2015 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Best Selections for Every 1st-Round Team
The 2015 NFL draft class figures to feature an eclectic mix of talent on both sides of the ball, which means teams that don't qualify for the playoffs this season have some enticing consolation prizes waiting for them.
With that said, there is plenty of risk involved with this particular draft as well. Some of the top talents available have character concerns or question marks regarding their ability to successfully transition to the next level.
Those factors are what make the draft so intriguing and entertaining, though. There is no question that plenty will change between now and April 30, but here is an early look at how every team should approach the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.
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*Draft order based on current records
1. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Raiders may very well be tempted to take Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota with this pick. Rookie signal-caller Derek Carr has shown enough flashes to push them toward a potentially dominant defensive tackle in Williams, however.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
In the midst of another outstanding season at Oregon, quarterback Marcus Mariota has been the talk of the upcoming 2015 draft. Every team with a need under center would love to get him, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are positioning themselves to be the lucky losers.
With neither Josh McCown nor Mike Glennon looking like the long-term answer, Mariota would be an ideal fit in Tampa. The dual-threat quarterback can do it all, and he would make a lot of sense in a Bucs offense that has the benefit of some dynamic players.
Tampa Bay is especially stacked at wide receiver with rookie Mike Evans already developing into an elite pass-catcher. Add in another big, athletic wideout like Vincent Jackson, and all the tools would be in place for Mariota to thrive as a Buc.
The Buccaneers can't afford to count their chickens before they hatch, though, since the junior quarterback has yet to make an official announcement regarding his draft status, according to Gary Horowitz of The Statesman Journal:
Mariota looks very much like a lock to come off the board with one of the first few picks, though, which means staying with the Ducks wouldn't be the smartest decision.
As evidenced by this statistic courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info, Mariota has pretty much done it all at Oregon from a production standpoint already:
There is no doubt Mariota would have his work cut out for him with the Buccaneers, but all signs point toward him being a potential star at the next level. If he is on the board when Tampa Bay is on the clock in April, he will be the pick without question.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Since the Jaguars invested heavily in quarterback Blake Bortles last draft, they will pass on Mariota as well. Head coach Gus Bradley is a defensive guy, and he'll be thrilled to bring in an elite pass-rusher like Gregory.
4. Tennessee Titans: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
Tennessee hasn't gotten much sack production from its outside pass-rushers, so it will attempt to rectify the situation by securing a dynamic hybrid player in Ray.
5. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Character issues could very well push Winston to the end of the first round or later, but the Jets are in desperate need of an answer under center, so they'll roll the dice on the Heisman Trophy winner.
6. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Left tackle Trent Williams has one side of the Redskins offensive line on lock down, but the right side is in turmoil. That will change if Washington decides to select the steady and reliable Scherff.
7. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
The G-Men have had issues at linebacker dating back to their most recent Super Bowl runs. Addressing that situation is long overdue, but Big Blue will do so in a major way if it is able to nab the playmaking Thompson.
8. Carolina Panthers: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Panthers did well to get quarterback Cam Newton a big-time weapon in last year's draft by selecting wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Newton needs another option to return to top form, though, and Cooper is more than capable of producing immediately.
9. Minnesota Vikings: Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
The Vikings have been shockingly proficient at sacking the quarterback in 2014, but there is no such thing as having too many pass-rushers. Oakman is the type of player who could potentially replace Brian Robison in the near future.
10. Chicago Bears: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Chicago brought in Jared Allen to replace Julius Peppers at defensive end, but Calhoun possesses a skill set that is much more similar to what Peppers brought to the table. With that in mind, he is a perfect fit within the Bears defense.
11. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Pass defense is once again a major issue for the Saints, but they could find themselves in an advantageous position. If the draft's top cornerback—Peters—is available here, then there is little doubt they will rush to the podium.
12. St. Louis Rams: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The Rams have had a hole at safety for the past several years, but they have neglected to address it. With the top safety in the 2014 class sitting there at No. 12, however, they can't afford to pass Collins up.
13. Houston Texans: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Quarterback continues to be an area of concern for the Texans, but taking one here would be a reach. Houston would be wise to continue building the rest of the offense, especially the offensive line by drafting Peat.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Pittsburgh has made attempts to add youth to an aging defense over the past few drafts. That hasn't quite permeated into the secondary yet, but that process should start in this draft with the selection of Waynes.
15. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Not only do the Browns need a complementary target across from Josh Gordon, but they need an insurance policy in case he slips up again. White can fulfill those obligations and potentially become a star in his own right.
16. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
There is no question that a running back being selected in the first round is now a rarity in the NFL draft, but Wisconsin superstar Melvin Gordon is a rare talent in his own right.
The Badgers have long been known for producing great rushers, but the argument can be made for Gordon being the best ever. He assaulted the record books during his time at Madison, including a then-single-game rushing record of 408 yards set against Nebraska on Nov. 15, according to NFL on ESPN:
If Gordon wasn't already on NFL radars before that showing, he certainly is now. His effort impressed many, including ESPN's Chris Fowler:
There is always some concern attached to taking a running back who dealt with a heavy workload in college, but Gordon is stout at 6'1" and 207 pounds, and he has been remarkably durable during his tenure at Wisconsin. With that in mind, he is certainly worth taking a chance on.
