NFL Draft 2015: Updated Mock Draft for Nation's Top Prospects
The Super Bowl dreams are over for all but four teams, which means the rest of the NFL is planning ahead for the draft.
After all, there is no better place to rebuild a losing franchise or reload as a squad that is only a few pieces away from Super Bowl contention. With that in mind, here is an updated mock draft as the conference championship clashes approach.
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
Marcus Mariota may have lost in the national championship with the rest of his Oregon teammates, but going out as the No.1 pick in the NFL draft will help make up for it.
Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated discussed why this is the right move for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
"It will take something rather significant here -- the Bucs trading for Jay Cutler, Mariota returning to school, etc. -- for this connection to be bypassed. Tampa Bay has no choice but to attempt a quarterback upgrade this offseason, and Mariota brings very few worries to the table.
A lot can and will change in the next four months. This may not.
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Mariota will be picked apart from here until the draft, but he dominated opposing defenses this season, can make plays with his arms and legs and showed tremendous poise throughout his Heisman Trophy campaign.
2. Tennessee Titans: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
Mariota and Jameis Winston are the two quarterback prizes there for the taking for the Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans. If the Buccaneers do select Mariota, the Titans will follow suit by selecting Winston.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Rob Rang of CBS Sports believes that the Jacksonville Jaguars will select Randy Gregory from Nebraska with the third pick:
"The Jaguars' record isn't pretty but head coach Gus Bradley's infectious enthusiasm, a hard-hitting defense and talented rookie quarterback Blake Bortles have this franchise on the upswing. Gregory is well-suited to starring in Bradley's hybrid 4-3 alignment at the LEO defensive end, as he's long (6-5, 242 pounds), explosive and passionate against both the run and pass.
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The Jaguars need help on both sides of the ball, so taking an explosive and athletic pass-rusher who can bolster the pass and run defense is a good place to start.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
Eventually, quarterback Derek Carr will need a wide receiver to consistently throw the ball to in Oakland. That wide receiver will be Alabama’s Amari Cooper, who played his way to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist with great hands and the ability to make a catch in traffic.
5. Washington: DT Leonard Williams, USC
It is rare that a team can get a great value pick with the No. 5 overall selection, but that is exactly what will happen when Washington takes Leonard Williams.
Williams could very well be the top pick in the draft thanks to his versatility and athleticism. He will blow past interior linemen and physically impose his will on the football game as a rookie. Washington could use some of that.
6. New York Jets: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
With the top two quarterbacks gone, the New York Jets will look to bolster the protection for those they already have in the backfield instead of taking a chance on a signal-caller here.
The 2015 draft isn’t loaded with elite offensive tackle skill, but the Jets will take the best of the bunch in Brandon Scherff. Sometimes being the best available at a position of incredible need is all that matters.
7. Chicago Bears: S Landon Collins, Alabama
The Chicago Bears need help all over the field, at least defensively, and safety Landon Collins is the type of physical presence who helps against the pass and run. Collins is not afraid to get into the box and make plays against running backs, and his ability to punish receivers who go over the middle will be welcomed in the Windy City.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Shane Ray, Missouri
The Atlanta Falcons defense was a nightmare this season, and adding one of the best pure pass-rushers in the draft is certainly a wise move. All Shane Ray did this season was lead the SEC with 14.5 sacks and terrorize quarterbacks in every game he played. His next game will be as a member of the Falcons.
9. New York Giants: DE/OLB Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats may be machines on the basketball side of things, but Alvin Dupree will hear his name called as one of the first few picks in the NFL draft.
The New York Giants need help along the line and in the defensive front seven, and Dupree is versatile enough to play multiple positions. His 24.5 career sacks is also tops among current SEC players, so he has the production to back up the hype.
10. St. Louis Rams: CB Marcus Peters, Washington
Taking cornerback Marcus Peters in the top 10 will be seen as a tremendous risk since he had problems with the coaching staff at Washington. However, he is so talented that the St. Louis Rams will try to fill their gaping hole at corner with him as one of the best pure athletes in the entire draft.
