2015 NFL Draft: Talented but troubled WR Green-Beckham chooses NFL
The winding career path of
Dorial Green-Beckham has taken another turn as the talented, but troubled wide receiver has decided to enter the 2015
NFL Draft, according to Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
Based on talent, he is arguably one of the top-10 prospects in the upcoming draft class. But Green-Beckham's well-documented off-field history makes his draft projection tough to predict. He is currently ranked as the
No. 26 player in the 2015 class by NFLDraftScout.com and the No. 5 wide receiver prospect available.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Green-Beckham has rare athletic traits for a player his size, showing the natural ballskills and coordination to be effective at every level of the field. He's a physical specimen, but does need to work on several technical aspects of the position before he's ready for the NFL game.
Green-Beckham was dismissed by Missouri this past April following several off-field incidents, most recently a suspected burglary and assault. Green-Beckham has also had multiple run-ins with the law involving marijuana possession since he graduated high school.
After enrolling at Oklahoma over the summer, he applied for a waiver to play immediately, but that was denied, forcing Green-Beckham to sit out the 2014 season.
Several around the league thought he might stay with the Sooners in 2015 to rehab his image before making the jump, but now three years removed from high school, Green-Beckham has decided to go pro.
Although his issues have mostly been drug and marijuana related, Green-Beckham was also involved in a domestic dispute April 2014 when he pushed a female down a flight of stairs. He wasn't arrested or charged, mostly due to the fact that no one would press charges, but the incident still happened and the NFL isn't in a position to ignore these types of situations.
Shortly after the Ray Rice incident last summer, the NFL announced new domestic abuse policies and stricter penalties, including a six game ban for first time offenders. But in a letter that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent to all 32 clubs, he included the language for a longer suspension for first time offenders if circumstances warrant it, including a prior incident before joining the NFL.
So if Green-Beckham is involved in a domestic abuse incident while on a NFL roster, he would be subject to a stricter penalty than just the expected six game suspension.
It's very possible Green-Beckham stays out of trouble once in the NFL, but nonetheless, it's a factor for teams to consider when deciding whether or not to draft the super-talented pass catcher.
A jump to the NFL following an ineligible season wouldn't be an unprecedented move. Two summers ago, LSU dismissed Tyrann Mathieu from the football program due to repeated failed drug tests. Instead of transferring to a FCS program to play the 2012 college football season,
Mathieu sat out and entered the 2013
NFL Draft where he was selected in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals. Mathieu has stayed out of trouble at the pro level (so far) and if not for a few injuries, he has been one of the league's top up-and-comers at the safety position.
On the flipside, the Cleveland Browns took a flier on troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the Supplemental Draft in July 2012. Despite playing in only 14 games in 2013, he led the league in receiving yards (1,646) and plays of 20+ yards (30).
But Gordon was suspended 11 games this past season for multiple failed drug tests and off-field troubles and his character has been a strong question mark since he entered the league.
Will Gordon be able to stay out of trouble and on the field? Only time will tell, but many around the league are skeptical due to his off-field problems.
Based on talent alone, Green-Beckham has the ability to be a similar pro prospect as A.J. Green and earn top-10 grades. But factoring in the character concerns, it would be unfair to stamp him with a round projection this early in the process.
If Green-Beckham stays clean off the field, tests off-the-charts as expected at the NFL Combine and most importantly presents himself well during the interview process, it's not crazy to think he still has a chance at being a first round pick next spring.
