It's Cinco de Mayo and there are surely a number of front offices around the NFL that will celebrate the holiday with full force after landing a top-notch class from the 2015 NFL Draft.
But who among this year's class of incoming rookies is the most interesting? Here are five players who, for various reasons, will be fascinating to watch over the coming year(s) as they evolve from draft picks to NFL players.
QB Marcus Mariota
Drafted:Tennessee Titans, 1st round, 2nd overall
Why he's interesting: There's little question Mariota has the potential to become a franchise quarterback and annual All-Pro given his athleticism, accuracy, and intelligence. But will all that translate for a coach with little background in an offensive system that can let Mariota fully realize his abilities? He's already penciled in as the Week 1 starter, so the Heisman Trophy winner's first crack at the NFL will be one of the most-watched rookie campaigns in recent memory. There are few must-watch players in the league when flipping around the dial on Sunday afternoons, but Mariota might be one of them that reaches the hype of Johnny Manziel -- but with some actual on-field production.
LB Shaq Thompson
Drafted:Carolina Panthers, 1st round, 25th overall
Why he's interesting: The selection of Thompson by Carolina was one of the most panned in the first round, so he's already under plenty of pressure before even taking a snap. He's slated to be the weakside linebacker for the team, but likely will have a big role on special teams given his obvious athleticism and knack for making plays at the University of Washington. The question is if the coaching staff will be open to moving him around if/when injuries hit. If a safety goes down or a running back gets injured, will the team resist the temptation to try Thompson there?
RB Todd Gurley
Drafted:St. Louis Rams, 1st round, 10th overall
Why he's interesting: Running backs being devalued? Not in St. Louis, which has gone all-in under Jeff Fisher to run the ball well. Gurley enters the league as one of the top prospects at the position in the past decade and will face high expectations as a rookie. Recovering from an ACL injury isn't as big of an issue as it once was, but it remains a big question mark for a player the Rams are looking to turn into a workhorse.
CB Byron Jones
Drafted:Dallas Cowboys, 1st round, 27th overall
Why he's interesting: As "Mr. Workout Warrior" from the NFL Scouting Combine, it's hard to argue against calling Jones the best athlete among this year's first-round picks. Randy Gregory gets all the attention in Dallas, but it's Jones who has the potential to really help the Cowboys' defense given its struggles on the backend. He's got everything you look for in a top corner on the physical side and his tape at UConn is better than some think. It will be fascinating to see him develop on a team that showed it was close to a Super Bowl last season.
DE Obum Gwacham
Drafted:Seattle Seahawks, 6th round, 209th overall
Why he's interesting: Gwacham is a former wide receiver who only spent a season playing defensive end at Oregon State and could wind up playing in a number of spots for the Seahawks. He's super raw, as you would expect, but there's plenty of upside for somebody the team found in the sixth round. Given the stocked roster he joins, he'll be fighting to earn a place on the team, but it will be very intriguing to see what kind of plan Pete Carroll and company have for him. They've found success developing other athletes into Pro Bowlers. Maybe Gwacham is another. He's certainly not lacking for upside.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
