2015 NFL Mock Draft
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston QB Florida State
This is the closest thing to a sure pick in this year’s draft. He is widely regarded as the most NFL ready quarterback in the draft. The Buccaneers are in desperate need of a signal caller after trotting out the likes of Matt Glennon and Josh McCown last season.
2. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
There is a lot of speculation around this pick. If the Titans do have any faith in Mettenberger then this pick becomes very attractive for a variety of teams in need of a quarterback. Teams like the Jets, Redskins, Browns, Chargers, Eagles and Rams have all been linked in trade rumors surrounding the pick. While a reunion with Chip Kelly in Philadelphia is on everyone’s minds, they are the furthest from the pick at 20 and will require a blockbuster trade if they hope to move up to the number 2 pick.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard Williams DL USC
Williams destroyed the NFL combine; he is a big man coming in at 6’5” and 300lbs. But, he is pretty light on his feet, clocking a 4.97 time in the 40-yard dash. This gives him the ability to line up at a variety of different positions on the line and he should be a player The Jaguars can build its defense around for years to come.
4. Oakland Raiders – Amari Cooper WR Alabama
The Oakland Raiders need a wide receiver for its second year quarterback, Derek Carr. They have to make the choice of polish vs. potential as many mock draft have them picking West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White. White had an impressive combine running a blistering 4.35 40-yard dash – good for third among receivers – and bench-pressing 23 reps which tied him for first. Still I believe Cooper is the better pick as he can run crisper routes and he has the pedigree after leading the nation in receiving yards on his way to a 3rd place finish in Heisman voting. For a team that is become synonymous with draft busts the Raiders would do well to take the proven commodity in Cooper over the tantalizing potential of White.
5. Washington Redskins – Danny Shelton DT Washington
The Redskins are in a tough place because the team needs help in virtually every position. I opted to give them my best available who is the monster of defensive tackle, Danny Shelton. Weighing in at 339 pounds, Shelton shows the promise to be a beast of a run stopper for whatever team drafts him.
6. New York Jets – Kevin White WR West Virginia
The Jets will pick whichever wide receiver the Raiders do not. The Jets picked up Brandon Marshall in the offseason but Marshall is on the wrong side of 30 and White can be a guy to build an offense around for years to come.
7. Chicago Bears – Dante Fowler Jr. DE Florida
The Bears were once a proud defensive team that fell into disarray last year. Fowler is the kind of versatile player that will help the Bears transition into a 3-4 defense next year. He has experience at outside linebacker as well as defensive end, and is arguably the best pure pass rusher in this year’s draft.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
Vic Beasley is the best OLB in the draft. He ranks in the top 5 of all events for the linebacker position at the combine, including first in the 40-yard dash (4.53) and bench press. (35) He’s very quick off the ball with a bull rush ability to cause a lot of problems. The Falcons desperately need a player who can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and Beasley can definitely be that guy.
9. New York Giants – Randy Gregory DE Nebraska
The Giants need help on the defensive line, and Gregory is the best pass-rushing prospect still on the board. Another option for the Giants is wide receiver, but I believe Victor Cruz will return and play opposite of Odell Beckham Jr..
10. St. Louis Rams – Brandon Scherff OL Iowa
The Rams need to protect its new quarterback, Nick Foles. Scherff is the best offensive line prospect in the draft. He has the versatility to play either guard or tackle, and should help shore up a line that has proven to be the Ram’s biggest liability over the past five years.
11. Minnesota Vikings – DeVante Parker WR Louisville
The Vikings will be happy if Parker falls to them at 11. The team needs a wide receiver badly, and Parker was a teammate of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s in college. Some have compared him to AJ Green. He has both the size (6’3”) and the speed (4.45 Forty time) to succeed on the next level.
12. Cleveland Browns – Shane Ray DE Missouri
Defensive end is one of the Browns biggest needs, and Ray was once a consensus top five pick, but after being injured for the combine his stock has fallen recently. At 245 pounds he is too small to play on the line, but he could make the transition to outside linebacker rather easily.
13. New Orleans Saints – Alvin “Bud” Dupree OLB Kentucky
The saints are in desperate need of a pass rush. Alvin Dupree is fast, explosive and has long arms to create separation from his opponents. He has great size at 6’4” and 269 pounds, and is good in coverage as well.
14. Miami Dolphins – Trae Waynes CB Michigan St.
The Dolphins have been searching for a corner who can play opposite of Brent Grimes and Waynes can be that guy.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Arik Armstead DL Oregon
The second Duck off the board, Armstead, is a monster off a defensive tackle that will suck blockers into the middle. This should help free up talented OLBs Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks to wreak havoc on the outside. The other interesting pick for the Niners would be inside linebacker after the unexpected retiring of both Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. Unfortunately, there is no stand out ILB in this year’s draft. Former defensive line coach Jim Tomsula will likely go with a position he feels confident in as his first major move as a head coach.
16. Houston Texans – Todd Gurley RB Georgia
The Texans have one of the best running backs in the league in Arian Foster, but he has battled injuries over the last couple of years. The team should consider to start grooming his successor. Gurley is the best RB prospect, in a solid draft at the position, and many scouts have him pegged as a future star.
