NFL Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Landing Spots of Top Prospects
The college football season is over for all but two teams, and the NFL season is over for all but eight teams, which means it is officially draft season.
Youngsters are declaring for the draft on a weekly basis, and teams that missed the playoffs have turned their attention solely toward the rebuilding efforts they will undertake on draft day. With that in mind, here is an updated mock draft with projected landing spots for some of the top prospects in the nation.
Draft order and team needs are courtesy of Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
This draft, and the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise, has been all about Marcus Mariota for some time now. Sure, there are some throws that he makes that are solely because of Oregon’s offensive system, but he is an absolute weapon in the backfield.
He can throw, scramble in the pocket and move the chains with his legs. Mariota will cap his Heisman Trophy season as the top pick in the draft.
2. Tennessee Titans: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
If the Buccaneers are going with Mariota, that means the quarterback-starved Tennessee Titans will take Jameis Winston with the second pick. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports described why:
"Despite reports that Tennessee is happy with Zach Mettenberger as the starting quarterback moving forward, it will be tough for the Titans to pass up Winston with this pick. There are maturity questions, but his ability on the football field is so impressive for a 20-year old, which is why I think a team will roll the dice on him very early.
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Winston may have lost his final college game, but there are few throws he cannot make. That will justify such an early pick.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Now that the two quarterbacks are off the board, it’s time to move on with the rest of the draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a number of needs on both sides of the ball, but Nebraska’s Randy Gregory is simply too talented to pass up. His athleticism and overall ability to get to the pocket make him a potential star, which is a boost to a Jaguars squad that already has young talent in place on the offensive side of the ball.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
Make your jokes about the Oakland Raiders using a first-round pick on a wide receiver, but Amari Cooper has the chance to be special.
Cooper checks in at 6’1” without blazing speed, but all he does is put up numbers. The Raiders need a playmaker for quarterback Derek Carr to develop alongside, and Cooper is that prospect.
5. Washington: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Washington needs an offensive tackle, and Iowa’s Brandon Scherff is the best one in this year’s draft. There is really not much else to this decision.
Scherff may not be a top-five talent in most drafts, but he answers a need for plenty of teams. His strength helps him carve up space when blocking for the run, and he will keep whichever quarterback Washington goes with healthy next season.
6. New York Jets: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford
Offensive tackle Andrus Peat may not excite New York Jets fans, but this is purely a need pick (when is it not with offensive linemen?).
Peat comes from a dominant Stanford offensive front that thrived in run-blocking situations, but in New York, he will have to keep Geno Smith (or whoever is under center) upright next season. Don’t be surprised to see New York take a quarterback, though, if either of the top two guys falls this far.
7. Chicago Bears: S Landon Collins, Alabama
Sometimes commentators and even scouts have the tendency to overthink things before the draft, but that will not be the case with the No. 7 pick.
The Chicago Bears have a glaring hole at safety, and Alabama’s Landon Collins is a force in the defensive backfield. He brings a linebacker mentality to the position and will help the porous Chicago run defense while also punishing any opposing wide receiver who dares to venture across the middle.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DT Leonard Williams, USC
USC’s Leonard Williams is a steal at No. 8 considering he is a potential candidate for the top overall selection.
The 6’5” Williams is an athletic specimen who is fast enough to explode off the snap count and get past blockers. He is also big enough to occupy space in the middle against the run, which frees the linebackers to make plays in space.
The Atlanta Falcons were dreadful against the run this season and would love to see Williams fall this far.
9. New York Giants: LB Vic Beasley, Clemson
Speaking of filling a need, the New York Giants will pick up arguably the draft’s best pass-rusher in Clemson’s Vic Beasley.
Beasley is the prototypical speed-rusher who will blow past NFL tackles off the edge, even in his first season. He may not be physical enough to dominate against the run at the next level, but the Giants are looking for someone to pressure the quarterback.
They will get just that in Beasley.
10. St. Louis Rams: LB Shane Ray, Missouri
The St. Louis Rams need insurance at quarterback or even another running back, but there is nobody talented enough to justify taking with the No. 10 pick. That means they will snag yet another dominant pass-rusher in Missouri’s Shane Ray to solidify one of the best groups in the league.
Ray’s versatility is what makes him such an intriguing pick for the Rams because he can play defensive end or outside linebacker. That will be critical in a front seven that is already loaded.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes may be a bit of a surprise here, but he fills a position of need for the Minnesota Vikings.
Waynes is a solid and safe choice at cornerback who is athletic enough to keep up with most No. 2 or 3 receivers and has the ball skills necessary to make plays when passes are in the air. Like so many other first-round picks, though, this is more about need than anything else.
12. Cleveland Browns: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
There is no way the Cleveland Browns can trust wide receiver Josh Gordon moving forward, which means they will take his possible replacement (or a weapon to play alongside him) in Louisville’s DeVante Parker.
Rob Rang of CBS Sports described why the Browns will look toward a wide receiver in the first round: “The Browns' defense and running game were good enough to make them competitive, but the lack of a top-flight receiver limits the team's upside and Josh Gordon's future with the franchise is very much in doubt.”
Parker may not quite be Cooper, but his athleticism jumps off the charts. Look for him to make plays right away as a rookie.
13. New Orleans Saints: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
The New Orleans Saints couldn’t stop anyone by the season’s second half and truly need a better pass rush moving forward, especially since they love to blitz.
Enter Washington’s Shaq Thompson.
Thompson may be the best overall athlete in the draft considering he played safety, linebacker and running back for the Huskies. The Saints will need him to explode off the edge against the pass from outside linebacker, but it is good to know that Thompson is also capable of dropping into coverage if needed.
14. Miami Dolphins: OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
The Miami Dolphins had a much-improved 2014 performance from the offensive line, but they could still use depth there.
Texas A&M’s Cedric Ogbuehi will provide that on whichever side of the line Miami needs him at next season. Ogbuehi played both right and left tackle at Texas A&M, and that type of versatility is key for rookies trying to play their way into the rotation.
Don’t be surprised if he earns a spot in the starting lineup in his first year.
15. San Francisco 49ers: OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
The San Francisco 49ers offense fell apart down the stretch, as Colin Kaepernick made too many mistakes and the running game never really dominated like so many anticipated.
Kaepernick was pressured into many of those throws, and the running game never got the holes it needed. That means the team will add some much-needed help along the offensive line in Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.
Eric Galko of Sporting News provided a scouting report on Stanley: “Stanley is still raw, but his pass protection ability is worthy of considering in the top-20 picks, if he declares early.”
The 49ers will be happy to work with raw talent if it means more help up front.
16. Houston Texans: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Andre Johnson is 33 years old, and even if he doesn’t retire, his best football-playing days are behind him.
The Houston Texans need another young playmaker at wide receiver alongside DeAndre Hopkins so the two can grow up together and make up one of the best one-two punches in the league for years to come.
Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong is a red-zone machine because of his size and ability to outmuscle corners for the ball, but his electric athleticism will make defenses pay for doubling up on Hopkins.
17. San Diego Chargers: LB Dante Fowler Jr., Florida
The San Diego Chargers need help in the pass-rushing department, and that is exactly what Florida’s Dante Fowler brings to the table.
Like so many of the great college prospects, Fowler is versatile enough to play either defensive end or linebacker because of his size and speed off the edge. That gives him multiple ways in which he can earn a role in the rotation as a rookie.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
The Kansas City Chiefs predicate their offense on running the ball, and the only way to do that is with a strong offensive line.
Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings has some of the best upside in the draft as someone who started as a defender and then switched to offense and is still developing on that side of the ball. Clemmings will gradually improve as his career progresses, which will intrigue Kansas City before the draft.
19. Buffalo Bills (pick owned by Cleveland Browns): DT Danny Shelton, Washington
Fellow Washington defensive lineman Hau’oli Kikaha discussed how locked in Danny Shelton has been since before the season began, via The Columbian:
“Danny’s practices have been the best by anyone on our team since the start of fall camp, no doubt. He just has way better pad level than he’s ever had. He runs to the ball, he’s consistently physical, his energy is always up there and he’s finishing plays like it’s game day.”
That energy and ability to make plays against both the pass and run is why Shelton will be a first-rounder.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Marcus Peters, Washington
From a pure talent standpoint, Marcus Peters should be a top-10 pick. However, he was dismissed from the Washington program, which is something of a red flag for teams this time of year.
Grabbing him this late could be a steal, as Brugler noted:
"Would Chip Kelly really draft a player who was dismissed from school due to coachability issues? I think he would, if he believes the player won't be a problem moving forward. Who knows if Peters will be able to keep his head on straight, but his talent is top-10 worthy, potentially giving the Eagles a steal with him this late.
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Whichever team drafts Peters will have to weigh his talent against the trouble he got into in the past, but his talent is certainly intriguing.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
The Cincinnati Bengals need more depth in the defensive backfield, especially since Terence Newman might retire and Leon Hall is 30 years old.
Enter Florida State’s P.J. Williams, who is a physical cornerback who is not afraid to challenge the wide receiver at the line of scrimmage. In a division that features Gordon, Antonio Brown and Steve Smith Sr., this will be a valuable trait.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Gerod Holliman, Louisville
Fans saw what happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary this season when injuries hit, which means the team will look to add depth during the offseason.
