NFL Mock Draft 2015: Picks, Projections and Analysis for Top Prospects
With Wild Card Weekend in the books, the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals have been eliminated. Their exits from the NFL's postseason mean that the draft order is four steps closer to completion.
Once the divisional round has concluded, four more teams will know exactly where they're picking. With more definitive information now available, here's a look at the latest mock draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB
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After watching Mariota slice through a Florida State Seminoles defense that is filled with future NFL players, there is no doubt the Heisman Trophy winner is the top quarterback prospect in the draft.
CollegeFootball 24/7 thinks the Ducks star can be great with the right team.
Tampa Bay needs a new face of its franchise, and Mariota is it.
2. Tennessee Titans - Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB
The Titans have just as bad of a quarterback situation as the Bucs. Unfortunately for them, they don't have the top pick. The team could elect to trade down if it isn't comfortable with Winston, but for the sake of this mock, we'll play it close to the vest.
The Titans really need a new quarterback, and Winston is still a highly regarded talent.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Williams, USC, DL
An offensive lineman is the biggest need, but there isn't one in this draft worth taking here. The best thing the Jags could do is trade down. In the event Jacksonville goes the best-player-available route, it can't look past Williams.
There are some J.J. Watt-like qualities in the USC Trojans defensive line stud. Williams could be the type of difference-maker that anchors a defense.
4. Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper, Alabama, WR
Despite being held under control in the college football semifinal, Cooper is still the best offensive prospect potentially in this year's draft. With Derek Carr showing flashes as a rookie, it's time the Raiders get him a No. 1 receiver.
Cooper can be one of the best in the NFL in just a couple of years. He never played with an elite quarterback in college, and he still excelled. The best might be yet to come.
5. Washington - Randy Gregory, Nebraska, DE
Aside from Williams, Gregory might be the best defensive line prospect available. His explosiveness and athleticism will allow him to play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.
If he lands in Washington, he could replace the oft-injured Brian Orakpo, who is going to be a free agent.
6. N.Y. Jets - DeVante Parker, Louisville, WR
Like Carr, Geno Smith is a young quarterback in need of a deep threat and No. 1 receiver. It's impossible to say Smith isn't the right man to lead the Jets offense without getting him a top-notch receiver. The Jets would love to have Cooper, but in this scenario he's no longer on the board.
Parker is 6'3" 211 pounds and athletic. He can be a force in the red zone and downfield.
7. Chicago Bears - Landon Collins, Alabama, FS/SS
Chicago must fill several holes, but the safety situation is dire. Chris Conte has been either horrible or average the last two seasons. He's a free agent, and it would be a miracle if he returned to the Windy City next season.
Collins is the type of player who can be huge against the run and a feared hitter in the passing game. He'd solve Chicago's biggest area of concern in the secondary.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Shane Ray, Missouri, DE
After another season with a poor pass rush, Atlanta can't afford to bypass the best available defensive lineman in the draft. In this scenario, Ray is clearly the best pick.
He set a Missouri single-season record for sacks with 14.5 in 2014. He'd immediately become the team's best pass-rusher if the Falcons take him.
9. New York Giants - Vic Beasley, Clemson, DE/OLB
Jason Pierre-Paul is headed toward free agency in the offseason, and the Giants will be in major trouble if they lose him. Even if he stays, the team needs another player capable of putting pressure on the opposing quarterback on a regular basis.
Beasley has the look of Bruce Irvin. If he can make a similar impact in passing situations, he could be a big addition.
10. St. Louis Rams - Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, OT
A quarterback is probably tops on the Rams' list, but there isn't one worthy of the No. 10 pick. St. Louis could try to trade up to No. 1 or 2, but if it stays put, an athletic stud on the offensive line like Ogbuehi would be a nice selection. Per NFL Draft Notebook, the Aggies big man has tremendous upside.