17. San Diego Chargers – Ereck Flowers OT Miami
The Chargers need to protect Philip Rivers and Flowers is the best true offensive tackle in this year’s draft. This will let DJ Fluker move into his natural position of guard. Ideally this will be an upgrade at both tackle and guard.
18. Kansas City Chiefs – Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida
The Chiefs had the dubious distinction of not having a single touchdown scored by a wide receiver last season. They reunited Jeremy Maclin with old head coach Andy Reid, but they will need a receiver opposite of him. Perriman is a combine star who propelled his 6’2” frame to a stellar 4.24 forty time. He has the potential to be a big time star in the NFL.
19. Cleveland Browns – La’el Collins OT LSU
The Browns are in a weird spot without a true QB, and there are rumors they could package this pick with the number twelve in hopes to move up to the number two spot, and take Marcus Mariota. With that being said, the Browns desperately need help on the offensive line. As perennial all-pro Joe Thomas can’t do it all himself. Collins is a mean offensive lineman who has the versatility to line up at guard, or tackle, and should bring some stability to the side opposite Thomas.
20. Philadelphia Eagles – Landon Collins S Alabama
Collins is the best safety in this class by a long shot, and the Eagles need a player who can punish receivers in its secondary. The other option for Philadelphia is replacing departed WR, Jeremy Maclin, with someone like Nelson Agholor or Dorial Green-Beckham. Ultimately, defense wins championships and Philadelphia won’t be winning playoff games with its current secondary.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Eddie Goldman DT Florida State
The Bengals had one of the weakest pass-rushes this past year. Upgrading the defensive line has to be one of its biggest priorities. They finished dead last in sacks last year. To fix this Goldman should draw defenders into the middle to open up the outside for players like Vontaze Burfict and Michael Johnson.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers – Andrus Peat OT Stanford
At 6’7” and 313 lbs. Peat measures up to be a true left tackle. He was a rock at Stanford, starting every game in his junior and senior seasons. Ben’s health would benefit greatly with Peat because he can protect his blind side, and keep him away from injuries.
23. Detroit Lions – Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
Gordon was a Heisman candidate who ran for the second most yards in a single season with a staggering 2,587 yards. The Lions have a decent back in Joique Bell, but he has never carried the load by himself. Detroit won’t have to deviate from that model if they pick up Gordon.
24. Arizona Cardinals – Jalen Collins CB LSU
The Cardinals need to replace Antonio Cromartie, and Jalen Collins has the potential to be a stud cornerback. He has the height, weight and speed to be a complete package opposite of top-5 corner, Patrick Peterson. If Collins reaches his potential, Arizona could have the strongest corner duo in the league.
25. Carolina Panthers – Shaq Thompson LB/S Washington
Thompson is the most versatile defender in this draft. He can bolster a linebacker corps that features two stars in Luke Keuchly and Thomas Davis. He is also able to line up at strong safety. For an already good defense, adding Shaq will strike fear into the rest of the NFC South.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Dorial Green-Beckham WR Oklahoma
Coming out of high school, Green-Beckham was the consensus number one WR in his class. His character concerns are the only reason he has slipped this far, but the Ravens need a wide receive. Dorial has the highest upside of any wideout still on the board. Steve Smith is old and Torrey Smith is gone, so they need a wide out Joe Flacco can rely on.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
After the Cowboys failed with Morris Claiborne, the team needs a player who can stop the number one receiver on opposing teams. Kevin Johnson has the size to be that guy. The other option for the Cowboys is a RB, but with Gordon and Gurley gone the Cowboys should try fixing another position of need. They can get a RB later by targeting Tevin Coleman or Ameer Abdullah in the second round.
28. Denver Broncos – Jake Fisher OT Oregon
This is the third Duck taken in the first round, Jake Fisher. He is versatile tackle that is quick on his feet. The Broncos love to run a hurry up offense, and that will be familiar to Fisher from his time at Oregon. An elite athlete for his size, Fisher is the kind of player that will help keep Manning safe, and on his feet.
29. Indianapolis Colts – Cameron Irving C/G/OT Florida State
Irving is the rare player that can play all three major positions on the offensive line. The Colts struggled to protect Andrew Luck last season and keeping him healthy has to be the team’s first priority.
30. Green Bay Packers – Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA
The Packers will be ecstatic if Kendricks falls to them at thirty. He is the best inside linebacker in the class and would allow Clay Matthews to transition back to his natural position, on the outside.
31. New Orleans Saints – Phillip Dorsett WR Miami
The Saints need weapons for Drew Brees. Brandon Cooks looked decent before he got hurt, but Cooks is a slot receiver. While Dorsett isn’t particularly tall either; scouts believe he will line up on the outside. The other option for New Orleans is TE, but this is a weak class for the position and replacing Jimmy Graham is going to take patience.
32. New England Patriots – Marcus Peters CB Washington
With the final pick of the first round, the Patriots get a corner who can do his best to replace the departures of Brendan Browner and Darrelle Revis. He is the third Husky defensive player in the first round, but he has been known to be ill-tempered with coaches which is the only reason he fell this far.
