Politics, religion, and money are universally infamous for being the pillars of contentious opinion. What makes those topics so potent is how everyone can be both right and wrong at the same time, the convergence of world views, and how the right answers won’t come for years—if ever. The NFL draft—which is at the intersection of the two most popular leagues in the United States—draws parallels with the world’s most sacred topics. 

Perhaps in an act of masochism, five of VAVEL’s distinguished NFL writers—mock draft maven, Jon Fox, NFL editor, Caleb Wahlgren, and NFL writers: Thomas Eurich, Randy Glisson II, and Chris Robbins—decided to give their takes on some of the drafts burning questions and topics. The writers’ answers didn’t disappoint and often provide commentary that is incongruous with the perceived consensus.

Famous Jameis or Super Mario?

Speaking of sensitive topics, the Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota debate nearly came to a cool before catching fire this past week. As NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, moving up Mariota as his new number one QB and ESPN’s Ron Jawarski reporting that Tampa Bay is seriously considering drafting Mariota over Winston, the calm before the storm has officially come and gone. 

When the writers at VAVEL USA were asked who the best quarterback in the class was, they didn’t hold back on making candid remarks. Of the five surveyed writers, only Jon Fox and Randy Glisson II planted their flag in Winston’s camp. Glisson cited that Winston “is the better conventional QB,” while Fox reluctantly picked Winston out of what he called “a really bad QB class,” adding that none of them deserved to go in the top five.

Caleb Wahlgren and Chris Robbins felt more comfortable siding with Mariota. Wahlgren remarked that Winston’s off-field issues would deter him from trusting him while Robbins cited Winston’s interceptions and questioned his athletic mobility at the next level. It’s interesting to note that both writers felt more discomfort in Winston than confidence in Mariota, as Wahlgren writes, “[Mariota] doesn’t deserve to go number one overall. He needs some polish before he can shine as an NFL quarterback.”

That makes two votes for Winston and two for Mariota, so who decided to write in their candidate? That would be Thomas Eurich, who had UCLA’s Brett Hundley as his top quarterback, but intimated that none at the position would be a good choice for Tampa at number one overall.

The Duck has Landed?

Expanding on the quarterback narrative, the VAVEL USA panel was asked: Where will Marcus Mariota go?

Jon Fox had his many mock drafts to draw from and has settled on two teams as Mariota’s likeliest destination: Cleveland or Philadelphia. Randy Glisson also suggested that Chip Kelly’s Eagles would move up to select him—trading up with the Jets at six overall.

Both Chris Robbins and Caleb Wahlgren believe that the Titans will stay put and draft Mariota. Wahlgren felt confident that the Titans viewed Mariota as a decided upgrade over Mettenberger, although admitted that the team had other positions to address. Covering all his bases, Wahlgren proposed a trade that would net Mariota involving Culter, the seventh pick, and future second rounder, and a Chicago deep dish pizza.

Thomas Eurich continued to be the black sheep on this topic having Mariota ending up in Washington, and suggested San Diego and Chicago as other viable destinations.

Receive with Care

It’s a tough thought to imagine that next year, there may not be three receivers jockeying for top-10 certification like there has been in the past two drafts. The Amari Cooper vs. Kevin White (and DeVante Parker often crashing the party) debate is classic draft fare, and the VAVEL USA writers wasted no time digging in.

“Amari Cooper is the best receiver in this class” was something said (in one way or another) by Caleb Wahlgren, Jon Fox, and Thomas Eurich, referencing Cooper’s edge in polish and production. Kevin White and DeVante Parker, chosen by Randy Glisson and Chris Robbins, respectively, split the final two votes.

The writers also weighed in on how many receivers would be taken in the first round. With five receivers being taken in 2014, Thomas Eurich, Caleb Wahlgren, and Randy Glisson had this year’s class at least matching—and perhaps surpassing—last year’s output. Only Jon Fox thought only four would be taken in the first round, namely: Cooper, White, Strong, and thought that Perriman or Parker would round out the fourth spot.

While the majority of the writers believed that at least as many, or more, receivers would be pick in this year’s class as there were in 2014, most believed 2015 had the edge in quality. “This year’s class is good, but last year’s class could turn out to be one of the best ever,” wrote Randy Glisson. Many of his peers agreed, but Thomas Eurich continued to rebel against his contemporaries. “[2015’s class] is a little better,” wrote Eurich, “I think Dorial Green-Beckham, White, Parker will match Beckham, Benjamin, Watkins, and Strong and Perriman are just icing on the cake.” Only Chris Robbins saw a dead heat, but saw White as a superior prospect between the two drafts and 2015’s class providing better depth in the later rounds.

