NFL Draft 2015: Final Mock Draft Predictions Before Divisional Games
Eight teams are still in the chase for the Super Bowl, but that means fanbases of the vast majority of NFL teams have little to look forward to beyond schadenfreude if and when an in-contention rival drops out of the postseason—and, of course, the 2015 NFL draft.
An early first-round mock draft never hurt anybody, and the divisional round is a fine time to take a look at team needs and the top prospects on the board before the mayhem that comes with free agency and the combine/tryout period.
Here are my projections for the first 32 picks of the 2015 draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota is college football's golden boy right now and has all the physical tools to become an elite NFL quarterback.
He may take some time to transition to a pro-style offense, but Tampa Bay can afford to let him develop a bit with Josh McCown in the fold. Mariota might struggle with the deep ball a bit, but Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson are good enough to bail him out on occasion as he adjusts.
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC
Jameis Winston is an alluring pick here, but it's quite possible the Titans aren't ready to give up on Zach Mettenberger so soon. The Tennessean's Jim Wyatt did note in December the team could be willing to test him against a new challenger:
However, added competition could be anything from a first-round pick to a veteran addition. If they were to take a QB here, it would have to be a player with little to no chance of causing distractions (i.e., Mariota).
Winston may yet impress enough at the combine and in interviews to wash away the off-field concerns, but erasing negative perception will take time. With that in mind, the Titans take the versatile Leonard Williams and immediately upgrade their shaky defensive line.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Jacksonville's offense has several pockets of young talent: Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson, Marqise Lee, Blake Bortles, etc.
With so many developing players on that side of the ball, the Jags take the best defensive player on the board in the athletic Randy Gregory, who should fit in well in an already strong pass rush that produced 45 sacks last season.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The last time the Oakland Raiders drafted a wide receiver in the first round, they shanked it by taking Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009. Blinded by his speed, the Raiders ignored the issues with route running, hands and getting consistent separation.
None of those concerns apply to Amari Cooper. One could argue that he was better at his respective position than any other college football player in the country this season, even Mariota. Cooper is a low-risk pick and the perfect weapon to complement young quarterback David Carr.
5. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Redskins have a glaring need at right tackle, and Iowa's Brandon Scherff is a solid prospect who could comfortably slot into that spot as a rookie. Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley would also fit here, but Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted the young prospect is undecided on his future.
"Notre Dame left tackle Ronnie Stanley may be the first tackle drafted if he enters the 2015 class, but in talking to the redshirt sophomore Thursday morning, he remains very much undecided on if he'll head back to school or take on the NFL."
Assuming Stanley stays put for another year of seasoning, Scherff is the best offensive tackle prospect on the board.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
This could be the most intriguing quarterback-media market pairing in quite some time. Winston's time in the spotlight during Florida State's 29-game unbeaten streak and 2014 national championship run should help him adjust to the pressures of dealing with the New York media.
Geno Smith's perfect passer rating to end the 2014 season is likely a mirage, making Winston the obvious choice should he fall past the Bucs and Titans.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
The Bears defense suffered a spate of injuries in 2014, and help is sorely needed both in the secondary and in the pass-rushing corps. Landon Collins is a top-notch safety who can provide run support and also help cover for the likes of cornerback Kyle Fuller over the top.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, OLB/DE, Missouri
This is a no-brainer pick for Atlanta. Mizzou's Shane Ray was named The Associate Press' SEC defensive player of the year after posting 22.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2014. The Falcons had one of the league's worst pass rushes in 2014, accruing just 22 sacks all season. Ray is the perfect fit for what is clearly the team's biggest need.
9. New York Giants: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Florida had a tough season in 2014, but high-motor defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. was eminently watchable throughout the disappointing campaign. SB Nation's Spencer Hall gave his take on Fowler's playing style at the end of the season:
"Dante Fowler or "Insane person someone put pads on to prevent his arrest"? is my favorite Florida football game
— SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) January 3, 2015"
The Giants could lose defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to free agency this offseason; Fowler would be a worthy choice as his replacement.
10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Rams sorely need a quarterback, but with Winston and Mariota off the board in this scenario, they opt for the towering Andrus Peat out of Stanford. Considering injuries have played a huge role in the Rams' issues at quarterback, it makes sense for them to invest in protecting whomever is next tasked with filling that role.
