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2015 NFL Draft: Potential Bust Prospects

By Jonah Tuls

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Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson talks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Each year in the NFL Draft, there are players who have significantly low floors as a prospect. Those prospects are considered to be potential busts. Today, I am going to identify those types of prospects to you exclusively here on NFL Mocks for the 2015 NFL Draft.

Shaq Thompson LB Washington

Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Shaq Thompson (7) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Thompson is the kind of football player that the average joe doesn’t see everyday. He is a bit of a tweener when it comes to his long-term position in the NFL. To me, that raises dramatic amounts of concern. Is he a linebacker or a safety? That’s the question we all want to know as scouts. In my opinion, he is a linebacker with good range and cover ability best suited to play on the outside in the 4-3. On the other hand, I haven’t received the impression that he can be a legitimate run stuffer. His thin frame and lack of functional strength raise “red flags” to me if I was a scout for an NFL organization. His ability to finish and wrap up as a tackler are also not at the level of a starter in the NFL. Overall, I wouldn’t touch him until the second round, but that’s not to say that a team will overdraft him in the middle of the first round because of his physical traits.

Danny Shelton NT Washington

Sep 13, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) is blocked by the Illinois Fighting Illini during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

As a prospect, Danny Shelton is tantalizing because of how he plays considering his enormous frame. I personally have not seen someone as big as him become a successful pro player since Dontari Poe.

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The difference between Poe and Shelton is that Poe ran a 4.9 second 40 yard dash. What did Shelton run you might ask? Somewhere near the 5.6 second range. I try to not base my whole scouting report on workouts, but Shelton’s Combine performance made me reconsider my previous observations of him. It’s not just about his lack of athleticism, but it’s that I also have my doubts about him controlling his weight. Don’t get me wrong, he is going to be a premier run stuffer in a 3-4 defensive scheme as a nose tackle, but if a team drafts him in the top ten expecting him to be a legit pass rusher, then they will be mightily disappointed.

Dorial Green-Beckham WR Missouri

Jan 3, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15) cannot make a catch while defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Tyler Patmon (26) in the second quarter at the 2014 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In my opinion, Dorial Green-Beckham has the highest upside of any player in the draft that’s not a quarterback. We all know the saga behind Green-Beckham and I don’t need to explain that to you. He was simply a young kid who made a big mistake, but the question is whether this will be a repetitive process.

“He is a Top 5 talent with undraftable off-field traits.”

He could become the next Dez Bryant, fall to the bottom of the first round and mold into a perennial Pro Bowl receiver, or he could take the Justin Blackmon route and become the poster-boy for why players like him should not even be on the draft board. For all the players on this list, he has the lowest floor in my opinion. Overall, I would roll the dice on him in the late first round, but again, buyer-beware.

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