2015 NFL Mock Draft: Best Fit for Every Team with 1st-Round Pick
First-round picks are like gold mines, fake diamonds or something in between. Essentially, no matter how much research and scouting an organization does, it never definitively knows what it's getting.
As daunting of a task as picking the right guy is, teams still must fall all over themselves securing the prospects that will hopefully be the future faces of their organization.
With that, I give you my latest take on the best fits for every team with at least one first-round selection.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB
Tampa needs a quarterback desperately, and Mariota is the top prospect at the position. Is he as NFL-ready as Andrew Luck? No, but his athleticism and leadership skills are just too good to pass on.
This makes too much sense not to happen.
2. Tennessee Titans - Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB
There are rumors that the Titans are willing to take Jay Cutler off the Chicago Bears' hands. Per Eric Ferguson of WTMX in Chicago, the Titans and Bears may have already discussed a swap:
With so much turnover in the Bears organization, it's hard to determine what they will do. Even if that happens, the Titans still need to tab Winston at No. 2.
Playing behind a veteran quarterback would be the ideal scenario for him.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Williams, USC, DL
A stud offensive lineman would be ideal, but that doesn't exist in this crop of prospects. If Jacksonville decides to keep the pick, it would be wise to go the best-player-available route.
That would mean selecting the beastly and ferociously versatile Williams to control the line of scrimmage. He has some J.J. Watt traits, and that's a good thing.
4. Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper, Alabama, WR
After picking the studly Khalil Mack in the first round last year, the Raiders can and should look to address the offense.
Cooper might be the best pro prospect in college football. His ability to stretch defenses, make yardage after the catch and get the tough receptions on third down means he'd be invaluable to Derek Carr.
The Raiders should let them grow together.
5. Washington - Randy Gregory, Nebraska, DE
Behind Williams, the next best defensive prospect in the draft is Gregory.
As an edge-rusher, Gregory has the potential to be a game-changer. The fact that he could play in both a 3-4 and 4-3 system makes him all the more attractive to a team that might find itself in transition.
6. N.Y. Jets - DeVante Parker, Louisville, WR
The Jets would love to take Cooper. If they don't trade up or down, they might reach a bit for Parker here. There's no doubt the team needs an offensive playmaker, and that's exactly what Parker projects to be.
One look at the 6'2", 207-pound stud in action, and it's clear to see he's the type of go-up-and-get-it receiver the Jets need.
7. Chicago Bears - Landon Collins, Alabama, FS/SS
The Bears have several areas of need on defense. Collins would likely plug the biggest one at safety. Chris Conte is a free agent, and quite frankly, he's not very good. He gets physically overwhelmed in the run game as much as any safety I've seen in over 30 years of watching football.
Collins is an athletic and aggressive run-stopper who also has a knack for making big plays against the pass.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Shane Ray, Missouri, DE
It seems like years since the Falcons had a formidable edge-rusher. Atlanta had just 22 sacks as a team this season. The Kansas City Chiefs Justin Houston had just as many by himself.
Ray set a school record for sacks this past season with 12.5, and Falcons fans should be thrilled if he's the team's first-round pick.
9. New York Giants - Vic Beasley, Clemson, DE/OLB
With Jason Pierre-Paul headed toward free agency in the offseason, the Giants could lose the only proven pass-rusher they have. Picking a potential replacement or running mate makes sense.
Beasley is a little undersized at 220 pounds, but he has a burst and nose for the quarterback that are undeniable. At worst, he should be a Bruce Irvin clone.
10. St. Louis Rams - Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, OT
St. Louis could go in a variety of directions, but the most value at this point in the draft is on the offensive line. Ogbuehi has good physical tools and could represent an upgrade at right tackle for St. Louis.
Head coach Jeff Fisher likes smashmouth football, and depth and physicality on the offensive line are a must in that style.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Ereck Flowers, Miami (Fla.), OT
The second straight offensive lineman off the board should be Flowers in this scenario. Minnesota has to start going about the business of protecting Teddy Bridgewater.