Gurley Men 

Earlier in this article, there was a mention regarding the lack of consensus regarding volatile topics. The Gordon vs. Gurley discussion once burned with the same rigor that fanned the Winston vs. Mariota debate. Amongst VAVEL USA writers the running back topic may be the closest to a consensus as this draft will come. Gurley was viewed as the likeliest to be the first running back selected, but not the best overall.

“Todd Gurley will go first on sheer potential,” wrote Fox when asked which running back would go first, adding, “As for the best, long term, it will be Melvin Gordon.” In contrast, Wahlgren suggested that past Wisconsin Badger running backs failure to gain traction in the NFL as a question mark for Gordon: “Montee Ball wasn’t as complete as the Broncos hoped and James White didn’t see the field for the Patriots last year.” Wahlgren also didn’t forget to credit what Wisconsin is truly renown for, as he puts it, “Wisconsin is known for having some heavy beefeaters up front.” 

Most of the writers also agreed on the amount of running backs going in round one. After the 2015 class failed to produce on a first round running back prospect, the VAVEL USA writers believed that at least one, and at most two, would be selected not he first day. “I really want to say one,” wrote Eurich on the amount of runners in round one, “but I think teams will reach and two will be taken.”

As a side note, when the writers where generally asked to nominate a sleeper pick throughout all positions, Wahlgren, Robbins, and Glisson all had Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford as their pick.

Maxx Volume

The current draft echo chamber suggests that Minnesota Golden Gopher tight end, Maxx Williams, is the clear-cut top player at his position, but the VAVEL USA writers did their best to deconstruct that notion.

Wahlgren, Robbins, and Glisson all agreed on Williams being the best tight end in the class, but all three thought he’d be a fringe first round prospect. Jon Fox nominated former Michigan tight end turned wide receiver, Devin Funchess, as the best tight end. Thomas Eurich didn’t miss this chance to “go nuts” and thought that Florida State’s Nick O’Leary is the top tight end, while also mentioning former Oklahoma quarterback, Blake Bell, and Arkansas Razorback, A.J. Derby, as high upside alternatives.

Beefeaters 

Unlike it past drafts, there isn’t the quintessential bookend type that a team will covet in the top five. Instead, this draft is split into two types of lineman: high potential and solid starters. Many in the panel agreed that Louisiana State’s La’el Collins and Iowa’s Brandon Scherff offer the best prospectus, but few viewed them as premier left tackles.

Jon Fox gave his take on the who’s who at left tackle in this draft, “the long term left tackles at the top of this class are as follows: Andrus Peat, Ereck Flowers, Jake Fisher, and D.J. Humphries.” It seems like offensive line is the proverbial musical chairs position in this draft as many of the top players project to a multitude of positions along the line.

Edge of Tomorrow

As NFL defenses adopt a more diverse schematic architecture, teams are finding more ways to put players in winning situations. No longer are teams targeting 4-3 or 3-4 specific edge rushers, but simply players with the mindset of getting to the quarterback. The 2015 draft class offers no shortage of sack-minded pass rushers, and the VAVEL USA writers did their best to match each player’s skills to a specific role.

Most all in the panel approved of Clemson’s Vic Beasley standing up in the NFL as a 3-4 outside backer, and both Randy Glisson and Thomas Eurich had him as their best rusher. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Missouri’s Shane Ray was seen as a 4-3 defensive end, and was Jon Fox’s top edge rusher.

Splitting the difference between Beasley and Ray was Dante Fowler. The writers vacillated on what role Fowler fit best, but Wahlgren praised his hybridity, “Fowler is probably the best of the group and would be great at either position.” Robbins offered some contextual analysis and speaking on how different situations affected a player’s success, “if Fowler is getting doubled in Oakland and Gregory goes to San Francisco and he’s only single covered or missed more often, I’ll take the system fit.”

Aside from the brand-name pass rushers in this class, Jon Fox included Shaq Riddick from West Virginia as his sleeper pick. Citing similar measurable to Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, Fox suggested that Riddick could be a productive third pass rusher in the 3-4 defense.

Insider Trading

Is it Leonard Williams' world and we’re all just living in it? Perhaps it is, but the writers did provide some nuance to what lies beneath the tent-pole position at interior defensive line.

“The best interior lineman in this class is Danny Shelton,” wrote Randy Glisson. Because Williams did often play the defensive end role for USC, Glisson may have given Shelton the edge on technicality, but he wasn’t the only writer riding the Shelton express. “Leonard Williams hands down, but if he doesn’t count, then I would go Danny Shelton from Washington,” responded Wahlgren. Thomas Eurich did his best Thomas Eurich impression and provided his sideline pick, Carl Davis from Iowa. On Davis, Eurich wrote, “love his versatility. He can play nose, 3-4 end, or 4-3 under tackle,” before adding, “Leonard Williams is obviously the best, but at this point that’s too easy.”

