2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Week 10 Breakdown
With Week 10 of the NFL season in the books, most teams are reaching the point where they're either fighting for a postseason spot or building confidence entering next season.
As fate would have it, it's also around the time that the college football elite put the finishing touches on their pro resumes and make lasting cases for NFL scouts entering the long draft season.
The NFL draft is a year-round effort involving dozens of scouts and personnel from each team, and its importance doesn't get lost even in the midst of a grueling 17-week season.
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We have until April 30, 2015 to see how it all unfolds, and the draft order is nowhere near set in stone. But it's never too early to take a look forward.
1. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
When you're as far away from contention as the Raiders are, it's best to simply draft the best player on the board—especially when he plays a game-changing position. USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a 6'5", 291-pound menace with expertise in getting to the quarterback.
At 0-9 on the year, Oakland is looking more and more like it will end up with the top pick. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller sees that as a position where the Raiders must take Williams, but trading down is another possibility:
Leonard is only 20, is getting better by the game and will be a generational talent up front for the Raiders. It's hard to see them passing up on that in a trade down.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
One of the biggest surprises for the Jaguars this season has been a potent pass rush, entering Week 10 with 27 sacks—third-most in the NFL. Randy Gregory will take it to another level. The Nebraska defensive end is dangerous enough on the outside to threaten Williams for the top pick, and he'll also be useful in an outside linebacker role.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mike Glennon and Josh McCown aren't getting it done under center in Tampa Bay, and the hapless Bucs will be all-in for a franchise quarterback in April. Marcus Mariota has the wheels and vision necessary to evade pressure, but also has a big arm on the run reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick.
4. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The Jets are in desperate need of leadership on offense, and there's no better offensive leader in the draft than Jameis Winston. The Geno Smith experiment has been a failed one, but a personnel focus in the past two offseasons on offense will allow for the Jets—likely with a new head coach and possibly general manager, too—to target a franchise quarterback in Winston.
5. Tennessee Titans: Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
Many of the Titans' struggles in adapting to a new 3-4 scheme has centered around not having the proper athletes on the outside. Shane Ray would be a perfect fit. He's accustomed to coming off the edge as the outside linebacker on the line and would be the speedy playmaker to play outside dominant defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
The Atlanta Falcons are dead last in the league in sacking the quarterback entering Week 10, with a whopping seven sacks through eight games. That's, well, not very good. Vic Beasley, however, is a master at getting to the quarterback—he had 21 combined sacks and five forced fumbles as a sophomore and junior, and he already has eight sacks as a senior.
7. Washington Redskins: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Redskins will be doing somersaults if Amari Cooper happens to fall to them at No. 7, but it's looking like a big possibility with the needs of the teams in front of them. Washington already has Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to target, but Cooper just may be the best wideout to come out of college since Dez Bryant with the entire package—size, speed and pass-catching strength.
8. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Rams have built their defensive line awfully strong through the draft, and now it's time to do the same on the offensive front. Brandon Scherff is the best offensive lineman in the draft, and the Iowa tackle will join Greg Robinson to lock down the outside. That will be crucial for a St. Louis team that gave up 24 sacks in its first eight games.
9. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, FS, Alabama
Bears safety Charles Tillman suffered what could be an injury that ends his career with the Bears, and Chicago's defense has been far from daunting in his place. Landon Collins would bring back the scary in a heartbeat. The Alabama free safety is as hard-hitting of a defensive player as there is in college football, and has by far the best ball skills—whether it's defending long balls or stopping the run—of any defensive back in the nation.
10. Minnesota Vikings: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
No team has amassed more sacks than the Vikings entering Week 10, but only one team—the Jaguars—had conceded more sacks offensively. Teddy Bridgewater won't last long in the NFL without an offensive line protecting him, so look for Minnesota to lock down his blind side for the long term with Cedric Ogbuehi.
11. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
The Giants are set on the outside when it comes to the defense, but they have a wealth of issues up front. A big reason for that is the lack of an impact player off the edge, and Shaq Thompson would be just that. At just 20 years old, his biggest development is also ahead of him, and that means he should emerge even more dangerous at the next level.
12. Carolina Panthers: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
While New York boasts a decent secondary, the Panthers are nowhere near that this season after having one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2013. Nabbing the best cornerback in the draft would be a huge step forward. Trae Waynes has the size (6'1") and the strength to wreak havoc on the outside.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
The Saints entered Week 10 with just 17 sacks through eight games, which is both below average and below defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's expectations. Dante Fowler would bring an immediate punch to the pass rush. He's been getting home on elite SEC offensive tackles for a few years now, and he will have no trouble doing the same against the NFL's best.
14. Houston Texans: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
The Texans have seemingly swung and missed with Ryan Fitzpatrick, and nobody around Houston really knows what it has in Tom Savage just yet. What's obvious is the Texans won't be a playoff contender without strong quarterback play, and that will have them rolling the dice on Connor Cook—a poised signal-caller from Michigan State with a big arm.
