NFL Draft Top 50, Nos. 41-50: Devin Funchess talented but flawed player

Shutdown Corner has compiled information from teams, watched college tape and gathered our notes from the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine to assemble our top 50 overall prospects available in the 2015 NFL draft.

We'll roll our list out 10 players at a time this week, counting backward from 50 (along with those who just missed the cut). Please note: These are the best players available — and not where we think the prospects will be drafted.

41. Michigan WR-TE Devin Funchess 

6-4, 232

Funchess shifted from tight end in the Wolverines' offense to wideout last season and had a disappointing final season. Partly to blame was an early season injury and bad quarterback play, but Funchess also showed a bit too passive of a mentality at times and lacks the long speed to envision him having a Mike Evans-like impact on offense. Funchess is not a tight end, and — despite a first-round-caliber body — too often played like a fourth-rounder. He's an enigma and will require some polish to his game to project him any higher than this. The team that drafts him will need a plan and some patience, and might need to get him to play with better concentration and urgency.

NFL comparison: A less explosive Kelvin Benjamin

Draft range: Late first round to mid-second round

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42. Ohio State WR Devin Smith
6-0, 196

He is a fluid and fast "X" receiver who can take the top off a defense. Although Smith didn't run the 40-yard dash in the 4.3-second range the way some expected, he can get deep and often was underthrown in a 33-catch final season with the Buckeyes in which he averaged a whopping 28.2 yards per reception and scored 12 touchdowns. Smith's route tree was limited, but he was used inside and out and could be a better pro than a collegiate player. Cornerbacks struggle to contain him in man coverage, and safeties must be mindful of his vertical ability, even if Smith could fill out his frame and add strength. He is also a quality gunner who can help out immediately on special teams, adding to his value.

NFL comparison: Kenny Stills

Draft range: Second round

43. Oregon OT Jake Fisher
6-6, 306

Athletic, nimble-footed lineman with proven stamina, having played in the Ducks' up-tempo system. His combine workout, both in the athletic and positional drills, impressed. Fisher is a quality run blocker who thrives more with angles and athleticism than with power and force. As a pass blocker, he can get grabby and must protect himself better against bigger ends and power rushers. Fisher projects outside and could be a rookie starter, but some teams would be open to trying him inside, too. Projects best in a zone-blocking system and could rise higher if he cleans up some technique issues and adds a little bulk to his frame.

NFL comparison: A taller, leaner Joel Bitonio

Draft range: Second round

44. Mississippi State DE Preston Smith

6-5, 271

The long-armed, massive-handed Smith plays strong against the run and has sneaky, savvy pass-rush ability. He's not lightning quick off the snap and might not notch 12-14 sacks per season in the NFL, but he'll be a three-down player who uses leverage well and can disengage from athletic and powerful tackles. Smith can kick down inside on passing downs and even play outside in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 front. That versatility should help him become a steady, dependable performer in the NFL. He seems to locate the ball well and diagnose misdirection plays ably.

NFL comparison: A less twitchy Chandler Jones, although some have suggested Charles Johnson

Draft range: Mid-second to mid-third round

45. Boise State RB Jay Ajayi
6-0, 221

A well-built, forceful runner who plays with emotion and fights for extra yards, Ajayi has quick feet, runs low for his build and can break arm tackles. A three-down back with receiving and pass-blocking ability, Ajayi might be as complete a back as there is in this draft, but he can be frustrating to watch at times, too often trying to bounce runs outside and not trusting his blocks and vision. Fumbling has been a problem, and character red flags are out there after a 2011 arrest. Ajayi also has endured a heavy workload and might have a short but brilliant career.

NFL comparison: Style compares to Marshawn Lynch, even if few backs match his total package

Draft range: Second round, maybe early third

46. Miami (Fla.) RB Duke Johnson
5-9, 207

In the right offense, Johnson could be a Darren Sproles-like performer. He has exceptional quickness and burst, and runs with purpose, inside and out. Johnson is a natural receiver and can pull away from defenders, even after an injury-plagued college career. Fumbling also has been an issue, and his size doesn't allow him to be a three-down, 20-touch back. He also has limitations in pass protection, which could concern a pass-heavy team. Still, even after a gruesome knee injury, Johnson plays with a warrior's mentality and doesn't appear to have lost a ton of juice.

NFL comparison: Somewhere between Felix Jones and Tre Mason

Draft range: Late second to early third round

47. Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah
5-9, 205

Has a good frame despite a lack of heigh and runs with intensity, always seeming to fall forward and work for every last yard. Shifty, decisive and quick, Abdullah can make defenders whiff easily and can be used as a great change-of-pace playmaker. He is considered to be a football-first, high-character player with the work ethic and determination to make it in almost any environment. Abdullah also has special-teams value and is willing to put in extra time (witness his improved receiving ability) to be a valuable piece on a roster. He is also clutch, although his smallish frame, fumbling issues and pass-protection liabilities limit his overall value.

NFL comparison: Giovani Bernard but with more inside-running ability

Draft range: Second round

48. Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
6-0, 188

A fiesty, confident man corner who routinely matched up with top receivers, Johnson has great body control and the hips to play outside in the NFL. Although his frame is not every NFL's team's ideal, Johnson doesn't back down from tough assignments and will mix it up and stick his face in against the run. Sometimes a bit grabby, Johnson could also stand to polish his technique and learn to trust his instincts in "off" coverage. If he was 10-15 pounds heavier and less penalty-prone, Johnson might be one of the first corners off the board. As it stands, he won't wait too long.

NFL comparison: Has some Stephon Gilmore-like traits

Draft range: Late first round to mid-second

49. Central Florida WR Breshad Perriman

6-2, 212

Height-weight-speed prospect whose tantilizing measurables don't always show up on tape. Perriman didn't work out at the combine because of a hamstring injury, but if he blows it up at his pro day and shows good hands (which he didn't always do in college), he could move into the first-round discussion. Some UCF observers felt he was the third best receiver on the team, behind J.J. Worton and Rannell "Speedy" Hall, but had the best physical ability of the three. The son of ex-Lions WR Brett Perriman, Breshad is far from a polished product but has intriguing potential. Hands and route running are the biggest concerns in his game right now.

NFL comparison: Hakeem Nicks and Jordan Matthews on the high end, Nick Toon on the low end

Draft range: Late first round to early third, depending on how he tests

50. Ohio State DT Michael Bennett
6-2, 293

A talented and active "under" tackle, Bennett played through a groin injury down the stretch for the champion Buckeyes but still made impact plays on a talented offensive line featuring two possible future first-round picks in Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington. Facing single blocks most of the time, Bennett used his long arms, strong hands and nice burst off the line to live in backfields. He sometimes wore down at the ends of games, but Bennett could thrive in a rotation that isn't asking him to play 60 snaps against big, physical guards. He's considered smart, tough and willing to learn, fitting best as a 3-technique in a four-man front.

NFL comparison: Sharrif Floyd and Sen'Derrick Marks

Draft range: Second round

Just missed the cut: Indiana RB Tevin Coleman; USC WR Nelson Agholor; Iowa DT Carl Davis; Clemson DT  Grady Jarrett; Miami (Fla.) LB Denzel Perryman; Washington OLB-DE Hau'oli Kikaha; Stanford DE Henry Anderson; Miami (Fla.) WR Phillip Dorsett; Clemson WR Sammie Coates; Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon; Miami (Ohio) CB Quentin Rollins; South Carolina OG A.J. Cann; Florida State CB Ronald Darby; Utah DE-OLB Nate Orchard.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm