NFL Mock Draft 2015: Predictions for Every 1st-Round Selection
Observers have had one eye on the 2015 NFL draft picture throughout the season, but with the playoffs set to commence, there is increased focus on one of the NFL's most highly anticipated events.
Many teams are already out of the running in terms of vying for a championship, but succeeding in the 2015 draft is the fastest way to get back in contention. With 31 different teams making 32 total first-round selections, almost every organization could be in position to land an elite prospect.
Much of the 2015 NFL draft's order is set, and here is a look at what each team is most likely to do on draft night, April 30.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mariota was the best player in college football this season, and while there is no consensus regarding whether his style will translate to the NFL, the Buccaneers desperately need a franchise quarterback in order to compete.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Pass-rushers are always at a premium in the NFL draft, with so much emphasis on the passing game offensively. With that in mind, there is no doubt that Nebraska's Randy Gregory will come off the board quite early in the 2015 draft.
The Tennessee Titans ranked in the middle of the pack in sacks during the 2014 campaign, but they lack consistency in that regard. Gregory racked up seven sacks during his junior season for the Huskers, and his versatility would be a great fit in Tennessee.
While Tennessee currently runs a 3-4 defense, Gregory can line up wherever they ask him to. He is equally comfortable as a hand-down defensive end or a rush linebacker, so he will give the Titans plenty of options.
With such a vast skill set at his disposal, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller considers him to be an elite prospect in the 2015 class:
The Titans need to start hitting on some impact players in the first round of the draft, and if Gregory is able to live up to the vast potential he has displayed, then he'll be a true impact player in Tennessee.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Taking an offensive lineman like Scherff wouldn't be the splashiest move for a Jaguars team that has been near the bottom of the league for a long time, but it would be a smart move in terms of setting up quarterback Blake Bortles for success.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
There is no better skill-position playmaker in this draft than Cooper, and with quarterback Derek Carr looking like a potential long-term answer for the Raiders, he needs a truly dynamic option in the passing game.
5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
The Redskins obviously have some major question marks at the quarterback position, but their defense is even more troublesome. If Williams is as good as advertised, though, Washington could turn around very quickly.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
There is no doubt that quarterback Geno Smith showed some flashes of competency late in the season, but with a new regime set to take over the Jets, a new quarterback with star power like Winston figures to be a target.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Collins has long been the leader of one of college football's best defenses at Alabama, and with the Bears struggling to regain the defensive identity that once made them feared, Collins is a no-brainer.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
The Falcons have an offense that is most definitely good enough to make the playoffs next season, but they don't have a defense to match. They need to get to the quarterback more often, and Ray will help immensely in that regard.
9. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Although the 2015 draft class isn't necessarily stacked with top-end talent at the linebacker position, Thompson is far and away the best one available, and the Giants desperately need help at that level of their defense.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The Rams already have a very solid defense in place, but it can reach another level with an improved secondary. Waynes may be the best cover corner in this draft, and he'll excel with help from St. Louis' elite defensive line.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Young quarterbacks need to be given as much help as possible in order to succeed in the NFL, and while Teddy Bridgewater has shown some great flashes with the Vikings, he could use some more support in the form of a mammoth tackle like Peat.
12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Cleveland Browns have to settle on an answer at quarterback among Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer or an outside option, but life can be made much easier for the chosen signal-caller if the Browns go out and get him some more weapons.
Cleveland already has an elite pass-catcher in terms of talent when it comes to Josh Gordon, but he is constantly getting himself into trouble, and it is unclear how much longer the Browns are willing to deal with him.
Even if Gordon remains in the fold, though, they need someone to put across from him. One potential option is Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker, whom ESPN's Mel Kiper views as one of the best pass-catchers in this draft, according to Matt Fortuna of ESPN:
The numbers certainly back that up, as Parker was hugely productive in 2014 despite playing in just six games. Even though he missed seven contests due to injury, Parker racked up 855 yards and five touchdowns. That came on the heels of consecutive seasons with double-digit touchdowns.
Parker is a fantastic physical specimen at 6'3" and 208 pounds, and he would instantly make the Browns that much more dangerous on offense, no matter who is throwing the ball.
Cleveland needs someone who can double as a complement and a fallback option for Gordon, and Parker is the perfect choice.
13. New Orleans Saints: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
New Orleans can't afford to squander any more seasons with quarterback Drew Brees at the helm. The defense must get much better in a hurry, and an athletic cornerback like Ekpre-Olomu can speed up the process.
14. Miami Dolphins: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Miami's defensive line is among the best in football, and that makes life easier for the linebackers. The Dolphins could use a true playmaker in the middle of their defense, and McKinney has proven to be just that.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Danny Shelton, DL, Washington
The 49ers suffered through a nightmarish 2014 season that saw them lose several key defensive players due to injury. Since their defensive line doesn't have a ton of depth to begin with, they must consider taking the mountainous Shelton here.
16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
It seems as though at least one unexpected quarterback ascends to first-round status on a yearly basis, and Hundley could be that guy in 2015. He has all the tools to be great, and the Texans badly need some type of answer under center.
17. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
The interior of San Diego's offensive line took a beating from an injury perspective in 2014. Erving has played center over the past year, but he can move to any position along the line, which would make him invaluable to the Bolts.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Kansas City's lack of production at wide receiver is the worst-kept secret in football. Chiefs receivers didn't catch a single touchdown in 2014, but that will change in 2015 if they select White.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
The Browns continue to look for a player who can give them a consistent pass rush, and while there is no guarantee that Beasley will be that guy in the NFL, his collegiate track record backs up his status as a sack master.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Philly fell just short of the playoffs in 2014 due largely to its inability to stop opposing passing games. The Eagles have a good-enough pass rush to change that, but they need some better cover guys such as Williams.
21. Carolina Panthers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The Panthers really came on down the stretch when their defense improved and their offensive line started to protect quarterback Cam Newton. That latter point is key, and Carolina will improve protection even more by taking Ogbuehi.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Baltimore improved this season due to a better running game spearheaded by Justin Forsett. Since Forsett isn't a long-term answer, though, the Ravens would be wise to invest in a stud running back like Gordon.
23. Cincinnati Bengals: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
The Cincinnati Bengals are viewed by many as a solid defensive team, but they clearly need to improve when it comes to rushing the quarterback.
Cincinnati ranked last in the NFL in sacks with just 20, so defensive end promises to be their main focus entering the 2015 NFL draft. Luckily, this class is fairly deep at that position, so the Bengals should be able to find a quality player.
One possibility is Florida's Dante Fowler, who put up 5.5 sacks and was a disruptive force all season long for the Gators in 2014.
According to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, Fowler has all the tools needed to be a fantastic pass-rusher at the NFL level:
Many expect him to be just that, including former Gators head coach Will Muschamp, per NFL.com's Chase Goodbread:
"He's got a tremendous upside in my opinion. The No. 1 thing he has going for him is how hard he plays. That's what they want to see. Football is very important to Dante when he steps on the field. Your tape is your resume as a player, and his resume is very good because of the effort that he gives. The physical attributes he has as far as initial quickness, his power, he's very smart, he can handle multiple stuff as far as the different things you game plan with him, changing week to week and getting him in different spots. Somebody is going to be very lucky to have him.
"
The Bengals already have one good pass-rusher from Florida in Carlos Dunlap, but they have absolutely nothing else to speak of aside from him.
Fowler has the ability to be a stud in the NFL, and there is no way that Cincinnati will let him slip by.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
With cornerback Ike Taylor potentially nearing the end of the line for the Steelers, they need to find some fresh options at the position. Carter is a great option as Pittsburgh rebuilds its defense.
25. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Lions may have a need along the defensive line if their star tackles decide to leave in free agency, but cornerback has been a constant rough spot, so Peters promises to be on Detroit's radar.
26. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
There is nothing sexy about taking a guard in the first round, but great ones can make a big impact immediately. Cann is the best this draft has to offer, and he'll be of great help to quarterback Andrew Luck.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The Cardinals should have an even better defense next season when some of their top players return from injury. They'll need help generating a better pass rush regardless, which is why Dupree would be a sensible pick.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Calhoun is among the best pure 4-3 defensive ends in this draft, which is something that the Cowboys will certainly be on the lookout for. They've survived with a mediocre defense, but Calhoun could start the transformation.
29. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
The Packers haven't addressed their obvious need at inside linebacker over the past couple seasons, which has forced Clay Matthews to kick inside. In order to move him back outside, though, Green Bay will grab Perryman.
30. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
New England's offense would really benefit from another outside threat at wide receiver to complement Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman. Green-Beckham has character concerns, but nobody is worried about his talent level.
31. Denver Broncos: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
More talent at defensive tackle would go a long way toward making the Broncos a more complete team in 2015. Goldman is one of the best at that position, and Denver would jump at the chance to select him.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
The Seahawks have the luxury of doing pretty much whatever they want with this pick. One thing they could use is a bit more explosiveness at tight end, and Funchess would bring that in spades.
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