2015 NFL Draft: 2-Round Mock Draft with Trades
Sharpen your pencils, everyone. It's mock draft time.
What's that? The draft is tomorrow?! Well, better late than never.
Let's go through a couple of rounds and include trades for the heck of it. We'll try to keep the latest rumors out of it, for the most part. Most of what you hear in the days leading up to the draft is bunk, after all.
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Round 1
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The fates have spoken. There is little doubt Jameis Winston is the top overall pick, so why mess with destiny?
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
Will the Titans trade for Philip Rivers, or is Zach Mettenberger the quarterback of the future?
It feels like the answer to those inextricable questions will determine the No. 2 pick. That is to say, the Titans won't take Marcus Mariota, and the draft will only see back-to-back quarterbacks to start if they find a trade partner for the pick.
The fact so many trade rumors are swirling lends credence to this notion.
The problem is Tennessee might have trouble finding good value for the No. 2 pick. Two first-rounders might seem like a great return, but that would be a big discount.
Leonard Williams, meanwhile, is arguably the best player in the entire draft. So the Titans begrudgingly take him without a good enough trade offer. Outside finding an answer at quarterback, the Titans need that sort of talent infusion in order to start competing.
3. New York Jets (from Jacksonville): Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
There is no trade with the Titans, but the New York Jets cannot resist moving up here—Marcus Mariota is their man.
Yes, that is despite rumors that he might fall.
Moving up three spots cost the Jets a second-round pick, but it is worthwhile to get out of quarterback purgatory. That is, of course, if Mariota delivers on his incredible promise.
The former Duck won't have too much on his shoulders as a rookie in New York, outside media pressures at any rate. The Jets revamped their defense and should boast one of the best in the league, unless their offseason moves were writ on water.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
With Leonard Williams off the board, the Oakland Raiders turn their attention to upgrading the wide receiver corps. Amari Cooper is the draft's best wide receiver, and he will instantly give second-year quarterback Derek Carr a bona fide No. 1 receiver.
5. Washington: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Rumors swirled Washington was trying desperately to move up to draft Mariota, but owner Dan Snyder hid all the phones in the war room.
The pass rush should be a priority in the nation's capital, and Vic Beasley is one of the safest players in the draft. Those are famous last words, but Beasley should come in and upgrade the pass rush right out of the gate.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (from New York Jets): Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
The Jaguars trade down, get a second-round pick and get their man anyway.
With no need for a quarterback—or, at least, no chance the Jaguars take one after Blake Bortles was drafted third overall last year—and a plethora of options, Jacksonville is able to move out of the No. 3 pick and still grab one of the top pass-rushers in the class.
Dante Fowler Jr. has routinely gone to the Jaguars in mock drafts, and the man himself would be surprised if Jacksonville doesn't draft him, per ESPN.com's Mike DiRocco:
"I'd be stunned, just because of the scheme that Coach Gus has. I feel like as far as him being on the multiple side, 4-3 and the 3-4, I can set the edge and I can come off the edge standing up.
I'll be surprised [if the Jaguars don't draft him], but that's how the draft goes. I'm just happy that I'm getting drafted and I'm getting drafted on the first day.
"
So here they are.
7. Chicago Bears: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
It seems a bit far-fetched the Bears would take a receiver with Alshon Jeffery still in the fold, but they cannot resist pairing him with a receiver some think is the best in the draft.
Sometimes, you just have to take the best player available. Kevin White would be a nightmare for opposing defenses with Jeffery occupying the No. 1 role.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
As D. Orlando Ledbetter pointed out in for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Falcons tried to move up to snag one of the top pass-rushers. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out here—Washington and Jacksonville were content to take Beasley and Fowler instead of trading down.
Foiled, the Falcons did the next-best thing—take the draft's best pure offensive tackle.
9. New York Giants: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Giants need to beef up the defensive line, and Danny Shelton is a whole lotta beef.
Granted, Shelton isn't a perfect fit—he is a great nose tackle prospect, and it will be a bit of a transition to New York's single-gap scheme—but he is the best interior lineman of the draft.
10. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
He might not be the best pure tackle in the draft, but Brandon Scherff might be the best offensive lineman.
The Rams, meanwhile, need help on that side of the ball. Jake Long is gone, Joe Barksdale remains unsigned and Greg Robinson was disappointing in his rookie season.
11. San Francisco 49ers (from Minnesota): DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Surprise! The 49ers move up, but it's not for Arik Armstead, who has been rumored to be a heavy target, according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. It was all a ruse.
