Elite defensive playmakers have the ability to alter the course of a football game in an instant. Look no further than Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt to get a perfect example of such a player. The 2015 NFL draft class features promising defenders who feature Watt-esque traits, and they all took center stage at the scouting combine on Sunday.
Plenty of NFL franchises selecting near the top of the draft have giant needs along the defensive line and at linebacker. Whether they need a player who can act as a run-stuffing defensive tackle or pass-rushing defensive end or outside linebacker, there were a variety of NFL-ready options lighting up workouts in Indianapolis on Day 5.
Most of the combine's widely heralded prospects produced the kind of impressive showings we all expected; however, some really stood out from the crowd. After another day of workouts from Lucas Oil Stadium, here's an updated look at how the first round may shake out on April 30.
| 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State |
| 2 | Tennessee Titans | Leonard Williams, DT, USC |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska |
| 4 | Oakland Raiders | Kevin White, WR, West Virginia |
| 5 | Washington Redskins | Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida |
| 6 | New York Jets | Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon |
| 7 | Chicago Bears | Danny Shelton, DT, Washington |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Shane Ray, DE, Missouri |
| 9 | New York Giants | Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa |
| 10 | St. Louis Rams | Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings | T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns | DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins | La'el Collins, OT, LSU |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers | Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State |
| 16 | Houston Texans | Landon Collins, S, Alabama |
| 17 | San Diego Chargers | Malcom Brown, DT, Texas |
| 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo) | Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Marcus Peters, CB, Washington |
| 23 | Detroit Lions | Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma |
| 24 | Arizona Cardinals | Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin |
| 25 | Carolina Panthers | Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford |
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens | P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State |
| 28 | Denver Broncos | Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts | Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia |
| 30 | Green Bay Packers | Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss State |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn |
| 32 | New England Patriots | Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami |
Analyzing Notable Day 5 Performances
On Sunday, we received a closer look at what most top defensive linemen and linebackers have to offer. Unfortunately, one top-tier prospect wasn't able to participate, as Missouri edge-rusher Shane Ray sat out with a foot injury. Ray's draft stock won't slide for his absence during the workouts, but his pro day will garner plenty of interest.
That said, here's a look at some notable performances from prospects who took part in Sunday's drills and where they are likely to call home in the NFL.
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The 6'5", 302-pound Leonard Williams was already thought to be the most talented defender—and, to some, most talented player—in this year's draft. He reaffirmed that notion Sunday, showcasing his freakish athleticism for his size. Not only did he run a solid 4.97-second 40-yard dash, but he showed a great deal of fluidity during positional drills.
Workouts at the combine didn't do Williams' game justice, as he's extremely powerful, versatile and technically sound. Here's a very flattering comparison from NFL Media's Mike Mayock, via NFL Network:
The Titans need a big upgrade along the defensive line, and they could do a whole lot worse than getting a young Richard Seymour.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
David J. Phillip/Associated Press Nebraska's Randy Gregory raised some eyebrows early at the combine after the 6'5" defensive end weighed in at just 235 pounds. A strong showing Sunday was crucial for the former Cornhusker after dropping so much weight. Well, he delivered. Gregory ran a nice 4.64-second 40-yard dash, and his 125-inch broad jump earned him top-performer honors.
He continued to put together a solid day in Indianapolis with some good-looking fluidity during positional drills. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller appeared to come away impressed:
Gregory certainly appears to be a prospect who can step in and contribute immediately. He'll provide a welcomed boost of athleticism and speed to Jacksonville's defense.
5. Washington Redskins: Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
David J. Phillip/Associated Press Not only did the 6'3", 261-pound Dante Fowler run a 4.60-second 40-yard dash, he did it wearing a gold watch and cheetah-print cleats, via theScore:
If swag counted toward draft stock, the Florida product would likely go No. 1 overall; however, his impressive combine showing was still good enough for a top-five selection. Fowler finished as a top performer in the three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. His speed, athletic frame and agility will make him a force at outside linebacker in the NFL.
7. Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Julio Cortez/Associated Press The 6'2", 339-pound Danny Shelton made his mark on the combine Saturday night, ripping off 34 reps on the bench press. He may not have blazed through the 40-yard dash on Sunday, but his athleticism for a man of his size was wildly apparent when he recorded a 30.5-inch vertical jump—two inches higher than Jameis Winston.
We already knew Shelton was strong—he makes his living tossing around offensive linemen—but his athleticism really stood out at the combine. Dion Caputi of the National Football Post tweeted his take:
Chicago desperately needs a force on the interior of its defensive line, and it gets a great one here.
13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
David J. Phillip/Associated Press Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley may have put together the most impressive overall showing at the combine. The 6'3", 246-pound Beasley was already known to be a great athlete and an extremely explosive edge-rusher. However, his 4.53-second 40-yard dash was simply impeccable. Just how good was it? Take a look at this telling comparison, via NFL:
Beasley finished as a top performer in every single drill at the combine. His off-the-chart numbers allude to how dangerous he'll be coming off the edge in the NFL. The Saints need another pure pass-rusher, and they'll get a great talent with enormous potential in Beasley.
All prospect measurements and results courtesy of NFL.com's results tracker.
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