11. Minnesota Vikings: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford
The Minnesota Vikings need help along the offensive line, and Andrus Peat is the next man up after Scherff. Peat is such an enticing prospect because of his ability to play on either the right side or the left, which is critical for a team that is missing depth at multiple key positions on the line.
12. Cleveland Browns: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
It is difficult to envision Josh Gordon as a difference-maker years down the road for the Cleveland Browns if he continues to run into problems off the field. The franchise will respond accordingly and take wide receiver DeVante Parker in the draft.
Depending on whom you ask, Parker could be better than Cooper thanks to a combination of elite size, speed and pure catching ability that is arguably unmatched in this draft.
13. New Orleans Saints: DE Dante Fowler, Florida
The New Orleans Saints love to blitz, so adding someone like Dante Fowler from Florida makes perfect sense. Rang explained why that is:
"With Junior Galette (10 sacks) and Cameron Jordan (7.5) recording more than half of the team's 34 sacks in 2014, the Saints are among the more predictable defenses in the league. That's counter to defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's philosophies. Fowler's versatility is his calling card. The 6-3, 260-pounder's unique combination of power, agility and tenacity earns him time at defensive end, linebacker and defensive tackle for the Gators.
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Adding someone as versatile as that to a struggling defense is a smart move from New Orleans’ perspective.
14. Miami Dolphins: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
Rang also agrees that the Miami Dolphins will take Shaq Thompson with the No. 14 pick:
"The Dolphins allowed an average of 121.1 yards per game on the ground in 2014. None of the teams that finished worse than Miami in this category qualified for the playoffs. Thompson starred at safety, linebacker and running back for the Huskies but projects best as a hybrid defender in the NFL. He's instinctive, athletic and a reliable open-field tackler whose game is well-suited to today's wide-open NFL.
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In today’s high-scoring NFL, which features offenses that can throw the ball all over the field or line up behind five powerful battering rams along the offensive line, having versatile defenders is key. Thompson will give the Dolphins one of those.
15. San Francisco 49ers: OL La’el Collins, LSU
The San Francisco 49ers fell apart on offense this season and need more depth on the line. La’el Collins is one of the best run-blockers in the whole draft because of his overall strength, which is music to the ears of players like Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.
16. Houston Texans: WR Kevin White, West Virginia
Andre Johnson will go down as a legend for the Houston Texans, but he is 33 years old and will not get any better moving forward. Therefore, the Texans will look to find his eventual replacement in Kevin White, who will serve as another lethal deep threat alongside DeAndre Hopkins.
17. San Diego Chargers: OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
Offensive line is a position teams select in the draft when there is an obvious need, and that is the case with the No. 17 pick. The San Diego Chargers will take Ronnie Stanley from Notre Dame thanks to his overall power and ability to carve out space for the running game at 6’6” and 315 pounds.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Jaelen Strong may be something of a reach at No. 18, but the Kansas City Chiefs went all season without a touchdown catch from a wide receiver. Strong is fast enough to beat corners on deep balls and strong enough to make catches across the middle. That alone will bolster the weak receiving corps right away in Kansas City.
19. Buffalo Bills (pick owned by Cleveland Browns): DE/OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson
Snagging Vic Beasley from Clemson this late in the first round is something of a value pick considering how he dominated ACC offensive linemen for years. In terms of pure speed off the edge in this draft, there may not be a better pass-rusher than Beasley.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
The Philadelphia Eagles need depth along the offensive line to run the fast-paced offense that they do, so look for them to add T.J. Clemmings with the No. 20 pick. Clemmings used to play defensive end and possesses the natural athleticism necessary to suit up at that position. That alone gives him a high ceiling that he will reach under Chip Kelly.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
The Cincinnati Bengals need to get younger at cornerback, and P.J. Williams will help them do just that. Williams has great ball skills when the pass is in the air, and he is fast enough to keep up with most wide receivers on deep routes. Don’t be surprised if the Bengals use him in the slot at first and gradually move him to the outside.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The Pittsburgh Steelers somehow made the playoffs despite a battered secondary, so they will look to improve the depth this offseason. Cornerback Trae Waynes is a good place to start.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio gave Waynes a glowing review, via Dan Murphy of ESPN.com:
"Trae is a lock-down corner, who played an important role in our success the last two years. He's an excellent press corner, who's often been isolated against our opponent's top wide receiver. He has great deep-ball judgment and the ability to tackle in space. Physically, Trae has length and great make-up speed.