Louisville’s Gerod Holliman is an intriguing option at safety, even though he isn’t the best defender against the run. He is capable of guarding in space, and his ball skills while the pass is in the air helped him tally a ridiculous 14 interceptions this season, which led the nation.
There is certainly room in the NFL for a safety who intercepts passes like that.
23. Detroit Lions: DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
Ndamukong Suh may be on the way out for the Detroit Lions, which means they need to pick his replacement.
Florida State’s Eddie Goldman is a physically imposing presence, much like Suh, and he would likely slide in right away if the All-Pro signs somewhere else this offseason. Goldman can occupy multiple blockers against the run or explode through the middle against the pass and will help prevent a severe decrease for the front seven.
24. Arizona Cardinals: DE/LB Eli Harold, Virginia
The Arizona Cardinals need help on the defensive line and at linebacker, so why not draft someone with the versatility to play both spots?
Virginia defensive end/linebacker Eli Harold’s primary skill set is his ability to rush the passer, and that will work just fine in Arizona on an already strong defense. The Cardinals reached the playoffs on the back of their defense this season, and adding a player with as much upside as Harold will do nothing but help.
25. Carolina Panthers: DE Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
If the Carolina Panthers, who need help in the pass-rushing department, are able to snag Kentucky’s Alvin Dupree this late in the first round, it would be an absolute steal.
Dupree has the talent to be a top-10 pick as arguably the best edge-rusher in the entire draft, and he led all SEC linemen with 74 tackles. He also notched 24.5 sacks in his career and would have drawn plenty of attention had he played at a more recognizable program.
With so many sleeping on Dupree’s ability, the Panthers will be the beneficiaries.
26. Baltimore Ravens: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
The days of running backs dominating the first round are well behind us, but Georgia’s Todd Gurley is such a unique talent that fans will hear his name called early regardless of the injury history.
Jamie Newberg of Scout.com and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller both have Gurley highly ranked as the draft approaches:
He was a playmaker as a kick returner and has the power and speed combination that teams are always looking for in an elite running back. The Baltimore Ravens need depth behind Justin Forsett and will take a chance on Gurley.
27. Indianapolis Colts: LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
The Indianapolis Colts need help on defense, especially in the front seven, and they will get just that in linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
The Mississippi State product isn’t the best in pass coverage, but his ability to come up and make a big play against the run will be enough to earn the status of first-round pick. The Colts need help against the run (18th in the league this season), so this pairing makes plenty of sense.
28. Dallas Cowboys: CB Jalen Collins, LSU
Cornerback Jalen Collins is perhaps a bit of a surprise first-rounder here, but this draft is not particularly loaded with elite cornerback talent.
That means someone like Collins, who would normally be a second-round prospect, may hear his name called in the first round because it is such an important position in today’s pass-happy NFL. The Dallas Cowboys need to improve the vulnerable secondary, and adding a speedy corner who has gone against SEC wide receivers during his career is a solid place to start.
29. Green Bay Packers: DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State
While the nation focuses on Cardale Jones or Ezekiel Elliott as Ohio State continues to impress in the College Football Playoff, defensive tackle Michael Bennett has made a name for himself before the draft.
He was a third-team Associated Press All-American and frequently swallows two blockers at once, which frees up Joey Bosa and the linebackers to make plays. The Green Bay Packers need more depth at defensive tackle, and Bennett should be able to slide into the rotation right away.
30. New England Patriots: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
If there is one team in the NFL that can draft a running back in the first round and have success, it is the New England Patriots.
The franchise seems to have the golden touch in everything it does, but Melvin Gordon is a fairly safe pick. He destroyed opposing defenses all season and has the speed to get to the edge and the power to pick up tough yards across the middle.
He is the complete package and has the opportunity to be a star at the next level.
31. Denver Broncos: WR Kevin White, West Virginia
Both Julius and Demaryius Thomas are in option years, so the Denver Broncos could use a bit more security at the wide receiver position.
Kevin White shot up draft boards this season with his ability to snag jump balls over outmatched corners or blow past them on deep routes. Even though West Virginia had an up-and-down season, White’s ability to put the offense on his back at times did not go unnoticed.
32. Seattle Seahawks: TE Devin Funchess, Michigan
It seems like the Seattle Seahawks are always in need of an athletic tight end who can serve as a safety valve for Russell Wilson when he is running around looking for openings.
Michigan’s Devin Funchess is a hybrid type of player who could play some wide receiver as well, which should immediately remind fans of Jimmy Graham. It is far too early to throw out those comparisons, but Funchess’ athleticism is enough to earn him a spot in the first round.
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