After quarterback Jameis Winston went first overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cameron Erving 19th to the Cleveland Browns, Florida State had four other players go on the second night of the 2015 NFL Draft.
With the third pick of the second round and 35th overall, defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. was selected by the Oakland Raiders. Edwards became the first defensive player from FSU selected in this year’s draft.
The top overall player out of high school, Edwards recorded eight sacks and 23 tackles for loss over his three years at FSU. Edwards was named first team All-ACC as a junior in 2014 and a second team All-American by Sports Illustrated.
Fellow defensive lineman Eddie Goldman went four picks later to the Chicago Bears at No. 39. Goldman had a career-year as a junior in 2014, leading the Seminoles with four sacks. Goldman recorded eight tackles for loss and emerged as a force in the middle after struggling to reach his potential over his first two seasons in Tallahassee.
Cornerback Ronald Darby became the fifth Florida State player to be selected by the Buffalo Bills in four years, going 50th overall. Darby had just two interceptions during his FSU career, but has good speed and size and was rarely tested on the collegiate level.
The fourth straight defensive Seminole taken was P.J. Williams, who went in the third round to the New Orleans Saints. The 78th overall pick, Williams recorded four interceptions during his FSU career and was named first team All-ACC as a junior in 2014. At 6’0″ and 195 pounds, Williams has good size for a cornerback and is very physical.
The draft will resume Saturday with the final four rounds. As many as six Seminoles could hear their names called.
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