"Selection Square" at Congress Plaza in Grant Park"Draft Town" in Grant ParkDraft Town and Selection Square seen from Michigan Avenue
The 2015 NFL draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park, from April 30 to May 2.[1][2] This was the first NFL draft held outside New York City in fifty years (since the 1965 NFL draft).[3] The 2015 NFL draft was the first to feature a companion outdoor fair, where fans would be able to see the Commissioner during the selection on the Auditorium Theatre stage from across the street in the park; this area was called Draft Town.[4] The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the right to select first because they had the league's worst record in the previous season. The Arizona Cardinals made the final pick in the draft, commonly called Mr. Irrelevant.
One of the major storylines approaching the NFL draft was the competition between the previous two Heisman Trophy winners, Jameis Winston winning the award in 2013 and Marcus Mariota in 2014. Both were considered excellent prospects and had the potential to become the first overall draft selection. Winston was considered to be a more polished pocket passer and pro-style quarterback, but had several off-the-field issues while playing at Florida State, ranging from a sexual assault allegation to shoplifting incidents. Mariota was considered a better athlete, the fastest quarterback in the draft, and had a better off-the-field reputation. However, Mariota ran a spread offense at Oregon which typically had not transitioned well from college to the NFL.[5] Although neither was considered a perfectly safe pick, the two quarterbacks were selected first and second overall. This was only the sixth time in NFL history that this has occurred (1971, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2012, and subsequently 2016, 2021, 2023, and 2024).[6] It was also the first time that two Heisman trophy winners were selected with the first two overall picks.[7] All 22 running backs selected no longer play for their original team or have already retired.
Timing changes
Shortly before the draft, the NFL shortened the amount of time for certain selections to be made.[8] The time for seventh-round selections was reduced from five minutes to four minutes; similarly, the time for all compensatory selections, which cannot be traded, was reduced from seven minutes to four minutes.
Seventy-four underclassmen announced their intention to forgo their remaining NCAA eligibility and declare themselves available to be selected in the draft. An additional ten players who graduated but were still eligible to play college football chose to enter the draft, bringing to 84 the total number of players who chose to forgo college eligibility to enter the draft.[9]
Overview
The following is the breakdown of the 256 players selected by position:[10]
The draft order is based generally on each team's record from the previous season, with teams which qualified for the postseason selecting after those which failed to make the playoffs.[11] The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans each finished 2014 with league-worst 2–14 records. The Buccaneers were awarded the first pick in round one due to having a worse strength of schedule.[12] The selection order for subsequent rounds follows the order of the first round, except that teams with the similar records (and the same playoff result for playoff teams) rotate selections round-by-round (e.g. the Titans picked first in the second round).
In addition to the seven picks each team is given (one in each round), the league allocated thirty-two (32) supplemental picks at the ends of round 3 through 7, for a total of 256 picks. The supplemental picks are awarded to teams who had net losses of free agent talent from the previous year.
Quarterback Jameis Winston, taken first overall by Tampa Bay, broke several passing records but struggled with turnovers during his tenure with the Buccaneers.Quarterback Marcus Mariota was taken second overall by Tennessee and played with them for four seasons before signing with the Oakland Raiders in 2020Five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper was taken fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders before being traded to Dallas.Running back Todd Gurley, taken by the St. Louis Rams 10th overall, led the league in rushing twice and has received numerous Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors before being hampered by injuries.Two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon, taken 15th overall by the San Diego ChargersMarcus Peters emerged as one of the league's top cornerbacks after his selection by Kansas City, but has been traded several times.Receiver/special teamer Tyler Lockett, a third-round selection by SeattleDespite being a 5th round pick, Stefon Diggs led the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2020.
A supplemental draft was held on July 9, 2015. For each player selected in the supplemental draft, the team forfeits its pick in that round in the draft of the following season. Seven players were available,[13] but only one was selected.[14][15]
In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2015 draft.