15. Miami Dolphins: Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE, Kentucky
Dion Jordan is starting to make his worth evident alongside Cameron Wake in the Dolphins pass rush, but Miami needs a reliable long-term option. Bud Dupree gets home with the best of the pass-rushers in this draft, and his one-on-one ability will be huge off the edge.
16. San Francisco 49ers: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
The 49ers have had injuries ravage their defense this season, and their secondary is just trying to hold up. A first-round pick at cornerback would go a long, long way, and Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is no stranger to the big stage, or to stopping the top athlete on the opposing team.
17. Cleveland Browns: La'El Collins, OT, LSU
Cleveland's investment in strong early-round draft picks has led to an impressive 2014 season, and the Browns will continue to invest up front. La'El Collins is among the top offensive linemen in his class, and he is a menace in the run game—which will help Ben Tate and Terrance West to find better running lanes.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The Chiefs have needed a game-changing receiver for some time, and the early emergence of many young wideouts across the league will have Kansas City jumping at one of the best talents in the draft. Kevin White can change any game on one play, and his big-play ability will transform the Kansas City offense.
19. Seattle Seahawks: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Most Seahawks fans hate the reality of it, but Marshawn Lynch is more than likely headed out of the door this offseason. Seattle will then need some instant impact in the backfield, and who better to get that from than Todd Gurley? He's proven his dependability and can be the feature back from opening day.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
The Steelers look much more dangerous in 2014 than in the previous few years, but it's no thanks to a passing defense that ranks seventh-worst in the league and has given up 15 touchdowns through the air in nine games. P.J. Williams is one of the best cover corners in the nation at Florida State, and he will bring his big-game experience to fortify the Steel Curtain.
21. Baltimore Ravens: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
When Joe Flacco is protected, he often finds big plays in the passing game—but that's been far from a guarantee in 2014. Andrus Peat will bring an immediate change to the pass protection in Baltimore to help keep Flacco upright.
22. Green Bay Packers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
B.J. Raji's explosion in the Packers' front showcased just how important a dominant nose tackle is to Green Bay's success. Danny Shelton may not be the next Raji, but the Packers will target him in the hopes that he can bring a similar impact to plugging things up in the front line.
23. San Diego Chargers: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
The Chargers are in desperate need of a field general in the middle of the field to keep everything in order, and Benardrick McKinney is no stranger to that role in Mississippi State. One of San Diego's biggest needs is at the linebacker spot, and McKinney's emergence will bring an overall improvement to the defense immediately.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Lorenzo Mauldin, DE/OLB, Louisville
Indianapolis has struggled getting to the passer with Robert Mathis out for the season, and that will spur the Colts to look for a long-term young option on the edge. Lorenzo Mauldin is menacing when attacking passers from the outside, and the Colts will use him in a strict pass-rushing role lined up both on the line and at linebacker.
25. Cleveland Browns (from Bills): Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
If the Browns don't figure out a way to sneak into the postseason, it more than likely will be the product of a lack of offensive potency. Brian Hoyer needs weapons, and Devin Funchess would be a great one. He has the size to line up as another option at tight end next to Jordan Cameron, but he can also make an impact on the perimeter.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
Colorado State is off to a blistering 9-1 start to the season, thanks in large part to the near-perfect play of Ty Sambrailo. Cincinnati is in need of some retooling up front with inconsistent play from the line, and Sambrailo will immediately threaten a starting spot.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
Despite emerging as one of the NFL's best teams, the Eagles still can't stop anybody through the air, ranking 22nd in the NFL in pass defense. Philadelphia needs to gamble on a cornerback in the hopes that he can become an impact starter, and Alex Carter will get that opportunity.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Eddie Goldman, DT, LSU
The Cowboys have successfully built an impenetrable offensive line through the draft, and now they'll do the same on the defensive line. Eddie Goldman will set the tone for the defensive line in Dallas, and soon he'll be a building block around which the Cowboys construct a new line.
29. Detroit Lions: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
This draft class is plentiful on first-round talent at defensive end, and the Lions will take advantage by getting a potential game-changer late in Round 1. Shilique Calhoun is the most dangerous pass-rusher on a formidable Michigan State defense, and Detroit will be eager to insert him alongside beasts Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.
30. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Tom Brady's 2014 resurgence should give the Patriots every motivation to give him some more formidable options in the twilight of his career. Dorial Green-Beckham is a game-changer and a one-on-one nightmare for opposing defenses, and New England's strong locker-room culture will be the best thing to happen to a troubled DGB upon entering the league.
31. Denver Broncos: Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami
The Broncos might decide to address the running back spot with Montee Ball riddled with injury problems, but it won't happen in Round 1. Instead, Denver will look to build some depth on its improving defense by adding a promising inside linebacker in Denzel Perryman.
32. Arizona Cardinals: Markus Golden, DE, Missouri
No team in the NFL blitzes as often—or with as many different looks—as the Cardinals defense, and formidable pass-rushers are always atop their list. Markus Golden is a plug-in pass-rusher who can alleviate the pressure on some of Arizona's more reputable quarterback chasers.
Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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