until the seventh round to address the wide receiver position. Without a healthy A.J. Green last season, Andy Dalton failed to throw for 20 touchdowns. It was essential to add more talent to the position, so Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu aren’t Dalton’s second and third options. The 5-foot-8 Alford will likely not make an impact in the passing game and may not even make the team out of training camp.
Baltimore Ravens: Darren Waller Round 6, Pick 28 (204th Overall) WR
The Ravens had one of the best drafts, so it is hard to find a bad pick, but we had to pick one so, it’s Waller. There is a good chance he has to switch to tight end, and since Baltimore already took two tight ends in the draft, he seemed an unnecessary pick.
AFC SOUTH:
Indianapolis Colts: Philip Dorsett Round 1, Pick 29 (29th Overall) WR
This was one of the most questionable selections in the draft. Indianapolis was already loaded at the wide receiver position after signing Andre Johnson. It will be hard for Dorsett to get on the field with Johnson, T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncreif in front of him. Not to mention, the Colts also have pass-catching tight ends Dwyane Allen and Coby Fleener. It would have been better if Indianapolis went defense with this pick.
Houston Texans: Kevin Johnson Round 1, Pick 16 (16th Overall) CB
Most of the corners in the first round went too early, and Johnson is no exception. He is 6-feet-tall, can play inside and outside, which made him one of the best corners in the draft, but there was better value at No. 16 overall.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Neal Sterling Round 7, Pick 2 (220th Overall) WR
The fact the Jaguars worst pick came in the seventh round is a good thing because the reward outweighs the risk the later in the draft one gets. However, Sterling is a classic tweener in the NFL. He has size and upside, yet similar to Denard Robinson, he may never find a position in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans: Dorial Green-Beckham Round 2, Pick 8 (40th Overall) WR
There are a lot of experts that love this pick, but Green-Beckham has a ton of off-the-field issues, so there is quite a bit of risk. But if he and quarterback Marcus Mariota work out, they should be staples in Tennessee for years to come. The Titans were also able to trade back in the second round, still grab Green-Beckham and acquire more picks. The enormous risk, however, still lands Green-Beckham on this list.
AFC WEST:
Denver Broncos: Darius Kilgo Round 6, Pick 27 (203rd Overall) NT
Kilgo should be a good run stuffer, but it is questionable to whether he can perform at the NFL level. Right now, he is a very one-dimensional player who may be a camp folder this August. We would have rather the Broncos take a late round flyer on a different player.
San Diego Chargers: Kyle Emanuel Round 5, Pick 17 (153rd Overall) OLB
Coming into the draft the Chargers were in desperate need to upgrade their pass rush. However, they waited until the fourth round to address this need in taking Manuel. Considering he played against FCS competition it will be a tough adjustment and they shouldn’t expect any immediate contributions from him. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the rigors of the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters Round 1, Pick 18 (18th Overall) CB
This was one of the more questionable picks in the draft. It’s not a question of need or value as Peters arguably was the best available corner and filled a need for Kansas City; the questions regarding Peters arise in his character. Peters argued with his coaching staff at Washington and was dismissed from the team. That’s not a guy most teams would want at No. 18 overall regardless of his talent.
Oakland Raiders: Mario Edwards Jr. Round 2, Pick 3 (35th Overall) DE
Oakland had a very solid draft, so it is hard to find a complaint, but Edwards is probably the biggest boom or bust selection for the Raiders. He got himself in the best shape of his life at 272 pounds on his pro day, but in August, he was 310 pounds. The big question is whether or not he can keep off the weight and be a productive player in the NFL.
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