Round one
↑ No. 15: San Francisco → San Diego (D).San Francisco traded this selection to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's 2015 first and fourth round selections (17th & 117th), and their fifth round selection in 2016 (142nd).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000003B-QINU`"'
↑ No. 19: Buffalo → Cleveland (PD).Buffalo traded this selection along with their fourth round selection (115th) and their first round selection in 2014 (9th) to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's first round selection in 2014 (4th) which Buffalo used to select wide receiver Sammy Watkins.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000003F-QINU`"'
↑ No. 23: Detroit → Denver (D).Detroit traded this selection to Denver in exchange for Denver's 2015 first and fifth round selections (28th & 143rd), their fifth round selection in 2016 (169th), and guard Manny Ramirez.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000041-QINU`"'
↑ No. 31: Seattle → New Orleans (PD).Seattle traded their first round selection (31st overall) and center Max Unger to New Orleans in exchange for New Orleans' fourth round selection (112th) and tight end Jimmy Graham.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000045-QINU`"'
Round two
↑ No. 33: Tennessee → New York Giants (D).Tennessee traded this selection to the Giants in exchange for New York's 2015 second, fourth and seventh round selections (40th, 108th & 245th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000047-QINU`"'
↑ No. 41: St. Louis → Carolina (D).St. Louis traded this selection to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's 2015 second, third and sixth round selections (57th, 89th & 201st).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000004B-QINU`"'
↑ No. 43: Cleveland → Houston (D).Cleveland traded this selection and their seventh round selection (229th) to Houston in exchange for Houston's 2015 second, fourth and sixth round selections (51st, 116th & 195th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000004D-QINU`"'
↑ No. 47: Miami → Philadelphia (D).Miami traded this selection and their sixth round selection (191st) to Philadelphia in exchange for Philadelphia's 2015 second round selection and two 2015 fifth round selections (52nd, 145th & 156th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000004F-QINU`"'
↑ No. 55: Arizona → Baltimore (D).Arizona traded this selection to Baltimore in exchange for Baltimore's 2015 second round selection and a fifth round selection (58th & 158th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000055-QINU`"'
↑ No. 61: Indianapolis → Tampa Bay (D).Indianapolis traded this selection and their fourth round selection (128th) to Tampa Bay in exchange for Tampa Bay's 2015 third round selection and a fourth round selection (65th & 109th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000005B-QINU`"'
↑ No. 69: Washington → Seattle (D).Washington traded this selection to Seattle in exchange for Seattle's 2015 third, fourth, fifth and sixth round selections (95th, 112th, 167th, & 181st).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000005F-QINU`"'
↑ No. 70: New York Jets → Houston (D). The Jets traded this selection to Houston in exchange for wide receiver DeVier Posey and third, fifth and seventh-round selections (82nd, 152nd, and 229th overall).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000061-QINU`"'
↑ No. 76: Minnesota → Kansas City (D).Minnesota traded this selection to Kansas City in exchange for Kansas City's 2015 third and sixth round selections (80th & 193rd).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000063-QINU`"'
↑ No. 78: Miami → New Orleans (PD).Miami traded this selection and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to New Orleans in exchange for wide receiver Kenny Stills.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000065-QINU`"'
↑ No. 80: multiple trades: No. 80: Kansas City → Minnesota (D). see No. 76: Minnesota → Kansas City No. 80: Minnesota → Detroit (D).Minnesota traded their third round selection to Detroit in exchange for Detroit's 2015 third and fifth round selections (88th & 143rd).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000067-QINU`"'
↑ No. 96: New England → Cleveland (D).New England traded this selection and their seventh round selection (219th) to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth, fifth and sixth round selections (111th, 147th, & 202nd).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000071-QINU`"'
Round four
↑ No. 101: Tampa Bay → New England (PD).Tampa Bay traded this selection along with tight end Tim Wright to New England in exchange for guard Logan Mankins.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000073-QINU`"'
↑ No. 102: Oakland → Carolina (D).Oakland traded this selection to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's fourth, fifth and seventh round selections (124th, 161st, & 242nd).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000075-QINU`"'
↑ No. 103: Jacksonville → New York Jets (D).Jacksonville traded this selection to the Jets in exchange for New York's fourth and seventh round selections (104th & 229th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000077-QINU`"'
↑ No. 109: multiple trades: No. 109: St. Louis → Tampa Bay (PD).St. Louis traded this selection as well as their sixth round selection (183rd) to Tampa Bay in exchange for safety Mark Barron. No. 109: Tampa Bay → Indianapolis (D). see No. 61: Indianapolis → Tampa Bay.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000007D-QINU`"'