For years, 49ers faithful have suffered through anemic passing games. A game here and there made it seem like quarterback Colin Kaepernick might pull the passing game out of the catacombs, but it was ultimately a tease.
A lack of serious talent at receiver was a big reason, something San Francisco has moved to address this offseason by signing Torrey Smith to a big deal. The makeover could be complete if the 49ers made a move like this to grab DeVante Parker, one of the best receivers in the draft.
12. Cleveland Browns: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon
With the 12th pick of the 2015 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select Randy Gregory—what's that? He failed a drug test at the NFL combine?
All right, how about Shane Ray? Busted for pot this week?
All right let's just go with the best defensive lineman available whose scouting profile doesn't have the word "drug" in it.
13. New Orleans Saints: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
The Browns might recoil from a player with a potential drug problem, but that just lets him fall to the Saints.
Gregory may have been a bonehead before the combine, but that doesn't mean he isn't a great player. At one point he was considered a top-five draft pick, but his failed drug test—for which he admitted to NFL.com's Kimberly Jones—had him on a cross-country tour to meet just about every team in April.
All the better for the Saints, who have a talented pass-rusher fall into their laps here.
14. Kansas City Chiefs (from Miami): D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
D.J. Humphries has fallen far enough, and Kansas City could wait no longer. Armed with a third-round compensatory pick, the Chiefs had enough flexibility to make a move.
The Chiefs made a move up to ensure they got a much-needed boost to the offensive line, trading with a Dolphins team that was down to six picks in the draft after a couple of trades during free agency.
15. Minnesota Vikings (from San Francisco): Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Depending on who you talk to, Trae Waynes is either the best cornerback in the draft or massively overrated.
That is, in part, why we had to wait until the 15th overall pick to see a cornerback come off the board. The Vikings moved down because they didn't like the value at No. 11, and their patience was rewarded with an extra third-round pick.
Waynes, meanwhile, could spend a season interning behind veteran Terence Newman, perhaps overtaking him in the middle of the year.
16. Houston Texans: Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
A pass-rusher? For Houston? Don't the Texans have a great defensive front?
Well, yeah. But why not try to go from great to elite?
The Texans already had Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus last year when they took Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick. Now Reed is gone and Clowney is recovering from microfracture surgery.
Alvin Dupree, meanwhile, has gone from mid-round unknown to top-five buzz after a fantastic draft season. That might be a bit lofty, but the Texans got a serious pass-rushing threat on passing downs here, at the very least.
17. San Diego Chargers: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
The frenzy surrounding Todd Gurley is a bit much.
Sure, he is the draft's best running back. But a player at a devalued position coming off a serious knee injury with general durability concerns going in the top five? That seems far-fetched.
Getting taken in the first round would be progress for running backs. Should the Chargers take him here in real life, he'd go over a full round higher than Bishop Sankey, who was the first back off the board last year.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Kansas City): Kevin Johnson, CB, Georgia Tech
If the Dolphins wanted Todd Gurley, they wouldn't have traded back. They realized they had bigger fish to fry here, though, ultimately choosing to retain a third-round pick and wait for one of the top cornerbacks to drop.
With so much uncertainty behind Brent Grimes on the depth chart, the cornerback position is a bigger priority in Miami than some realize. Kevin Johnson could feasibly come in and start right away.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
With Josh Gordon suspended for the year and possibly having played his last game as a Brown, Cleveland could certainly use an upgrade at receiver.
That is, of course, unless the Browns think Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline are upgrades. (They're not.)
20. Indianapolis Colts (from Philadelphia): Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
It has been a nice offseason for the Colts, but they still need to improve in the offensive trenches. Hence the move here.
Ereck Flowers wasn't widely regarded as a top offensive lineman in the draft until the past several weeks, during which he has gained traction as a potential top-10 pick.
This mock didn't shake out that way, and the big tackle fell just far enough for the Colts to strike. With the smoke still surrounding La'El Collins and his legal situation—even if it's ultimately benign—Indianapolis needed to make a move to grab the last, best offensive lineman.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
This is a bit of a luxury pick given the Bengals have Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and Pat Sims in the fold, but there is nothing to prevent Malcom Brown from seeing the field as a rookie and becoming a starter soon after.
Again, sometimes you just have to take the best player available. Besides, the St. Louis Rams are stockpiling defensive linemen, so why can't the Bengals?
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The secondary is a nightmare in Pittsburgh right now.
