2015 NFL Draft: Best and Worst Value Picks
By Cole Moog
Nov 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Maxx Williams (88) runs in for a touchdown after making a catch in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers won 51-14. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Around the Baltimore Ravens, there is a pretty strong sense that the 2015 NFL Draft was a good experience for Ozzie Newsome, Joe Flacco and company.
But in considering the entire draft, what are some of the best and worst selections around the league?
Click through this and the following five slides for a discussion of the best and worst selections on each of the three days.
Day 1 Best Selections:
Leonard Williams DT New York Jets (1st Round Pick 6): Leonard Williams, in my opinion, was the best player in the draft, and I was shocked he fell to the Jets at six. I really think the Redskins missed on a fantastic player. Scherff was a solid pick, but he is no Leonard Williams. Now the Jets have solidified their claim as the best defensive line in the NFL. The Jets now have Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams. That easily makes for the best defensive front in the NFL.
Shane Ray DE Denver Broncos (1st Round Pick 23): The Denver Broncos watched Shane Ray fall all the way to 23 and they couldn’t wait any longer, so they traded from 28 with the Detroit Lions to get the best player on their board. I had Shane Ray as my highest-rated pass rusher in the entire draft class. He was once thought to be an obvious top-ten pick until news leaked of a toe injury, and then three days prior to the draft he was arrested with the possession of marijuana. In the future, Shane Ray will be Demarcus Ware’s replacement, but for now he will be used strictly in third down pass rush packages and will be a force in getting to the quarterback.
Malcolm Brown DT New England Patriots (1st Round pick 32): I have no idea how Malcolm Brown fell to the Patriots. Brown was a top-20 player, and there were two teams with huge defensive tackles needs in the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions right before them. It’s a great pick with the recent departure of long-time veteran Vince Wilfork. Brown will instantly replace Wilfork’s production, and he came at a great value as the last selection of the first round.
Next: The worst picks of day one ... You've got to be kidding!