2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Week 12 Breakdown
By Week 12, the front-office focus of most NFL teams is in one of two places.
The fortunate ones are primarily focusing on how to best suit their rosters for a potential playoff push. The others, however, have already seen the sun set on their 2014 championship aspirations.
Those organizations already have one eye on the next NFL draft, with every team's performance in the regular season deciding where they'll be selecting in Round 1. With as talent-rich of a class as we've seen in recent years, those teams won't be disappointed with the pickings early in the first round.
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Based on the teams' current place in the standings, let's choreograph a mock draft for the first round.
1. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Raiders no longer have a goose egg in the win column, but their need for huge roster improvements at many core positions—especially the defensive line—is palpable. They could do no better at No. 1—other than maybe trading down—than taking Leonard Williams.
The USC defensive tackle makes an impact on every down and makes his presence felt similar to disruptive Tampa Bay Buccaneers lineman Gerald McCoy, per Shane P. Hallan of DraftTV.com:
Williams will be the top pick in the draft, and the only way Oakland won't be taking him is if it explores trading down.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
The best pure pass-rusher off the edge in this draft will be too promising for the Jaguars to pass up. Randy Gregory has carved out an elite status with a monster couple of years at Nebraska, and he'll help to improve a Jacksonville pass rush that already has 28 sacks through 10 games.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The Buccaneers need someone to rescue their offense, and Marcus Mariota will be the guy. Oregon's signal-caller has matured his style of play to an NFL level, showing that he can do everything—release throws quickly, evade pressure and throw downfield—that mobile quarterbacks are expected to do. Tampa Bay will tab Mariota as its franchise quarterback and build around him.
4. Tennessee Titans: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
The Titans have seemingly moved on from Jake Locker, but rookie Zach Mettenberger is giving the coaching staff reasons to bank on him for 2015. With that said, Tennessee's other biggest need is an impact pass-rusher. Vic Beasley from Clemson would fit the bill, as he's elite at wreaking havoc off the edge and covering playmakers in space.
5. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The Jets should be expected to clean house after another unimpressive Rex Ryan-coached season, and a new staff will want its own franchise quarterback. Jameis Winston and New York is a match made in heaven—not just for the media appeal.
The Florida State quarterback has the leadership qualities that the Jets have lacked in recent years, at least on the offensive side. He has a pro-style arm and vision that will be aided by wideouts such as Percy Harvin and Eric Decker on the outside.
6. Washington Redskins: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Washington's offense is a puzzle that nobody—not even Jay Gruden—can put together for 2015 with Robert Griffin III's struggles. Whoever is quarterback will need a young, dynamic playmaker, and Amari Cooper fits the bill. The Alabama wideout will help to stretch out a Redskins offense that sorely needs it.
7. New York Giants: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Jason Pierre-Paul is practically alone in the Giants' pass rush, and he needs another impact player to go alongside him. Shane Ray would be a fantastic second option off the edge, as the Missouri defensive end has tortured some of the SEC's best linemen en route to a monster 2014 season.
8. Carolina Panthers: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
After the Panthers' meteoric fall defensively from 2013 to 2014, they'll need to nab a longtime impact starter on defense. Landon Collins from Alabama is the best defensive back in the draft, with speed and ball-hawking skills only outweighed by his brutal hitting ability.
9. Minnesota Vikings: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
As good as the Vikings are at rushing the quarterback in 2014, they're just as bad at defending pass-rushers. Cedric Ogbuehi will become Teddy Bridgewater's new best friend. The most athletic offensive lineman in the class will have no trouble locking down the youngster's blind side.
10. Atlanta Falcons: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
No team has allowed more passing yards than Atlanta in 2014, and the lowly Falcons will be desperate to make serious changes. Desmond Trufant has the other island locked down, but Michigan State's Trae Waynes will use his top ball skills and a 6'1" frame to quickly adjust into a starting role.
11. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Now that the Rams have fortified their defensive line through the draft in the burly NFC West, they're now set on doing the same offensively. Brandon Scherff looks like he was built for the division. The Iowa lineman is the immovable type of presence that will help the Rams cut down their 33 sacks allowed through 10 games played.
12. New Orleans Saints: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
The Saints' late-game defensive woes aren't unrelated to their lack of dangerous players off the edge, and—despite all of the premier pass-rushers on this draft board—there just might not be a better one in the class than Shaq Thompson.
Washington's dangerous pass-rusher lines up both on the line and at linebacker, but he's a handful no matter where he is. He has even garnered some Heisman talk, and it's not hard to see why as Adam Jude of The Seattle Times shows:
Thompson may not be available outside the top 10 if his monster season continues, but New Orleans won't blink at taking him at No. 12.
13. Chicago Bears: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
The Bears are a below-average team at rushing the passer in 2014, but Dante Fowler would help to turn things around. He's come into his own in his first year not playing alongside Dominique Easley, and will be an immediate force getting to the quarterback for a team that needs it.
14. Houston Texans: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Bill O'Brien's quarterback shuffling in 2014 hasn't turned out that great so far, and the coaching staff will enter the draft anxious to find a new one to build around. Connor Cook has enough potential to make the gamble worth it, with a prototypical arm and a proven ability to run pro-style offenses at Michigan State against strong defensive units.
15. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Josh Gordon is back, but the Browns are still in some serious need of receiving reinforcements—as told by their reliance on Gordon in his 2014 debut. DeVante Parker would give Cleveland's offense a speedy dimension in the vertical passing game, and that would make for quite the conundrum for defenses when he plays next to Gordon.
16. Baltimore Ravens: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
The Ravens' offensive line is in a rebuilding process, and it's in serious need of another impact player to develop into a starting role. La'el Collins will bring the versatility that Baltimore needs on its line, and he'll likely play at a couple of different positions before the Ravens figure out where to use him.
17. Miami Dolphins: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Dolphins' pass rush is set with Cameron Wake and Dion Jordan, but they need some more impact in the middle of the line. That's where Danny Shelton comes in. He's been stuffing up Pac-12 lines for years at Washington and will bring that same mentality to the improving Miami defense.
18. Cleveland Browns: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Cleveland has been retooling its line in the draft for a few years now, but Andrus Peat's selection would almost complete the process. The Stanford offensive tackle overpowers would-be pass-rushers on the edge with his immense size (6'7", 313 lbs).
19. San Diego Chargers: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
The Chargers are in desperate need for an inside linebacker, and that will have them targeting the top one in this draft. That would be Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State's defensive captain who has unreal instincts and athleticism. He will immediately inject some punch to San Diego's defense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
The Steelers' offensive line has been impressing while plowing open holes for Le'Veon Bell and protecting Ben Roethlisberger, but no pressing needs and a never-ending need for depth will have Pittsburgh addressing the trenches again.
Ty Sambrailo out of Colorado State would give Pittsburgh the versatile lineman whom it needs to fill in for those inevitable injuries, although it won't be long until he becomes an impact starting tackle.
21. San Francisco 49ers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The 49ers have remained one of the NFL's best defenses, despite serious injury troubles at the cornerback position, but they'll be intent on addressing them in the draft. Marcus Peters out of Washington would be a great fit for the physical San Francisco defense, and the team will immediately put his ball skills to good use.
22. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The Seahawks better start putting some weapons around Russell Wilson if they're going to shell out a massive deal to him in the offseason. Seattle couldn't do much better late in Round 1 than West Virginia's Kevin White, one of the nation's leading receivers who has the size (6'3") and the speed to torch secondaries.
23. Indianapolis Colts: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
It's pretty amazing how good Andrew Luck has been in Indianapolis behind a subpar offensive line. To address that obvious need, the Colts will look toward Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, which is quite the value considering he's the sixth offensive lineman taken.
24. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Few teams need pass-catching help more than the Chiefs, who have remained one of the NFL's better teams, despite a terrible receiving corps. Devin Funchess won't be a one-man wrecking crew, but his versatility as both a receiver or a tight end will allow Kansas City to have some flexibility in the offense.
25. Detroit Lions: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
There's a likelihood that both Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh could be hitting the trail before 2015, and the Lions might not know their statuses when draft day comes. Detroit will take Michael Bennett out of Ohio State, who can emerge quickly as a starter should Fairley exit or develop slowly on one of the NFL's best defensive lines.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
Cincinnati's pass rush has almost disappeared in 2014, and it's played a huge role in the Bengals' defensive futility. Alvin "Bud" Dupree out of Kentucky would help to change that in an instant, and he would also help to alleviate the burden when Vontaze Burfict inevitably misses time.
27. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Without B.J. Raji in and making an impact, the Packers' defense hasn't been nearly the force it used to be. Eddie Goldman won't be Raji, but the dominant presence from Florida State will be able to stuff up the trenches like Green Bay hasn't seen since.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Dallas doesn't need anything more than strong defensive linemen, and that will have the Cowboys taking Shilique Calhoun. Michigan State's defensive end makes up for his lack of speed by overpowering his opponents, often blowing over linemen to get to the quarterback.
29. Philadelphia Eagles: Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
Chip Kelly's Eagles have the offense thing figured out, but defense is another story. Philadelphia's porous secondary will be boosted considerably by Gerod Holliman, a hard-hitting Louisville free safety who will help to stop the long balls.
30. Denver Broncos: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
As long as Peyton Manning is in Denver, the Broncos should be devoting all of their resources toward helping him win. Nothing would help more than a dependable running back.
It's no secret what makes Todd Gurley a first-round option, even at a diminishing position. He has incredible speed and vision, but he'll run you over right when you are ready to step in front.
Gurley's torn ACL won't do much to deter his draft stock, as the Broncos will fast-track him to recover in time for 2015.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Markus Golden, DE, Missouri
The Cardinals will be getting an absolute steal if Markus Golden is there at No. 31, a pick that will inflict fear in the rest of the NFC West. Golden has been wreaking havoc against SEC offenses along with Shane Ray all season, and he'll step right into an Arizona pass rush that will only need to use him in passing downs off the bat.
32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Tom Brady has made it obvious he's still on top of his game, and with their defense playing well the Patriots will address the outside. Dorial Green-Beckham has crazy athletic skills and lived up to his potential at Missouri before off-field issues derailed his time there. Being inserted into the Patriots' strong locker room will be the best thing for him, as will catching passes from the legendary Brady.
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