2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Week 14 Breakdown
The 2014 NFL regular season is quickly approaching its conclusion, which means every fan's favorite time—draft season—is right around the corner.
With only three more weeks until the playoffs, each team's draft position is coming more into focus. A mock draft is always a speculative process, but it becomes slightly less speculative when you have an idea of where somebody is drafting.
Following Week 14, here's a rough sketch for how the first round might unfold. The more risky draft picks are underlined.
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(Note: Draft order is courtesy of Mocking the Draft and done before Sunday Night Football.)
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
This is by far the easiest pick to mock. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately need a quarterback, and Marcus Mariota looks to be the best QB prospect in the draft. This year is a little thin at the position in terms of top-end talent, but selecting Mariota would be a no-brainer for Tampa.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis Winston will come with some baggage, and during the draft process, you can count on reading countless articles about past and potential off-field issues surrounding the former Heisman Trophy winner:
Much like the Buccaneers, the Tennessee Titans badly need a quarterback. Winston's the only one aside from Mariota worth taking this early in the first round.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Remember when some questioned why the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't take Khalil Mack last year? Now the team has a chance to rectify that perceived mistake. Randy Gregory's an absolute beast who can help against the run and pass.
4. New York Jets: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Amari Cooper is the best offensive player in the country and possibly the best wideout to come out of college since Calvin Johnson. If the New York Jets can't draft Mariota or Winston, then Cooper would be the next best option to help the team's anemic passing attack.
5. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Oakland Raiders are in the enviable position—at least in terms of the draft—where they have so many holes that they can go for need and value with the same player. Imagine a defense with both Leonard Williams and Mack. Williams is a force of nature on the defensive line.
6. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Does it even matter what the Washington Redskins do at this point? It's impressive how the franchise continues to wallow in mediocrity despite the level of parity in the NFL. Brandon Scherff is one of the best offensive tackles in a bit of a down year. He'd be a nice addition to an O-line that's struggled throughout 2014.
7. New York Giants: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
If the New York Giants can grab Shane Ray, it would be a massive steal. Ray could blossom into the best pass-rusher to come out of the 2014 draft should he enter. Last year, many debated whether Mack or Jadeveon Clowney was the best pass-rusher in the 2014 draft. You could see similar arguments about Ray and Gregory this year.
8. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Carolina Panthers offensive line has been dreadful this year, giving Cam Newton little protection. According to Football Outsiders, the unit ranks 26th in pass protection. It's not a recent problem, either. Peat's the best tackle on the board. He's still a bit raw but has everything scouts look for in a left tackle.
9. New Orleans Saints: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson is such a Swiss army knife that the New Orleans Saints could use him in a million different ways, and he'd still have a ton of utility. The Saints defense doesn't have one glaring hole that should be prioritized over everything else, so Thompson would be a great fit.
10. Chicago Bears: Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
You know some team will reach on Shawn Oakman. Talented defensive linemen who are 6'9" don't come along every year. The Chicago Bears front seven is getting older, so Oakman could prove to be the long-term replacement for a guy like Jared Allen.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Even if Cedric Ogbuehi plays at right tackle, this wouldn't be a bad pick for the Minnesota Vikings. The team can use another year to really see if Matt Kalil's a complete bust while giving Teddy Bridgewater a little more help on the offensive line. Cooper would be the perfect pick here to improve the passing game, but he's already gone.
12. St. Louis Rams: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Desperate teams do desperate things. Brett Hundley might be more of a second-round pick in terms of value, but the St. Louis Rams could very well reach for him early in the first.
UCLA head coach Jim Mora admitted that Hundley's as good as gone.
"I'm sure Brett will declare and go play at the next level," Mora said on The Rich Eisen Show, via CBSSports.com's Chip Patterson. "I think he's ready to do that. I mean, he's done what he can do at UCLA."
Hundley still needs to smooth out the edges in his game, especially when it comes to his pocket presence, but he could be worth the gamble in the long term. The Bruins' spotty offensive line made him look worse than he truly is this year.
13. Houston Texans: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Ronnie Stanley is exactly who teams look for in a tackle in terms of physical gifts. He possesses the strength to handle interior defensive linemen, yet he's also agile enough to get out on the edge and stifle opposing pass-rushers. Since he's so inexperienced, Stanley's still a work in progress. His potential is well worth an early to mid-first-rounder.
14. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Cleveland Browns can't ignore wide receiver for another season. They need to get a wide receiver with one of their two first-round picks, whether it's DeVante Parker, Kevin White, Jaelen Strong, Devin Funchess or Dorial Green-Beckham. Parker isn't in the class of Cooper, but he should emerge as a major weapon in the NFL.
15. Miami Dolphins: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Will a team take a chance on Todd Gurley in the first round?
The Buffalo Bills took Willis McGahee in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft after his major knee injury in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Back in '03, though, running backs were a more valued commodity on draft day. Past drafts have shown that teams can wait until the second, third and fourth rounds and still get a potential Pro Bowler.
Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman gave Gurley about the highest honor you could bestow on a Georgia running back:
As long as he receives the all-clear from doctors before the draft, the Bulldogs star could realistically go as early as 15th. Even in a time when running backs are largely expendable, the Miami Dolphins could gamble in the hope that Gurley is the next Adrian Peterson. Plus, Gurley would be a nice asset to have for furthering Ryan Tannehill's development.
