NFL Mock Draft 2015: Post-Conference Championship 1st-Round Predictions
After an extensive preseason slate, 17 weeks of regular-season action and three grueling playoff rounds, only two NFL teams still stand. On February 1, the New England Patriots will meet the Seattle Seahawks for the right to hoist the Lombardi Trophy following Super Bowl XLIX.
Of course, with only two teams remaining in contention for a championship, 30 others have already begun their offseasons. Every one of these franchises has one thing in common heading into the 2015 season: They must all improve for a shot at the big dance. Well, that's where the draft comes in.
Selecting a player who fills a need and can contribute immediately can help a bad team turn the corner or catapult a good team into contention. Due to many offseason workouts and interviews, plenty will change between the Super Bowl and the 2015 NFL draft, but here's a current look at how each first-round team is likely to benefit.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mariota's body of work at Oregon represents exactly what the Buccaneers need under center. He's extremely careful with the football, is very accurate, makes good decisions and has the ability to gain yards with his legs as well. The reason this team is picking first in this year's draft is because none of its current quarterbacks possesses any of those traits.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
This would be a bit of a gamble for the Titans, but it could be well worth it. This team doesn't know what it has in Zach Mettenberger, and it may not be willing to pass up on Winston to find out. While the Florida State product has off-field concerns, he has NFL size (6'4", 230 lbs), a cannon for an arm, the ability to progress through his reads and plenty of experience leading a very good program.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Jacksonville heavily invested in the offensive side of the ball in 2014, selecting a quarterback and a pair of wide receivers in the first two rounds. Now, this team must protect those investments by improving the offensive line. At 6'5" and 320 pounds, Scherff is the draft's highest-rated tackle due to his big frame, strength and athleticism. He'll step in and contribute immediately.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Derek Carr made some nice strides in 2014, but a lack of consistency in Oakland's wide receiver corps held him back. Selecting Cooper here would put an end to that issue, as the Alabama product's soft hands and precise route running make him one of the draft's most reliable receivers. His ability to shake loose and get open will make him an instant favorite target for the team's young quarterback.
5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
The Redskins need help on both sides of the ball; however, their defense has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. The future of Brian Orakpo is in doubt, so grabbing the draft's most complete pass-rusher makes plenty of sense. With great length, explosiveness and agility, Gregory can beat offensive tackles in a variety of ways. He'll be a nice complement to Ryan Kerrigan.
6. New York Jets: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
New York missed out on the quarterback sweepstakes at this point in the draft, but that does allow it to focus elsewhere. The team has two studs at defensive end, but it could use a presence at nose tackle. Williams is extremely talented with a great blend of size, speed, power and athleticism. He has the ability to fight through blockers to cause havoc in opposing backfields on a regular basis.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Collins makes perfect sense for a Bears team that is desperately trying to find its defensive identity. In 2014, the safety showed solid improvement in coverage to pair with his hard-hitting style of play. He's quick and agile enough to cover center field, but he's also strong enough to move up and help in run support.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
The Falcons didn't have much of a pass rush to speak of in 2014, but adding Ray here would quickly fix that problem. With tremendous speed and a high motor, Ray is known to explode off the line and beat tackles around the edge. He's always a factor against the pass, but he's fast enough to chase down ball-carriers from behind.
9. New York Giants: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
The return of Steve Spagnuolo to New York makes things interesting, but there's still a good chance the Giants lose Jason Pierre-Paul in free agency. If that's the case, adding Fowler at No. 9 overall is the right move. He isn't the largest defender at 6'2", but he has a strong 261-pound frame and a great deal of speed. This makes him a versatile player, having experience all across the defensive line and at outside linebacker.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Big cornerbacks are at a premium in today's NFL, and the 6'1" Waynes fits that mold. St. Louis made some significant improvements on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, but the team still lacks a big outside corner. Waynes is quick enough to stick with faster receivers and uses his long frame and anticipation to win jump balls. A physical player, he isn't afraid of contact and helps in run support as well.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Minnesota could opt for an offensive tackle here, but Parker may be too tough to pass up. Teddy Bridgewater played well in 2014, but he lacked a true No. 1 target. Parker has great size at 6'3" and 209 pounds. He has good acceleration that makes him a vertical threat, but he's also a good route-runner who has the vision necessary to create yards after the catch.
12. Cleveland Browns: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
Cleveland will have a couple of choices here, but the team will be filling a giant need with Beasley. The Browns need a pass-rusher, and the Clemson product is one of the most explosive edge-rushers in the draft. A great first step and excellent speed around the outside make Beasley a constant headache for opposing offensive tackles.
13. New Orleans Saints: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The Saints completely lost their identity on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, and they need a game-changer to help get it back. Dupree is a do-it-all linebacker who has a fantastic mixture of speed, length, power, technique and burst. He has a variety of pass-rushing moves to cause problems in the backfield, but he's also strong in run support and capable of dropping back into coverage.
14. Miami Dolphins: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Dolphins added Ja'Wuan James in the 2014 draft, and now they'll need to add a complementary tackle on the other side of the line. Peat is a monster in the trenches at 6'7" and 312 pounds. He has a great base and tremendous upper-body strength that allows him to flourish against both the run and pass. He should be able to contribute on either the left or right side of Miami's line.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
With Michael Crabtree set to hit the free-agent market, the 49ers may find themselves in dire need of a wide receiver when the draft rolls around. Grabbing White here gives them something they've been lacking for quite some time: a deep threat. At 6'3" and 210 pounds, White is a big, physical receiver, but he also has great acceleration that allows him to beat cornerbacks vertically.