11. Minnesota Vikings: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Wide receiver is a tempting position to address at this spot, but NFL.com's Gil Brandt noted offensive tackle is a top need for this team:
"I like the Vikings' roster; it's starting to come together. Jerick McKinnon is a very good change-of-pace back, but the Vikings could use an every-down player at running back to take some of the pressure off Teddy Bridgewater. Left tackle has been a disaster all season; for much of 2014, Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, led the league in pressures allowed. Minnesota could also use a third corner.
"
La'el Collins can protect Teddy Bridgewater's blind side and also provide a boost to the running game with his bulldozing blocks.
12. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Cleveland could very well be done putting up with wideout Josh Gordon and his myriad transgressions, so it makes sense for them to draft a playmaking wide receiver in 2015. West Virginia's Kevin White has excellent hands and body control and is proficient in coming down with contested catches. Johnny Manziel had Evans to bail him out on occasion while at Texas A&M; White could perhaps play that same role in Cleveland.
13. New Orleans Saints: Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington
The Saints defense was a mess all season and could use a dose of athleticism in the linebacker corps. Washington's Shaq Thompson is a rangy playmaker and a solid tackler who could compete for a starting job right away. It's easy to imagine him feasting on receivers who run short patterns in West Coast offenses.
However, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah isn't completely sold on his game:
You can coach a player to read/diagnose plays better. You can't teach speed, however, and the fleet-footed Thompson has no issues in that department, as he also saw time at safety and running back with the Huskies.
14. Miami Dolphins: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
If Miami can't keep defensive tackle Jared Odrick, then this position would become the top need. Danny Shelton is, according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang, "built like a Coke machine and just as tough to move." Having a player like Shelton in the fold and eating double-team blocks would consistently free up the likes of Olivier Vernon, Cameron Wake and Jelani Jenkins to make plays.
15. San Francisco 49ers: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
San Francisco needs an injection of youth in the wide receiver corps. Anquan Boldin and Brandon Lloyd are 33 and 34, respectively. Stevie Johnson's best days are behind him.
Louisville's DeVante Parker missed seven games in 2014 and still managed to rack up 43 receptions, 855 yards and five touchdowns. His consistent college production makes him an excellent choice for a team that experimented with four- and five-wide receiver sets this past season.
16. Houston Texans: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
The Houston Texans could definitely use a quarterback of the future, but it's doubtful they take a chance on UCLA's Brett Hundley or Baylor's Bryce Petty with this pick.
U-T San Diego's Eddie Brown also has Pittsburgh standout T.J. Clemmings at this spot and provides sound justification for doing so: "Clemmings oozes athleticism—he was a Division I basketball prospect in high school—and excels at run blocking. His background as a top defensive end recruit will eventually help him with his pass protection."
17. San Diego Chargers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The Bolts have needs at defensive tackle, cornerback and potentially running back, should they choose not to re-sign impeding free agent Ryan Mathews. However, protecting the immobile Philip Rivers will be key to this team's ability to stay in the playoff hunt in the coming years.
Ogbuehi has put in plenty of work in the Aggies' pass-oriented offense and gives the Chargers another mammoth bookend to develop along with D.J. Fluker, who at this point is much better as a run-blocker than pass protector.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
This is also kind of a no-brainer. The Chiefs would be doing their fans a disservice if they didn't take the top-rated wideout on the board with this pick, save for perhaps the troubled Dorial Green-Beckham. Jaelen Strong is a big target at 6'3", 215 pounds and should take some of the pressure off Dwayne Bowe. Also, you can see him snagging at least one touchdown as a rookie, right?
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
After addressing concerns at wide receiver, the Browns should turn their attention to defense in the 2015 draft.
Cleveland was pretty much hopeless against the run in 2014, allowing 141.2 yards per game on 4.5 yards per carry. Texas' Malcom Brown trades one shade of burnt orange for another and heads up north to Cleveland to shore up the run defense.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Chip Kelly's high-octane offense draws plenty of attention for its entertaining on-field results, but it was the team's porous secondary that turned so many games into shootouts in 2014. Quarterbacks posted a 91.6 passer rating against the Eagles last season, per ESPN.com.
