Best available Day 2 prospects
— -- The first round of the 2015 NFL draft has been completed, with 32 very good prospects already with their new teams. But a wealth of quality talent remains on the board heading into Day 2.
We've ranked the top remaining prospects after Round 1 and included their short scouting write-ups that ran in our pre-draft Top 300 rankings. Grades for each trait range from 1-5, with 1 being the best, and the player's Scouts Inc. grade is in parentheses.
(Note: LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins is not listed here, despite his scouting grade, because of the uncertainty surrounding his draft stock due to a recent police investigation.)
1. Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska (90)
Instincts/recognition: 2
Take-on skills: 3
Range vs. run: 2
Tackling: 2
Third-down capabilities: 1
What he brings: He's the most physically gifted edge rusher in this class with outstanding first-step quickness and length, and surprising power given his lean frame. His inability to add and keep weight is a concern, as is his off-field history. He'll need to get stronger against the run. But he can be a difference-maker as a pass-rusher if he does what he needs to off the field.
2. Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State (89)
Versus the run: 1
Pass-rush skills: 3
Quickness: 2
Toughness/motor: 2
What he brings: Goldman won't give you much as a pass-rusher, but he is excellent at defending the run. He has a very powerful upper body and can take on double teams, and his overall effort and motor are good.
3. Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State (88)
Separation skills: 2
Ball skills: 2
Big-play ability: 1
Competitiveness: 4
What he brings: Smith was the best vertical receiver in college football last season, and he projects as an elite deep threat in the NFL with his combination of route-running savvy, top-end speed, body control and ball skills. He was less consistent on short and intermediate routes, and his effort and toughness are question marks.
4. Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA (88)
Instincts/recognition: 1
Take-on skills: 3
Range vs. run: 2
Tackling: 2
Third-down capabilities: 1
What he brings: He is the best coverage linebacker in this draft. He lacks ideal size and power for the position in run defense, but he makes up for it with very good overall range and his quick diagnosis of plays. He's a playmaker against both the run and the pass.
5. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State (88)
Separation skills: 3
Ball skills: 1
Big-play ability: 2
Competitiveness: 2
What he brings: He's a very confident and aggressive pass-catcher who comes down with a lot of 50-50 balls, and has the top-end speed needed to be an NFL deep threat. Most of his separation from coverage happens late, because he lacks ideal quickness to separate on shorter routes.
6. Landon Collins, S, Alabama (88)
Instincts/recognition: 2
Cover skills: 2
Ball skills: 3
Run support: 1
What he brings: He's an excellent run defender as an in-the-box safety who is built like a weakside outside linebacker - and some teams think that might be his best position. He'll have trouble in coverage if he has to match up one-on-one against slot receivers with regularity, but he's athletic enough to cover most running backs and tight ends.
7. Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia (88)
Instincts/recognition: 3
Take-on skills: 2
Range vs. run: 2
Tackling: 4
Third-down capabilities: 2
What he brings: Harold needs to get stronger and improve his reliability as a tackler, in addition to developing better recognition skills. But he has a high upside as a pass-rusher, with several pass-rush moves and good athleticism and closing burst.
8. T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh (88)
Pass protection: 3
Run blocking: 1
Awareness: 3
Toughness: 2
What he brings: He only played two years at offensive tackle after moving over from the defensive side of the ball, and that lack of experience showed up in his play at college, particularly in pass protection. But he has the raw tools to develop into a very good tackle or guard, and he could be an overpowering run blocker early on.
9. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon (87)
Pass protection: 1
Run blocking: 3
Awareness: 2
Toughness: 2
What he brings: Fisher has outstanding foot quickness and lateral agility for the offensive tackle position, making him a very effective pass-blocker. He's an adequate run-blocker in zone-blocking schemes who can take advantage of that athleticism; however, his power base is just average, so he can struggle versus stronger run defenders.
10. Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan (87)
Separation skills: 2
Ball skills: 3
Big-play ability: 2
Competitiveness: 2
What he brings: He is something of a hybrid between a wide receiver and an "F" tight end, with a rare combination of length, speed, fluidity and body control. He has trouble separating on shorter routes, but he's a matchup problem in the red zone and on vertical routes. His ball skills declined during the 2014 season as Michigan's offense struggled.
