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5 Underrated Offensive Players in 2015 NFL Draft

With so many prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft, here are five underrated prospects you may want to know about.

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When NFL fans watch their season end, whether it’s after Week 17 or after a playoff loss, they scour the internet looking for the next mock draft and figuring out which players not only fit their team’s needs, but also will make their team better in the future. Considering the fact that there are 250 picks and over 150 players looking for teams even after the draft, fans need to know about these five players in the coming months. In fact, these five offensive prospects could ultimately make-or-break your favorite franchise.

5. Jake Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Oregon

When you take a look at Oregon and the quickness they have in their offense, one thing that has to be said about a guy like Jake Fisher is his speed and his stamina. Oregon averaged just under 20 seconds per play. At 6’6″, 300 lbs.,  Fisher doesn’t have ideal size, but the combination of his arm length and his quickness are really second to none.

This year’s tackle class is extremely deep. That being said, Fisher seems to be flying under the radar as of now. Each year, a tackle emerges at the NFL Combine. In the past few years, tackles like Eric Fisher and Terron Armstead have raised their draft status because of their performance at the combine. Fisher is athletic enough to stick with defensive ends on the outside. However, Fisher may be best at the right tackle position in the NFL, which is primarily the run-blocking side.

4. Rashad Greene, Wide Receiver, Florida State

If you watched Florida State’s game against Oregon, the player the announcers kept talking about was Rashad Greene. In that game, Greene struggled tremendously, as did the entire Seminoles’ offense. However, you can’t discount Greene and his future off one game. When you take a look at Greene’s ability to catch passes consistently and his ability to run sharp routes, an NFL team is going to have a really nice player to work with.

Last year’s wide receiver class was probably the best in the history of the NFL and even though this year’s isn’t as top-heavy, the reality is that teams can find starting receivers late in the draft. At 6’0″, 185 lbs., Greene lacks ideal size and his weight problems will scare some away, but NFL teams need deep-ball receivers and Greene has the ability to be a real good one at the next level.

3. Shane Carden, Quarterback, East Carolina

Obviously, quarterback statistics at the college level are a bad projector of NFL success, but Shane Carden proved over the course of his collegiate career at East Carolina that he is an efficient passer. In three seasons as the starting quarterback, Carden did not have a season where he completed less than 63 percent. He also never had a quarterback rating of less than 140.

There aren’t a ton of quality senior quarterbacks in this class, but Carden is definitely a guy that will intrigue many NFL teams. At 6’2″, 220 lbs., Carden is pretty shredded for a quarterback. Carden has good accuracy and he is a playmaker on the run. When the pocket collapses, Carden’s underrated athleticism allows him to get outside and find receivers. Carden doesnt have the best arm strength, but players in the past have been just fine in the NFL without top arm strength. Some of those quarterbacks include Alex Smith and even Andrew Luck.

2. David Johnson, Running Back, Northern Iowa

Considering he played at Northern Iowa, David Johnson is not getting a ton of attention, but in today’s day in age of the NFL, running backs who can catch passes out of the backfield and read holes are at a premium. This is why I believe Johnson has the makings of a real good running back in the NFL.

At 6’1″, 227 lbs., Johnson is a bigger back, but he also runs with speed and authority. Johnson ran in a zone-blocking scheme in college and his cut-back ability allowed him to have big-time success. Johnson isn’t a home-run threat, but he’s a yards-gainer and someone who can line up as a three-down running back. Johnson has the makings of a good NFL back and an excellent offensive weapon in spread offenses.

1. Tyler Lockett, Wide Receiver, Kansas State

An anonymous NFL scout that the best player by far at the Senior Bowl has been Tyler Lockett. Blessed with stellar hands and excellent route-running ability, Lockett is going to be a quarterback’s best friend in the NFL. Lockett has great top-speed and when he gets the ball in open field, his fluidity allows him to make defenders miss when they go to tackle him.

At 5’11”, 173 lbs., Lockett is around maybe an inch and 25 lbs. below the average NFL wide receiver. However, Lockett is going to be dangerous in the NFL if he is put in the right role and scheme. Steve Smith is extremely similar to Lockett in terms of their deep ball ability and their small size. I firmly believe that Lockett has the makings of a real good receiver – a No. 3 or a solid No. 2 option in the NFL.

Ryan Ratty is a Staff Writer for www.footballinsiders.com. Ryan is a Featured Columnist for www.fansided.com, a Co-Editor for www.sportdfw.com, a Featured Columnist for www.rantsports.com. On top of these four sites, Ryan runs an NFL Draft site called www.indepthscouting.com. You can reach Ryan through his Twitter account: @RyanRattyNFL

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