The team already invested in Matt Kalil in the 2012 draft. He made the Pro Bowl that season but hasn't played at the same level since.
Flowers could push Kalil or settle in on the opposite side of him to upgrade the team's pass protection.
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, Washington, DT
Shelton plugs gaps.
At over 330 pounds with great strength at the point of attack, Shelton is the premier run-stuffing nose tackle in the draft. That's exactly what the Browns need. As a team struggling to stop the run, it only makes sense for Cleveland to target a player who could single-handedly change the way opponents attack Cleveland.
13. New Orleans Saints - Brandon Scherff, Iowa, OL
Here's what ESPN.com's Todd McShay (insider account required) said about Scherff: "Scherff reminds me a lot of Zack Martin, the Cowboys' first-round pick at No. 16 overall in the 2014 draft, in that he could be a good starting right tackle in the NFL or a great starting guard."
Whatever position he winds up at, he'll help the Saints' declining pass protection. Drew Brees has been sacked 66 times over the last two seasons.
14. Miami Dolphins - Kevin White, West Virginia, WR
It's time for the Dolphins to give Ryan Tannehill a potential No. 1 receiver who can be a force down the sidelines and in the red zone. It's really impressive when you consider Tannehill has progressed as much as he has with shoddy pass blocking last season and no real top-notch receiver at his disposal.
White has all the physical tools. He's 6'3", 220 pounds with great leaping ability. Tannehill should rejoice if Miami drafts White.
15. San Francisco 49ers - Dante Fowler, Florida, DE
There's too much uncertainty with the Niners defensive line. Aldon Smith's availability and maturity are questionable, and the defensive line simply isn't as fierce as it has been in recent years.
Fowler has the talent to be a difference-maker as a pass-rusher. While San Francisco has a few holes, it can't afford to ignore a talent like Fowler.
16. Houston Texans - Devin Funchess, Michigan, WR
This is the wrong year to be on the hunt for a franchise quarterback—unless you have one of the top two picks. There just aren't a lot of them to be had. The Texans would love to take their next signal-caller here, but they would get more value in the second or third round.
Instead, a big wideout like Funchess who plays like a tight end-receiver hybrid could help to make the eventual quarterback's job easier.
17. Kansas City Chiefs - Jaelen Strong, Arizona State, WR
It is a bit of a toss-up when it comes to evaluating receivers not named Cooper or Parker. Strong, Funchess and White are all big and athletic.
The Chiefs need receivers who can make plays after the catch. Quarterback Alex Smith rarely goes down the field on a fly, so a receiver like Strong who can take the intermediate passes for more yardage fits in well with the offense.
18. San Diego Chargers - Shaq Thompson, Washington, LB
The Chargers have a few needs, but the truth is, Thompson is too good to pass up. In fact, at least 10 teams might regret passing on Thompson.
Athletically, he is special. His speed and agility make it possible for him to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball. If he simply plays outside linebacker, he could be similar to Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks.
19. Cleveland Browns - Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, RB
Drafting a running back in the first round didn't work out for the Browns in 2012. Trent Richardson was a bust, and the Browns haven't found another workhorse for the backfield.
The nation's leading rusher seems like a good choice to fill the role. The track record of Wisconsin backs in the NFL isn't all that great (see Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett and Montee Ball,) but Gordon may have the best combination of strength, speed and agility of any of his predecessors.
Roll the dice one more time, Cleveland.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Trae Waynes, Michigan State, CB
Were it not for character concerns with Washington's Marcus Peters, he might be the pick here. As it stands, Waynes stands above the rest of the corners in the draft.
His length and competitiveness would give the Eagles as good of an answer for the Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant as there is in the division.
21. Carolina Panthers - La'el Collins, LSU, OT
Cam Newton's protection has left a bit to be desired this season. He was sacked 38 times in just 14 regular-season games. Keeping him healthy will be the key to maintaining a decent offense in the near future.
Collins is a big and athletic talent who could be a mainstay in front of Newton for the foreseeable future.
