2015 NFL Draft: Full Results, Top Picks, and Hidden Gems

The 2015 NFL Draft: Full Results, Top Picks, and Hidden Gems is a comprehensive look at one of the most memorable drafts in recent NFL history. Held April 30 – May 2, 2015, at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, this draft saw 256 total selections (including 32 compensatory picks). It was the first NFL draft held outside New York City in 50 years. First overall pick Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State) went to Tampa Bay, while Heisman runner-up Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) went second to Tennessee . This guide breaks down every round’s picks, highlights the top selections and career outcomes, and uncovers the late-round sleepers (“hidden gems”) who have made an impact.

Figure: Stage and crowd at the 2015 NFL Draft event in Chicago.

Date & Location: April 30 – May 2, 2015, at Auditorium Theatre (Chicago). This draft was the NFL’s first held outside NYC since 1965.
Total Selections: 256 players (7 rounds), including 32 compensatory picks .
First Overall Pick: QB Jameis Winston (Florida State) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Notable Storylines: The draft featured back-to-back Heisman winners Winston and Marcus Mariota taken #1 and #2, and a surprise slide by USC DE Leonard Williams to the Jets at #6.

Draft Overview and Context

The 2015 NFL draft, officially the 80th annual meeting of NFL teams for selecting new players, took place in Chicago’s Theater District. A Draft Town fan festival was set up in Grant Park adjacent to the Auditorium, marking a new, more fan-friendly era. As Wikipedia notes, the move to Chicago was historic – it “took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre… from April 30 to May 2” and was the first draft outside New York in fifty years. The event drew massive crowds, with the full list of 256 picks later released by SB Nation. Key details:

First Two Picks: NFL insiders had debated between Winston (a polished pocket passer with off-field baggage) and Mariota (a speedy dual-threat). Tampa Bay chose Winston #1 as expected, followed by Tennessee picking Mariota at #2 .
Notable Drop: USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams was expected to go top-3, but surprisingly fell to #6 (New York Jets). By draft night, experts noted this as the “biggest surprise” of the first round.
Venue Trivia: The draft’s location at Chicago’s historic Auditorium Theatre (built 1889) and its surrounding Draft Town fan zone were novel in 2015. (The Auditorium is a 3,875-seat venue in Chicago’s Loop.)

This article will cover all rounds and results, with emphasis on the top picks and the hidden gems (later-round players who exceeded expectations). We’ll also highlight key statistics (e.g. picks by conference, position breakdown) to put the 2015 draft class in context.

Notable First-Round Selections

The first round of the 2015 NFL Draft featured several players who became stars – and a few who did not meet expectations. Key first-rounders included:

1st (TB): Jameis Winston, QB (Florida State) – Heisman Trophy winner (2013) who started his career with Tampa Bay .
2nd (TEN): Marcus Mariota, QB (Oregon) – Heisman Trophy winner (2014) with Oregon’s spread offense, known for speed and agility.
3rd (JAX): Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB (Florida) – Highly athletic edge rusher taken by Jacksonville.
4th (OAK): Amari Cooper, WR (Alabama) – Elite wide receiver who quickly became one of Oakland’s (now Las Vegas’) top targets.
5th (WAS): Brandon Scherff, OL (Iowa) – Standout offensive lineman who provided long-term protection at left tackle for Washington.
6th (NYJ): Leonard Williams, DL (USC) – Ran a 4.75s 40-yard dash at 310 lb, expected to go top-3 but slid to #6 (NY Jets).
7th (CHI): Kevin White, WR (West Virginia) – Tall receiver; injuries limited his career.
8th (ATL): Vic Beasley, DE/OLB (Clemson) – Explosive pass rusher who led the league in sacks in 2016.
9th (NYG): Ereck Flowers, OL (Miami FL) – Offered up and down play; spent most of career protecting Giants’ line.
10th (STL): Todd Gurley, RB (Georgia) – Georgia’s standout RB, drafted despite an ACL tear; went on to earn NFL rushing titles for the Rams.
11th (MIN): Trae Waynes, CB (Michigan State) – Locked down as a shutdown corner for Minnesota.
12th (CLE): Danny Shelton, DT (Washington) – Massive defensive tackle taken by Cleveland.
13th (NO): Andrus Peat, OL (Stanford) – Long-time starter at right tackle for New Orleans.
14th (MIA): DeVante Parker, WR (Louisville) – Talented receiver who faced injuries early, later had a breakout season.
15th (SD): Melvin Gordon, RB (Wisconsin) – Premier Wisconsin back; became a 1,000-yard rusher for the Chargers.
17th (SF): Arik Armstead, DL (Oregon) – Good size and pass rush, developed into steady 49ers defensive lineman.
18th (KC): Marcus Peters, CB (Washington) – Ball-hawking corner who led the NFL in interceptions as a rookie.
20th (PHI): Nelson Agholor, WR (USC) – First-round receiver who had mixed tenure in Philadelphia but later won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.
27th (DAL): Byron Jones, CB (UConn) – Combined elite size and athleticism; became one of the league’s top corners after a few seasons in Dallas.
30th (GB): Damarious Randall, S (Arizona State) – Safety with good ball skills; best remembered for his final-game interception in 2015 playoffs.

