Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the NFL Draft's 2015 first round will get underway with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting the first pick. Fans can live stream the first round free by clicking this link, or by watching on ESPN.
For those who haven't followed closely, these are the major storylines that have dominated pre-draft speculation, that should be solved tonight.
Jameis Winston
Will the character issues that plagued Winston at Florida State-which included rape charges, as well as more minor infractions like shoplifting and shouting obscenities in a cafeteria-be enough to outweigh his talent and force the Buccaneers to either trade their pick or take another player?
Marcus Mariota Trades
The Titans have the No. 2 pick, and they've been very coy about their intentions. They've hinted they're comfortable with second-year man Zach Mettenberger as their quarterback, but they won't say that Mariota is not a priority. Multiple teams are anxiously trying to trade for him, and in all likelihood the Titans will receive a mighty haul for their selection.
Will Bad Behavior Be Rewarded?
A number of players will enter the draft with spotty records and/or concerns about their ability to stay out of trouble. Among them are Winston, Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory, Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
Then there's LSU offensive tackle La'El Collins, who is reportedly trying to have himself removed from the draft in the wake of the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Collins is wanted for questioning in Louisiana, although Baton Rouge police are saying he is not currently a suspect. There are a number of problem children here with big upside, but in the current NFL landscape problems are more magnified than ever before.
Devalued Running Backs
Running backs are more replaceable than ever these days, yet Georgia rusher Todd Gurley, who missed much of 2014 because of injury and suspension, could go in the Top 10. Wisconsin rusher Melvin Gordon, who briefly held the NCAA single-game rushing record, might also be a Round 1 choice. It will be interesting to see exactly how coaches feel about running backs with elite-level talents in this class.
Trades, Trades, Trades
Most bad teams are deficient at quarterback or offensive line. The problem is there are only two elite QB prospects in this class, expected to go Nos. 1 and 2, and it's a weak offensive line group. Expect teams with high picks to be loose with their selections, and make deals to increase the amount of picks they have while better-situated teams cherry-pick defensive line or wide receiver talent.
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