NFL Mock Draft 2015: Complete 1st-Round Predictions Following Divisional Round
Following two riveting playoff contests Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos became the most recent teams to begin their offseasons. With that, the 2015 NFL draft's first 28 selections are now set in stone.
There are plenty of factors that will alter the draft's outlook between the conclusion of the postseason's divisional round and when the first selection is made April 30—the Senior Bowl, scouting combine and pro days will all play big roles in prospects' draft stock.
Although, well before those events commence, the results of the impending conference championship games will change the draft's selection order once again. So, before things are further shaken up by some more postseason action on the gridiron, let's take a look at the current outlook for this year's draft.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
In a division containing Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton, solid quarterback play is a necessary component for success. The Buccaneers have several nice offensive weapons, but they lack an efficient signal-caller. Mariota is a great leader, extremely accurate and takes care of the football very well. He has the tools to bring Tampa Bay up to contending status.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
The Titans didn't have much of a presence on the defensive line in passing situations in 2014, resulting in plenty of time in the pocket for opposing quarterbacks. Adding Gregory with the second overall selection solves that problem instantly. At 6'6" and 245 pounds, he has the length, explosiveness, athleticism and agility to cause problems in the backfield on a regular basis.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Jacksonville focused on gathering offensive weapons in the 2014 draft, but now the team must protect those assets. Scherff is the most talented tackle in this year's draft. He has great size at 6'5" and 320 pounds, and his powerful upper-body strength and wide base make him a force when blocking for the run. Agile and quick for his size, he's very reliable in pass protection as well.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Oakland's offense may have a bright future with Derek Carr and Latavius Murray in the fold; however, this team still lacks a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Cooper's soft hands, experience and ability to run crisp routes will make him the team's favorite target right away, and his superior athletic ability will keep him in that position for the long haul.
5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Washington's defense was in disarray for most of 2014, and that was partly due to inconsistency in the trenches. Adding Williams will be a big step in the right direction for this team, as his combination of size, power and speed make him a versatile 6'5", 298-pound chess piece who can play every position along the defensive line.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Geno Smith has been one of the league's worst quarterbacks for the last two seasons, and the Jets must make a change under center or risk continued mediocrity. Winston may have his share of issues, but on the field, he's a great prospect, boasting a very strong arm, good awareness and the ability to progress through his reads.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The Bears have issues all over the place, but defensively, they have been lackluster against both the run and pass. Adding Collins gives them help in both of those departments. The 6'0", 222-pound safety was a leader of Alabama's defense. Highly experienced, improved in coverage and fantastic in run support, he'll find his way into a starting role immediately.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
There may not be a much better player-team fit than Ray and the Falcons. Atlanta's pass rush was nonexistent for most of 2014, and rushing the passer happens to be Ray's specialty. With incredible speed and an explosive first step, he may be the draft's quickest edge-rusher. He'll demand constant attention in Atlanta, opening things up for the entire defensive front.
9. New York Giants: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The Giants are in need of a do-it-all linebacker capable of contributing in all phases of the game. Dupree fits the bill perfectly. At 6'4" and 267 pounds, his combination of length, power and speed allows him to create problems off the edge, chase down ball-carriers and drop back into coverage when needed.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The St. Louis defense began to play very well toward the back half of the regular season. Adding a big outside cornerback could allow this unit to ascend into the league's elite. Waynes has great length at 6'1", and combined with his leaping ability and ball skills, he can win contested jump balls against larger receivers. A physical player, he isn't afraid to help in run support.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Minnesota's offense began to make strides late in the regular season. However, the heavy amount of pressure on Teddy Bridgewater was a constant cause for concern. Drafting Peat allows the young signal-caller to continue his development. At 6'7" and 312 pounds, Peat is sturdy in the trenches and has the agility to keep faster edge-rushers from winning around the outside.
12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Cleveland has issues all over the place, but wide receiver may top the list. Josh Gordon can't seem to stay out of trouble, and the position is thin thereafter. Adding Parker gives the Browns a reliable pass-catcher for the long run. He's a skilled route-runner with soft hands, and while he isn't a burner, his acceleration and leaping ability allow him to be a nice vertical threat and red-zone option.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
The Saints lacked big playmaking ability on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, and selecting Fowler addresses that need. He isn't a large player at 6'2" and 261, but he's stronger than he looks and has a quick first step. Fowler's biggest attribute is his versatility, having played all across the defensive line and at outside linebacker while at Florida.
14. Miami Dolphins: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Miami addressed one side of the offensive line by selecting Ja'Wuan James in the first round in 2014, and now the team will take care of the other side with Ogbuehi. The Texas A&M product has great size at 6'5" and 300 pounds. Combined with his long arms, powerful base and lateral agility, he looks every bit the part of a prototypical NFL offensive tackle.
15. San Francisco 49ers: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Depending on what happens in free agency, the 49ers could be in the market for an offensive lineman. If that's the case, they're in great position to grab Collins here. A monster in the trenches, Collins is 6'5" and 321 pounds with enough power to knock defenders back on their heels. A quick lineman, Collins can also get to the second level in a hurry when blocking for the run.
16. Houston Texans: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The future of long-time Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is uncertain heading into the offseason, and the team may need to look for his replacement in the draft. White is an excellent choice at No. 16 overall. He has good size at 6'3" and 210 pounds and has the acceleration to be a nice vertical threat. His long arms and good leaping ability make him a nice option in the red zone as well.