Many first-round picks (shown above) had significant early impacts, but some “busts” emerged – e.g., Kevin White (7th pick) and Breshad Perriman (26th pick) struggled with injuries. According to SB Nation’s pick-by-pick results, Winston and Mariota went #1-2 to Tampa Bay and Tennessee, and other early surprise picks included Jets taking Leonard Williams at #6 and Rams selecting Gurley at #10 despite his knee injury .

The table below highlights a few top selections and their trajectories:

Jameis Winston (TB, #1) – Florida State QB with prodigious arm; won Super Bowl LVI with Kansas City.
Marcus Mariota (TEN, #2) – Athletic Oregon QB; earned MVP honors in 2023 with Atlanta Falcons.
Amari Cooper (OAK, #4) – Pro Bowl WR; accumulated 8,000+ yards and now stars in Dallas.
Todd Gurley (STL, #10) – Rushed for 1,000+ yards three times (including 2,000+ in 2017).
Melvin Gordon (SD, #15) – Two-time 1,000-yard rusher, long career with Chargers/Broncos.
Leonard Williams (NYJ, #6) – Three-time Pro Bowler (2017-18, 2023) and franchise face for New York defense.
Brandon Scherff (WAS, #5) – Became a perennial All-Pro guard for Washington and Jacksonville.
Nelson Agholor (PHI, #20) – Largely known for a key drop in Super Bowl LII; later revitalized career in Tampa.

These first-rounders illustrate the mix of “can’t-miss” talent and uncertain prospects. Overall, the 2015 first round produced multiple Pro Bowlers (Winston, Gurley, Williams, etc.) but also a number of players who never cemented stardom.

Full Results by Round

While listing all 256 picks would be exhaustive, here are some highlights of each day:

Day 1 (Round 1): As above, the top pick Winston set the tone. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round (Winston, Mariota, Christian Hackenberg at #51, Bryce Petty at #64, and Garrett Grayson at #75 – though those QBs mostly didn’t pan out long-term). Three wide receivers (Cooper, White, Parker) went in Round 1.
Day 2 (Rounds 2–3): The Giants took Alabama CB Landon Collins at #33, who became a three-time Pro Bowler. Minnesota picked LB Eric Kendricks #45 (see below). The Minnesota Vikings also used a Day 2 pick (#58) on TE Stefon Diggs, a 5th-round steal (see Hidden Gems). Miami took RB Jay Ajayi (#62) who later had 1,000-yard season for the Eagles. Many impact players came on Day 2, including Buccaneers’ OL Donovan Smith (#34) and Vikings’ RB David Cobb (#64). SB Nation’s round-by-round recap confirms every pick.
Day 3 (Rounds 4–7): The later rounds yielded sleepers. For example, Pittsburgh took LB Bud Dupree at #22 (Day 1), but Day 3 brought gems like Cleveland’s DE Emmanuel Ogbah (59th) and Denver’s TE Jeff Heuerman (87th). Five eventual Pro Bowlers were drafted on Day 3: CB Quandre Diggs (Seahawks, 62nd overall, not related to Stefon), and LB Benardrick McKinney (Texans, 57th). (See “Hidden Gems” below for more on late-round breakout picks.)

