Online Sports: Best 2015 NFL Draft Prospects at Every Position

Do you like Jameis Winston more than Marcus Mariota? Maybe you prefer West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White over Alabama’s Amari Cooper or maybe you believe that Georgia’s Todd Gurley is better than Wisconsin superstar Melvin Gordon. With the 2015 NFL Draft quickly approaching, online sports betting enthusiasts everywhere will enjoy this fun-filled look at the best prospect at every position. Not only that, but I’m also going to offer up a brief glimpse at the second-best prospect at every position. Okay, since haste makes waste, let’s rock and roll people!

Quarterback

No. 1 Jameis Winston – Florida State

You may not like Jameis Winston very much because of his numerous off-field drama-laden issues, but the fact of the matter is that the former Florida State superstar is as good a prospect at quarterback as there’s been in recent memory.

Tell us… Should Jameis Winston LIMIT the number of private workouts? BEST answers will air on #PathToTheDraft! pic.twitter.com/HnnqcoP1DR — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 17, 2015

Yes, I know Winston has been accused of both, rape and stealing, not to mention his suspension for shouting obscenities at a college group meeting, but Winston is big and strong and more importantly, knows how to win and read defenses as well as any young quarterback I’ve seen in years – and that includes young stars, Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are banking on the former Heisman Trophy winner maturing under no-nonsense head coach Lovie Smith and I’m inclined to agree at this point, making Winston the undeniable No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

No. 2 Bryce Petty – Baylor

I know almost every NFL analyst across the globe has former Oregon star Marcus Mariota as the consensus No. 2 quarterback to be picked, but I’m going on record right now to say that it is former Baylor star Bryce Petty that will turn out to be the second-best quarterback in this draft – if not the best of the bunch! I love Petty’s size (6-3), arm strength, ability to read defense and most of all, his moxie.

Running Back

No. 1 Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin and No. 2 Amer Abdullah Nebraska

While the running back position has undoubtedly been devalued in the NFL over the last few, pass-happy seasons, I’m going on record right now to say that I believe former Wisconsin superstar Melvin Gordon is going to be a flat-out star in the NFL. Gordon reminds me a lot of now Buffalo Bills running back LeSean ‘Shady’ McCoy and I believe he’s going to have a similar kind of career. While almost every other football expert has former Georgia star Todd Gurley as the No. 2 running back on the board in this year’s draft, I like former Nebraska standout Ameer Abdullah. While Abdullah isn’t quite as big as Gurley, he’s every bit as good and then some. I believe he’s going to have an excellent career much like Philadelphia Eagles star Darren Sproles.

Wide Receiver

No. 1 Amari Cooper, Alabama, No. 2 Kevin White, West Virginia

A lot of people suddenly like Kevin White because of his blazing 4.35 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, but smart NFL insiders know that former Alabama star Amari Cooper is the complete package. For me, Cooper was by far, the best receiver in college football last season as he routinely beat the best cornerbacks in the country playing in the powerful SEC. Even though Cooper played in a far more balanced offensive attack at Alabama than White did in the wide open offense that West Virginia employs, the Alabama standout racked up an insane 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns to White’s 109 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 scores.

Fullback

No. 1 Jalston Fowler, Alabama

If you haven’t watched former Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler in action, then you should know that this kid has the athletic ability to become one of the best in the NFL – almost immediately. Fowler is big and strong and has equally-impressive hands and vision and I believe he can come in and start for almost any team in the league right away.

Tight End

No. 1 Devin Funchess – Michigan, No. 2 Maxx Williams – Minnesota

A lot of experts have Minnesota’s Maxx Williams and although we share the same surname, I’ve got to pick Michigan’s Devin Funchess as my No. 1 tight end on the board. While Funchess won’t wow anyone with his mediocre blocking, the fact of the matter is that he’s closer to a Jimmy Graham hybrid tight end-wide receiver than anything else. I like Maxx Williams a lot and he’s probably the more complete prospect, but in today’s pass-happy times, I’d take Devin Funchess first if I were drafting a tight end.