Jeff Fisher's offense is about power up front. Solidifying the O-line is a safe and smart route to take.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Ereck Flowers, Miami (Florida), OT
With Teddy Bridgewater in place as the franchise quarterback, protecting the young signal-caller should be tops amongst Minnesota's priorities. Flowers might wind up being the best tackle prospect in the draft. At 6'6" 324 pounds, Flowers has the requisite size.
He's such a solid athlete, he might actually see his stock rise once he's able to perform at the NFL combine.
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, Washington, DT
The Browns defense is in need of a run-stuffing presence on the defensive line. In the 2015 NFL draft, there is no better player for the task than Shelton.
He simply plugs gaps. Shelton could command double-teams and put a clamp on opposing teams' running games. That's a quality Cleveland's defense is desperately missing.
13. New Orleans Saints - Brandon Scherff, Iowa, OL
Over the last two seasons, the usually well-protected Drew Brees has been sacked 66 times. That isn't ideal. It's time the Saints reinvested in their pass protection.
The first step could be drafting a grinder like Scherff. He may not have the natural athleticism that Flowers and Ogbuehi possess, but he's strong and figures to rate off the charts in intangibles.
14. Miami Dolphins - Kevin White, West Virginia, WR
Pass protection for Ryan Tannehill has improved, but the young quarterback is still looking for a No. 1 receiver. Jarvis Landry emerged somewhat last season, but the Fins can't totally count on him to grow into the role.
White has the physical skills to become an above-average NFL receiver. With Landry and White in place, Miami could have the makings of a formidable aerial attack.
15. San Francisco 49ers - Dante Fowler, Florida, DE
San Francisco's defense is beginning to get old. No longer does the team have the frightening and physical unit that could rival the Seattle Seahawks.
Getting pressure on the quarterback is the best way to jump-start a defense. That's something Fowler figures to be able to do.
16. Houston Texans - Devin Funchess, Michigan, WR
The Texans are yet another team that needs a quarterback. At No. 16, they will be much too far away from the top two guys to go that route in the first round. Perhaps tabbing a guy like Baylor's Bryce Petty or Oregon State's Sean Mannion in the second or third round might be the move.
In the first round, Houston could grab a potential weapon for the new quarterback. Funchess is a big, physical receiver who has matchup problem written all over him.
17. Kansas City Chiefs - Jaelen Strong, Arizona State, WR
Aside from Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs are almost devoid of playmakers on offense. The team must find another receiver to couple with Dwayne Bowe to improve the passing game. Strong is a 6'3" Philadelphia native who plays hard, catches the ball at its highest point and runs solid routes.
He could be a steal at No. 17.
18. San Diego Chargers - Shaq Thompson, Washington, LB
Of all the players in the 2015 draft, Thompson is perhaps the potentially dynamic performer. That might sound funny as a description for a guy projected to go No. 18, but if I were picking, he wouldn't escape the top five.
Thompson might not play a position that teams think is worth spending a top-five pick on, but he is the type of presence that changes a defense. He's versatile enough to play inside or outside linebacker at an all-pro level.
There's no doubt in my mind that if he stays healthy, he'll be dominant at any position on the second level of the defense. If he slips to San Diego, the Chargers will have found their next great linebacker.
19. Cleveland Browns - Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, RB
So the Trent Richardson thing didn't work out. Cleveland still has to find a productive and dangerous running back to help balance the offense and take pressure off Johnny Manziel.
Wisconsin Badgers running backs don't usually pan out in the NFL, but Gordon's blend of speed and power makes him appear to be different. He'd be a nice addition to the Browns.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Trae Waynes, Michigan State, CB
The secondary should be an area of concern for the Eagles. Philly was ranked 31st in passing yards allowed per game in 2014.
Waynes has excellent length at 6'1" and outstanding competitiveness. His college coach, Mike Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans, expressed his confidence in Waynes at the next level.
Per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press, Dantonio said: "There's no question that he'll be an outstanding corner at the next level." That's a solid endorsement. The Eagles would seemingly have to take Waynes.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Connor Cook, Michigan State, QB
It seems pretty clear now that Andy Dalton is incapable of leading the Bengals to the next level. Expect to see the team begin to seriously look into his replacement.
