NFL Mock Draft 2015: Complete Predictions for 1st Round's Top Underclassmen
The NFL playoffs aren't even underway yet, but let's be honest—it's NFL mock draft season! Sure, we don't know all of the underclassmen who will declare or won't declare for the draft just yet, or even the full draft order, but we all know this is the time of year when are addiction for NFL mock drafts starts to kick in.
So below, I'll take an early look at how this year's draft could play out. Spoiler alert: A lot will change between now and the actual draft. But it's never to early for a mock.
Never.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon Ducks
Unless the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade for a quarterback—or Marcus Mariota does something catastrophic like miss a few throws at his pro day (oh, the horror!)—the Heisman winner will absolutely be the top pick in the draft.
Yes, there are concerns when it comes to Mariota, but he's also an electrifying talent, a leader and a model citizen for an organization to build around. Think more Russell Wilson than Johnny Manziel here (though can we all please calm down and remember that the jury should still be out on Manziel, he of the two NFL starts?).
Mariota and Mike Evans will be an exciting combination for the Bucs for years to come. This is the pick Tampa has to make.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
With all due respect to Randy Gregory, the real intrigue of this pick will be whether the Titans select Florida State's Jameis Winston or not. Here's a few reasons why I think they won't:
- Winston brings a ton of the off-the-field questions, which will make some teams hesitant to build a franchise around him.
- There is so much defensive talent atop this draft—including the dynamic Gregory—that the Titans may not be willing to take the chance on Winston.
- The Titans may still believe they have something in Zach Mettenberger and give him another year to prove whether he can be the guy. When asked what he would tell the coaching staff if he had to give an exit interview after the 2014 season, Mettenberger simply said, "I'm going to tell them I'm the guy," via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. He clearly doesn't think the team should select a quarterback with the second pick. The Titans might agree.
Add it all up, and I simply don't think Winston is the pick here. But we shall see.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Adding help on the defensive line probably isn't one of Jacksonville's bigger needs, but Leonard Williams is simply too talented to pass on, and the Jaguars would be reaching to fill some of their other needs like offensive tackle or cornerback.
Williams gives the Jags versatility, as he can move around the line and fill several roles, and he's also the most talented player on the board at this point. Head coach Gus Bradley is going to love this guy.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Oakland Raiders have been devoid of offensive weapons for years, though it looks as though they've found a quarterback in Derek Carr and potentially a running back in Latavius Murray. But giving Carr a big-time target in the passing game should be a priority this offseason, and it doesn't get anymore big-time than Cooper, who dominated this season for Alabama.
This pick basically selects itself.
5. Washington: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Washington could use a new owner, a new name and a quarterback who isn't a media lightning rod, but you can't select any of that in the draft. Well, maybe you can select the quarterback, but you have to be willing to move on from Robert Griffin III if you go that route, and after giving up a wealth of draft picks to select him, Washington likely won't be giving up on him just yet.
What you can pick, however, is a pass-rusher, and Washington needs one of those. Shane Ray posted 14 sacks and 21 tackles for loss this season in the competitive SEC, so he would surely upgrade Washington's pass rush.
Washington will have to address the other issues some other time.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Why not?
Jameis Winston might end up being the most effective player in this draft class, but the off-field issues could cause him to drop. But come on—do you really think the Jets could resist winning the headlines by selecting him if he fell to No. 6?
Of course not.
It's pretty clear that Geno Smith isn't the future and Michael Vick was barely the past, so the Jets need to upgrade the quarterback position. On the field, Winston's talent is unquestionable. Frankly, he'd probably be the top overall pick were it not for potential character concerns. This is a pretty all-or-nothing pick for the Jets, of course, and until we know who will take over as the new general manager and new head coach, this pick is nothing but a stab in the dark.
But boy oh boy, doesn't it just feel like the prototypical "Jets move"?
