National Football League

2015 NFL draft: Top 10 draft-eligible ACC prospects

Published Nov. 28, 2014 7:43 a.m. ET

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The Atlantic Coast Conference posted its second best showing ever when 42 players were taken in last year's NFL draft. Only the 2006 draft -- when 51 players were selected -- was better for the conference.

Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins led the way by going fourth overall to the Buffalo Bills. A total of five players from the ACC were drafted in the first round, and Florida State led all conference schools with seven players being nabbed.

As the final month of the regular season comes to an end, here are the top 10 draft-eligible ACC prospects, and some information on draft status and potential landing spots in the NFL:

While some NFL general managers will shy away from Jameis Winston because of his off-the-field antics and troubles, no one will argue the fact that his arm, and overall game, is NFL-ready. And don't forget, Winston is a proven winner. He's still not lost a game that he's started at Florida State.

Round: Early 1st

Potential Landing Spot(s): Jets, Buccaneers

Louisville's schedule wasn't loaded with ranked opponents as the Cardinals only faced two ranked teams -- Clemson (No. 23) and Florida State (No. 1) -- this season, and the Tigers have fallen from the rankings. DeVante Parker missed the Clemson game (and seven others) with a broken bone in his foot, but showed NFL scouts what kind of big-game acumen he has when he pulled down eight catches for 214 yards on the biggest stage of the season (FSU). Parker befuddles even the best college cover men, and at 6-foot-3, has the size and athleticism to start climbing draft boards.

Round: Mid 1st

Potential Landing Spot(s): Texans, Browns

Vic Beasley is going to have to fight a pretty big battle over the coming months with NFL scouts (pun intended). At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Beasley is undersized for the defensive line at the next level, and could even have issues with offensive linemen while in pass-rushing roles. He's going to have to show off his acceleration and top-end speed, and then land in the right fit with an NFL team to see his first-round draft status.

Round: Mid 1st

Potential Landing Spot(s): Saints, Bears, Ravens, Falcons

The main thing Eddie Goldman does well is take up space and force attention from multiple offensive linemen. He constantly won battles along the line of scrimmage this season, and has been a factor in the backfield too with four sacks and eight tackles for loss. Remember, he played on the outside last season at Florida State. While he's best suited to play tackle in the NFL, his versatility will be valued by the team that drafts him.

Round: Mid to late 1st

Potential Landing Spot(s): Browns, Steelers, 49ers, Chargers

As a converted defensive end, T.J. Clemmings doesn't have as much experience as most senior offensive linemen (he only played two seasons of high school football too). But he does have an NFL frame, and he's shown so much growth in his limited time that NFL teams will begin to see how "trainable" he is, and can be at the next level. With good showings at the Senior Bowl and pre-draft workouts, Clemmings' draft stock could soar.

Round: Mid to late 1st

Potential Landing Spot(s): Dolphins, Ravens, Chargers, Chiefs

Add Kevin Johnson's size (6-foot-1) with his agility and smooth-moving body, and you have the makings of an NFL cornerback. Now include the fact that his best trait is the way he covers receivers, and Johnson enters the mix of first-round draft talent.

Round: Late 1st to early 2nd

Potential Landing Spot(s): Bengals, Cowboys, Eagles, Jaguars, Titans

Only three players in the ACC currently have more than Lorenzo Mauldin's 19.5 combined sacks and tackles for loss. Mauldin is disruptive on his way toward an opposing quarterback, with moves to evade blocks or power through them. He's a tweener first- to second-round pick right now, with an easy path to first-day glory with a good combine and pre-draft workouts.

Round: Late 1st to early 2nd

Potential Landing Spot(s): Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals

By the time Duke Johnson is finished at Miami (and most feel he'll leave after the 2014 season, even though he claims to be sitting on the fence), he'll be the school's all-time leading rusher. He's got such a quick burst of speed, and moves that make would-be tacklers look silly at times. He might not be capable of every-down play in the NFL, but he can flourish in a two-back system.

Round: 2nd

Mario Edwards sure hasn't followed up a good 2013 season with a building-block kind of 2014. But he has the kind of versatility that NFL teams love. If he declares for the 2015 draft, he could play at defensive end in a 4-3 and 3-4, and even move to outside linebacker.

Round: 2nd

Potential Landing Spot(s): Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys

Denzel Perryman won't terrify anyone by climbing off the team bus. But what he does on the field sure will. He's an explosive linebacker that plays sideline-to-sideline and seems to always be in the right spot. He's going to drop in the draft because he needs to land on a team with the right fit. But when he lands, he's going to hit the ground running.

Round: 2nd to 3rd

Potential Landing Spot(s): Packer, Broncos, Cardinals, Colts