The team drafted AJ McCarron in last year's draft, but the jury is still out on him. Michigan State Spartans quarterback Cook should be an intriguing possibility here.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Malcom Brown, Texas, DT
Were it not for Shelton, Brown would have a shot at being the first defensive tackle taken in the draft. He is athletic and versatile enough to play in a 4-3, thus his draft stock might ultimately be on the rise closer to the draft.
The Steelers defense needs a presence over the ball. Brown might be the player the team looks for to re-establish that run-stuffing identity.
23. Detroit Lions - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, CB
Although the Lions defense was excellent in 2014, it could still use a top-notch cornerback to improve. Ekpre-Olomu is one of the best pure covering corners in the nation. His skill set is exactly what the Detroit secondary needs.
24. Arizona Cardinals - Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska, RB
Being without Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton might have cost the Cardinals any chance the team had at being effective in the postseason.
The absence of a dependable quarterback also highlighted the fact that Arizona lacks a playmaking running back to make the job easier for the man under center.
Abdullah has big-play ability. He can run between the tackles and be effective in the passing game. He'd be a great addition to the Cardinals offense.
25. Carolina Panthers - La'el Collins, LSU, OT
The Panthers have played better down the stretch of the season, but Cam Newton was still sacked 38 times in just 14 games. Improving the offensive line would offer more protection for the team's star and help the running game.
Collins was named the LSU Tigers' most valuable player in 2014, and he projects as a starter in the NFL. He'd be a solid pick at No. 25.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Marcus Peters, Washington, CB
Somehow, the Ravens find a way to put it together in the postseason, but the team could still stand to improve the secondary. Age and injuries have taken their toll.
Peters was dismissed from his team in 2014, but his talent is apparent. If he buys into the program, Peters could be a great selection by the Ravens.
27. Indianapolis Colts - T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh, OT
Andrew Luck already has a solid set of weapons in the passing game. Tightening up his protection is a good route to take this late in the first round.
Clemmings is a former defensive lineman with good athleticism. He's here at this point in the predraft process, but he could wow scouts and general managers at the NFL combine.
28. Green Bay Packers - Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, ILB
Inside linebacker is a position of need for the Packers. McKinney is perhaps the best in this draft—besides Thompson, who can't be confined to the inside.
McKinney has decent athleticism, excellent tackling skills and he's led one of the nation's best defenses. Teamed with Clay Matthews, McKinney could be an instant hit in Wisconsin.
29. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest, CB
In 2013, the Dallas Cowboys defense was an embarrassment. This season, the unit has improved, but it still has some holes. The cornerback position is one of them.
Johnson has the big-play ability that would help the defense to continue to grow. Standing 6'1" and weighing a slight 175 pounds, Johnson must get stronger. That said, you can't teach his desire and leaping ability.
30. Denver Broncos - Cameron Erving, Florida State, OG/OT
Erving's versatility is his best attribute. He's played almost every position on the offensive line. Per Shane P. Hallam of Draft TV, Erving's best spot might be the latest he picked up.
Denver has to protect Peyton Manning, and it must also find a player capable of spearheading the run game. You have to like Erving's chances of becoming the guy if the Broncos draft him.
31. Seattle Seahawks - Sammie Coates, Auburn, WR
A deep threat might be the only thing the Seahawks are missing. If the team selects Auburn's Sammie Coates, that void could be filled.
In 2014, Coates had 11 catches of 25 yards or more. If Seattle picks him, he could be a huge part of the team's success in 2015.
32. New England Patriots - A.J. Cann, South Carolina, OG
Guard isn't exactly a position that gets a lot of attention in the first round. That said, the Patriots aren't picking high in the draft. They most certainly should be looking for the best player available.
In this scenario, Cann would be just that.
The first-team All-American has had a special career at South Carolina, and he could help to protect Tom Brady for the last years of his Hall of Fame career.
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