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Michigan State’s loss is the Bengals’ gain.
23. Detroit Lions: DT Danny Shelton, Washington
If Ndamukong Suh does indeed go elsewhere, the Detroit Lions are going to need a replacement in the middle of the defensive line. Enter Danny Shelton from Washington as a monster nose guard who can eat up more than one blocker on any given play and free up the defensive ends and linebackers to make plays in space.
24. Arizona Cardinals: QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
It’s safe to say that the Arizona Cardinals could use some help in the quarterback depth department after one of the worst offensive performances in the history of the NFL in the playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers. UCLA’s Brett Hundley had something of an up-and-down year, but when he is at his best, he can fit the ball in tight windows through the air and move the ball with his legs as well.
He is the best quarterback bet after the top two in this year’s draft.
25. Carolina Panthers: DT Malcom Brown, Texas
The Carolina Panthers could use a pass-rusher, but they will settle for someone who will help the pass-rushers already in place with Malcom Brown. Brown is an elite run-stopper who will plug the middle of the line and occupy multiple blockers at once on any given play for the Panthers.
26. Baltimore Ravens: G A.J. Cann, South Carolina
Teams can never have enough depth along the offensive line, and the Baltimore Ravens see it as a position of need. That means they will select A.J. Cann from South Carolina as the draft’s best pure guard prospect. There are plenty of potentially elite tackles, but Cann will bolster the interior of whichever team drafts him in the first round.
27. Dallas Cowboys: DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
It is no secret that the Dallas Cowboys could use some defensive help after Aaron Rodgers shredded them in the second half of their playoff game. Eddie Goldman has a high ceiling as a big body from Florida State who uses athleticism and power to bull rush his way into the backfield on a regular basis.
That would have helped against the Green Bay Packers in the postseason.
28. Denver Broncos: LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
The Denver Broncos need more depth at linebacker, and Benardrick McKinney quietly put up an impressive season for Mississippi State. McKinney is more than capable of making plays against the run, but his ability to get out in space and hang with tight ends on passing plays is also intriguing for teams.
29. Indianapolis Colts: OT Ereck Flowers, Miami
Offensive linemen may make for boring picks for the fans and even commentators, but the Indianapolis Colts need to protect the franchise. That franchise is Andrew Luck, and Ereck Flowers will be more than ready to protect Luck’s blindside if called upon in his first year.
30. Green Bay Packers: DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State
The Green Bay Packers were an abysmal 23rd against the run this season, so look for them to focus on defense in the draft. Ohio State’s Michael Bennett is fresh off a dominant performance in the College Football Playoff as someone who gets constant penetration up the middle. That frees up Joey Bosa and company to make plays.
The Packers could use Bennett plugging holes in the middle as Clay Matthews sacks the quarterback or brings down the running back in the backfield.
31. New England Patriots: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Someone will take a chance on Melvin Gordon after his ridiculous season in 2014. That someone will be the New England Patriots, who have never really had a dominant running back in Tom Brady’s entire career. Perhaps Gordon will be the one to finally take some pressure off the passing game’s shoulders.
32. Seattle Seahawks: TE/WR Devin Funchess, Michigan
If the Seattle Seahawks actually have a weakness, it is the lack of a game-changing tight end who could act as a security blanket for Russell Wilson when things break down. Devin Funchess, who is athletic enough to play some wide receiver even, could be that man.
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