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Stanford NFL Draft Primer: Cardinal shooting for a record number of players in the 2015 Draft

If all things break right, the Cardinal could send a record number of players from the Farm to the NFL in 2015

By Jack Blanchat
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Stanford tied a school record with six players selected in the NFL Draft. This year, they might break it.

It's almost hard to believe that the talent from the Farm is still so plentiful, but with the widespread success of former Cardinal at the next level, it's also not surprising to see the pros turn to Stanford for help on draft weekend.

Andrus Peat

Peat is widely regarded as one of the top tackle prospects in this draft, and many consider him to be the best tackle available in this draft class. It follows then that Peat is expected to end up in the first round no matter what - either as the first offensive lineman selected or as an excellent value pick later in the evening.

The Jets, who hold the 6th pick, might think about selecting Peat, while the Giants, the Rams and the Vikings at picks 9-10-11 are also likely considering him. Don't be surprised to see him end up with the Bengals, Panthers or Colts if he falls later in the first round.

Peat is projected as the 10th overall pick by the Rams in Lance Zierlein's mock draft for NFL.com, as the 6th overall pick by the Jets in Josh Norris' mock draft for Rotoworld.com, and as the 9th overall pick by the Giants in Evan Silva's mock draft for Rotoworld.com.

At 6-foot-7, 313 pounds, Peat can turn all that size into brute force when run blocking, but is still nimble enough to be a good pass blocker. He'll need to work on his pass-blocking ability to counter the speed of NFL edge rushers, but expect him to be successful at the next level.

Some pre-draft chatter about Peat:

Henry Anderson

Anderson is perhaps some scouts' favorite prospect in this draft class. Rotoworld's Josh Norris rated Anderson as the 12th-best prospect in his top 200, and sees him as a 3-down player who can immediately give a team serious help in both the run game and as a decent pass rusher.

Anderson is 6-foot-6, 287 pounds, giving him the essential NFL size in addition to his good film. Anderson has always stood out on the football field, making big plays at critical moments and being the tone-setter for the defensive front for Stanford the last several years. However, he's not quite as nimble as some guys that are his size, so that may limit his overall ceiling to a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

Anderson is projected to be the 107th pick in the NFL.com mock draft.

Some pre-draft chatter about Anderson:

Alex Carter

Carter is a player whose overall steadiness will carry him to the top of the draft - he's projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick by many, including Dane Brugler of CBS Sports and Lance Zierlein at NFL.com.

Carter isn't perceived as having the spectacular athletic skill of some of the top corners in this draft class, but he showed he's still not to be counted out athletically at Stanford's pro day, running the 40 in 4.5 seconds.

His game should translate well to the next level because of his technical soundness - being coached up by Derek Mason and Duane Akina is good preparation for the pros - and he's probably less of a project than some top corners in this draft.

Carter is projected as the 69th pick in the NFL.com mock draft.

Some pre-draft chatter about Carter:

Ty Montgomery

Ty Montgomery had a bit of a rough go of this pre-draft process, struggling to wow scouts at both the senior bowl and at the combine. However, Montgomery said he cut about 10-15 pounds of weight between the combine and pro day, and he ran better as a result. He dropped his times from the 4.5 range to an unofficial 4.38, which should help NFL minds perceive his skills as a kick returner at the next level.

Montgomery isn't seen as a top tier receiver prospect for a variety of reasons - he needs manufactured touches to produce on the field, he isn't great at tracking the ball downfield, he sometimes struggles to defeat corners to the catch point and his hands disappear at times - but he's undoubtedly an elite returner prospect. One would only need to watch a few minutes of his highlights to see that.

Montgomery is projected as the 134th pick in the NFL.com mock draft.

Some pre-draft chatter about Montgomery:

David Parry

David Parry does one thing: plug holes. And that's okay with NFL teams.

Parry isn't as tall as NFL teams would ideally like their defensive tackles to be, but he's a playmaker and a definite two-down run stuffer who can play at the next level. He tweaked his hamstring at the combine, but was fully healthy at pro day and should be coveted by any NFL team who wants to add depth and run-stopping ability to their d-line. Teams like Cleveland, Tennessee and the New York Giants will certainly consider Parry.

Parry is projected as the 135th pick in the NFL.com mock draft.

Jordan Richards

Richards isn't considered a top-tier prospect, but he'll be helped by the fact that this class of safeties is very thin. After Alabama's Landon Collins and Arizona State's Damarious Randall, there aren't a lot of true safeties who are projected to be starters at the next level. Therefore, teams will probably go in looking for backups and special teamers, and Richards is more than good enough to do that at the NFL level. He's also a charismatic, dynamic leader who certainly helped his draft stock in meetings with NFL teams during the lead up to the draft.

From NFL.com's Gil Brandt:

Richards is the kind of prospect who the workouts don't do him justice because he's a hard-nosed tackling safety. Teams are looking for players just like that at safety.

Richards is projected as the 240th pick - a 7th rounder - in the NFL.com mock draft.

James Vaughters

It seems like scouts all have one thing to say about James Vaughters: he's big and strong. While having that size and strength helps impress scouts in the pre-draft process, Vaughters doesn't appear to have the agility that would make him a more appealing prospect at the next level. Unfortunately for him, NFL teams don't prioritize outside linebackers who are run-stuffers first and pass-rushers second. Vaughters will definitely get a look at the NFL level, but he'll be waiting until late in the draft to hear his name.

Vaughters is expected to be a 7th-round pick or undrafted free agent.

AJ Tarpley

The knock on Tarpley is that he's kind of small to be an inside linebacker in the NFL. However, he's put a lot of good stuff on film the last couple of years and he's completely healthy. Tarpley is athletic enough to cover backs and tight ends and spy speedy quarterbacks - he checked Brett Hundley the last several years - and that will make a difference to NFL teams in the late rounds. He isn't a "wow" prospect, but he'll get serious consideration at the end of the draft as a backup linebacker.

Tarpley is expected to be a 7th-round pick or undrafted free agent.

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