2015 NFL Draft results: First three rounds in the books

Injuries are quickly becoming the storyline of the 2015 NFL Draft. We’ve seen teams reach on players in the first few rounds of the draft, while some very talented players wound up falling.

Jay Ajayi of Boise State was the biggest name still on the board after four rounds. Ajayi is one of the most-talented running backs in this year’s draft but his injury concerns had teams avoiding him until the Miami Dolphins finally pulled the trigger at No. 149 overall. He can be a major contributor if healthy.

Tight end is another position that finally saw some action in the third round, with guys like Clive Walford of Miami and Tyler Kroft of Rutgers finding new homes -- Walford in Oakland and Kroft in Cincinnati. Both tight ends were ranked highly overall but the position hasn’t seen a ton of movement thus far.

Here are the complete results from the third round:

Dawson did not come out of high school with much fanfare, spending his first collegiate years at Trinity Valley Community College before transferring to TCU in 2012. When Dawson began to see regular time on defense in 2013, he amassed a team-leading 91 tackles, including 10 for loss. Dawson became a force in 2014 with 136 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four interceptions. The monster year earned Dawson first-team Big 12 honors and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Over at NFL.com, an AFC West regional scout talked about the other perceived knock on Dawson.

In said Senior Bowl, Nelson broke up a few passes and had four tackles. In two years with Oregon State, he compiled 122 total tackles and eight interceptions. He grabbed six of those interceptions in 2013, meaning he managed only two in his final season, which was a concern in the pre-draft process.

Nelson is a physical, aggressive cornerback, and that’s one of his biggest strengths. He’s great at jamming receivers and excels in press coverage -- though when he is beaten, he has below-average recovery. He’s a bit raw, more so than most of the top-flight corners coming out this year.

Anderson was selected first-team All-Pac-12 in 2014 after leading the Cardinal with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. The political science major was a standout in the classroom as well, earning Pac-12 All-Academic first-team honors three times during his time at Stanford.

The 6’6, 294-pound lineman put on quite a show at the combine as one of the top performers in the three-cone drill (7.2 seconds) and 20-yard short shuttle (4.19 seconds). Despite showing excellent lateral quickness and burst, he tested below average in the 40-yard dash (5.03 seconds), vertical jump (30 inches) and broad jump (111 inches).

Heuerman started every game for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons and fits the mold of the big, athletic tight end teams covet in today’s NFL. He’s 6’5 and 254 pounds, and is athletic enough to be a solid receiving target at the next level. In four seasons at Ohio State, Heuerman caught 52 passes for 792 yards and seven touchdowns, though he only started his last two seasons.

Heuerman put up solid numbers at Ohio State’s pro day, running the 40-yard dash in 4.8 and 4.83 seconds, and posting a vertical jump of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet.

Johnson was incredibly productive at Northern Iowa, breaking a slew of school records including career rushing yards, career rushing touchdowns and career all-purpose yards. He finished his college career with 866 carries for 4,682 yards and 49 touchdowns. The 2014 season was his best with 1,553 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Johnson improved each season he was with the Panthers. He’s a big-bodied running back who is capable of taking multiple hits before he goes down. That said, he doesn’t have great acceleration through holes made for him, and isn’t going to make anybody miss. He prefers to run through the guys tackling him.

First of all, he is an exceptional run blocker who can set the edge in the run game. At 6’5, 246 pounds, Kroft also has a large frame that allows him to win in the middle. One issue, however, is that he has not demonstrated enough of that ability given his size. His catch radius has come into question, and he has the tendency to run lackluster routes.

But those shortcomings can be overlooked considering his athleticism and versatility. He can line up in the slot or on the outside and be effective from either position. He was a wide receiver in his senior year of high school, and has the skills to be a capable pass catcher at the next level.

Hicks was recognized as a 2014 second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press and a second-team All-America selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his efforts last season. Although he played in every game for Texas as a senior, Hicks does have a history of injuries in college. He missed a combined 19 games during the previous two seasons due to a hip injury (2012) and torn Achilles (2013), and also sat out spring practices in 2011 with a fractured foot.

