The NFL draft is usually the most dramatic and exciting time of the NFL offseason, and one of the best parts of the entire season. Rank the draft up there with the Super Bowl. Hundreds of thousands of hours of videos hit the web, and millions of articles as people put their opinion on the web for others to see.
This article isn't a mock draft, nor anything close to it. I'm putting up 5 of the top Defensive Back Candidates, and selecting 5 slots the player could end up drafted at, and how it would benefit the team. So here we go, in my opinion, from the game film and such, the top 5 Defensive Back Candidates in the 2015 NFL draft!
1. CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
6-0, 185 pounds. 40 yard time 4.31 seconds. 2 year starter. Waynes is a big play corner, very much like Richard Sherman, who hits hard and plays solid zone coverage. Williams is stronger and faster then most corners in the NFL, and could step into a starting role in 2015. He has a good habit of playing bigger then his 6-0 frame.
9. New York Giants: Waynes could go as early as #9 overall, and still earn every penny. Prince Amukamara has struggled both on the field and, in 2014, with injuries, and with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on the other side, Waynes would be a great fit to a defense in need of a lot of help in the secondary.
10. Saint Louis Rams: Saint Louis could use Waynes too. The Rams secondary needs some help at the corner position, and adding a talent like Waynes next to Janoris Jenkins could create a deadly two headed dog to attack NFL Quarterbacks with.
13. New Orleans Saints: The Saints are cleaning out the offense to make room for an elite defense. Waynes would be a perfect fit looking into the future to play beside Brandon Browner. Browner has the Seattle Seahawk backround, and the duo would be a great compliment to each other.
17. San Diego Chargers: This would be a dream come true for the Chargers, needing someone great to play opposite of Brandon Flowers. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers traded up to try and grab him before someone else does, he's just that type of player. If Waynes falls this far, don't expect him to move past this spot.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: If Waynes happens to move down to 18, the Chiefs won't pass him up either. In need of a shutdown corner, Waynes will either grow into such a role, or he will be that role this season. The Chiefs know they need a good Wide Receiver, but with the depth of the position this season, they'll pass on a first round receiver to grab Waynes.
2. SS Landon Collins, Alabama
6-0, 228. 40 yard time 4.53 seconds. 2 year starter. Bigger and faster then the average NFL safety, Collins plays more like an Outside Linebacker, and lined up at such positions during his 2 seasons starting at Alabama. He isn't afraid to attack a running back, and he plays very well down the field in coverage. Collins collected 103 tackles in 2014, 4.5 behind the line, and 3 picks.
14. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins could use Collins greatly, with the weakness in their safeties, however, they'd probably have to convert him from SS to FS. Collins could make the transition, no doubt in my mind, but I'd rather play him at his natural position. What the Dolphins think, I don't know. I just see a great lineup with him and Brent Grimes in the secondary.
17. San Diego Chargers: I don't know what San Diego sees as top priorities, but Jahleel Wilson and Jimmy Wilson aren't going to fill the SS slot. I hope San Diego realizes that, and Collins is going to fit the Chargers scheme very well. I'd love to see Collins and Eric Weddle playing together in 2015.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Husain Abdullah needs his support from the SS spot with Eric Berry leaving with cancer. Collins could fit that really well, and play well with a struggling secondary. Still, he could be the bright spot, and possibly play his way to the Pro-Bowl as the bright spot on a struggling team.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles would love to get their hands on Collins. Earl Wolff needs to be replaced at the SS slot, and with a re-juiced secondary and Malcolm Jenkins playing on his other side, Collins would play like a seasoned pro. Chip Kelly seems to be all the rage right now.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers need to find a good replacement for Troy Polomalu. Collins may not have the famous curly hair, but he'll have the soul and spirit to breathe the life that Polomalu did into the team and the talent to keep Steeler fans from feeling heartache and sickness from missing their long haired crusader.
3. CB PJ Williams, Florida State
6-0, 194. 40 yard time 4.57 seconds. 2 year starter. Williams seems to be attracted to contact, and does he hit big. Williams is smaller then the average corner, but his explosion and athleticism is among the best. Williams did a lot of corner blitzing in the Florida State defensive scheme, and ended up with 1 sack and a lot of good QB pressures. He's not afraid to get behind the line and disrupt a play, as he collected 6.5 of those tackles behind the line.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have Williams Gay and Cortez Allen who share time on the left, with Allen getting the majority of it, and BW Webb on the otherside. Webb was claimed by Pittsburgh off the waivers in August of last season, and he appeared mainly on special teams in 11 games, collecting 2 tackles. The Steelers would use Williams immediately, and he'd be an effective piece of the defense in 2015.