Already weak heading into the offseason, the Steelers lost stalwart safety Troy Polamalu to retirement and solid depth cornerback Brice McCain to free agency. Ike Taylor has also decided to call it quits.
The work to rebuild that unit began in earnest here as the Steelers nabbed the draft's best safety, Landon Collins.
23. Detroit Lions: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Getting arrested three days before the draft is just plain idiotic. Good thing Shane Ray can rush the passer.
The former Missouri defensive end was booked on alleged drug possession after being pulled over for speeding.
That didn't stop the Lions from bolstering their defensive line here.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Why allow rumors about trading for Adrian Peterson to persist for months if the Cardinals weren't intent on upgrading at running back?
25. Carolina Panthers: La'el Collins, OL, LSU
Even if reports that La'el Collins has been questioned in connection with a murder—per USA Today's Glen Guilbeau—are simply police trying to gather information, the damage is done. Collins went from potential top-10 pick to free-fall in a hurry.
The Panthers halted that fall here at No. 25, finally addressing a position of major need. I don't buy that general manager David Gettleman has changed priorities after free agency.
If Gettleman really thinks Michael Oher is an answer, quarterback Cam Newton and Panthers fans are in for another long season.
26. New Orleans Saints (from Baltimore): Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
The Saints take advantage of another player with plummeting draft stock here.
Eric Kendricks is widely regarded as the draft's top linebacker—or close to it—but medical concerns have put a drag on his valuation.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Eddie Goldman, DL, Florida State
With Henry Melton and George Selvie gone in free agency, the Cowboys could sure use some help along that defensive line.
Eddie Goldman certainly fills a need along the interior, even if he is better suited at nose tackle.
28. Denver Broncos: Jake Fisher, OL, Oregon
With Orlando Franklin gone in free agency and the right tackle position unsettled, the Broncos need help along the offensive line. It might be a bit unconventional to take a college tackle who might be better as a guard in the NFL, but Jake Fisher's versatility was the deciding factor over other options here.
29. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis): Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
Not every move the Eagles make is a head-scratcher.
Here, head coach Chip Kelly took advantage of the Colts and grabbed a couple of draft picks to slide back. Even better, he got his speedster at wide receiver. Breshad Perriman fills a big need after Jeremy Maclin bolted for Kansas City.
As much as Kelly might hate to admit it, he needs someone besides Jordan Matthews to catch the ball. (Josh Huff and Riley Cooper don't count.)
Perriman would be a nice fit in that offense, to boot.
30. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
To draft a cornerback or a linebacker? That is really the question for the Packers, who have stark needs at both positions.
Given the relative weakness at inside linebacker in this year's class, Green Bay is better off taking one of the top cornerbacks here to replace departed Tramon Williams and Davon House.
31. Baltimore Ravens (from Seattle via New Orleans): Mario Edwards, DL, Florida State
Many are pegging an offensive pick for Baltimore's first-round pick, given its heavy need at wide receiver and tight end. Look into general manager Ozzie Newsome's draft history—especially the last five years—and you will note defense to be a priority at the top of the draft.
It's not as if the Ravens don't have holes on defense, either, and Mario Edwards plugs one of those holes here. It might be a bit of a surprise to see him in the first round, but the versatile defensive lineman may wind up a better pro than his higher-rated line-mate Eddie Goldman.
32. New York Giants (from New England): Owa Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
The defensive line is looking renewed in New York now that the Giants have moved up for Owa Odighizuwa to pair with big defensive tackle Danny Shelton.
Round 2
33. Tennessee Titans: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
If Mettenberger is the man in Tennessee, the Titans had better get him some talent at receiver. Kendall Wright and Co. aren't going to cut it.
Were it not for character concerns, Dorial Green-Beckham might have been a top-10 pick. Alas, he has all but been out of football for the past year-plus after getting booted by Missouri and spending an ineligible season at Oklahoma.
34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
The Buccaneers got their quarterback of the future. Now they need to protect him.
Tampa Bay parted ways with Anthony Collins one disastrous season after signing him to a big contract a year ago. It might be asking a lot of a rookie to protect Jameis Winston's blind side, but T.J. Clemmings should at least be able to match Collins.
35. Oakland Raiders: Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
One of the biggest needs for the Raiders heading into the offseason and now the draft has been the pass rush. Khalil Mack went a long way toward helping. Eli Harold will further that effort.
36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
Toby Gerhart and Denard Robinson are the two main backs in Jacksonville. There is no reason to pass on such a deep class at the position, and the Jaguars do just that here.