Cornerback Cary Williams was exposed quite often last season, which makes Michigan State's Trae Waynes a solid choice at No. 20 in a position of obvious need.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
Cincinnati managed just 20 sacks in 2014, which was the worst total in the league. The Bengals should be delighted if a pure edge-rusher like Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree falls to them in this spot. His ability to consistently put pressure on the quarterback could make things even easier on a ball-hawking secondary that managed to snag 20 interceptions last season, which was tied for third-best in the NFL.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Pittsburgh could use a safety, but there aren't any elite prospects outside of Alabama's Collins, who should be long gone by this point in the draft. The Steelers could very well opt for reinforcements at cornerback and groom Washington's Marcus Peters to eventually replace the 34-year-old Ike Taylor, who missed all but five games in 2014.
23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley could test free agency in March, and it seems unlikely that the Detroit Lions will be able to hold onto both of them. Should either player depart Motor City, the Lions would be wise to keep the good times rolling on defense and draft a potential replacement in Florida State's Eddie Goldman, a burly player with decent pass-rushing ability.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Larry Fitzgerald struggled in 2014 (63 catches, two touchdowns) and has the league's fourth-highest cap hit for 2015 at $23.6 million, per Spotrac. With emerging talent in Michael Floyd and John Brown at wideout, it's possible the team cuts him loose and searches for a cheap replacement in the draft.
Enter Devin Funchess, a mammoth target who could also fit in at tight end, a position from which the Cardinals got minimal production last season.
25. Carolina Panthers: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
The Carolina Panthers have a need at pass-rusher, and Vic Beasley's steady production in college (33 sacks from 2012-14) makes him an excellent choice for a team with young talent up and down the roster.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Baltimore's offensive line did a fine job of clearing a path for journeyman running back Justin Forsett, who posted a miraculous 1,200-yard season in his sixth year in the league. However, he turns the dreaded 30 in October and can't be counted upon to produce much longer.
Todd Gurley is likely the only back who deserves to be drafted in the first round this season, considering value can be found in the later rounds (Forsett was a seventh-round pick by Seattle in 2009). Have fun imagining what this powerful, agile runner could do in Baltimore's offense.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Benardrick McKinney, MLB, Mississippi State
The Colts struggled to create much of a push in the running game in 2014 and could use help along the interior of the offensive line, but it's doubtful they use a first-round pick on a lineman when they have other needs to address.
Benardrick McKinney is a stalwart middle linebacker who should provide ample run support to a defense that allowed 4.3 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns on the ground last season, per ESPN.com.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
The Cowboys offense is stacked, so it makes sense they take a look at improving their 26th-ranked passing defense. Cornerback isn't a strong position in this year's draft, but LSU's Jalen Collins would provide Dallas with a big body capable of keeping up with the league's top big-play threats.
29. Green Bay Packers: Eric Kendricks, MLB, UCLA
The Green Bay Packers don't have too many points of weakness as a team. The offense is set as long as Aaron Rodgers is suiting up, so a defensive upgrade at linebacker is in order. Eric Kendricks sneaks into the first round here with McKinney already off the board. He could even be a steal in this scenario, if you share the opinion of the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor:
30. New England Patriots: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
Vince Wilfork is nearing the end of his pro career, so Bill Belichick does the smart thing here as usual and drafts his replacement in the 334-pound mauler Jordan Phillips out of Oklahoma. Green-Beckham is also a strong possibility here for Belichick, who is the master of the reclamation project.
31. Denver Broncos: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Denver's mantra is essentially the same as the Chargers': protect the slow, immobile quarterback at all costs. Hopefully, the team can retain both Demaryius and Julius Thomas this offseason and keep this well-oiled offensive machine running with a player like Ereck Flowers bolstering the line and neutralizing pass-rushing threats.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
The Seattle Seahawks have few holes to fill as a team, but providing quarterback Russell Wilson with better options in the passing game certainly counts as one of them. Minnesota's Maxx Williams is a bit of a luxury pick in the first round, but his athleticism at the tight end position is unparalleled.
I'm not sold on Luke Willson as a viable option down the line, and Cooper Helfet was a one-hit wonder. Williams could be a solid option for Wilson for years to come. Auburn wideout Sammie Coates is also a decent option at this spot.
Draft order courtesy of Gil Brandt at NFL.com.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