17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
San Diego could use a disruptive force in the center of its defensive line, and Shelton's massive 6'2", 332-pound frame is the answer. His wide body makes him difficult to move out of running lanes, and his powerful bull rush makes him a constant threat in passing downs. He'll be the focus of many double-teams, freeing up other pass-rushers to find the quarterback.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
The Chiefs have been missing any sort of viable option at wide receiver, and it's finally time to address that need. Strong is a huge target due to his 6'3" frame, long arms and good leaping ability. His large catch radius not only makes him a nice red-zone target but, combined with good acceleration, makes him a nice vertical threat on the outside.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
The Browns already nabbed an offensive playmaker, and now it's time to grab one on the defensive side of the ball. Beasley is smaller in stature at 6'2" and 235 pounds, but he possesses an explosive first step and great speed around the edge, allowing him to circumvent offensive tackles and apply pressure in the backfield.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
One of Philadelphia's biggest weaknesses in 2014 was at cornerback. This team needs a legitimate cover corner on the outside, and it will get one with the 6'0", 198-pound Peters. Highly skilled in coverage, Peters can remain on the hip of receivers and has the ball skills to accumulate defensed passes. A physical player, he is a strong tackler and is reliable in run support.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
The Bengals used to have one of the league's strongest pass rushes, but that seems to be a distant memory at this point. Cincinnati needs additional explosiveness opposite Carlos Dunlap, and Thompson is a nice fit. Serving time as a running back at Washington in a pinch, the 6'2", 231-pound Thompson is as fast as he is strong. He's a hard-hitting player and great in pursuit of ball-carriers.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Pittsburgh needs to undergo a sizable youth movement in its secondary, and grabbing a talented corner like Williams in the draft's first round is a good start. At 6'0" and 196 pounds, Williams has great size for an outside corner. He has good instincts in coverage, but he's also a physical player, routinely making plays against the run as well.
23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The Lions may have to replace Ndamukong Suh if the defensive tackle opts to leave via free agency, and filling the void via the draft is certainly a possibility. Goldman has the size of a gap-filler at 6'3" and 320 pounds, but he is far more than a run-stuffer, as his leg drive allows him to push his way into the backfield and apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Arizona doesn't have many weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball, but adding depth should be a priority after an injury-plagued 2014 campaign. McKinney is best suited to play inside linebacker due to his toughness and ability to fight through blocks, but he's quick and long enough to produce at outside linebacker in a pinch.
25. Carolina Panthers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Cam Newton dealt with accuracy issues for a good portion of the season, and that can partly be attributed to throwing off his back foot due to consistent pressure. Adding Stanley will help in that department, as the Notre Dame product has a long 6'6" frame, and combined with his agility and great lateral movement, he can hold up in pass protection against the fastest edge-rushers.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
Baltimore has several talented outside linebackers in its rotation, but adding another pass-rushing specialist to increase depth and versatility will make this unit one of the NFL's best. Orchard has great length at 6'4" and 255 pounds, but his speed is what sets him apart, as he was recruited by Utah as a wide receiver.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys need to add a defensive lineman who can become a three-down player and contribute against both the run and the pass. Bennett fits the bill nicely. At 6'2" and 288 pounds, the Buckeye has the strength to play inside and the quickness to play outside. That kind of versatility will be welcomed on a defensive line that's lacking big-play ability.
28. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
A sluggish Denver offense led to its demise in the playoffs. This team has plenty of weapons and one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks of all time, but improving the offensive line is still necessary. Clemmings has good size at 6'5" and 305 pounds. He's very athletic and is a quick learner, improving his technique rapidly during the 2014 season.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Trent Richardson spent the Colts' divisional-round matchup as a healthy scratch—a telling sign of his future with the team. While Daniel Herron has showed promise, he lacks the punch this team needs from a running back. Gordon's combination of good size and speed allowed him to rush for 2,000 yards in a season faster than any running back in CFB history. He has what it takes to finally bring balance to Indianapolis.
30. Green Bay Packers: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Brown looks the part of a 3-4 nose tackle at 6'4" and 320 pounds. His wide frame and strength make him a force in the trenches, and combined with his quick first step, he routinely finds his way in the backfield, causing problems against the run and the pass. Surprisingly light on his feet with a high motor, he can get lateral quickly and chase down ball-carriers.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
The Seahawks have plenty of size on the defensive side of the ball, but they certainly lack it on offense. Selecting the 6'5", 225-pound Green-Beckham here will solve that problem. He has some off-field issues, but his talent on the field is undeniable. His long frame, incredible athletic ability and acceleration make him a major vertical threat. A strong receiver as well, he's very difficult to tackle for smaller defensive backs.
32. New England Patriots: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
New England does very well with a good slot receiver in Julian Edelman and great tight end in Rob Gronkowski; however, this team will be even scarier with a true No. 1 receiver. At 6'5" and 230 pounds, Funchess is athletic for his size and adjusts to the ball nicely, forming a huge catch radius. He is a versatile player, and spending time at tight end gave him familiarity with lining up all over the field.
All mocked underclassmen have either declared for the draft or are undecided as of January 11, according to NFL.com.
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