↑ No. 113: multiple trades: No. 113: San Francisco → Buffalo (PD).San Francisco traded their fourth round selection to Buffalo in exchange for wide receiver Stevie Johnson.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000084-QINU`"' No. 113: Buffalo → Philadelphia (PD).Buffalo traded their seventh round selection in the 2014 draft (224th) to Philadelphia in exchange for running back Bryce Brown and Philadelphia's 2014 seventh round selection (237th). The trade also included a conditional future selection to be received by Philadelphia which will either be this pick, which Buffalo may receive from San Francisco (depending on whether Stevie Johnson hits certain undisclosed statistical thresholds in 2014) or Buffalo's third or fourth round selection in 2016 (depending on Brown achieving undisclosed performance levels in 2014).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000085-QINU`"' The conditions resulted in the 49ers fourth round selection being sent to Philadelphia via Buffalo.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000086-QINU`"' No. 113: Philadelphia → Detroit (D).Philadelphia traded this selection to Detroit in exchange for Detroit's 2016 third round selection (77th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000087-QINU`"'
↑ No. 119: Philadelphia → St. Louis (PD).Philadelphia traded this selection, their second round selection in 2016 (43rd), and quarterback Nick Foles to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' fifth round selection (145th) and quarterback Sam Bradford. The trade also includes a possible 2016 conditional selection going to Philadelphia based on Bradford's playing time in 2015. If Bradford takes less than 50 percent of the snaps, Philadelphia will receive St. Louis' fourth round selection. If he does not play at all, Philadelphia will receive St. Louis' third round selection.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000090-QINU`"'
↑ No. 122: Detroit → Baltimore (PD).Detroit traded this selection along with their fifth round selection (158th) to Baltimore in exchange for a seventh round selection (231st) and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000092-QINU`"'
↑ No. 124: multiple trades: No. 124: Carolina → Oakland (D). see No. 102: Oakland → Carolina.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000096-QINU`"' No. 124: Oakland → Tampa Bay (D).Oakland traded this selection to Tampa Bay in exchange for Tampa Bay's fourth and seventh round selections (128th & 218th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000097-QINU`"'
↑ No. 126: Denver → San Francisco (PD).Denver traded this selection, along with their second and fifth round selections in 2014 (63rd & 171st) to San Francisco in exchange for San Francisco's second and seventh round selections in 2014 (56th & 242nd).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000099-QINU`"'
↑ No. 137: multiple trades: No. 137: Tampa Bay → Buffalo (PD).Tampa Bay traded this selection and a seventh round selection in 2014 (221st) to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's fifth round selection in 2014 (149th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000009E-QINU`"' No. 137: Buffalo → Minnesota (PD).Buffalo traded this selection and their seventh round selection in 2016 (240th) to Minnesota in exchange for quarterback Matt Cassel and Minnesota's sixth round selection (187th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000009F-QINU`"' No. 137: Minnesota → Atlanta (D).Minnesota traded this selection to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's fifth and sixth round selections (146th & 185th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000A0-QINU`"'
↑ No. 142: New York Jets → Chicago (PD). The Jets traded this selection to Chicago in exchange for wide receiver Brandon Marshall and a seventh round selection (224th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000A2-QINU`"'
↑ No. 143: multiple trades: No. 143: Chicago → Denver (PD).Chicago traded this selection along with their fifth round selection in 2014 (156th) to Denver in exchange for Denver's fourth and seventh round selections in 2014 (131st & 246th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000A4-QINU`"' No. 143: Denver → Detroit (D). see No. 23: Detroit → Denver.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000A5-QINU`"' No. 143: Detroit → Minnesota (D). see No. 80: Minnesota → Detroit.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000A6-QINU`"'
↑ No. 147: multiple trades: No. 147: Cleveland → New England (D). see No. 96: New England → Cleveland.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000AD-QINU`"' No. 147: New England → Green Bay (D).New England traded this selection to Green Bay in exchange for Green Bay's fifth and seventh round selections (166th & 247th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000AE-QINU`"'
↑ No. 149: Minnesota → Miami (PD).Minnesota traded this selection to Miami in exchange for wide receiver Mike Wallace and a seventh round selection (232nd).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000B0-QINU`"'
↑ No. 151: San Francisco → Indianapolis (D).San Francisco traded this selection to Indianapolis in exchange for Indianapolis' fifth and seventh round selections (165th & 244th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000B2-QINU`"'
↑ No. 154: Kansas City → New Orleans (PD).Kansas City traded this selection to New Orleans in exchange for guard Ben Grubbs.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000B6-QINU`"'
↑ No. 162: Baltimore → Tampa Bay (PD).Baltimore traded this selection to Tampa Bay in exchange for offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000BF-QINU`"'
