2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Week 13 Breakdown
While no team entered 2014 expecting to be looking toward next season by the end of Week 13, that's just where many organizations stand heading into December.
With about a month left in the season, things couldn't end soon enough for a handful of teams that are getting worse and worse by the week. With that said, all but one team—the Buffalo Bills—will have a first-round selection. Most teams have some positions of huge need, while in other cases the rich will only get richer.
Months and months separate us from the 2015 draft, and draft boards are sure to change after pro days and the NFL Scouting Combine. But with the college football season about in the books, let's take a look at how the first round should shake out.
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1. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
With Derek Carr looking like the quarterback of the future and futility at so many positions, the Raiders won't be pressed to do anything other than take the best player on the board. There's no doubt that is Leonard Williams.
You don't often see the combination of athletic ability, size and sheer burst that you find in Williams, a 6'5", 290-pound menace. His quickness and agility along with long arms make him a mismatch against any interior blocker.
FoxSportsWest.com's Rahshaun Haylock noted he's still undecided, but a win over Notre Dame Saturday looked like his final game in the Coliseum:
Grabbing a player like Williams will streamline the rebuilding process in Oakland.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
The only way that Randy Gregory will end up anywhere other than Jacksonville is if the Jags—who came back to beat the Giants in Week 13—mess things up by winning too many games. The Nebraska defensive end is the best off-the-edge rusher in this draft class, with prototypical size and speed to make a quick impact.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The offense as a whole needs work, but Josh McCown and Mike Glennon aren't the answer under center. Tampa Bay will turn to Oregon's Marcus Mariota to inject some life into the offense. With a rocket arm and good mobility to extend plays and throw on the run, Mariota should find some early success if the team can put some more talent around him.
4. Tennessee Titans: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
The Titans don't have a long-term answer at quarterback but would rather roll the dice with Zach Mettenberger—or a free-agent signing—than fail to address a hapless pass rush. Shane Ray has exploded in his junior season, and the 6'3", 245-pound menace will make a quick impact off the edge in Tennessee.
5. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis Winston has had an up-and-down sophomore season, but his leadership qualities have never been on better display. The Jets desperately need some leadership on offense, and it's likely a new coaching staff will don Winston as the team's new franchise quarterback if they get the chance.
6. Washington Redskins: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
There's no telling what the future holds between Washington and Robert Griffin III, but whoever lines up under center will need more to work with. Alabama wideout Amari Cooper has been lighting up SEC defenses, and the Crimson Tide's all-time receiving leader will use his separation ability to transform the Redskins offense.
7. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
It's been decades since the Giants have needed dangerous pass-rushers this much. To go alongside Jason Pierre-Paul, New York will target Washington's dominant outside linebacker Shaq Thompson.
Thompson has been dominant this season for the Huskies defense, scoring four touchdowns on the defensive side as a Paul Hornung Award finalist:
The Giants defense will be much better off the bat with a player of Thompson's talent flying around.
8. Carolina Panthers: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Panthers defense has fallen apart, but there are more pressing issues up front, with Cam Newton running for his life. A long-term tackle is desperately needed, and Carolina will be quick to target Brandon Scherff—Iowa's burly offensive lineman that should emerge as the top player at his position.
9. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
One aspect of Atlanta's defense consistently missing is the pass rush, which Vic Beasley could single-handedly impact. Clemson's pass-rusher is a menace off the edge, serving as an athletic mismatch with almost anyone who lines up opposite him. As a pass-rushing specialist, Beasley will thrive.
10. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Vikings have allowed 31 sacks through 11 games, which is not a formula for allowing rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to find early success in the NFL. To protect their franchise quarterback, the Vikes will target Stanford's huge offensive tackle Andrus Peat to lock down the edge for the long term.
11. St. Louis Rams: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
After building a formidable defensive front line to contend in the brutal NFC West, next up for St. Louis should be addressing the offensive line. After snagging Greg Robinson at No. 2 overall last year, selecting Texas A&M tackle Cedric Ogbuehi will put the Rams one step closer to carving out an offensive line of the future.
12. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
The Bears should be downright giddy if Landon Collins happens to fall in their laps. The Jim Thorpe Award finalist is unquestionable the best safety in the country, and he is one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs to grace the draft in years. His ball skills and run-stuffing ability will stand out from the start of his career.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
The Saints only have 23 sacks through 11 games, which is far from the output that New Orleans typically expects from the defense. Dante Fowler won't make an immediate impact, but he will quickly emerge as a formidable pass-rusher.
14. Houston Texans: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Houston still has Ryan Mallett and Ryan Fitzpatrick around, but the long-term outlook at the quarterback position is worrisome. Connor Cook won't answer all of those questions, but he's an affordable pick for a Texans team that can surround him with successful players and ween him into playing time.
15. Miami Dolphins: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Other than dangerous pass-rusher Cameron Wake and Dion Jordan off the edge, the Dolphins don't have much formidability up front. They will address that immediately in the 2015 draft by snagging Danny Shelton, a run-stuffing tackle from Washington who will bring a strong mentality to the line.
16. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Whether it's Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel throwing passes in 2015, the Browns will need more than Josh Gordon on the outside. DeVante Parker from Louisville would be a perfect partner for Gordon. His speed and elusiveness would allow him to make plays in the middle of the field, and he can also burn defensive backs in one-on-one coverage for deep plays.
17. Baltimore Ravens: La'El Collins, OT, LSU
La'El Collins isn't being mentioned among the top few linemen in the draft, but he should be. The powerful tackle will be taken by Baltimore, a squad that has remained dangerous despite ineptitude up front. Collins' arrival will immediately make Joe Flacco more comfortable in the pocket.
18. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
The Browns have made some early-round picks to address their offensive line over the last few drafts, but one more elite-level tackle would almost end the rebuilding process up front. Ty Sambrailo offers the versatility and expertise to take on whatever position Cleveland needs off the bat, but he'll eventually develop into an impact tackle.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
An offensive line with a number of holes is holding back an otherwise strong Steelers team, so expect Pittsburgh to address that in Round 1. With all of the top tackles in the draft off the board, the Steelers will still get good value with Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley.
20. San Francisco 49ers: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
More consistent play from the secondary will transform the 49ers defense from good to great, and they'll be fortunate to get the best cornerback in the class. Trae Waynes out of Michigan State has a big 6'1" frame that allows him to make plays against big wideouts.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Alex Smith desperately needs some better production from his pass-catchers to take Kansas City's offense to the next level. The Chiefs will finally answer his request in 2015, taking Michigan's Devin Funchess—a big, athletic specimen who can make plays on the outside or develop into a game-changing tight end.
22. San Diego Chargers: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Few teams need an offensive field general in the middle more than San Diego, which will spur the Chargers to addressing that need immediately. They can't do any better in the draft than grabbing the best inside linebacker. Benardrick McKinney has great speed and the elite instincts that are so important at his position in the NFL.
23. Indianapolis Colts: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Indianapolis is fortunate that Andrew Luck has developed so well, because it has somewhat hidden the Colts' below-par offensive line. They can't afford not to address that early in 2015, and they will do well to grab Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings to quickly step into playing time.
24. Detroit Lions: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
There's a possibility that Lions defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley—soon free agents—won't be back next season, and Detroit will need to move quickly. Michael Bennett out of Ohio State can serve as either a peon to work under one or both of those stars, or step into big playing time early should they depart.
25. Dallas Cowboys: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The Cowboys have done well to build a burly offensive line via the draft, but the defensive line could use that same treatment. Dallas could use Eddie Goldman right away, as the stocky Florida State defensive tackle has the physical tools necessary to make a fast impact.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
With a huge contract extension looming for Russell Wilson, the Seahawks will need to start using real assets to give him offensive help. They couldn't do wrong by grabbing West Virginia's Kevin White, a speedy wideout with a big 6'3" frame who has consistently been one of the nation's best receivers.
27. Cincinnati Bengals: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
The Bengals' pass rush took their defense to the next level a year ago but hasn't been the same in 2014. Alvin "Bud" Dupree won't change that single-handedly, but he's been awfully effective as one of the only NFL talents on Kentucky's defense this year and has wrecked some of the SEC's best offensive tackles.
28. Denver Broncos: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
Some midseason reshuffling has saved the Broncos offensive line as of late. But with how inept the unit performed through stretches, the coaches will desperately look to add some quality depth to protect Peyton Manning in his twilight years. A.J. Cann of South Carolina is arguably the best offensive guard in the class and will fill in wherever he's needed.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
One of the most feared secondaries entering 2014, passing defense has been a big issue for the Cardinals. An Arizona team with a win-now mindset will do everything it can to address its biggest weakness, adding Washington's Marcus Peters—an athletic cover corner with great ball skills and recognition—to play the third cornerback slot.
30. Green Bay Packers: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
In serious need of some explosiveness off the edge with Clay Matthews developing into an inside linebacker spot, the Packers will go with Michigan State's versatile pass-rusher. Shilique Calhoun is far from a polished product, but he has shown all the intangibles to become a game-changing athletic edge rusher with a strong 6'5", 256-pound frame.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
The leading interception-grabber in college football will join a team that still needs a world of help in the secondary. Gerod Holliman has showcased his elite ball skills by threatening to smash a NCAA record, per ESPN Stats and Information:
Only two teams have allowed more passing yards and touchdowns than the Eagles in 2014, yet Chip Kelly has still opted to invest his early-round picks into his offense. If he wants any serious change in his defense, however, he'll need to buck that trend.
32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Despite the Patriots' success offensively in 2014, Tom Brady could really use some game-changing talent on the outside that has been lacking since Randy Moss' exit. Former blue-chip prospect Dorial Green-Beckham still might opt to stay at Oklahoma—where he's yet to play a down—for 2015, but the 6'6" prospect would fit in well in Brady's aerial assault if he continues his development.
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