NFL Draft 2015: 8 instant reactions

Character Concerns Killed Draft Stock

Getting away from the anatomy of a draft board, or the seeming reaches based on film, we look at players who hit every marker, except perhaps the most important one—the character marker. The consensus among draft analysts is that Dorial Green-Beckham, La’El Collins, Randy Gregory and Shane Ray were all first-round players on film.

Ray is the only who was drafted in the first-round despite those character concerns. And he was not taken until No. 23. Some analysts thought he could go as high as six or seven to the Jets based strictly off the film, though that was highly debated among the draft community.

What was not debatable is that Green-Beckham was the best wide receiver in this draft based off his film and physical traits. But he was seemingly undraftable based on off-field issues. Yet the Tennessee Titans took the plunge and hope they are rewarded the way the Minnesota Vikings were when they once took Randy Moss No. 21 despite many concerns involving character.

Randy Gregory saw his draft stock dip significantly because of an arrest in which he was caught possessing marijuana and reports that at least once he showed up 90 minutes late for an pre-draft meeting.

And by now we are probably all aware of the situation involving La’El Collins. If not here’s a brief bit of insight, though there’s more to the story. He went undrafted and awaits questioning with the police and his name being cleared before a team signs him, most likely.

Next: Trading is not cool, and then it is