FSU Players’ Draft Projections & Comparisons, According to NFL.com

Relaying current FSU players’ draft projections, as per the latest estimation of NFL.com, along with comparisons to professional players.

The 2015 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and Florida State stands on the verge of history. To get there, the ‘Noles will need to have 11 players drafted between Thursday and Saturday, and one scouting outlet that figures to be fairly reliable — the NFL itself — thinks the ‘Noles will make that number, with room to spare. Included below is a rundown of when NFL.com draft projections have FSU players being selected in the draft, along with a look at the NFL player to whom each Seminole is compared.

Jameis Winston, QB

NFL.com has Winston slated as a top-5 pick, and, at this point, it would come as rather shocking if Winston wasn’t selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first-overall pick. His NFL.com professional comparison: Eli Manning.

Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is currently listed as going in the first or second round, but I’d be extremely surprised if he made it past the first, where he could very well be off the board sometime in the middle of the round. Pro comparison: Randy Starks.

Cameron Erving, OL

The versatile Erving has the potential to play anywhere on the offensive line, although he projects best as a center. NFL.com lists him as a second-round pick, but he seems to have trended up as the draft has approached and could very well be a day-one selection. Pro comparison: Eric Wood.

P.J. Williams, CB

Projecting Williams is rather tough. Many figured him to be a late first-round possibility, but his reported DUI arrest dropped him. However, the other day it was announced that said charge had been dropped, so it’s difficult to tell where he might go. NFL.com has him coming off the board in round two. Pro comparison: Stephon Gilmore.

Ronald Darby, CB

Darby, Williams’ fellow corner at FSU, is another player who seems to be trending in the right direction approaching the draft. He’s currently slated as a second or third-round pick, but there have been some whispers about the possibility of him sneaking into the late first round as well. Pro comparison: Johnathan Joseph.

Tre’ Jackson, OL

Unlike Darby, Jackson’s stock could be dropping, as he may have failed several physicals. Nevertheless, he is currently estimated to go in the second or third round. Pro comparison: Justin Blalock.

Rashad Greene, WR

Greene, who NFL.com compares to Marvin Jones, is considered an extremely safe pick in this year’s draft. He’s presently projected to be taken in the third or fourth round, but it’s fathomable that a team could take him late in the second round as well.

Mario Edwards, Jr., DE

Edwards is another one of those players who’s difficult to project. At his best, Edwards is a first round pick, but his issue has always been consistency, especially regarding his weight. He could come off the board much sooner, certainly, but, like Greene, NFL.com has him going in the either the third or fourth round. Pro comparison: Jeoffrey Pagan.

Nick O‘Leary, TE

O’Leary is often referred to as a “throw-back” player, and therein lies the problem with his draft stock. Although he was incredibly productive at FSU, the tight-end position, at the pro level, is evolving more toward the larger, athletic type, a la Eric Ebron. Thus, O’Leary projects to be a fourth-round pick. Pro comparison: James Casey.

Karlos Williams, RB

Williams is another tricky call, as he never really had a chance to find a true position at FSU, moving from safety to linebacker to running back. His draft status will hinge on how well an NFL team thinks he can settle into a roll. He’s projected to be picked in round four or five. Pro comparison: Alfred Blue.

Josue Matias, OL

The hulking Matias certainly has NFL size– what remains to be seen is how well NFL teams think he can use it. He’s a fifth-round projected pick at the moment. Pro comparison: James Carpenter

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Bobby Hart, OL

Hart will be a project for whichever NFL team decides to take a shot with him, but he has tremendous potential as a 21-year-old who played four seasons at FSU. He’s estimated to get drafted in round six. Pro comparison: Ramon Foster.

Others

Of course, several other ‘Noles could be taken as well. Seminoles not included above who worked out at FSU’s Pro Day include Austin Barron, Christian Green, Jarred Haggins, Kevin Haplea, Desmond Hollin, and Nick Waisome, who probably has the best shot of anyone on this list at hearing his name called.