Takeaways from the 2015 NFL Draft

  |  
May 2, 2015
mock draft roundup
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Here are just a few of my takeaways from the first two nights of the 2015 NFL Draft. 

  • Many people expected NFC North rival Chicago to pick up a cornerback or wide receiver, and the Bears followed through by selecting WR Kevin White out of West Virginia. As Draft analysts pointed out, the only question now is if Jay Cutler can capitalize on him.
  • The theme around the 2015 NFL Draft seemed to be trading up or down, but the first trade didn’t happen until San Diego traded up from No. 17 to get RB Melvin Gordon.
  • The first questionable/surprise pick came at No. 9 when the New York Giants selected OL Ereck Flowers. I expected them to grab CB Trae Waynes at that point, and I don’t know that Flowers will pan out to be a top-10 pick.

  • RB Todd Gurley went higher than expected when St. Louis grabbed him at No. 10.
  • Having the former players announce their team’s pick is a welcome change of pace for the second night. Watching Goodell get booed is really only entertaining for the first few picks.
  • One of the better picks of the second night was DE Preston Smith to Washington. Smith would have been a great fit for the Vikings in my opinion, but I also didn’t expect him to go that early. He’ll be a great fit for the Redskins.
  • The big trade didn’t happen until Carolina traded up from No. 57 to No. 42 in order to grab WR Devin Funchess who was (oddly enough) compared to TE Jimmy Graham.
  • Mike Mayock referring to DGB as a young Randy Moss blew up Twitter almost as much as any actual draft move.
  • DE Randy Gregory fell much farther than expected (No. 60 to Dallas), and it seemed the largest issue was that of character and mental readiness.

And, lastly…

  • The best during-draft Vikings Twitter action was compliments of last year’s draft pick Anthony Barr when the Vikings picked up LB Eric Kendricks: