2015 NFL Mock Draft: Complete Projections for Every Team in 1st Round
Twenty of the NFL's teams have officially begun their offseasons. Due to the fact that none of these teams managed to make the playoffs this season, they will all begin the process of attempting to improve before the start of the 2015 season. Of course, the draft plays a huge role in that endeavor.
Upon the conclusion of the regular season, we know the selection order for the draft's first 20 picks. This makes things a bit easier when attempting to mock a prospect to a team in need of help at a certain position. However, we won't know the complete draft order until after the Super Bowl.
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Still, it's never too early to speculate. The draft remains a fluid process, and the Senior Bowl, combine, interviews and pro days are sure to mix things up, but let's go ahead and take an early look at what each team is likely to do in the first round.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mariota to the Buccaneers will be a common theme leading up to the draft. After all, this team has plenty of talent at wide receiver; it simply needs a reliable quarterback to distribute the ball. Mariota has a glowing resume, a Heisman Trophy and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 38-to-2. What more could Tampa Bay want?
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Tennessee needs a quarterback as well; however, it may not want to gamble on Jameis Winston here. If that's the case, the Titans will address their need for a pass-rusher. Gregory has great length, a high motor and a nice burst off the line, making him a big upgrade in Tennessee's front seven.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Jacksonville's defensive line played relatively well this season, but it won't be able to pass up on a talent like Williams here. A fantastic combination of size, speed and power with the versatility to play every position along the line, Williams will be an immediate difference-maker for the Jaguars.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Derek Carr showed signs of progress during his rookie season, but he will only go as far as his receivers will take him. Adding a reliable weapon like Cooper will do wonders for the development of the team's young signal-caller. Due to Cooper's talent and level of experience, he'll be able to step in as the team's No. 1 option right away.
5. Washington Redskins: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Ray isn't the longest defensive end at 6'3", but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in speed, athletic ability and instincts. His quick first step makes him a nightmare to contain for offensive tackles, and his lateral agility and great acceleration allow him to quickly chase down ball-carriers from behind. NFL Networks' Daniel Jeremiah summed up Ray's game perfectly:
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The Jets need some kind of spark to regain their competitive edge, and Winston could be the right man for the job. The quarterback's off-the-field antics have made headlines, but there's no discounting his immense skill set, including a huge arm, pocket awareness and great physical stature.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The Bears need some help at safety, and Collins' versatility will play a huge role in this marriage. An aggressive, sure tackler with the versatility to play both safety positions, Collins will find a starting role immediately. He needs to improve his instincts in coverage, but that is simply a matter of coaching.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
Atlanta could use an upgrade along the defensive line. The team's pass rush was virtually nonexistent for most of the 2014 season, finishing with just 22 sacks. Beasley solves that problem with his fantastic burst, great leg drive and strong upper body, which combine to form a devastating bull rush.
9. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
New York tends to go through linebackers in a hurry, and selecting a talent like Thompson here would help give the Giants some long-term stability in that positional group. Thompson is extremely athletic and is capable of stuffing the run, getting after the quarterback and dropping into coverage.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
St. Louis needs help in the defensive secondary, so taking the draft's top cornerback shouldn't come as a surprise. Waynes is the big, 6'1" corner coveted by many NFL teams these days. He needs to improve his physicality, but his coverage skills are good, as he's capable of winning jump balls against taller receivers.
11. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
One of college football's most prolific wide receivers, Parker would make perfect sense for a Browns team in desperate need of offensive weapons. The team's quarterback position is unclear, and wide receiver Josh Gordon can't seem to stay out of trouble. Parker brings stability to an offense that is severely lacking it.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Scherff dropped a bit due to the needs of teams higher in the draft, and that's great news for the Vikings. Teddy Bridgewater may have been the most improved rookie signal-caller in 2014, but he lacked significant protection. Bringing in the draft's top offensive tackle will help the young quarterback continue to progress.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
The Saints defense was in complete disarray in 2014, and this team needs a do-it-all player in its front seven. That's exactly why New Orleans will take a look at Fowler here. Capable of playing all along the defensive line as well as outside linebacker, this athletic defender will provide a much-needed spark on a struggling defense. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller shared his thoughts on Fowler:
14. Miami Dolphins: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Peat would make the second consecutive offensive tackle taken by the Dolphins in the first round of the draft, but, then again, this team still needs help in the trenches. Peat has a monstrous 6'7" frame and is a mauler in the trenches; however, he's also surprisingly quick off the snap and is able to slide outside to succeed in pass protection as well.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The 49ers might not need help at offensive tackle at the moment, but they could need it when they're on the clock depending on what happens with pending free agents. Ogbuehi will ensure the team will keep a solid line intact. He has great technique and is agile and powerful when blocking for the run.
16. Houston Texans: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
The Texans need to improve on the offensive side of the ball, and strengthening the offensive line is a great place to start. Collins projects as either a guard or a right tackle due to his quickness off the snap and his great power, which often translates to him driving opponents back off the line of scrimmage to create huge running lanes.
17. San Diego Chargers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
San Diego drafted a nice small corner in Jason Verrett in 2014, but a larger coverage man on the outside is still a need. At 6'0", Peters has the length and range to cover taller NFL wide receivers. His great instincts and ball skills always make him a threat to create a turnover. He will, however, need to answer questions about his dismissal from Washington during combine interviews.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
It's a well-known fact that the Chiefs are in dire need of a reliable wide receiver, and they'll get one in White. He's tall and long at 6'3" and has great vertical speed. However, he's much more than a deep threat, as his ability to change direction quickly and see the field allows him to create many yards after the catch on shorter routes.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
The Browns could use a presence along the defensive line, and Oakman's muscle-packed 6'8" frame would be a perfect addition. His strength and quickness off the snap make him a force in the trenches, and that has translated to plenty of tackles for loss during his college career.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Chip Kelly's Oregon connection continues with the draft's No. 20 selection. The Eagles are in dire need of a reliable coverage corner, and while Ekpre-Olomu isn't the biggest defensive back, he may be the most well-versed player at his position in the draft. He has great coverage skills, vision and anticipation and isn't afraid to get physical and help in run support.
His situation will need to be monitored, though, as Dane Brugler of CBS Sports notes that Ekpre-Olomu's knee injury puts his draft status in question:
21. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
If Carolina's offense is to take the next step, it needs a reliable left tackle to take care of Cam Newton's blind side. Clemmings is a perfect fit for the job, as his quickness and athleticism allow him to hold up on the outside against the quickest pass-rushers. He still lacks some experience but has a high ceiling.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Baltimore tallied 49 sacks in 2014, making the Ravens one of the NFL's most dangerous pass-rushing teams. They'll ensure that continues by selecting Dupree here. The Kentucky product is has long arms and a great burst with a variety of pass-rushing maneuvers. He's also quick and is great in pursuit of ball-carriers.
23. Cincinnati Bengals: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Without A.J. Green on the field, Cincinnati's passing game struggles. This team needs a reliable option across from the All-Pro wide receiver, and Strong may be the answer. At 6'3" with great vertical speed, Strong is a nice deep threat. He's a physical receiver as well, making it difficult for smaller cornerbacks to take him down.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Generally, running backs are off limits in the first round these days; however, the Cardinals should make an exception for the electrifying Gordon here. Andre Ellington didn't pan out in 2014, and this team needs a reliable ball-carrier. Gordon's mix of speed and power makes him a great candidate to get Arizona's ground game back on track.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The Steelers are getting a steal with Goldman at No. 25 overall. At 6'4" and 320 pounds, this strong lineman has what it takes to secure the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. With enormous strength and size, Goldman is a big factor against the run, which was a weakness for Pittsburgh in 2014.
26. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Lions are likely to need a playmaking defensive tackle once free agency rolls around, so taking a look at Shelton here is a great idea. This team has a nasty defense, and adding this 332-pound monster will ensure it stays that way. Shelton is a great gap-stuffer against the run and is powerful enough to push offensive linemen back into the pocket to cause problems in the backfield.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
At 6'6" and 240 pounds, Hunter is a long and agile defender. He has surprising burst and quickness for his size, making him a tremendous edge-rusher. He doesn't have gaudy sack numbers, but he's a constant threat off the edge. The Colts could really use his services to pair with Bjoern Werner.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
McKinney is best suited as an interior linebacker, and Rolando McClain has been a revelation in that position this season; however, Dallas should take a long look at the Mississippi State product here. He's a physical player, but he's also athletic with good speed. This means Dallas could mirror what Cincinnati did with Vontaze Burfict and slide him to the weak side.
29. Denver Broncos: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
If the Broncos are going to prolong Peyton Manning's career, they'll need some help along the offensive line. The 6'6" Stanley is a long tackle with nice agility and quickness off the snap. His athleticism will allow him to defend against some of the NFL's quicker edge-rushers. Stanley hasn't declared just yet, though, and his status will need to be monitored, via Bleacher Report's Keith Arnold:
30. Green Bay Packers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
The Packers would do well by adding some depth at cornerback. Williams has good size at 6'0", and he has a great combination of speed and physicality that allows him to remain on the hip of faster wide receivers and fight through blocks to become a factor in run support.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Following the trade of Percy Harvin, Seattle doesn't have many options at wide receiver. This team needs to get bigger out wide, and adding the 6'5" Funchess would certainly accomplish that. His big frame and leaping ability make him a great vertical and red-zone target, and his experience lining up all over the field will allow him to become a versatile weapon in Seattle's offense.
32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
The Patriots have a great tight end in Rob Gronkowski, a nice slot receiver in Julian Edelman and a good outside weapon in Brandon LaFell, but this team lacks a true No. 1 receiver. Green-Beckham has the tools to become that guy. At 6'5" with great athleticism, he's a huge vertical threat who had experience in Missouri's spread offense before transferring to Oklahoma, making his transition to New England easier.
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