2015 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Predictions Before Week 8
Another week's action has made the needs of every NFL team even more glaring than the week before, and the latest 2015 NFL mock draft reflects the way each team should address the holes on their rosters.
Of course, things can change over the next few months. The 2015 NFL draft doesn't start until April 30. There's plenty of time for teams to fix their issues and scout the next crop of league talent.
While the end of April may seem far down the road, that doesn't mean it's too early to get a good look at how the first round of the draft could look.
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1. Oakland Raiders: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Texas A&M has been a breeding ground for quality NFL linemen in recent years, and Cedric Ogbuehi figures to make a difference at the next level as well. He's been the consensus No. 1 pick for quite some time, but his flaws are beginning to show.
Bleacher Report's Scott Carasik is beginning to question if he'll even go in the first round:
He stays No. 1 overall for now because of his past success and his potential, but look for him to begin a long slide down draft boards if this keeps up.
The Raiders need big men to protect Derek Carr in the pocket, so they could look his way at No. 1.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mike Glennon and Josh McCown can throw the football, but it will be difficult for the Buccaneers to pass on a talent like Marcus Mariota. The Oregon quarterback is mobile and can chuck the ball accurately down the field, making him a perfect fit in an offense with Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans catching passes.
The Heisman candidate has yet to throw an interception this season. He has 19 touchdowns and 1,957 passing yards. He also has five rushing touchdowns.
Tampa Bay didn't invest much in the current signal-callers on the roster, so don't be surprised if they select Mariota to compete with Glennon and McCown.
3. New York Jets: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Geno Smith still needs more weapons. Eric Decker has been a decent addition. Percy Harvin might help as well. But the fact remains that Smith needs guys who can go up and get the football.
It may seem like a stretch to take Amari Cooper at No. 3, but the other players projected in this range don't fit what the Jets need. That is, of course, unless John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan decide that Smith isn't the guy the franchise can trust moving forward.
But that seems unlikely.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DE, USC
Leonard Williams is an absolute animal.
He's a versatile lineman who can excel in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He can create havoc off the edge given his speed and power. He can also burst through the middle and disrupt the quarterback. There isn't much he can't do.
As a result, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has him ranked highly:
The Jaguars could use some ferocity on defense, and Williams will provide them with just that.
5. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis Winston will likely declare for the draft, making him a candidate to go within the top five picks. A handful of teams should be in the market for quarterbacks in that range, and the Tennessee Titans are certainly one of them.
Jake Locker can't be relied upon anymore. The experiment was given plenty of time to yield the preferred results, but nothing positive materialized. It's time to move on.
6. Minnesota Vikings: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Unquestionably one of the best runners to come out of college in years, Todd Gurley would provide a huge boost to the Vikings rushing attack. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata currently do the bulk of the work for Minnesota, and it's undeniable that Gurley would help take the pressure off Teddy Bridgewater.
7. Washington Redskins: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Landon Collins is a safety who can make plays and attack the ball, and his ferocity would be a welcome addition to a Washington defense that doesn't boast strong play in the secondary. Ryan Clark and Brandon Meriweather have underperformed, meaning that the team could replace Clark with Collins in the draft.
8. St. Louis Rams: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Nobody could have predicted how well Austin Davis would play behind Sam Bradford and Shaun Hill this season, but the Rams cannot rely on him moving forward. In fact, they shouldn't rely on any of the aforementioned quarterbacks.
St. Louis will look for a quarterback early in Round 1. They have to if they want to get back to relevance. Connor Cook or Brett Hundley will likely be the available names, at which point it will be a matter of preference.
Cook can throw the ball downfield and command attention in the huddle, something this young offense desperately needs.
9. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Ryan Fitzpatrick is not capable of leading an NFL offense. Head coach Bill O'Brien needs a quarterback who can get the ball to Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins with regularity. Brett Hundley can do that.
The junior has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for the 5-2 UCLA Bruins, tossing 13 touchdowns and racking up 1,856 yards. Maybe not a Week 1 starter, Hundley should develop quickly and take over the Texans offense next season.
10. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Outside linebacker is an obvious area of need for the Falcons, as Prince Shembo and Jonathan Massaquoi haven't played well enough to make a difference. Clemson's Vic Beasley is an immediate upgrade over both Shembo and Massaquoi.
He can use his speed to effectively get off the edge and create pressure in the backfield, but he can also play well enough in coverage against tight ends and as a spy against running backs. This is a no-brainer if Beasley is still available.
11. Cleveland Browns: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
With Beasley off the board just one pick earlier, the Browns will go to the next-best outside linebacker available. Leonard Floyd is quick with decent power, but his small frame has raised some questions about his ability to translate into the NFL. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler is one of the questioners:
It's a risk the Browns can take, however, as the likes of Barkevious Mingo and Paul Kruger will help to hide his weaknesses.
12. New York Giants: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
The best Giants teams of the past decade possessed suffocating pass rushes that made life for opposing quarterbacks miserable. They don't have that this season.
Randy Gregory is a hybrid defensive end who can also line up at linebacker. Bleacher Report's Dan Hope says that all has to do with his athleticism:
Gregory can be a spark plug on this defense next season if taken at No. 12.
13. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The play of the Dolphins offensive line has been a problem for a few years now, and they're only a few pieces away from having a respectable unit. Many consider Brandon Scherff one of the safest picks in the entire draft, as CBS Sports' Rob Rang pointed out:
Scherff's balance in the running and passing games will help Lamar Miller and Ryan Tannehill flourish.
14. Chicago Bears: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Kyle Fuller has been strong as a rookie in the secondary, and his success could lead the Bears to go with a cornerback with the first pick yet again. Marcus Peters likely won't make an impact right away, but he'll blossom into a serviceable corner.
15. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
The Bills and Browns made a trade last draft that netted Buffalo Sammy Watkins. This pick was sent Cleveland's way as part of the compensation for Watkins, and the Browns will now use it to take a wideout of their own.
Devin Funchess can make plays, because he catches nearly everything he can get his hands on. Brian Hoyer (or Johnny Manziel) will need playmakers in 2015 to maintain the fluidity of the offense. Funchess will help.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
The Steelers need a big boost in the secondary. They need guys who can outplay the likes of Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, William Gay and Brice McCain. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu can do that right out of the gate.
The Oregon product would have gone in Round 1 last year had he declared, but another season with the Ducks will only help his game. He has the speed and coverage ability to get a fast start to his NFL career.
17. Carolina Panthers: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
Kelvin Benjamin has been everything Cam Newton could have asked for in a wide receiver, but it's clear the passing game in Carolina is still lacking. Pairing Benjamin with another young wideout like Nelson Agholor would help to make the air attack more complete.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
The Chiefs could stand to improve at defensive end, and they'll have a choice at No. 18. Shane Ray and Shilique Calhoun should both be available, but it will ultimately be the acceleration of Ray that catches K.C.'s eye.
Ray gets a strong first push against offensive tackles because of how quickly his motor gets going, making him a force in the backfield. The Chiefs' dominant defense was a huge reason why they were so good in 2013, and getting back to that wouldn't be a bad strategy.
19. New Orleans Saints: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Calhoun is a beast at defensive end. He's ferocious off the edge, as he doesn't just tackle the quarterback or ball-carrier—he levels them.
The Saints haven't had as good a defense this season as they thought they would, so improvements are on the horizon. Calhoun will play from Day 1, and he will play well.
20. Cincinnati Bengals: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Leon Hall and Terence Newman have 20 years of experience between them in the secondary. That's useful for young corners, but it also creates the need for younger ones. The Bengals have Darqueze Dennard waiting for a larger role, but the team would benefit from adding another young corner.
Florida State's P.J. Williams plays very good coverage and is serviceable against the run.