Mager was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference player in 2014 with three interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He started 46 of the 48 games he played with Texas State and was also an honorable mention All-WAC player in 2012. He’s a lot more complete than other defensive backs at this stage of the draft, and can’t be considered “raw.” That said, he doesn’t seem to have as high a ceiling as others, with average instincts. He does has value as a kick returner.

A squatty, versatile interior offensive lineman, Miller can serve in a number of roles. He played both guard spots during his time in Louisville and may be considered at center at some point during his NFL career.

Miller possesses great strength and can demolish defenders when he squares them up. He has long arms for such a short offensive lineman, and as a result has a lower center of gravity and solid reach. Miller is quick off the snap and bends well despite limited athleticism.

Carter is one of the better zone corners in this year’s draft, and one reason for his low interception totals is due to the fact that opposing quarterbacks avoided throwing his way. He also has good size and speed for a cornerback, with the physicality teams are after in today’s NFL.

One of Carter’s biggest issues is that he does have the tendency to get too physical, using his hands downfield. That will draw a penalty every time in the pros, but Carter has surely spent much of the pre-draft process convincing teams this won’t be a problem at the next level.

In 2014, Harold was one of the premier defenders in the ACC, earning second-team All-ACC accolades. Harold played as a defensive end in the Cavaliers’ scheme, and over the last two years registered a combined 29.5 tackles for loss. He also posted 8.5 sacks in 2013. Harold has earned substantial playing time over the past three years, although he comes into the NFL without experience standing up on the outside.

The major question with Harold is whether he can adjust to playing from a different stance. The athleticism is clearly there, but can he learn how to use his hands and adjust his footwork to his new dynamic?

Williams’ physicality is coveted, but he’ll need to tone it down at the next level. Many have suggested Williams could be looking at some early penalties in his career if he doesn’t make some changes to his game, and that’s a fair concern at this point.

On top of that, Williams needs to get better in zone coverage. He gave up five touchdown passes in 2014, and a lot of that has to do with him not doing particularly well in zone. He’s been a strong cover corner, and that’s never been one of his concerns. Williams was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2014 and was the defensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game against Auburn in 2014.

Johnson has good burst and is an agile runner who is elusive in tight space. He makes himself small when surrounded, which helps enhance his durability. In addition, he runs patiently and waits for plays to develop. That makes him a prime candidate to excel in zone blocking schemes at the next level.

Johnson’s hand size of 9.25” is above average for a player who stands just 5’9. He ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at the Combine and had a 33.5-inch vertical. His measurables don’t tell the entire story -- he is a determined runner who uses a competitive spirit to will himself through defenders at times. At Miami’s pro day, he improved his 40 time and posted a 4.47, backing up his talk that he could do better than his Combine numbers.

In four seasons with the Bulldogs, Conley caught 76 passes for 1,938 yards and 20 touchdowns. He had 36 receptions for 657 yards and two touchdowns in 2014, which was solid but he caught four fewer touchdowns than he did in 2013. He did lead Georgia in receiving yards in 2014, and would have had a bigger season in 2013 if he didn’t miss two games with an ankle sprain.

Conley was one of the top performers at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He ran the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.35 seconds, put up 18 reps on the bench press (among the best at his position), posted a 45-inch vertical leap and 139-inch broad jump. All of those times placed him near the top of the pile among receivers, and he posted times of 7.06 seconds in the 3-cone drill, 4.30 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 11.65 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle.

Grayson will need to sit and learn for a season or two before he can be a starter, but he has the potential. He has shown great accuracy and can throw the deep ball well, though his decision-making leaves something to be desired.

Besides having the most complicated name in the draft, Odighizuwa also possesses one of the highest ceilings of any of the top prospects. He is well built at 6’3, 267 pounds with a chiseled physique. Odighizuwa has long, 33 3/4” arms and huge paws measured at 11”. Those traits allow him to get in the way of passes; he knocked down eight over his last two seasons.

