NFL Draft Notes: Quarterbacks, Receivers, Offensive Linemen

Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel spoke to a number of scouts in recent weeks gauge the early opinions on next year’s draft class. The entire article is worth a read if you’re looking for some insight into the 2015 draft class.

Here are some notes of interest McGinn’s article.

Deepest Positions

An anonymous scout tells McGinn that wide receiver and offensive tackle are the two best positions in next year’s draft class.

“There are four juniors that kind of make this class,” said another scout. “History says that four or five will be in the first round.”

Receivers

• Alabama WR Amari Cooper was the consensus best player at the receiver position from the scouts who spoke to McGinn.
• West Virginia WR Kevin White and Louisville WR DeVante Parker are considered to be the next best receivers behind Cooper.
• Auburn WR D’haquille Williams, Auburn WR Sammie Coates, and Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong also have a chance to come off the board in round one.

Offensive Tackles

“It is a very deep draft for tackles if all the juniors come out,” a scout told McGinn of the offensive line group. “It’s not a great group inside but a lot of these tackles can be guards as well. Depends where you play guys.”

• Texas A&M’s Cedric Ogbuehi is considered to be the top offensive tackle prospect, but there are some concerns regarding his toughness and his practice habits.
• Iowa’s Brandon Scherff, Louisiana State’s La’el Collins, Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings and Florida State’s Cameron Erving are also among the best offensive line prospects.
• Stanford’s Andrus Peat has a chance to be the first tackle to come off the board, according to scouts.
• Collins and Scherff are considered versatile players.

Quarterbacks

According to an anonymous scout, next year’s crop of quarterback prospects could be a bust as unit.

“This will not be one of your top quarterbacks drafts,” said a scout. “It may be a busted quarterback draft.“

• However, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota is “clearly the best” option at the quarterback position.

“He’s clearly the best,” said one scout. “He’s perfect for the new breed of football. He knows how to play the spread-option stuff pretty good and he can throw.”

• Among scouts who McGinn talked to, Florida State’s Jameis Winston is likely to be the No. 2 quarterback, but there are some real concerns about using a high draft pick on him.

“I would be deathly scared to have him,” one scout said of Winston. “He’s so freaking inaccurate to start games. He’s off the mark more than he’s on. He has arm strength and a good delivery. He’s a nightmare.”

• Michigan State’s Connor Cook is likely to be right behind these two players, but some would rather wait and take him over Winston.
• It’s also worth mentioning that Cook could return to MSU next year.
• UCLA’s Brett Hundley is in the discussion for the middle rounds, but many see him as a developmental prospect who could end up being a bust at the next level.
• Oregon State’s Sean Mannion could come off the board as high as round three.