21. Detroit Lions: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
Williams' teammate with the Seminoles, Ronald Darby would fill an immediate need for the Lions. Detroit's secondary has suffered from running Darius Slay and Cassius Vaughn out there opposite Rashean Mathis, who is in his 12th year.
Getting younger (and better) in the secondary is imperative this offseason for Detroit. Darby will come in and start from Day 1.
22. Arizona Cardinals: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Not many players earn the type of public respect that Dante Fowler did from Alabama head coach Nick Saban. GatorZone.com's Scott Carter provided his Twitter followers with the quote from the coach:
Defensive linemen who can get after the football are what Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians loves, and Fowler will just add to an already strong unit that features Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker and Dan Williams.
23. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
By no means has Justin Forsett been bad, but the Ravens simply need a more reliable back to shoulder the load. Forsett is a nice depth back, but Melvin Gordon is a three-down guy who can pick up big yardage anytime he touches the ball.
Gordon runs a whole lot like Jamaal Charles. That's a bold comparison, but one the Ravens shouldn't mind watching pan out.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Lorenzo Mauldin, DE/OLB, Louisville
The Eagles have done a good job of getting after the quarterback in 2014, ranking eighth in the NFL with 19 sacks. Adding more pressure off the edge would put the pass rush over the top.
Lorenzo Mauldin already has six sacks for Louisville this season. He is persistent in his attempts to get to the quarterback, something that the Eagles will certainly appreciate.
25. San Francisco 49ers: Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
It seems like the 49ers are in the market for a wideout every offseason. Anquan Boldin continues to age, though, so San Francisco would be smart to prepare for his future decline.
Ty Montgomery has a nice combination of size (6'2", 215 pounds) and speed. As a junior in 2013, Montgomery hauled in 10 touchdowns and racked up 958 yards on 61 catches. He's also a skilled kick returner.
26. San Diego Chargers: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
Michael Bennett is a safe pick at the end of Round 1 given his ability to play tough in the trenches. His power is good, as is his persistence at getting to the man with the ball. The Chargers already have an above-average defense, but there's nothing wrong with adding a little more beef in the middle.
27. New England Patriots: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Tom Brady has turned it on in recent weeks, but the struggles of his offensive line are still apparent. Andrus Peat would be a top-15 pick if he were more consistent, but the Patriots shouldn't have a problem with his fall to No. 27.
Peat is a natural tackle given his size and athleticism. He'll help protect Brady as he continues to show the NFL that age is but a number.
28. Indianapolis Colts: Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
The Colts have struggled getting to the quarterback in 2014 because of the injury to Robert Mathis. That'll fix itself in 2015 when he returns, but adding depth to the defensive line would make Mathis even better. Carl Davis is a good option for Indy because he'll command attention from the center and a guard, therefore making Mathis' job easier on the edge.
29. Seattle Seahawks: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Russell Wilson's receiving options are dwindling. Percy Harvin is gone. Golden Tate left last offseason. It's now up to Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette and Paul Richardson to make all the plays.
The defending champions have struggled this season on both offense and defense. Adding a deep weapon like Sammie Coates would help make the offense more versatile, as pounding the ball with Marshawn Lynch would open up the play-action pass for Coates.
30. Dallas Cowboys: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson is a candidate to climb up draft boards if he continues his strong play at Washington, but he's a good fit for the Cowboys if he stays at the end of Round 1. Dallas' defense has improved since last season, but there's still some work to do up front. Thompson can work off the edge to make plays.
31. Green Bay Packers: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Benardrick McKinney is a tough linebacker who shows no mercy on those with the football. He plays well in the middle of a defense and would be a nice depth option for the Packers. Once given an opportunity to start, McKinney likely won't relinquish it.
32. Denver Broncos: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
La'el Collins is a three-year starter on LSU's offensive line. He has plenty of experience, something the veteran Broncos should appreciate when it comes time to draft.
Peyton Manning has been excellent this season, but adding more pass protection will help him stay comfortable in the pocket as he shoots to be the first quarterback to ever throw 600 touchdowns. He can't reach that remarkable number if he gets hit under center.
Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR
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