Ameer Abdullah is a talented all-around option who could be eased into NFL life while Gerhart plods along under the yards-per-carry Mendoza line.
37. Jacksonville Jaguars (from New York Jets): Damarious Randall, S, Virginia
This may not be a great draft class at the safety position, but Damarious Randall is at the top of the heap at free safety. That just so happens to be a position of need for the Jaguars, who continue to rake in quality picks in this mock draft, if I do say so myself.
38. Buffalo Bills (from Washington): Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Sitting on their hands through the first round, the Bills couldn't wait any longer. General manager Doug Whaley once again parlayed a future pick to move up 12 spots and take a quarterback.
Bryce Petty was excited to be meeting with Bills brass earlier this week, per NFL.com's Bryan Fischer, and there is certainly a need for an upgrade—any upgrade—at quarterback in Buffalo. While Petty may be well behind Winston and Mariota, he could feasibly challenge Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel to start as a rookie.
39. Chicago Bears: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
After passing up Brandon Scherff in the first round, the Bears took what they were handed on a silver platter here.
Cameron Erving can play center and tackle, though sadly not all at once as the Bears might have a need at both positions.
40. New England Patriots (from New York Giants): Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
Bill Belichick finally gets his man?
The Patriots have been searching for a reliable outside wide receiver for ages, it seems, and Phillip Dorsett fits that bill nicely. He is a bit undersized, but the Hurricanes standout can light defenses on fire with his speed.
Grabbing a wideout capable of stretching defenses would be huge for that offense.
41. Cleveland Browns (from St. Louis): Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
Jordan Cameron is gone. Charles Clay was ridiculously priced. Rob Housler is a flier.
The Browns need a tight end, and Maxx Williams is the best one in the draft. They move up a couple of spots here to make sure the Falcons—who were champing at the bit—didn't take him.
42. Atlanta Falcons: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
With all the top pass-rushers gone and having Maxx Williams swiped out from under them, the Falcons turn to their linebacker corps. Sean Weatherspoon has only played in seven games the past two years, after all.
Some—like B/R's Matt Miller—have Shaq Thompson pegged as the draft's best linebacker. He has a lot to prove given he was given a "tweener" label heading into draft season. Being labeled a safety in linebacker's clothing isn't a good thing.
Still, Thompson represents an upgrade and insurance at the position all at once.
43. St. Louis Rams (from Cleveland): Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Tempting as it is to take another offensive lineman here, the Rams need to address the defense.
James Laurinaitis is in the twilight of his career, so finding a viable replacement seems reasonable. That and draft insider Tony Pauline reported the Rams were highly intrigued by the Mississippi State product.
44. New Orleans Saints: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
The defensive overhaul continues for the Saints, who already look much better on that side of the ball after two rounds' worth of picks.
45. Minnesota Vikings: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The offensive line will probably be a priority in the draft for the Vikings, but this would be a nice pick regardless. Cedric Ogbuehi's slide came at the whim of the mock drafter, a boon for Minnesota who could slot him in to start right away.
As a bonus, Ogbuehi started a bunch of games at guard, so he wouldn't necessarily be thrown to the wolves at tackle as a rookie.
46. San Francisco 49ers: Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
It has been an unfortunate offseason for the 49ers on the defensive side of the ball. Star linebacker Patrick Willis and outstanding rookie Chris Borland both retired, turning a strength into a weakness in the span of a week.
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke would have probably liked to focus on other positions in the draft, but the 49ers lost too much talent at inside linebacker to ignore. Fortunately, Paul Dawson would be a nice fit in that defense, and he was available here.
47. Miami Dolphins: Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke
This hasn't been a sexy draft for the Dolphins, but it has certainly been functional.
After acquiring an extra pick and taking a much-needed cornerback in the first, Miami was able to nab a guard who some think is the best in the draft. Laken Tomlinson would have a serious shot of starting right out of the gate, theoretically shoring up an offensive line in constant need of repair.
48. San Diego Chargers: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Gurley and Hundley would make for a rather inefficient draft for the Chargers, but here they are. While the former was just about the best player available at a position of relative need, the latter is simply insurance.
After all, if the reports that Philip Rivers has "lost faith" in the Chargers—per NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal—are true, San Diego had better have a contingency plan in place. Hundley would have a chance to develop behind Rivers for a year in this situation.
49. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Offensive line and wide receiver. Those are the dire needs in Kansas City, and they have now been addressed in this fictional draft.
