NFL Tickets
Comparing Your Team’s 2015 NFL Draft Pick To Current Players
Credit: USA Today SportsComparing Your Team’s 2015 NFL Draft Pick To Current Players
Making a decision that will affect the immediate future of your franchise is never easy, even if the entire ownership of your favorite team is incompetent. But let’s look past the gaffes and winners, instead turning to the future, since this is the hand we’ve been dealt. This isn’t best case, this isn’t worse case, but it’ll be a strong case for every projection.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston — Eli Manning
Credit: USA Today SportsTampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston — Eli Manning
The Florida State Seminoles ran the most pro-like offense possible over Jameis Winston’s two seasons at the helm. This is great preparation for a quarterback… if you believe that NFL offensive schemes remain stagnant. Did you notice how similar the 2014 New England Patriots’ offense was to Baylor’s? I’m not running to the other side of the see-saw, but I am going to put a pin into the ballooning thought that backs this “pro-style offense” philosophy. Now that I could finish that cathartic rant, here’s what I foresee: Winston is most like Eli Manning. Both possess great poise, both are pigeonholed to a “pro-style” offense and both are effective, yet still throw a ton of interceptions.
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota — Robert Griffin III
Credit: USA Today SportsTennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota — Robert Griffin III
Go ahead, throw your Diet Pepsi at the computer screen. Then gather yourself and think for just a moment: How remarkably different is Marcus Mariota from RG III? The only difference I see is in the frame. Mariota is built like a four-door sedan while Griffin is built more like a coupe and possibly made from papier mache. If you’re still with me, let me remind you just one knee injury separates Mariota from being the immobilized shell of a Heisman trophy winner — you know, like RG III.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr. — Bruce Irvin
Credit: USA Today SportsJacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr. — Bruce Irvin
Gold shoes or ruby red slippers, Dante Fowler pulled some witchcraft on the Jacksonville Jaguars to jump at least two spots above projection and leap onto a big pile of expectations. At 6-foot-3, 261 pounds, Fowler is the next prototype of Bruce Irvin — whether he’s Irvin 2.0 or 1.0.1 will be up to the gods.
Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper — Julio Jones
Credit: USA Today SportsOakland Raiders: Amari Cooper — Julio Jones
Both Amari Cooper and Julio Jones are prototypical Alabama products. Jones hoists more height and a little more weight, but the similarity becomes striking when you compare their 40-times: 4.39 for Jones, 4.42 for Cooper. Proving once and for all, Nick Saban knows what he likes and never changes.
Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff — Jake Matthews
Credit: USA Today SportsWashington Redskins: Brandon Scherff — Jake Matthews
Both are big physical tackles and both are with teams that need more bite on the line. It’s unfortunate Brandon Scherff inherits a tire fire in Landover, Maryland, but if anyone will turn the Washington Redskins’ culture around, it could be the 'Skins' newest hog in Scherff.
New York Jets: Leonard Williams — Mario Williams
Credit: USA Today SportsNew York Jets: Leonard Williams — Mario Williams
Leonard Williams is a big defensive end and at 6-foot-5, 291 pounds Williams could easily apply for nose tackle. Mario Williams shares this same spirit of girth, measuring 6-foot-6 and weighing 292. I believe the former Williams is just as talented as the latter and I expect identical Williams' career arcs.
Chicago Bears: Kevin White — Cordarrelle Patterson
Credit: USA Today SportsChicago Bears: Kevin White — Cordarrelle Patterson
The “taller than 6-foot-2, about 220 pound” club has another member with the selection of Kevin White. Anatomically, White sizes up almost identically to Cordarrelle Patterson of the Vikings, and at the combine was seven hundredths faster in the 40.
Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley — Robert Quinn
Credit: USA Today SportsAtlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley — Robert Quinn
The edge seems to be where most NFL scouting departments are willing to bet their reputation. If you can't cover the quarterback's receivers, then you better get to the QB before he finds them. This appears to be the Atlanta Falcons' philosophy in terms of drafting Robert Quinn's body double.
New York Giants: Ereck Flowers — Greg Robinson
Credit: USA Today SportsNew York Giants: Ereck Flowers — Greg Robinson
Tall, big, roaming tackles are a commodity in the NFL, but much is left to be proven by Ereck Flowers. Until we see more turnover for Big Blue, Flowers registers a comparison rating of: Greg Robinson.
St. Louis Rams: Todd Gurley — Eddie Lacy
Credit: USA Today SportsSt. Louis Rams: Todd Gurley — Eddie Lacy
Think Eddie Lacy is too bulky for this comparison? Then you wouldn't like Todd Gurley when he's angry. Both backs run with similar downhill ferocity while generating similar punishing results. Give Gurley just one year on an NFL meal plan and we'll see who's the bulkier back.
Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes — Richard Sherman
Credit: USA Today SportsMinnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes — Richard Sherman
I’m calling it. Trae Waynes is scary fast (4.32 40-yard dash), and possesses good length at 6-foot-1. If the intangibles line up with the tangibles, the Minnesota Vikings have uncovered the next Richard Sherman.
Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton - Domata Peko
Credit: USA Today SportsCleveland Browns: Danny Shelton - Domata Peko
Whether having played in Washington state, or playing at Michigan State, you can’t deny the comparison — or the appetite for destroying interior linemen.
New Orleans Saints: Andrus Peat — Luke Joeckel
Credit: USA Today SportsNew Orleans Saints: Andrus Peat — Luke Joeckel
Luke Joeckel and Andrus Peat are both who you’d consider “tall and jacked” linemen. Now it’s time to see if streamlined physiques are setting the new norm.
