The team that drafts Jameis Winston (and it’ll probably be Tampa Bay) will live to rue that decision. I envision a mixture of Tim Couch and JaMarcus Russell in Winston. Do I hold a wealth of animosity towards Winston? Of course. He showed no remorse for his alleged sexual assault. He showed no growth when he stood on a table in the middle of campus and yelled a misogynistic, stupid Internet meme? And he showed that he just doesn’t care about the rules when he stole crab legs from a supermarket and then, recently, came up with some unintelligible story about said crab legs.
The crab leg incident on its own is comical. The Internet meme thing is just a stupid college kid being stupid. But the sexual assault allegation is repugnant, when combined with the way that he and his university handled the situation.
I’ll root against Jameis Winston as vociferously as I can. And I think he’ll do a lot to help that on the field.
What I see in Winston is a sloppy quarterback with questionable athleticism who makes very poor decisions outside of the pocket. But he’s a “winner” you say? So was Craig Krenzel. And Ken Dorsey. And Chris Weinke.
On the other side of the quarterback dime, we have Marcus Mariota. By every account, a great teammate. Also a winner. A very accurate quarterback on the move and one who makes smart decisions in the pocket. But “the system,” you say. Have you seen the offenses teams are running in the NFL? This isn’t Bill Walsh’s National Football League.
There is no Andrew Luck in the 2015 Draft. But if you’re a quarterback-needy team (and note, I don’t think Tampa Bay is because I think Mike Glennon is a perfectly adequate bridge to a better QB in 2016 (Cardale Jones)) Mariota is the clear and obvious choice for my eyes.
All of that said, Tampa Bay is going to draft Jameis Winston first overall. And Marcus Mariota will go second overall to whomever slots in to that second pick (whether it be Tennessee or the team that trades Tennessee their future).
After that, I’m looking at a draft that will be reminiscent of the 2013 one, where the top picks have yet to make any sort of impact.
PLAYERS I LIKE
Amari Cooper (WR/Alabama): Comical, it is, that people are talking about Kevin White v. Cooper. White is a very high upside prospect out of West Virginia, looking to follow in the long line of Dana Holgorsen-coached WRs to go on to great success in the NFL, including…and also… I mean, Tavon Austin? Donnie Avery? Holgorsen’s system allows WRs to put up great numbers and White, in addition, has the measurables. But he’s raw. Cooper is refined and has a very achievable ceiling of Pro Bowl WR. Sure, Kevin White might become a Hall of Fame type player. But I’m better on no. And I’m betting on Cooper.
Leonard Williams (DT/USC): There’s not much to dislike about Williams. He’s an enormous presence on the defensive line and should plug in on Week 1 for whatever horrible team drafts him (likely Oakland at 4).
Trae Waynes (CB/Michigan State): A big, physical corner who has speed, can cover one-on-one and can tackle? Yes, sign me up for that please. Especially in a passing league. Do not understand why he’s a projected mid-first rounder and not a top 10 guy.
Shaq Thompson (S/Washington): Versatile, hard-hitter. Could wind up as a linebacker, a la Brian Urlacher, who played safety in college at New Mexico.
Landon Collins (S/Alabama): I like safeties. Especially supremely physical ones. Collins is not going to go one-on-one with Rob Gronkowski. But he might take Julian Edelman’s head off. So that has to count for something.
PLAYERS I DON’T LIKE
The rest of the first round, basically. If I’m looking to bet on a sure thing, I take the guys above. If I’m hoping that a supremely talented, off-the-field mess will work out, I draft Shane Ray (DE/Missouri), Dorial Green-Beckham (WR/Oklahoma…even though he didn’t actually play there), and Randy Gregory (DE/Nebraska). And if you’re just looking to hit the number right in roulette, well, enjoy the rest of the draft, my friends.
LATE ROUND SLEEPERS WHO I THINK WILL BE USEFUL NFL PLAYERS
QB: Pass. But I will predict that the Eagles will either draft or sign Bryan Bennett from Southeastern Louisiana. Also, I like Brett Hundley, but he’s not a “late round sleeper.”
RB: TJ Yeldon (Alabama). I mean, I’ve predicted that he’d win the Heisman Trophy every year since 1998, so I might as well keep riding the horse that hasn’t won me anything yet, right?
WR: Stefon Diggs (Maryland). Could catch on as a kick returner/punt returner and serve as a decent fourth receiving option. Likely to be a 6th or 7th round pick.
DL: Zack Hodges (Harvard). Loved watching him at the Combine. Great motor. Quick. Physical. Would serve as a three-down lineman.
LB: Kyle Emmanuel (North Dakota State). Played End in college but could move to linebacker (read: should) in the NFL. Another guy I loved watching at the Combine. Was a dominant player at NDSU.
DB: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon): Had his ACL not torn at the end of the season, Ekpre-Olomu would have been a first round draft pick. That’s reason enough to take a flier on him, which I would imagine Chip Kelly will do as he attempts to recreate the Oregon Ducks in Southeastern Pennsylvania.