While it's clearly not indicative of the program's success, for the fourth time in the last six years, no team selected an Ohio State player in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Devin Smith was a borderline first round talent and went early on the second day, No. 37 overall to the New York Jets. At one point, Michael Bennett was a projected first-round pick but he slipped all the way to the sixth round. So, overall, it ended up being a bittersweet draft for Buckeye fans.
That will change next year. According to at least one mock draft, OSU could have four first-round picks.
While none of the Buckeyes listed below were first rounders, it doesn't mean they can't be productive NFL players. Beginning with Smith, we handicap their chances of future pro football success.
Devin Smith (Round 2, New York Jets)
A year ago, Smith would've shot straight to the top of the Jets' depth chart at wide receiver – and quarterback. That won't be a guarantee in 2015.
New York spent all off season surrounding QB Geno Smith with weapons he may not fully be capable of utilizing. Still, he has an impressive collection of talent. They traded for Brandon Marshall, signed Eric Decker and holdover Jeremy Kerley is serviceable.
Even if he doesn't make an immediate impact on offense, Smith has a chance to contribute elsewhere.
"I’m versatile. You can move me inside, you can move me outside. And I’m really good at special teams," Smith said, via GangNationGreen.com. "I was gunner on punt coverage teams at Ohio State and I’m very effective on special teams."
Jeff Heuerman (Round 3, Denver Broncos)
Unlike Smith, Heuerman's chances of instantaneous success in the NFL are heightened by who he has throwing to him.
That would be Peyton Manning, of course. Manning's top tight end target caught at least four touchdowns in each season over the past decade, not including the year he sat out with a neck injury. He even turned Joel Dreessen into a productive player.
In his rookie season, it might be a tight end by committee in Denver. Heuerman will be part of a group who will attempt to replace some of Julius Thomas' incredible red zone efficiency – Thomas caught 12 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
Virgil Green and Owen Daniels will be ahead of Heuerman at the start of camp but the Broncos have high expectations for the Buckeye tight end.
"We think a lot of Jeff," general manager John Elway said, via the Fort Myers News-Press. "We're very fortunate he was there when we were picking. He's a tough guy who loves to play the game. He'll fit right in."
Doran Grant (Round 4, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh's secondary struggled last season and in major need of an overhaul. The Steelers addressed it early in day two by picking Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson and added to their depth with Grant.
The organization drafts as well as anyone in the NFL and, by coincidence, many of those recent picks played for Ohio State. Grant joins Ryan Shazier, Mike Adams, Cam Heyward, Thaddeus Gibson, Doug Worthington and Santonio Holmes as Buckeyes selected by Pittsburgh in the last decade.
Grant faces a steeper climb up the depth chart than many of those former OSU players, however. In addition to Golson, Grant has to prove he can be more effective than veterans Cortez Allen and William Gay if he wants to play on the outside again.
Some NFL teams told Grant he could also play safety at the next level, although that doesn't appear to be Pittsburgh's plan with him.
"I have [been told about converting to safety] because of my height, weight and size combination. But if [the Steelers] say safety, I’m very versatile," Grant said, via Steelers.com. "I could play at the outside at cornerback or put me inside or possibly back deep at the safety position. Which I feel like I can play."
Michael Bennett (Round 6, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Getting more and more excited about Jacksonville every minute. Can't wait to be a part of a badass d line again.
— Mike (@mike63bennett) May 3, 2015
Bennett took a shocking fall in the NFL Draft, considering he had first-round hype surrounding him throughout the past year.
Whether his drop was due to a hamstring injury or a slow start to his senior year – playing out of position at nose guard – it doesn't matter to Bennett. He found a perfect fit, in his mind.
"I don’t think (defensive line coach Todd) Wash was there when I visited, but I loved the visit, I loved the facilities, every other coach that I met," Bennett said, via Jaguars.com. "It felt right, my agents had said that Jacksonville was a great fit from the beginning, so I really wanted to come here the whole time, so I’m just thankful that they pulled the trigger and picked me."
Bennett reiterated his desire to play the three-technique in the NFL, which will be the best spot for him and his pass-rushing abilities. The "badass d line" Bennett is referring to includes first-round pick Dante Fowler, Sen'Derrick Marks, Jared Odrick, Tyson Alualu, Chris Clemons and veteran Ziggy Hood.
It will be a tough climb, but if Bennett is as comfortable as he said he will be, perhaps he will break camp on the active roster.
"You’ve got to find your niche ... and interior pass rusher is my thing," Bennett said. "I can stop the run, I can be a three-down player, but I think I’m making my living at my ability to rush the passer so I take a lot of pride in it."
Evan Spencer (Round 6, Washington Redskins)
Urban Meyer consistently referred to Spencer as the "MVP" during Ohio State's national title run. If Jay Gruden loves Spencer even half as much as Meyer did, Spencer will see the field early in his NFL career.
At least one person in the Redskins' organization was fond of Spencer before he landed with Washington – his brother, Cole, is a scout. Nepotism isn't the reason they drafted him, though. Neither were his, objectively, pedestrian stats at Ohio State.
"Obviously, the numbers are one thing, but at the end of the day it’s about how you are as football player," Spencer told the Columbus Dispatch. "I knew that people who do their research and film study could see I’m a good receiver and bust my butt and do the dirty things."
In all likelihood, Spencer will not challenge DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon for playing time. Washington is thin at receiver behind those two, but Spencer's impact will be doing those "dirty things" on special teams before having the chance to catch passes from Robert Griffin.
Undrafted Free Agents
- Darryl Baldwin, Baltimore Ravens
- Curtis Grant, San Diego Chargers
- Steve Miller, Carolina Panthers
- Rod Smith, Seattle Seahawks
