Revisiting 2015 Draft

[AtlCPA]

According to Jerry we now got 4 1st rounders out of that draft

If you count Collins and Cooper, he was correct.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

If you're picking late 2nd that's before an early 3rd. A late 3rd picks before an early 4th. Etc.

But 3rd rounders are more than likely is either someone who is a rotational guy or someone who never works out. Early 2nd round is usually guys who were good enough to be 1st round picks.

 

[buybuydandavis]

With recently acquiring Amari Cooper, this is a good time to look back at the 2015 draft class:

Rd1 4(4) Amari Cooper WR
Rd1 27(27) Byron Jones CB
Rd2 28(60) Randy Gregory DE
Rd3 27(91) Chaz Green OT
Rd4 28(127) Damien Wilson LB
Rd5 27(163) Ryan Russel DE
Rd7 19(236) Mark Nzeocha LB
Rd7 29(246) Geoff Swaim TE
UDFA La'el Collins OT

This has turned into such a solid draft for the team. With the addition of Cooper, 4 player are now starters from the draft class. Gregory and Wilson are decent rotational players.

It did take a few years for most of these players to develop, but they are getting there.

The front office/scouting department is doing their job.

Overall grade: B+

What grade would you give this draft and what could have been done differently?

Jones and Gregory both had big turnarounds this year. Gregory is still just potential, but Jones is heading for the Pro Bowl.

 

[J12B]

Jones and Gregory both had big turnarounds this year. Gregory is still just potential, but Jones is heading for the Pro Bowl.

Very true. I'm just glad Gregory is playing. Now we can say we know what kind of talent he is. Unfortunately, he hasnt been what he was expected to be, but he is contributing and playing a rotational part in one of the most solid units in the league.

 

[Mcsports]

I’d lay a C plus B minus on it.

I’d give Jerry credit for going hard and heavy after Collins as an immediate free agent. After the incident I believe teams were hesitant to draft him and he may not have played for a rookie salary structure as a 7th or 6th rounder.

Jones, though, opened up his pocketbook and wooed Collins as well. So he’s definitely a part of the rookie class that year and the evaluation process. I’m just not sure how good of a right tackle he is right now........

 

[Risen Star]

But 3rd rounders are more than likely is either someone who is a rotational guy or someone who never works out. Early 2nd round is usually guys who were good enough to be 1st round picks.

Then we could draft the guy in the late 1st.

See? Drafting late in that round didn't hurt us.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Gregory is a "starter" right now, but he's playing like garbage and has done nothing for the previous 3 years. Failed pick.

A couple of those seasons Gregory didn't accrue a season. Still RFA in 2020.

The numbers don't say that he's playing that bad. He's only at 34% of defensive snaps this year, although the per game snaps are more like 50% recently. PFF says "above average".

I don't see garbage this year, and think it's way too early to declare him a failed pick.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Expectations for the 2015 draft should be scaled to the 27th pick in each round.

With Byron really coming through, and Jerry winning the La'el sweepstakes, it's a win. Gregory, Swaim, and Wilson make it a good draft.

Even Green should count for something. We had a swing tackle who worked for us, until the coaches decided to turn him into a guard, and back again into a tackle. That's not on the guys doing the drafting.

 

[WeaponX]

With recently acquiring Amari Cooper, this is a good time to look back at the 2015 draft class:

Rd1 4(4) Amari Cooper WR
Rd1 27(27) Byron Jones CB
Rd2 28(60) Randy Gregory DE
Rd3 27(91) Chaz Green OT
Rd4 28(127) Damien Wilson LB
Rd5 27(163) Ryan Russel DE
Rd7 19(236) Mark Nzeocha LB
Rd7 29(246) Geoff Swaim TE
UDFA La'el Collins OT

This has turned into such a solid draft for the team. With the addition of Cooper, 4 player are now starters from the draft class. Gregory and Wilson are decent rotational players.

It did take a few years for most of these players to develop, but they are getting there.

The front office/scouting department is doing their job.