22. Baltimore Ravens - Marcus Peters, Washington, CB
Injuries have hit the Ravens hard at cornerback. Peters has some baggage, as he was kicked off the team this past season, but he's also talented.
Baltimore won't resist the possibility of adding a productive and talented player like Peters at a position of need.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Malcom Brown, Texas, DT
Brown comes from a defensive program that plays several schemes. He's 6'3" and 300-plus pounds but has enough athleticism to move inside or outside.
The Steelers are a far cry from the team that used to dominate on defense. Pittsburgh needs big playmakers like Brown to match its suddenly versatile and explosive offense.
24. Detroit Lions - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, CB
Cornerback is still a position of need for the Lions. Perhaps Ekpre-Olomu can be the answer. He'll miss the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Florida State Seminoles, per Rob Moseley of GoDucks.com.
There were no specifics given on the injury. Assuming it isn't serious, he should still grade out as a late-first-round pick, and one the Lions should target.
25. Arizona Cardinals - Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska, RB
Abdullah is one of the most underrated players in this draft class. He has the speed to be a force in the passing game, and he can take any touch the distance. He's also strong enough to run between the tackles.
The Cardinals have some issues at quarterback, thus a weapon like Abdullah might be the best addition Arizona can make.
26. Indianapolis Colts - T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh, OT
Andrew Luck has had an excellent season. It's even more impressive when you consider he hasn't been properly protected. Luck has been sacked 27 times, and that doesn't count the various times his footwork has avoided peril or that he's been hit.
Clemmings could go earlier because he's one of the more athletic tackles in the draft. but he's a little raw. If Indy is patient with him, he could become a mainstay on the O-line.
27. Cincinnati Bengals - Connor Cook, Michigan State, QB
After Andy Dalton failed to lead his team to the AFC North division title and subsequently loses in the Wild Card Round to the Colts, the Bengals will have to finally look at going another direction at quarterback.
Cook has only thrown 12 interceptions the last two seasons for the Michigan State Spartans. Dalton might still begin the season as the team's No. 1 guy, but his grip on the spot would be far from firm.
If the Bears can entertain trading Cutler's deal, the Bengals could potentially find takers for Dalton.
28. Green Bay Packers - Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, ILB
Without a viable option inside, the Packers have had to lean on Clay Matthews' versatility. Ideally, Matthews would wreak havoc from the outside, while inside linebackers do their job between the tackles.
Green Bay doesn't have the inside linebackers for this concept to work.
McKinney is the best inside linebacker in the draft. He's the leader of a stout Mississippi State Bulldogs defense who can make the Pack's second level more formidable.
29. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest, CB
The turnaround from 2013 to 2014 was amazing on the defensive side of the ball for the Dallas Cowboys. The team still isn't among the best defensive teams in the NFL, but no longer is the unit a complete liability as it was in 2013.
Even with the improvement, Dallas can still upgrade at corner. Were there more dynamic receivers in the NFC East, this issue would have been exploited more. With the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. and others potentially on the way in Washington and Philadelphia, Dallas needs to find a No. 1 guy.
Johnson is a little slight in frame at 6'1", 175 pounds, but he's a springy athlete with good hands, and he competes.
30. Denver Broncos - Cameron Erving, Florida State, OG/OT
We don't exactly know how long Peyton Manning will play, but as long as he's there, protecting him should be the Broncos' top priority. Erving has the versatility to play more than one position, and he's also coming from a winning program.
31. Seattle Seahawks - Sammie Coates, Auburn, WR
The defending champions' defense has awoken late in the 2014 season, but it doesn't change the fact that Russell Wilson needs a viable deep threat.
If Coates is anything, he's a playmaker on the home run ball. On the season, he had 11 catches of 25 yards or more. If Seattle maintains its run game, Coates could wreak havoc when Wilson scrambles and in play-action situations.
32. New England Patriots - A.J. Cann, South Carolina, OG
A deep threat for Tom Brady would be ideal, but the Patriots might look for that later in the draft. Here New England can take the best player available.
Cann is a monster on the interior who can help to power the run game when Bill Belichick wants to mix things up, as he's known to do.
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