Shane Ray 2015 NFL Draft Stock Falling?

Shane Ray, pass rusher out of Missouri, is looking to make an impact on the NFL level. Considered one of the top pass rushers in the 2015 NFL Draft, Ray has steadily been mocked near the top of the draft.

After his pro day things may change, however.

Ray has done it all during his time in college, capping off his career at Missouri with 22.5 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks. That kind of production is tough to ignore for NFL scouts. He was rightly chosen as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Things start to slide once Ray hits the NFL Scouting Combine. He didn’t participate in the drills because of a toe injury. One scout in particular had seen enough of Ray by then, citing his size. At 6’3″ with 33 1/8th arms and 245 pounds on him, Ray is seen by some as someone who may be too slight to make a difference against NFL pass protectors.

Concerns have been raised following his pro day, when scouts were able to see what he could do. Mike Mayock has said his numbers don’t stack up against his other top five rushers, falling behind in a number of drills.

Teams that like Ray like him for his on field production and motor. He plays each down with high intensity and his detractors are focused on drills that may not prove to actually determine how successful a guy like Shane Ray can be in the NFL. At this point he still looks like a top-10 pick, but could he be the fifth pass rusher off the board within that top 10?

Personally, I’m high on Ray. I think he can be successful as a pass rusher in the NFL and I think that the concerns around him are valid but don’t take away much from his potential at the NFL level.

Next: Arian Foster to the Jaguars? Redraft 2009

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