Tackle

Brandon Scherff – Iowa

Scherff is a mountain of a man that will be able to come in and help whatever teams drafts him, immediately. I mean…Scherff has flattened so many collegiate defenders that his name should be on wanted poster in every defensive coordinator’s office.

Guard

Tre’ Jackson – Florida State

I believe Tre’ Jackson is the No.1 guard coming into the 2015 NFL Draft although some other experts have him at No. 2. I like the nimble Jackson though and believe he’s the most mobile offensive lineman entering this year’s draft.

Center

Cameron Erving, Florida State

Cameron Irving was an absolute rock for the Seminoles this past season as he routinely ‘pancaked’ opposing defensive lineman with his superior lateral movement and foot speed.

Defensive End

No. 1 Leonard Williams – USC, No. 2 Dante Fowler, Jr. – Florida

By now, almost everyone knows that USC defensive end Leonard Williams is hands-down, the very best player in the 2015 NFL Draft. Maybe it’s me, but when I look at Williams play, he reminds me of a cross between Houston Texans linemen J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney…and that’s just scary!

Defensive Tackle

No. 1 Arik Armstead, Oregon, No. 2 Danny Shelton, Washington

The majority of NFL personnel men have former Washington standout Danny Shelton as the No. 1 defensive tackle in this draft, but I personally like the versatility that Arik Armstead brings to the table. Armstead should be able to play in both, 3-4 or 4-3 schemes while I believe that Shelton is more of a traditional 3-4, space-eating nose tackle.

Outside Linebacker

No. 1 Shane Ray, Missouri, No. 2 Vic Beasley, Clemson

I think this was the toughest call on the board with both, Shane Ray and Vic Beasley looking like sure-fire future All-Pros from where I’m sitting. Shane Ray is a monster of a physical specimen that just doesn’t come along very often while Beasley has a nose for the ball that I think is unmatched by any linebacker in this draft. Had Beasley not struggled at the NFL combine, he would likely still be the No. 1 prospect at linebacker. As it stands right now though, I have Ray rated ahead of him, although I’ve got a funny feeling that Vic Beasley is going to be the best linebacker in this draft class for years to come.

Cornerback

No. 1 Trae Waynes, Michigan State, No. 2 Jalen Collins, LSU

Trae Waynes is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect at cornerback, but the fact of the matter is that Jalen Collins likely has a bigger upside. While Waynes is far more polished and experienced, I like the potential that Jalen Collins brings to the table, not to mention his superior physical gifts. Still, right now, Waynes is more ready to contribute, although I say we should re-visit the careers of these two in about three years.

Safety

Landon Collins, Alabama

Landon Collins is easily the best safety in this draft and could very well start right off the bat as a rookie for whichever team drafts him. All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be an opposing receiver coming across the middle of the field with the hard-hitting Collins bearing down on me.

Kicker

No. 1 Josh Lambo, Texas A&M, No. 2 Sam Ficken, Penn State

I really think Penn State kicker Sam Ficken is going to have just as productive a career as Josh Lambo even though I have Lambo rated as the No. 1 place kicker in this draft. These two kickers are like six in one hand…a half-dozen in the other if you ask me.

Punter

Kyle Loomis, Portland State

So what no one watches Portland State football…the fact of the matter is that former punter Kyle Loomis often looks like the second coming of Ray Guy or something. Okay, while that’s clearly stretching it a bit, Loomis does have one of the most powerful legs I’ve seen in a while. The bad news for the team that drafts him though is the fact that the Armey veteran is 28-years-old.

Long Snapper

Joe Cardona, Navy

Cardona could very well go from Navy right to the NFL because of his unmatched proficiency as a long-snapper. While long-snappers more often than not, go undrafted, I think Cardona will be nabbed by some needy team that wants to put their long-snapping issues to bed for years to come.