2015 NFL Draft Hot Takes: Biggest Steals of The Year
It’s time for another edition of NFL Draft Hot Takes, presented to you by the greatest chefs in the NFL Draft world here at NFLMocks.com. I wanted the staff’s opinions on something that people find really interesting every year during the NFL Draft — what were the biggest steals of the class?
That’s a tough question, because everyone has a different board, though most are pretty similar when it comes to the middle-late rounds with some exceptions here or there.
The real question here is which team got the highest rated player (on your board) at the latest possible point in the draft. High rated player plus low draft pick equals a ‘steal’ and I wanted to know which player(s) the NFL Mocks staff felt were this year’s best steals in the draft.
If you have a hot take on a big time steal this year, feel free to let us know in the comments. Here’s what the staff had to say…
Aug 31, 2013; Morgantown, WV, USA; William & Mary Tribe wide receiver Tre McBride (3) runs back a kick-off against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the third quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. The West Virginia Mountaineers won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Morales: “Tennessee drafting Tre McBride in the 7th round at pick 245. This was absolutely shocking that he fell so far in the draft. Most had him as a projected round 3 selection but he fell all the way to the back-end of round 7. Tennessee immediately drafts a player who can start day one along side DGB and Kendall Wright in the slot. I’m still mind boggled how he fell that far but either way Tennessee got an absolute steal and should be ecstatic by this selection.”
Matthew Holowiak: “The big steal of this draft was easily Michael Bennett from Ohio State. How he was on the board in the sixth round as a projected second rounder was a miracle in itself, let alone going to a growing and creative defense like Jacksonville. Gus Bradley is a very creative defensive mind who will find ways to get the most out of players. Bennett was very productive as a buckeye, notching 24 tackles and seven sacks alone in his final year from the defensive tackle position. Incredible steal here.”
Joe Wedra: “How can you deny the value that Houston Texans got in Jaelen Strong in the third round? In reality, nobody would have blinked if a team selected the Arizona State WR in the first. Impressive prospect with tremendous body control and concentration. He had some of the best overall “ball in the air” traits in the 2015 class. They should translate to the NFL and provide the Texans with a massive steal when they look back in a few years.”
Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) tries to get past Auburn Tigers defensive back Ryan White (19) during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
George Stockburger: “I’m going to go into left field on this one and say Rashad Greene in the fifth round. I had Greene as an early second round prospect out of Florida State. I thought that he ran very efficient, smooth routes in college and has very reliable hands. I know his size is an issue, but that hasn’t stopped guys like DeSean Jackson or Steve Smith from tearing up the league. As a first-team All-ACC and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, I thought the Jaguars got a steal at 139”
Erik Lambert: “I know this might not exactly apply to the specifications of the article, but I’m going to say the biggest steal is whichever team is able to sign La’El Collins as an undrafted free agent. Rest assured that is basically signing an extra 1st round pick for barely over $500,000. Pennies for an NFL franchise and in return they’re getting one of the best offensive linemen in the entire 2015 draft class who can start at any position up front from Day 1. Big, strong, technically sound and nasty. Provided he’s innocent as initial reports say, he’s the bargain of bargains.”
Jonah Tuls: “For me, one of the biggest steals of the draft was Tevin Coleman to the Falcons at the 73rd overall pick. Not only did the Falcons get the best running back on the board that has star capability, but they also got my last first round grade player of the draft. He possesses traits similar to DeMarco Murray because of his burst and upright running style. When it is all said and done, Coleman is going to be the bell cow of that offense and will be a major factor in that team’s offense and therefore could be a sleeper in fantasy leagues worldwide.”
Will Stevenson: “Tyler beat me to it, but Tre McBride is mine as well.”
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I told the guys they would get bonus points for picking a Broncos player, and some of them liked the Ty Sambrailo and Max Garcia value, but nobody ended up picking a Bronco…
I would tend to agree with Erik here in terms of the overall value someone is going to get in La’El Collins (UPDATE: COLLINS JUST SIGNED WITH THE COWBOYS), but for the purposes of picking someone who was drafted, I’ll throw out a name that no one has up to this point: Grady Jarrett, DT, Falcons.
Nov 15, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (50)in action against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Coming out of Clemson, Jarrett was getting some first round hype a month ago as a possible sleeper there. He was a day two projected pick and that seemed to be pretty well locked in. The Falcons ended up stealing him in the 5th round and he could become a key piece of that Atlanta defense sooner rather than later.
And now that you’ve had a steaming plate full of scintillating NFL Draft hot takes, let us know which player(s) you feel were the biggest steals in the draft.