16. Houston Texans: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
The Texans have some holes to fill in several areas on the offensive side of the ball, but improving the offensive line should be a priority, especially due to the uncertainty at quarterback. Collins has a wide, 6'5", 321-pound frame with the agility to remain at tackle and the power to move inside to guard. He'll bring some needed versatility to Houston.
17. San Diego Chargers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
San Diego's secondary was a big cause for concern throughout the 2014 season. This team was plagued by injury, and its depth was tested. Adding another outside corner just makes sense. Peters has nice length at 6'0" and 198 pounds. He's highly athletic and able to stick with faster receivers, and he's a physical player capable of making tackles in the open field and helping in run support.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Kansas City's need for a receiver is no secret. This team needs a playmaker at the position, and that's exactly what it will get by selecting Strong here. At 6'3" and 215 pounds, he's a powerful receiver who can be tough to take down. His great length and leaping ability gives him a huge catch radius, and his acceleration off the line makes him a solid vertical threat.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
It's time for the Browns to finally add a receiver. Green-Beckham needs to answer some questions about some off-the-field issues, but his ability on the gridiron is phenomenal. At 6'5" and 235 pounds with incredible athleticism and good speed, he's always a threat to get vertical, win jump balls and serve as a dangerous red-zone target.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Philadelphia's biggest weakness in 2014 was in the secondary, and this team should be chomping at the bit to grab a cornerback here. Williams has nice size at 6'0" and 196 pounds. He has solid speed and fluidity to stick with quicker receivers, and he's a physical player who can contest against bigger receivers on the outside.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
The Bengals finished the 2014 regular season with the league's worst pass rush. That's not good considering the talent they have along the defensive line. In an effort to free up Carlos Dunlap and Co., grabbing Thompson here would be beneficial. A quick and versatile player, Thompson's speed will help him beat tackles around the edge. His physicality will also come into play against the run.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Pittsburgh is looking to get younger on defense, and without a cornerback available here, the team will look at improving the defensive line. Shelton is a true 3-4 nose tackle at 6'2" and 332 pounds. He routinely wins due to a strong, wide base, great upper-body strength and a fierce bull rush. Those traits will make him a big factor against both the run and pass.
23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
It's highly unlikely Ndamukong Suh will remain in a Lions jersey in 2015, so the league's best run defense will be looking to find his replacement here. Goldman fits the bill perfectly. The former Seminole has great size at 6'3" and 320 pounds. He plays with a high motor and has the strength to take on double-teams on the inside. Not only a great gap-stuffer, Goldman has a mean bull rush that allows him to bully his way into the backfield.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
The injury bug hit Arizona hard in 2014. While this team is very talented on defense, it needs to add depth in several areas. Inside linebacker should be a priority for this squad, and luckily enough, McKinney is still available here. He's best on the inside due to his strong 6'4", 249-pound frame, but he does have the speed and motor to move to the outside in a pinch, adding nice versatility to the Cardinals defense.
25. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Cam Newton's struggles in the passing game were wildly apparent near the end of the season, and that was partly due to insufficient protection. Clemmings has a great combination of agility and quickness. His athleticism and improved technique help him win matchups against faster pass-rushers and allow him to quickly get to the second level when blocking for the run.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
Baltimore already has a nice crop of outside linebackers, but adding some depth and another pass-rush specialist isn't a bad idea here. At 6'4" and 255 pounds, Orchard has the size to flourish with the Ravens. He's incredibly fast having been recruited by Utah as a wide receiver, and that speed has allowed him to consistently beat offensive tackles around the edge.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
One of Dallas' biggest weaknesses in 2014 was against the pass, and adding a lineman who can help disrupt opposing signal-callers would provide a big boost in that department. Bennett is very quick out of his stance and can catch offensive linemen off balance. He has a high motor and can fight through double-teams while freeing up his teammates to get after the quarterback.
28. Denver Broncos: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Terrance Knighton's future is in question with Denver, so the team may look to the defensive tackle position here. The 6'4", 320-pound Brown would be a nice replacement, as he is surprisingly agile despite his big frame. He attracts many double-teams, but his quickness off the ball allows him to split blockers and knife his way into the backfield.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Improving in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball should be a priority for Indianapolis during the offseason, and adding Flowers here is a good start. A mauler in the trenches, the Miami product stands at 6'5" and 324 pounds, and while he is extremely powerful when blocking for the run, he's also light on his feet in pass protection.
30. Green Bay Packers: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Green Bay struggled against the run at times in 2014, and the Packers must address weaknesses along the defensive line before next season. The 6'7", 296-pound Armstead will be a huge upgrade due to his impressive power and athleticism. He continued to show improvement in his game in 2014 and appears to have enormous upside.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Seahawks showed how heavily they rely on the run in the NFC Championship Game, and if they lose Marshawn Lynch over the offseason, they could be in some trouble. Gordon's combination of speed, vision and agility made him nearly unstoppable in college, and selecting the Wisconsin product here would ensure the continued success on the ground for this franchise.
32. New England Patriots: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
New England's offense does well with the likes of Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski in the fold, but the team still lacks a true No. 1 target and a big presence on the outside. Adding the 6'5", 230-pound Funchess would take care of that. The receiver's big, powerful frame and leaping ability give him an enormous catch radius, making him a viable threat on the outside and a great option in the red zone.
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