Cornered Market

Perhaps the VAVEL USA writers did their best to have this article end up with a “Waynes’ World” title for this section, but even with Trae Waynes 4/5 picks for top corner, this writer wasn’t having it. The panel was truly impressed with Waynes acumen in the defensive backfield, and Chris Robbins was perhaps the most declarative in his selection, as he wrote, “top corner is easily Trae Waynes. I don’t know anyone else who has top 15 potential.”

Adjourning the verdict for top corner was Eurich, who again bucked the consensus and went with Washington Huskie, Marcus Peters. “If not for his character flaws, top 10 pick for sure,” wrote Eurich of Peters, who was kicked of the Huskie football team mid-season.

Collins Avenue

Perhaps it would be easier to ask who is the best safety after Landon Collins—who is virtually viewed as the only safety in this class—but give this panel some flexibility to give opinions, and they won’t disappoint. Yes, nearly all of the writers mentioned Collins as their top safety (Eurich predictably had Kurtis Drummond tied with Collins at the top), but they also gave their opinions on possible corner to safety transitions.

“Eric Rowe form Utah and Josh Shaw from USC seem to have the right combo of size and speed to move back and be a safety,” wrote Wahlgren after shrugging off the best safety question. Fox agreed on Rowe, but also added LSU’s Jalen Collins and record-breaking UConn athlete, Byron Jones, onto the list of possible corner to safety transitions. Perhaps the most curious corner to safety nomination was from Randy Glisson, whose mention of Quinten Rollins could mean an NFL path that started from college point guard, then college cornerback, leading him to a future as a professional safety.

You’re the Best, Around…

Who is the best prospect in this class? When the dust settled after the writers answered the poignant and to the point question, nearly all in the panel agreed that Leonard Williams was the best in the class.

Jon Fox (who submitted his responses in big, bold letters) strongly declared Williams as the best writing, “Leonard Williams [is the best]. Comparing him to Richard Seymour might be underselling his talent.” It would have been a strong statement simply comparing him to Seymour, but Fox’s opinion on Williams may be trending closer to Reggie White territory. “In a non-QB league, he is the number one choice for sure and absolutely the best player in the draft,” wrote Eurich, sneering at the thought of Winston and Mariota pushing likely pushing him to at least third overall. Wahlgren and Glisson rounded out the Williams fan-club, and only Chris Robbins suggested that another defensive player, Vic Beasley, was the best overall player. “The best prospect in this class, regardless of team, is Vic Beasley,” wrote Robbins, adding, “he reminds me of Aaron Curry when he got drafted, except with more potential, athleticism, and versatility.”

Fan-sided

Although the VAVEL USA panel chosen for this discussion write with an objective slant across a myriad of topics concerning the NFL and other sports, they still can have an opinion on what they want their team to do. Because of the sensitivity inherent of such a question, this article will let the writers to the talking:

Caleb Wahlgren: “My favorite prospect is Ameer Abdullah. He’s a great guy and I want the Packers to take him in round two. Plus, I love the Cornhuskers and it hurts to see your favorite college players go to division rivals. See: Ndamukong Suh”

Well put, Caleb, but who do you really want to see your Pack draft?

CW: “I really want Eric Kendricks because my Packers need him so badly. If he falls all the way to the 30th pick I will be highly disappointed if we do not draft the young Bruin.”

In a shocking revelation, Jon Fox admitted that he is neither a Panthers, Broncos, nor Bears fan:

Jon Fox: “My favorite prospect in the draft is Brandon Scherff. He has the right attitude and polish that any team should look for. I’m a Redskins fan and I want them to draft Leonard Williams or Scherff.”

It seems like there’s no consensus when it comes with Thomas Eurich, even on a favorite team:

Thomas Eurich: “My favorite prospect: Carl Davis. For the Patriots: Waynes, Ronald Darby, or Marcus Peters. For the Bears: Amari Cooper.”

It’s tough to tell who Chris Robbins is more a fan of, the Lions or DeVante Parker:

Chris Robbins: “Favorite prospect? I love DeVante Parker. I think he’s a total stud, and is one of the few players at any position in this draft who is not a system player”

Chris went on about Parker, waxing poetic about his off-field fashion sense and his hand-model grade mitts. He eventually got to who he’d like to see his Lions draft.

CR: “I’d like to see the Lions trade up and select Trae Waynes. As much as I don’t believe we need more corners, he would be able to replace Mathis when he retires, and would be a fantastic fit opposite Slay.”

In the sake of brevity, Randy Glisson II didn’t disappoint.

Randy Glisson II: “My personal favorite player in this draft is Duke Johnson from Miami. [Duke] has all the talent in the world and a high ceiling.”