23. Detroit Lions: The Lions like physical defenders, and adding Williams could boost a struggling secondary. Darius Slay needs someone to play opposite of him, and Williams has the talent to step in and do that this season. I'd love to see him play in a Lions uniform.
25. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers need a shutdown corner. While Williams may not be that in 2015, he may be down the road. He'd be valuable on a top notch defense, and great in that defense. Playing beside Josh Norman would put Williams in a spotlight role, and his motor would be as valuable as Luke Kuechly's.
30. Green Bay Packers: PJ Williams would be huge as a nickelback in a loaded secondary, and could learn so much in Green Bay. If the Packers happen to land him as a developmental piece, Williams could turn into an All-Pro if not a Hall of Famer.
31. New Orleans Saints: The Saints having this extra first round pick from Seattle could gain by drafting Williams here if they happen to miss on Waynes, that is if Williams is still on the board. Williams could be a building block for the re-shaping Saints defense.
4. CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
5-9, 192. 40 yard time not yet recorded. 4 year starter. Ifo is going to be a steal to whoever picks him up as he looks to slip into the 2nd round. He has a lot of first round talent in him, however a lot of teams are concerned about his ACL tear last season, and that's what's causing him to drop. Ifo has the talent to be the best cornerback in this seasons draft if he stays healthy, which is why I have him ranked at #4. He's a hard hitter, and he owns a knack for breaking up balls.
33. Tennessee Titans: The Titans could easily take him with the first pick of day 2 of the NFL draft. He may be small, but he can easily still win a starting job in 2015. The Titans could use all of the help they can get in the secondary after last season, and Ifo can step up and play well.
35. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders need a good corner opposite of DJ Hayden, or one who can step in when Hayden goes down hurt again. Ifo can be that guy, though the Raiders may be done with picking players who are injury risks. If they do take him, very good fit with his playing style arriving in Oakland.
36. Jacksonville Jaguars: A weak secondary killed the Jaguars last season, so by picking Ifo, Gus Bradley gets a player with Pro-Bowl upside to work with, and a great piece to build his secondary on with Johnathan Cyprian.
44. New Orleans Saints: If the Saints miss out on the first 2 corners, Ifo is another turn to option. Don't expect the Saints to take him, though. I think they'll end up with Marcus Peters or Jalen Collins before they'd take Ifo.
45. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Zimmer loves having interesting defensive prospects, I remember people saying that the Vikings wouldn't take Anthony Barr last season because of the different schemes, and they took him anyways. I think Zimmer would love to develop a player like Ifo, and he would be a great fit in Minnesota.
5. CB Marcus Peters, Washington
6-0, 197. 40 yard time 4.53 seconds. 3 year starter. Williams is coming off of being kicked off the team for not getting along with coaches, and his technique is extremely sloppy. He has a ton of upside, and his cover talent is there, I just hated seeing him miss tackles over and over again because of his aggressiveness. He's not as attracted to contact as any of the other players in this draft, and that's an important thing to me. I want to see a player with a nose for hitting people.
47. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins may draft him as a developmental project, to take over from Brent Grimes in a few years when he gets old and his contract runs up. Playing around players like Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh might have a positive effect on him and his attitude.
51. Houston Texans: The Texans need a player to take over from Johnathan Joseph here in a year or so, and Peters could be developed enough with Joseph and Kareem Jackson on the team. The Texans might just take him with that in mind.
55. Arizona Cardinals: With great Corners in the desert, Peters could be selected to learn from a player who the two share a common playing style, Patrick Peterson. With Jerraud Powers playing on the opposite side, the Cardinals would love to have a player they could develop into a second shutdown corner to play with Peterson. Learning from Peterson, Arians and company, Peters could see some Pro-Bowl action.
58. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens don't have too much depth at corner, and with Peters added, he could be a great value pick if still on the board at #58. Learning from the likes of Jimmy Smith, Lardarius Webb, and coach Matt Weiss, Peters can grow into a groomed starter.
63. Seattle Seahawks: There's always the Legion of Boom, the dream of any defensive back entering the league. Pete Carroll focuses on teaching technique, and that's something that Peter's needs. Peter's being drafted by Seattle would be the best thing for him, and if he takes to the coaching, the best thing for Seattle.
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