Miami Dolphins: DeVante Parker — Sammy Watkins
Credit: USA Today SportsMiami Dolphins: DeVante Parker — Sammy Watkins
I’m very high and DeVante Parker and apparently so are the Miami Dolphins. Parker will be the competitive alternative to Sammy Watkins, in other words, if you like Watkins, then you’ll love Parker.
San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon — LeSean McCoy
Credit: USA Today SportsSan Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon — LeSean McCoy
Although Melvin Gordon was drafted well before LeSean McCoy, this is just a byproduct of the climate. Running backs are now back in vogue, and Shady 2.0 is now a San Diego Charger.
Houston Texans: Kevin Johnson — Darius Slay
Credit: USA Today SportsHouston Texans: Kevin Johnson — Darius Slay
Somehow Kevin Johnson still feels like a sleeper pick. The Houston Texans nabbed Johnson in the first, but like Darius Slay, I expect Johnson to make a quick impact on a playoff-bound team.
San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead — Ezekiel Ansah
Credit: USA Today SportsSan Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead — Ezekiel Ansah
The back end of this Detroit Lions comparison might be the most exciting. Ezekiel Ansah made the most of his upside in 2014 and Arik Amstead joins a Forty Niner team that will desperately need instant output.
Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters — Dee Milliner
Credit: USA Today SportsKansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters — Dee Milliner
The Kansas City Chiefs are still looking for a solution to the absence of Eric Berry and for now have filled the void with a player fitting Dee Milliner's description. Decent length, decent speed and decent size, pretty much the NFL average.
Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving — Trent Williams
Credit: USA TodayCleveland Browns: Cameron Erving — Trent Williams
Another big hulking lineman heads to the Cleveland Browns as another skilled player that seems to always be wearing his "I don't want to be here" face.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor — Jarvis Landry
Credit: USA Today SportsPhiladelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor — Jarvis Landry
Watch for Nelson Agholor to go from underrated to early off the board in your 2016 fantasy football draft. The most Jarvis Landry thing Agholor can do is to be himself.
Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Ogbuehi — Tyron Smith
Credit: USA Today SportsCincinnati Bengals: Cedric Ogbuehi — Tyron Smith
Two very athletic tackles, one is a part of the resurgent offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys (Tyron Smith), the nimble apparent Cedric Ogbuehi gets his shot to carry the Cincinnati Bengals beyond the first round of the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Bud Dupree — Khalil Mack
Credit: USA Today SportsPittsburgh Steelers: Bud Dupree — Khalil Mack
Could there possibly be another Khalil Mack out there so soon? Alvin “Bud” Dupree possesses a little more size and just as much tenacity.
Denver Broncos: Shane Ray — Von Miller
Credit: USA Today SportsDenver Broncos: Shane Ray — Von Miller
Both "technically" products of the SEC, Von Miller and Shane Ray share many of the same attributes. It's even possible the two share the same size (Ray is apparently four pounds lighter according to Google). Unless Ray is an absolute flop, the only thing really separating the two is how creepy Miller looks when he gives interviews while wearing glasses.
Arizona Cardinals: D.J. Humphries — D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Credit: USA Today SportsArizona Cardinals: D.J. Humphries — D’Brickashaw Ferguson
If you can call these two behemoth men “small,” you can see this comparison between these more narrowly built linemen.
Carolina Panthers: Shaq Thompson — Alec Ogletree
Credit: USA Today SportsCarolina Panthers: Shaq Thompson — Alec Ogletree
In another side-by-side size comparison, I set Shaq Thompson’s reasonable upside to the level of Alec Ogletree.
Baltimore Ravens: Breshad Perriman — DeAndre Hopkins
Credit: USA Today SportsBaltimore Ravens: Breshad Perriman — DeAndre Hopkins
Both will be — and you could argue DeAndre Hopkins is already — bruising impacts in the NFL. Not exactly off the charts in height, but still dominating and thick receivers.
Dallas Cowboys: Byron Jones — Kyle Fuller
Credit: USA Today SportsDallas Cowboys: Byron Jones — Kyle Fuller
Undersized but perhaps undervalued, the Cowboys are looking to strike NFL draft gold again and on the defensive side for 2015. If Byron Jones can reproduce the intermittent big game explosion of Kyle Fuller, Big D could hold defensive implications.
Detroit Lions: Laken Tomlinson — Zack Martin
Credit: USA Today SportsDetroit Lions: Laken Tomlinson — Zack Martin
The Detroit Lions can dream right? Remember, the Cowboys found this huge pickup down at No. 16 last year.
Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett — T.Y. Hilton
Credit: USA Today SportsIndianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett — T.Y. Hilton
I’m not sure why the Indianapolis Colts drafted two of the same receiver, but they did. Maybe Andrew Luck sees something in the value of small receivers with big speed.
Green Bay Packers: Damarious Randall — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Credit: USA Today SportsGreen Bay Packers: Damarious Randall — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Speaking of carbon copies, the Green Bay Packers played defensive copy-cat with the Colts in drafting Damarious Randall.
New Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony — Manti Te’o
Credit: USA Today SportsNew Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony — Manti Te’o
I believe Stephone Anthony has a real girlfriend, but Anthony also bears a real NFL resemblance to Manti Te’o.
New England Patriots: Malcom Brown — Fletcher Cox
Credit: USA Today SportsNew England Patriots: Malcom Brown — Fletcher Cox
Why the Detroit Lions passed on Malcom Brown, we may never know. What we do know is the rich just became richer with the Patriots pulling off this Fletcher-Cox-worthy steal.
Share 