The Baltimore Ravens have enjoyed a great deal of success over the years due to their defense but also because of their running game. That threat hasn't been as present over the past couple years, although Justin Forsett has done a nice job in 2014.
Forsett isn't a long-term answer, though, and he isn't a true every-down back either. Gordon most definitely is, and he could develop into quarterback Joe Flacco's best friend.
Baltimore would be a complete team with a stud at running back, and it can't afford to let a talent like Gordon pass it by.
17. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Cleveland can afford to take some chances with two selections in the first round. The Browns would benefit from a spark when it comes to rushing the passer, and the undersized Beasley could turn out to be a major steal.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Chiefs have neglected their receiving corps for quite some time, and that needs to change. No. 1 wideout Dwayne Bowe is quickly declining as well, which is why Kansas City must find a new outside threat such as Parker.
19. San Francisco 49ers: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
The 49ers' secondary struggles this season haven't come as a big surprise considering the fact that they were ravaged by free agency. They should use this draft to rebuild that part of the defense, and Ekpre-Olomu is a great start.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
Dallas has overachieved on defense in 2014 and done so with little pass rush to speak of. No player will show up and immediately become DeMarcus Ware, but Fowler has all the makings of an excellent sack artist at the NFL level.
21. Atlanta Falcons: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The Falcons have countless holes to plug on both sides of the ball, but they can only address one at a time. One year after selecting Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews in the first round, Atlanta would be wise to solidify the other side by nabbing his former collegiate teammate in Ogbuehi.
22. Miami Dolphins: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
It is difficult to identify many glaring weaknesses on Miami's roster, but it could use more youth and explosiveness on the interior of the defensive line. Goldman would undoubtedly address those deficiencies.
23. San Diego Chargers: La'el Collins, OL, LSU
The interior of San Diego's offensive line is extremely weak, and although Collins is listed as an offensive tackle, he has the ability to kick inside. Run blocking has been particularly bad, but Collins will help patch that up.
24. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
Indianapolis has an extremely valuable asset in the form of quarterback Andrew Luck. Protecting him at all costs is absolutely paramount, which is why solidifying the offensive line with Cann is the smartest move the Colts can make.
25. Detroit Lions: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
The Lions defense has developed into one of the NFL's best in 2014. That is largely due to the defensive line, and there is no doubt that improvements can be made elsewhere. The secondary is atop the list, and Williams would be a great addition.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
Michigan pass-catcher Devin Funchess is unquestionably one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 class. He started his career as a tight end only to move to wide receiver, and it remains to be seen what role he will play in the NFL.
Funchess' blocking deficiencies could relegate him to the outside, but he has the type of size and athleticism that could create big-time matchup problems. According to Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis of NFL.com, at least one former NFL executive views Funchess as a tight end.
"(Funchess) is playing wide receiver this year, but he's the poster child for this era's tight end in the NFL," the executive said.
Regardless of where Funchess plays, he has all the tools to be a star in the NFL. One team that would love to have a player of his ilk is the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Russell Wilson has struggled with Golden Tate and Percy Harvin no longer in the fold, and he could use a big, athletic target in the passing game.
There is nobody on the roster who Wilson can just throw it up to in one-on-one situations, but Funchess can be that guy. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller even compares the Michigan standout to Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery:
The Seahawks could find some exciting ways to utilize Funchess' versatility, and he would definitely add a much-needed dimension to the offense.
Seattle needs playmakers, and there is no better way to describe Funchess.
27. Cincinnati Bengals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
Cincinnati's defense has been extremely inconsistent in 2014. Getting pressure on the quarterback is one way to make life easier for everyone else on the defensive side of the ball, so nabbing Dupree would make plenty of sense here.
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
The Eagles have it all on offense, but it has been a constant struggle to make sizable gains defensively. Armstead could be a force and a pass-rushing threat along Philly's defensive line, and former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly knows him well.
29. Green Bay Packers: Bernardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
The middle of Green Bay's defense is quite susceptible to big running plays. The Packers could really use a tackling machine to clog the holes, which makes McKinney an ideal fit at this juncture of the first round.
30. New England Patriots: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
The Pats are as unpredictable as they come on draft night, but they get it right more often than not. Head coach Bill Belichick doesn't seem to have full trust in Shane Vereen as a bell-cow back, which could make Gurley an enticing option provided his recovery from a torn ACL progresses well.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Lorenzo Mauldin, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Arizona's success this season is the total lack of a pass rush. Most of the top sack artists will be off the board at this juncture, but Mauldin is extremely quick off the edge and could be a force at the next level.
32. Denver Broncos: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
Denver has really struggled with injuries within its linebacker corps, and more depth would be a huge help. Perryman is smallish, but he is a tackling machine who would be a good fit behind the Broncos' dominant defensive line.
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