7. Chicago Bears: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
Despite the turmoil in Chicago to close the season surrounding Jay Cutler and the Bears in general, the team's offense isn't really the main issue. That, my friends, is a distinction that belongs to the defense. Luckily for the Bears, this draft is loaded with talented defensive players, namely in the front seven, so they can snag a player like Vic Beasley who should immediately upgrade the pass rush.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The Falcons gave up an NFL-worst 280 passing yards per game this season, so it's no secret that they need to upgrade both the pass rush and the secondary. They're going to miss out on the elite tier of pass-rushers at No. 8, but they'll be able to snag the top defensive back on the board, Landon Collins, who will instantly upgrade a suspect secondary. He and Desmond Trufant will be the pillars of this secondary for years to come.
9. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
The Giants haven't made it a habit of drafting linebackers in the first round, but they should break the mold and select Shaq Thompson. The Washington star is a special athlete and was even utilized as a running back by the Huskies this year, but he's truly special at linebacker. He'll help dramatically improve this defense next year.
10. St. Louis Rams: Devante Parker, WR, Louisville
If Devante Parker had played a full season, we might be talking about him like we talk about Amari Cooper. The Louisville star had 35 catches for 735 yards and five touchdowns in just five games, making him the potential steal of the draft for the Rams at No. 10.
Yes, Brian Quick was having a good year before he went down to injury, and Stedman Bailey played well down the stretch. Yes, Tavon Austin still makes the occasional big play. But this team needs another starting wideout and another dynamic weapon on offense. Parker fits the bill perfectly.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Vikings need to improve the offensive line, namely at tackle. The beauty of Brandon Scherff is that while he might not be able to stick as a left tackle in the pros, he has a ton of potential either on the right side or making the move to guard. Plus, he's the most NFL-ready player at the position and likely won't even drop this far. If he does, however, he's a great fit for a Minny team that needs help on the O-line.
12. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Whether the Browns move on from Josh Gordon or not, they need to add more offensive weapons. Gordon is supremely talented but continues to carry off-field concerns. Jordan Cameron struggled with injuries in 2014 and simply isn't an elite option at the position. If Manziel is ever going to succeed as the main man in Cleveland, he needs weapons to work with.
Kevin White would certainly give him something to work with after nabbing 109 catches for 1,457 yards and 10 touchdowns this season for West Virginia. The thought of a Gordon-White combination out wide in Cleveland is a scary thought.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
It's the same old story for the New Orleans Saints—once again, the defense let them down. This team needs more pass-rushers, and Dante Fowler is the best one on the board. This is an easy pick for the Saints.
14. Miami Dolphins: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Brent Grimes has been awesome for the Miami Dolphins, but the team is going to need a young cornerback to pair next to him in the foreseeable future, as Cortland Finnegan isn't a long-term option at the position. The Dolphins would be wise to scoop up Trae Waynes, who was good enough this season to cause most teams to simply avoid throwing against him.
Teams will throw to his side a bit more in the pros, of course, but Waynes seems up to the challenge.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Niners fans would probably prefer the team go with a wide receiver here, but there is better value to be had at offensive line, where the team can add some young blood for the future. Cedric Ogbuehi is a bit raw, yes, but he has the upside to be the steal of this draft at No. 15. This isn't a sexy pick for the Niners, but it is a smart one.
16. Houston Texans: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Houston fans would probably prefer a quarterback here, but there isn't one worth drafting this high. At least not at this point in the process. But La'el Collins certainly is a player worth adding to a position of need, so Houston will gladly snag him.
17. San Diego Chargers: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
You didn't need to watch every game the Chargers played this season to know the team needs to upgrade the offensive line. You only needed to watch in Week 17, when Justin Houston kept Philip Rivers on his back for most of the game. It was ugly. Ereck Flowers can't get to San Diego quickly enough.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
The Chiefs went the entire season without a wide receiver catching a single touchdown pass. I don't even need to write anything else here, because anybody who is vaguely familiar with the sport of football knows that the Chiefs desperately need help at wideout.