50. Washington (from Buffalo): Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart
Taking advantage of the Buffalo Bills, Washington general manager Scot McCloughan nabbed a late-round pick and a future third-rounder here.
In a coup with Buffalo's second pick, Washington nabbed one of the draft's biggest risers, Ali Marpet.
51. Houston Texans: Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
The Texans didn't grab a receiver in the first round as many expected, but a deep class let them snag speedy and underrated Devin Smith to pair with nascent DeAndre Hopkins in the middle of the second round here.
52. Philadelphia Eagles: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Oh, Chip. You and your Oregon players.
Last year it was receiver Josh Huff in the third round despite a host of better options. This year? Injured cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
Granted, he might have been a top-15 pick had he not torn his ACL near the end of the college football season, and it looks like he is ahead of schedule on rehab, per Andrew Greif of OregonLive.com.
53. Green Bay Packers (from Cincinnati): Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami
With cornerback out of the way in the first round, the Packers turned to the linebacker position. It just so happened that Miami standout Denzel Perryman was still available, and the Packers pounced.
54. Detroit Lions: Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
It's feasible the Lions will be fine rolling with Joique Bell and Theo Riddick at running back, but the temptation to replace Reggie Bush became too great once Duke Johnson fell this far.
Johnson is an underrated pass-catcher, and he won't be asked to shoulder the load anytime soon in Detroit. That'll give him a chance to acclimate to the NFL and break some ankles in the process.
55. Arizona Cardinals: Preston Smith, DE/OLB, Mississippi St.
The Cardinals need help along the interior defensive line and in the pass rush. Preston Smith is a player who could help in either area.
Where Smith will fit at the next level remains to be seen, but he has the versatility to play defensive end in Arizona's 3-4 defense or stand up and rush the passer as an outside linebacker.
56. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Give the Steelers a pair of Collins and they will be happy. Probably.
The secondary gets a much-needed shot in the arm with the addition of Landon and Jalen Collins in this here mock draft.
57. Seattle Seahawks (from Carolina): Tre' Jackson, OG, Florida State
The Seahawks currently hold 11 draft picks, the most of any team. With fewer needs than most, they can afford to move up to grab a guy who will fill an immediate need along the offensive line.
With Max Unger and James Carpenter gone, the Seahawks should be looking to fix it in the draft. Of course, you never know what you're going to get out of general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll.
58. Baltimore Ravens: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
Ozzie Newsome keeps profiting from patience, taking another defensive lineman here and seriously improving that front through two rounds.
59. Denver Broncos: Jordan Phillips, DL, Oklahoma
Considering NFL.com compares Jordan Phillips to Terrance Knighton, this seems like a slam dunk. The big defensive lineman could be a plug-and-play starter for Denver's departed nose tackle.
60. Dallas Cowboys: Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Darren McFadden is a poor-man's drawing of DeMarco Murray.
The rushing champion is gone, and Run DMC isn't going to fix anything. Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle might be able to tag team effectively, but adding a quality back like Tevin Coleman would go a long way toward plugging the massive hole Murray left behind.
61. Indianapolis Colts: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
What, you thought Trent Richardson would scare the Colts away from drafting an Alabama running back?
T.J. Yeldon seems like a forgotten man in this draft thanks to the likes of Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, but he might have been the first running back taken in each of the past couple of drafts.
True, the Colts have Frank Gore now, but he is no spring chicken at 31. At the very least, Indianapolis finds a complementary back who will contribute right away.
62. Cincinnati Bengals (from Green Bay): Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State
Andrew Whitworth came out and dared the Cincinnati Bengals to draft a left tackle, per Cincinnati.com's Paul Dehner Jr.:
"I've always had the opposite mentality. Mess up and draft somebody at my position because you are going to sit around and watch him sit the bench. That's always been my mentality. I see it as a challenge.
"
So they obliged, though Donovan Smith wouldn't have challenged the 34-year-old Whitworth right away. In the meantime, Smith could move to guard as he gets used to the big leagues.
63. Carolina Panthers (from Seattle): Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
The Panthers addressed their two biggest needs in the first two rounds? This must be a mock draft.
64. New England Patriots: Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
Darrelle Revis is gone. So is Brandon Browner.
Byron Jones has gotten a ton of hype ever since he broke a world record at the NFL combine, but the fact remains that he is a work in progress. Hence, the first-round predictions seem a bit much.
Drafting a project cornerback does seem like a Belichickean thing to do, however, and Jones could develop into something great if his raw athleticism is any indication.
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