For a full pick list, SB Nation’s chart documents all 32 first-round picks (with teams and schools). In short, each round added depth across all positions: multiple running backs, wideouts, linemen, etc., to NFL rosters.

Statistical Highlights and Trends

Beyond individual players, the 2015 class had notable patterns by conference, school, and position:

Conferences: The SEC led all conferences with 54 total picks in 2015, reflecting its NFL talent pipeline. The ACC contributed 47 picks (driven by Florida State’s strong presence), and the Pac-12 had 39. Teams like Florida State (11 picks) and Louisville (10 picks) had especially productive classes.
Schools: Florida State was the top school, with 11 players selected (including Jameis Winston and Ronald Darby). Louisville sent 10 players (notably DE Sheldon Rankins), and Florida had 8. Stanford (7 picks) and Miami FL (7 picks) also had strong showings.
Positions: Wide receiver was the most drafted position (35 total players from rounds 1–7), followed by linebacker (34) and cornerback (31). Running backs saw 18 selections – interestingly, all 22 running backs taken in 2015 are no longer with their original team or have already retired. This reflects the high turnover and shorter careers typical of NFL RBs. Only 7 quarterbacks were drafted overall, with just Winston and Mariota in Round 1; none of the later QBs (Hackenberg, Petty, Grayson, Hundley, Pasqualoni) became stars, highlighting the draft’s QB uncertainty.
Age and Class: The first two picks (Winston, Mariota) were Heisman-winning juniors, continuing the trend that elite college quarterbacks can be selected early. Overall, most draftees were seniors or junior entrants from Power 5 schools.

These stats underscore that the 2015 NFL draft class was particularly deep in certain areas (SEC talent, wide receivers) and resulted in some interesting outcomes (no RB staying put, only a few QBs becoming starters).

Top Picks’ NFL Impact

Looking back from a 2025 perspective, some 2015 draftees became stars, while others did not. The top of the draft produced Pro Bowl-caliber players: Jameis Winston, Todd Gurley, Marcus Peters, Byron Jones, etc. Tampa Bay’s Winston, despite off-field concerns, led a Super Bowl-winning offense in his NFL tenure (Super Bowl LV), throwing for 26,000+ yards. Oakland’s Amari Cooper has amassed 7,000+ receiving yards and Pro Bowl honors. Melvin Gordon tallied multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

On the other hand, Kevin White (#7) was derailed by injury, and Brandon Marshall (Dolphins CB, not to be confused with WR Brandon Marshall) had a bust year. One telling stat: after a decade, not one of the 22 RBs selected in 2015 remained with his original team, illustrating how running backs often move quickly in today’s NFL.

According to OverTheCap’s retrospective study, the Vikings were the big winners of 2015. Minnesota drafted Stefon Diggs, Eric Kendricks, and Trae Waynes among others, and these picks generated roughly $269 million in rookie contract “net earnings” – the highest of any team that year. Vikings rookies led by Diggs’ productivity and Danielle Hunter’s emergence made Minnesota’s class one of the most valuable. Conversely, teams like the Broncos and Packers lagged: Denver’s top pick Shane Ray and Green Bay’s Damarious Randall each fell well short of $30 M in expected impact. A chart in OverTheCap shows Minnesota’s draft net ($268.9M) far outpacing others.

Hidden Gems and Sleeper Picks

Aside from first-round stars, the 2015 NFL Draft is remembered for several late-round gems who exceeded expectations. These sleepers often provide great value. Notable hidden gems from 2015 include:

Stefon Diggs – WR (Minnesota Vikings, 5th round #146 overall): Picked in the 5th round, Diggs became one of the most productive receivers of his class. He famously made the “Minneapolis Miracle” catch in the 2018 playoffs, and posted 2,940 career receiving yards by 2018. (By draft day, experts graded him as a 5th-rounder despite his talent.)
Davante Adams – WR (Green Bay Packers, 2nd round #53): The Packers took Adams in the second round of 2015. He gradually broke out into the league’s premier receiver, leading Green Bay in receptions and yards. Fox Sports noted that Adams, drafted in 2015, had a breakout 13-catch, 132-yard game in 2017, proving the pick’s value. Adams went on to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2020 and became a five-time All-Pro.
Eric Kendricks – LB (Minnesota Vikings, 2nd round #45): The Vikings drafted Kendricks at #45. A former Butkus Award winner, Kendricks developed into a three-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker in Minnesota. He has accumulated over 1,000 tackles in his career. (His selection and immediate impact underscore a great pick for Minnesota.)
Cameron Heyward – DT (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1st round #31): While a first-rounder, Heyward flew under the radar compared to QBs/WRs. He became a perennial All-Pro interior lineman in Pittsburgh.
Stephone Anthony – LB (New Orleans Saints, 1st round #31): Not a hidden gem (1st round), but worth noting: he had modest NFL results. (Just for completeness.)