16. Cleveland Browns via Buffalo Bills: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
The Browns might hesitate to draft another pass-rusher considering how many picks they've already used on them in the past. However, it is an issue for Cleveland, and with two picks in the round, the team can afford to go for a guy like Dante Fowler.
17. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Wide receiver is a major area of concern for the Kansas City Chiefs. They don't have a go-to option for Alex Smith outside of Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles. That has to change in 2015. Jaelen Strong needs to become a better route-runner, but he's among the best pure pass-catchers in the draft. He's so adept at snatching the ball out of the air.
18. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Speaking of teams in need of a wideout, Kevin White is the downfield threat the San Francisco 49ers have lacked in recent years. His route tree isn't the biggest, but it's about time the Niners got somebody who can burn an opposing secondary deep.
19. Baltimore Ravens: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
Vic Beasley is a great athlete, but right now, he's not strong enough to be an every-down player. He's listed at 6'3" and 235 pounds. For context, Bruce Irvin, a player somewhat similar to Beasley in skill set, is 13 pounds heavier, and he's not had quite the impact some expected after his rookie season. Beasley would be a nice pick in the back half of the first round, where teams wouldn't expect to land a dominant pass-rusher.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
For the most part, safeties aren't drafted too high in the first round. Landon Collins could break the mold, but at this early stage, the 15-20 range makes the most sense. Collins is the prototypical ball-hawking safety who can wreak havoc for opposing quarterbacks.
21. Atlanta Falcons: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
You have to wonder if the Atlanta Falcons would choose missing the playoffs altogether rather than getting in with a losing record. If they make the postseason, then they're locked into at least 21st. Alvin Dupree would be good value here and also give the Falcons somebody who can rush the quarterback. He'd be a nice consolation for falling a ton of spots.
22. San Diego Chargers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The San Diego Chargers are a bit weak in the interior of their defensive line. Eddie Goldman's more than just a space-eater. He can occupy blockers or get in the backfield. That kind of player is sorely needed in San Diego.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
With the lack of a can't-miss cornerback, teams could overvalue guys like Trae Waynes, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Marcus Peters. They're all good options, but they're not top-10-caliber prospects. Waynes is a talented, athletic cornerback who will thrive at the next level. He'd be a nice addition for a Pittsburgh Steelers secondary that's had a lot of problems in 2014.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Right tackle has been a problem area for the Cincinnati Bengals this season. La'el Collins could help fill the void in 2015 and then move over to left tackle in 2016 if the team lets Andrew Whitworth walk. Since Collins doesn't have the look of a prototypical left tackle, that extra year of seasoning could help ease the eventual transition.
25. Indianapolis Colts: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
D'Qwell Jackson hasn't been the difference-maker the Indianapolis Colts thought he'd be. Benardrick McKinney is athletic for an inside linebacker, and he possesses strong instincts on the field. He'd be a smart pick here for Indy.
26. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Keeping Ndamukong Suh around beyond this year will be extremely pricey for the Detroit Lions, if he even wants to sign with Detroit. The Lions would be better off going for a defensive tackle in the first round, of which they'd be assured of getting a good talent. Danny Shelton's among the best in this year's class, so he'd make a lot of sense here.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Drafting a guy who was kicked out of school is always a bit of a risk, especially in the first round. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks provided a little background on why some teams might be scared off of Peters:
"From speaking with several scouts familiar with Peters and his interaction with the Washington coaches, I've been told that the dismissal stems from his inability to get along with coaches and team officials. Peters reportedly has a strong personality and didn't mind challenging authority about various situations on and off the field.
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Brooks added that few question Peters' talent:
"Scouts around the West believe Peters is the top cover corner in college football. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior is an ultra-talented cover corner with size, speed and skills that NFL defensive coordinators covet in premier corners. He is an aggressive press corner with the length to jam and disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage, while also displaying the instincts and awareness to anticipate routes and throws in his direction. Peters is fearless on the perimeter and willing to challenge elite receivers in one-on-one coverage.
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If you can get the best cover corner in the draft with the 27th overall pick, then that's worth the potential headache Peters might bring.
Plus, his issues don't appear to be of the type that the right coaching staff can't handle. He could be the Philadelphia Eagles' No. 1 corner for years to come.
28. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
Michael Bennett might not possess the upside of Goldman or Shelton, but he'd be an improvement inside for the Seattle Seahawks defense. Bennett is skilled both in run defense and getting after the quarterback.
29. Green Bay Packers: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Green Bay Packers would perhaps be reaching a bit here with Malcom Brown. He's a steady defensive tackle who most importantly doesn't run extremely hot and cold. Brown won't have those periods of a game where he goes completely invisible.
30. New England Patriots: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
By drafting Melvin Gordon, the New England Patriots could afford to let one or both of Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley walk in free agency. Gordon's arguably the best running back in college football, but there are valid concerns about whether he will be a good NFL running back.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
The Arizona Cardinals already have the secondary covered. Improving the defensive line would make an already great defense that much better. Shilique Calhoun would make the Cardinals a much better pass-rushing unit, which wouldn't make it fair for opposing quarterbacks.
32. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Being one of the best teams in the league, the Denver Broncos don't necessarily have to draft for need in the first round. Right tackle isn't exactly a weak area, but Denver would be smart to target the position early on. T.J. Clemmings is among the best tackles still on the board, and he could step in at right tackle right away.
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