↑ No. 167: multiple trades: No. 167: Seattle → Washington (D). see No. 69: Washington → Seattle.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000C5-QINU`"' No. 167: Washington → New Orleans (D).Washington traded this selection to New Orleans in exchange for New Orleans' sixth round selection (187th) and their sixth round selection in the 2016 NFL draft (187th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000C6-QINU`"'
↑ No. 168: multiple trades: No. 168: New England → Tampa Bay (PD).New England traded this selection to Tampa Bay in exchange for linebacker Jonathan Casillas and Tampa Bay's sixth round selection.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000C8-QINU`"' No. 168: Tampa Bay → Detroit (PD).Tampa Bay traded this selection to Detroit in exchange for defensive end George Johnson and Detroit's seventh round selection (231st).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000C9-QINU`"'
↑ No. 181: multiple trades: No. 181: New York Jets → Seattle (PD). The Jets traded this selection to Seattle in exchange for wide receiver Percy Harvin.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000CD-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-000000CE-QINU`"' No. 181: Seattle → Washington (D). see No. 69: Washington → Seattle.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000CF-QINU`"'
↑ No. 202: multiple trades: No. 202: Baltimore → Cleveland (PD).Baltimore traded this selection to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's seventh round selection in 2014 (218th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000E1-QINU`"' No. 202: Cleveland → New England (D). see No. 96: New England → Cleveland.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000E2-QINU`"'
↑ No. 203: Dallas → Baltimore (PD).Dallas traded this selection to Baltimore in exchange for Baltimore's seventh round selection and linebacker Rolando McClain.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000E4-QINU`"'
↑ No. 206: Seattle → Indianapolis (PD).Seattle traded this selection to Indianapolis in exchange for cornerback Marcus Burley.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000E6-QINU`"'
↑ No. 207: New England → Tennessee (PD).New England traded this selection to Tennessee in exchange for linebacker Akeem Ayers and Tennessee's seventh round selection (219th).'"`UNIQ--ref-000000E8-QINU`"'
↑ No. 224: multiple trades: No. 224: Chicago → New York Jets (PD). see No. 224: New York Jets → Chicago.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000EF-QINU`"' No. 224: New York Jets → St. Louis (D). The Jets traded this selection to St. Louis in exchange for running back Zac Stacy.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000F0-QINU`"'
↑ No. 231: multiple trades: No. 231: Miami → Baltimore (PD).Miami traded this selection to Baltimore in exchange for offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000F6-QINU`"' No. 231: Baltimore → Detroit (PD). see No. 122: Detroit → Baltimore.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000F7-QINU`"' No. 231: Detroit → Tampa Bay (PD). see No. 168: Tampa Bay → Detroit.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000F8-QINU`"'
↑ No. 232: multiple trades: No. 232: San Francisco → Miami (PD).San Francisco traded this selection to Miami in exchange for offensive tackle Jonathan Martin.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000FA-QINU`"' No. 232: Miami → Minnesota (PD). see No. 149: Minnesota → Miami.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000FB-QINU`"'
↑ No. 236: San Diego → Dallas (PD).San Diego traded this selection to Dallas in exchange for defensive tackle Sean Lissemore.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000FD-QINU`"'
↑ No. 244: multiple trades: No. 244: Dallas → Indianapolis (PD).Dallas traded this selection to Indianapolis in exchange for linebacker Caesar Rayford.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000105-QINU`"' No. 244: Indianapolis → San Francisco (D). see No. 151: San Francisco → Indianapolis.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000106-QINU`"'
↑ No. 245: multiple trades: No. 245: Denver → New York Giants (PD).Denver traded this selection to the Giants in exchange for kicker Brandon McManus.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000108-QINU`"' No. 245: New York Giants → Tennessee (D). see No. 33: Tennessee → New York Giants.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000109-QINU`"'
↑ No. 246: multiple trades: No. 246: Indianapolis → San Francisco (PD).Indianapolis traded this selection to San Francisco in exchange for linebacker Cam Johnson.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000010B-QINU`"' No. 246: San Francisco → Dallas (D).San Francisco traded this selection to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' sixth round selection in the 2016 NFL draft (178th).'"`UNIQ--ref-0000010C-QINU`"'
↑ No. 249: multiple trades: No. 249: New England → St. Louis (PD).New England traded this selection to St. Louis in exchange for wide receiver Greg Salas.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000110-QINU`"' No. 249: St. Louis → Atlanta (PD).St. Louis traded this selection along with their first round selection in 2013 (22nd) to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first, third and sixth round selections in 2013 (30th, 92nd and 198th).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000111-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-00000112-QINU`"'
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