Odighizuwa is also scheme versatile. His athleticism and ability to play in space make him a strong fit at 3-4 outside linebacker as well as 4-3 defensive end. Teams with more creative defensive coordinators will find ways to exploit his versatility at the next level.

Coleman is a difficult tailback to bring down once he’s squared up his shoulders. Though he’s not overly big at 5’11, 206 pounds, he’s not afraid to run through contact for extra yardage. He also possesses the patience to wait for holes to develop, a surprising skill considering the quality of the offensive line at Indiana.

At the same time, Coleman isn’t the type of player who creates extra yardage with a well-timed cut or extra gear. He has small hands, a trait that limits him as a receiver. Coleman also has endured over 400 carries over the past two seasons. Tailbacks have a limited number of touches before they break down, and Coleman has certainly taken a beating in college.

Grasu, a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, earned second-team All-American honors in his senior campaign and was a Rimington Award finalist for the nation’s best center. He was the leader of a Ducks offensive line that paved the way for the fourth-most rushing yards of any FBS team during his four-year career at Oregon (2011-14), and averaged a nation’s-best 6.1 yards per rush in that span.

Limited by an injury at the Combine in February, Grasu didn’t work out in Indianapolis, but he was able to participate at Oregon’s pro day. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds, had a short shuttle time of 4.2 seconds and a 3-cone time of 7.84 seconds, displaying the athleticism that scouts think will help him become a quality starting center at the next level.

Strong was named All-Pac 12 in 2014 and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the best collegiate receiver in the country. Strong really turned his college career around after having to sit out in 2011 because of academic issues, before starring at Pierce College in 2012. Once he transferred to Arizona State, Strong made the most of his opportunity.

The lightning-quick wideout is one of the most versatile prospects in the draft. Lockett ranked third nationally in total receiving yards (1,515) and all-purpose yards per game (176.6) in 2014, and also was tops in the nation with a 19.1-yard punt return average. He finished his collegiate career in style, setting Alamo Bowl records with 13 catches and 249 all-purpose yards in a 40-35 loss to UCLA last January.

Lockett put his talent on display at the combine in February, and didn’t disappoint the scouts who were on-hand to watch him. He was a top performer in the running tests, ranking among the five best wide receivers in the 40-yard dash (4.4 seconds), short 20-yard shuttle (4.07) and long 60-yard shuttle (11.14).

Here are the complete results from the second round.

Walford is a solid blocker with a lot of potential as a receiver, but his receiving ability hasn’t come along as quickly as hoped. He had 10 drops in 2012 and 2013 combined, and didn’t do a lot to improve on that last season. However, he is fast and physical against smaller corners.

Walford is a big-bodied tight end who can catch balls over cornerbacks without leaping, and he’s being drafted a lot more for his potential than his actual college production. That’s usually the case for tight ends, though, and Walford seems to have a high ceiling. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds and put up a 35-inch vertical jump, 120-inch broad jump and 4.57-second 20-yard shuttle at the NFL Combine in February.

In terms of his ability to contribute at an NFL level, Cann demonstrated that he can improve on the field. He keeps his head up when pass blocking and has good acceleration off the ball coupled with a low center of gravity. His powerful hands also help to mitigate his lack of overall size. Although his pass protection skills need to get better, Cann has the talent to become a starter in the league.

Even though he played left guard throughout his college career, Cann can play on the right side or even at center. At his pro day, he mostly worked out as a center in positional drills. Cann started every game but one at South Carolina and appeared in 52 total games. He was named a team captain as both a junior and a senior.

Forced by circumstance to play left tackle for the Utes, Poutasi will likely make the move to guard in the NFL, since his lack of quickness and balance could cause problems against speed rushers on the outside. But given his hulking frame and above-average strength (27 bench press reps at the combine), he could excel on the interior. He could also end up landing at right tackle, where he started 10 games as a freshman.

Poutasi started 35 games at the two tackle spots during his three years in Utah. But despite that extensive experience, he’s considered by many draft experts to be a longterm project in the NFL, which could prevent him from becoming a starter anytime soon.