NFL Draft 2015: Best Day 2 Sleeper Picks

The first round of the 2015 NFL Draft is in the books but there are still plenty of good prospects on the board and these players shouldn’t have to wait much longer to hear their name called.

When all the picks were turned in on Thursday, there were 32 players who checked off one of their goals by being a first round pick in the NFL Draft as they embark on a professional career with that lofty distinction.

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With more than 300 draft prospects there are plenty of college football players going to bed on Thursday night disappointed, dejected and despondent after waiting to hear NFL commissioner Roger Goodell call their name. But all is not lost just because you’re not a first round pick. Just ask Terrell Davis, Joe Montana or Tom Brady about that.

Plenty of talent is still on the board for Day 2 with the second and third rounds beginning on Friday evening and most of these players won’t have to wait long to hear their name called when the draft restarts tonight.

Landon Collins – Alabama

The Crimson Tide safety was believed to be the top safety in the draft class but he watched as Arizona State safety Damarious Randall was picked by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 30 pick. Collins doesn’t have the range of Randall but he is a safety who will make plays in the box in run support and contribute on special teams.

Randy Gregory – Nebraska

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive end Randy Gregory (4) during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Gregory’s failed drug test at the combine saw his stock drop from a potential top-five pick to a player who hopes not to slide out of the second. He is the top pass rusher still on the board and if he stays clean off the field in the NFL, whoever drafts him will have one of the biggest steals in the draft.

Devin Smith – Ohio State

I thought Smith would have cracked the bottom of the first round, but that didn’t happen once Philadelphia picked Nelson Agholor at No. 20 and Indianapolis took Phillip Dorsett at No. 29. He is a speed merchant with 4.4 speed and averaged 28 yards per catch for the Buckeyes. He has 12 touchdowns on 33 receptions as a senior.

Mario Edwards Jr. – Florida State

Edwards is a former top recruit coming out of high school but he was more of a good player at Florida State than a great player you build a defense around. I think he’s a perfect fit as an end in a odd front because he isn’t a great pass rusher and I’m not convinced he can be a three-technique in a even front. He’s a good football player who isn’t flashy but is a reliable player you won’t have to worry about.

Preston Smith – Mississippi State

Smith was one of the most improved players in college last year for Mississippi State after collecting 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He did a little of everything for the Bulldogs and could play left defensive end in a 4-3 or end and/or possibly outside linebacker in a 3-4. He can rush the passer when he dips inside but is best against the run, He wins a lot of one-on-one matchups so it’ll just be about finding out where he’ll fit best.

The Running Backs

We saw two running backs taken in the first round for the first time in three years with Todd Gurley going No. 10 to St. Louis and Melvin Gordon going No. 15 to San Diego but Friday should be a great day for teams looking for help at the position. Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayy, T.J. Yeldon, Jeremy Langford and Buck Allen could all hear their name called. The two great options are gone but there is still plenty of good left.

Eddie Goldman – Florida State

Goldman is a massive defensive tackle at 335 pounds and I thought he could have been the Patriots pick to end the first round as a natural replacement for Vince Wilfork at defensive tackle, but with Malcom Brown available they took the higher ranked player. Goldman offers a lot of value for teams looking for a stout run defender but if you’re looking for a pass rush you need to look elsewhere.

Jaelen Strong – Arizona State

Strong is a first round talent who slipped out of the first round because of a deep group of receivers in this year’s class that saw six taken in the first round. After a pair of 1,100 yard seasons at Arizona State and a 4.4 time he ran in the 40 at the combine should see him taken early in Round 2.

Eric Kendricks – UCLA

Kendricks is the best cover linebacker in the draft and should be a starter from Day 1 as a rookie. I think he dominated as a rookie in nickel situations and could be best served in a 3-4 defense where he won’t have to take on as many blockers with a massive nose tackle in front of him and another linebacker next to him to do that. Let him do what he does best and cover the pass. He is UCLA’s all-time tackles leader.

Hau’Oli Kikaha – Washington

Kikaha saw three players from Washington’s defense go in the first round with Danny Shelton, Marcus Peters and Shaq Thompson coming off the board. Kikaha led the nation in sacks last year with 19 but is still available because of his 4.9 time in the 40. Still, 19 sacks is tough to overlook and should find a 3-4 team to snatch him up by the end of the night.

Who is your favorite player still on the board?

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