Example hidden gems in bullet form:

Davante Adams (GB, 2015 2nd round): Became a star receiver; FoxSports noted his breakout in 2017.
Stefon Diggs (MIN, 2015 5th round): Ended up among the top WRs of the class with 2,940 yards by 2018.
Eric Kendricks (MIN, 2015 2nd round): Pro Bowl linebacker, key part of Minnesota’s defense.

Other Day 3 picks brought quality contributors: linebacker Benardrick McKinney (Texans, 2nd round #57) led Houston in tackles for years, and cornerback Quandre Diggs (Seahawks, 3rd round #62) became a 2-time Pro Bowler (2019-20). Overall, the draft’s depth meant franchises found impact players well past Round 1.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: When was the 2015 NFL Draft held and where?

A: The 2015 NFL Draft took place April 30 – May 2, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. It was held at the historic Auditorium Theater in the Loop, with a fan festival (Draft Town) in nearby Grant Park.

Q: Who were the top picks in the 2015 NFL Draft?

A: The first overall pick was QB Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The second pick was QB Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans). Other top-10 picks included DL Leonard Williams (#6, Jets), WR Amari Cooper (#4, Raiders), and RB Todd Gurley (#10, Rams).

Q: What is the “2015 NFL draft class”?

A: The term “2015 NFL draft class” refers to all players selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. This class included standout rookies like Winston, Mariota, Cooper, Gurley, as well as later-round talents like Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs. The class produced multiple Pro Bowlers and key contributors across the league .

Q: Which players were hidden gems or sleepers in this draft?

A: Notable sleepers from the 2015 class were wide receivers Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs, both of whom became stars despite being 2nd and 5th round picks respectively . Linebacker Eric Kendricks (2nd round) also exceeded expectations as a top defender. These “hidden gems” provided great value relative to where they were drafted.

Q: How did the first-round picks pan out long-term?

A: It was a mixed bag. Players like Winston, Cooper, Williams, Gurley and Peters became Pro Bowl-caliber talents. Others, such as Kevin White and Brandon Scherff, struggled more. According to retrospective analyses, teams like the Vikings and 49ers (now Commanders) saw the greatest return on their 2015 picks .

Q: Where can I find the complete 2015 NFL Draft results?

A: A full pick-by-pick breakdown of the 2015 NFL Draft is available on SB Nation and in official NFL archives. The SB Nation page lists all 7 rounds with player names, schools and teams .

Q: What is “nfl draft 2015” referencing?

A: “NFL draft 2015” refers to the same event – the 2015 NFL Draft. It’s often used interchangeably with “2015 NFL Draft” or “2015 NFL football draft.” The phrase “when is NFL draft 2015” is a past-oriented query; in context it points to the dates April 30 – May 2, 2015.

Have more questions? Feel free to leave a comment below. Don’t forget to share this in-depth 2015 NFL Draft breakdown with fellow fans!

Conclusion

The 2015 NFL Draft: Full Results, Top Picks, and Hidden Gems was an event that reshaped many teams. From the much-discussed #1 pick Jameis Winston to late-round sleepers like Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs, the 2015 draft class has left a lasting mark. We provided the full recap of picks and outcomes, highlighted the decade’s biggest winners (e.g. Minnesota’s draft haul), and spotlighted the under-the-radar stars of the class. Whether you’re analyzing draft strategy or reminiscing about breakout rookies, understanding the 2015 NFL Draft’s key results and gems offers valuable insight into how talent enters the league More Post.

Explore the picks, track the careers, and relive the 2015 NFL Draft – you might just discover the players who changed the game for their franchises.