Overall grade: B+

What grade would you give this draft and what could have been done differently?

You can’t really include Amari Cooper in that draft haul as he cost us next year’s 1, but even without him I’d say B-.

Would have been a solid B if B Jones had played CB all the while and Gregory hadn’t been suspended for most of his career.

Swap out Gregory for Danielle Hunter and easily an A draft.

If I were in charge the OL would have still been a fail that year as I wanted TJ Clemmings instead of Chaz Green and they both ended up busts.

 

[J12B]

Swaim was the best pick that year.

Change my mind.

Lol maybe not the best pick, but if he continues to progress and contribute, he very well could be the best value as a 7th rounder.

 

[Kaiser]

The rest are just jags. Which is fine because you can't expect every draftee to pan out.

I'd give it a C+ too but Damien Wilson and Swaim are good value for where they were drafted. Gregory could turn this into an A draft though, who knows.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Very true. I'm just glad Gregory is playing. Now we can say we know what kind of talent he is. Unfortunately, he hasnt been what he was expected to be, but he is contributing and playing a rotational part in one of the most solid units in the league.

Gregory just started getting some play time in late July. No NFL for a year and a half, and after 3 months, PFF has him as above average. I was hoping for more, but I'll take it. It's reasonable to expect him to continue to trend up this year and next. If he stays on the field. Still huge potential upside and downside.

 

[Nightman]

Every time I see the drafting late in every round excuse I go cross eyed.

It doesn't matter except in the 1st round.

It depends on the context

If you are grading vs other second round picks then it matters a lot

Your theory might apply after the 3rd round but the earlier the pick the bigger the difference

35>>>>>>>60 compared to 150>>>175 compared to 200>>>>225

 

[Nightman]

I would hate to be in your class..... you are worse than the nuns back in Catholic School

BJones is a huge A+ ...... so is Swaim and LCollins
ACooper is an A...... just not yet for us
RGregory is an INC with 2 years left
DWilson is a B

That is a huge haul for any Draft...... Green and Nacho are both still in the league4 years later

 

[ConstantReboot]

It looked good until I saw Chaz Green. Now its an F for me.

 

[Carter]

Simple maths is probably too much for some People.

Cant Count Cooper in the 2015 class if you give up 2019 1st for him

He is our 2019 Draft Pick...it makes 0 sense to put him in 2015 if you gave up another first. Also we didnt have him from 2015 to End of 2018 so its just useless.

So correct would be

2019
1st..Amari Cooper WR
2nd...
3rd...

 

[408Cowboy]

With recently acquiring Amari Cooper, this is a good time to look back at the 2015 draft class:

Rd1 4(4) Amari Cooper WR
Rd1 27(27) Byron Jones CB
Rd2 28(60) Randy Gregory DE
Rd3 27(91) Chaz Green OT
Rd4 28(127) Damien Wilson LB
Rd5 27(163) Ryan Russel DE
Rd7 19(236) Mark Nzeocha LB
Rd7 29(246) Geoff Swaim TE
UDFA La'el Collins OT

This has turned into such a solid draft for the team. With the addition of Cooper, 4 player are now starters from the draft class. Gregory and Wilson are decent rotational players.

It did take a few years for most of these players to develop, but they are getting there.

The front office/scouting department is doing their job.

Overall grade: B+

What grade would you give this draft and what could have been done differently?

If Oakland sent us Cooper for a 2015 1st round pick I'd take back everything I ever said about this HC and FO. Too bad they didn't though. So let's just slot him in where he belongs as NEXT year's selection. That way we can grade all the picks used for that draft to actually grade what we got from that draft.

 

[408Cowboy]

According to Jerry we now got 4 1st rounders out of that draft

Convinced himself next year's just up and disappeared on him too.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Then we could draft the guy in the late 1st.

See? Drafting late in that round didn't hurt us.

Drafting late means you miss out on two bluechip prospects. Your logic is heavily flawed.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Too bad we missed the whole rookie contract on Cooper and wasted most of Byron Jones rookie deal as well. Just a small detail good teams recognize.