19: Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills): Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Browns got some help on the offensive side of the ball, so they can focus on solidifying the trenches by adding defensive tackle Danny Shelton with the pick they got in the Sammy Watkins trade last year. Or they could use both picks to move up in the draft and take a player like, say, Alabama's Cooper. Either way, Cleveland should be a better team next year if they play their cards right.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
If the Eagles don't address the secondary in this draft, there will be a riot. You think I'm joking, but I think there might be an actual riot in the City of Brotherly love if Bradley Fletcher heads into next season as a starting cornerback.
Kevin Johnson is the type of longer cornerback that head coach Chip Kelly likes, so he makes a lot of sense for the Eagles. Truthfully, anybody not named Bradley Fletcher who plays cornerback makes a lot of sense to Eagles fans at this point.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Cornerback may not be the most pressing immediate need, but the Bengals aren't getting any younger at the position, either. Marcus Peters is a top-15 talent, but he's likely to drop after being dismissed by Washington. Cincy has taken character-issue players in the past and turned them into stars—Vontaze Burfict springs to mind—so Peters likely won't be off the Bengals radar.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Steelers are excellent on offense, but they are pretty vulnerable on defense, which is a really strange sentence to write given this team's history. Malcom Brown can help bring back some grit and fortitude to a defense that didn't resemble a regular curtain this year, let alone a steel one.
23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Ndamukong Suh is going to get paid the big bucks this year, but the Lions may not be the team to do so, especially given that Suh has a history of getting himself in trouble for dirty play. If the Lions cut ties with Suh, they'll likely replace him quickly in a draft pretty deep on the defensive line. Eddie Goldman is a nice pick here to do just that.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
The Cardinals really need to bolster their linebacker corps, and Bud Dupree is a riser at the outside linebacker position. Injuries on both sides of the ball and the suspension of Daryl Washington have turned a Super Bowl contender into a team that will struggle to win a single playoff game this year, so adding depth at key positions and potential game-changers like Dupree is vital in this draft.
25. Carolina Panthers: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Kelvin Benjamin had an excellent rookie campaign, but he would benefit from a legitimate wideout opposite him. Sammie Coates and his big-play potential down the field would perfectly complement Benjamin's size and ability to make plays in the red zone and Greg Olsen's role as the possession option in the passing game.
Cam Newton would surely love this pick, and Carolina's offense would be scary next season.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Ray Rice is no longer a Raven, Bernard Pierce has been a bust and while Justin Forsett had a nice season, he's best utilized as a change-of-pace, third-down back. Todd Gurley is the sort of bruising, talented runner who would pair perfectly with Forsett and provide a serious upgrade in Baltimore's running attack.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Benardrick Mckinney, MLB, Mississippi State
The Colts are doing just fine on offense, with Andrew Luck leading a talented unit that boasts young playmakers like T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. They need to bolster the defense, no doubt, and linebacker Benardrick McKinney would offer an instant upgrade at the position.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville
Cornerback is probably the bigger need, but reaching for a corner here would be a mistake, especially when the team should simply focus on improving or adding quality depth to the secondary. Gerod Holliman seems to divide opinion, but he certainly has a nose for the football (14 interceptions this season).
29. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, MLB, Miami
While Clay Matthews III has proved he can play in the middle for Green Bay when called upon to do so, he's still at his best as a pass-rusher. So yes, the Packers would be wise to add a true middle linebacker into the fold next season. Denzel Perryman should fill that role nicely.
30. New England Patriots: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Tom Brady could probably get to the Super Bowl with your local flag-football team playing wide receiver, but that doesn't mean it's a wise strategy. Brady could use another true wide receiver on the outside to pair with Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman, so don't be surprised if New England targets the top option on the board at the position.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
That whole Percy Harvin thing didn't really work out, leaving the Seahawks with a receiving crew headlined by Doug Baldwin. That hasn't hurt them to this point, but at some point, upgrading at wide receiver would add a nice dimension to this team.
Montgomery would give the team an option to replace Golden Tate, who departed for Detroit this season, as he can go up and get it but also can make plays after the catch. This seems like a natural fit.
32. Denver Broncos: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Hey, you can never have too many offensive linemen when you're trying to protect a national treasure like Peyton Manning, right? No, no you can't.
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