2015 NFL Mock Draft: Senior Bowl Week Projections
Of all the events that encompass the NFL offseason, few are rivaled by the NFL draft. And of all the activities linked to the draft that pundits and fans point to for reference, the Reese’s Senior Bowl is the pre-eminent All-Star game.
The Senior Bowl is an opportunity for teams, fans and media to get an intimate look at some of the top prospects in the draft under not only game but practice conditions. Most admit the practices during the week of the game far outweigh the game itself in terms of player evaluation.
What typically happens after the Senior Bowl is there becomes a tremendous amount of buzz around particular players who perform well. This buzz typically emanates from the media in attendance and is often not indicative of what NFL teams are thinking at all.
This projection is coming in just at the start of Senior Bowl Week, so look for the narrative to switch some for many of these players by this time next week. So, until the draft world gets all turned over, sit back and enjoy this latest two-round projection.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Jameis Winston, QB, FSU
At this point it feels like a foregone conclusion that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are selecting one of two quarterbacks with the top overall pick. However, there is still a considerable amount of disagreement about whether it'll be Oregon’s Marcus Mariota or Florida State’s Jameis Winston. For this projection, I am going with Winston.
Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com did a nice job of justifying the team selecting Winston. The addition of new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter does seem to indicate the Buccaneers want a more traditional style of quarterback. Interestingly enough, Reynolds mentions Koetter’s time at Arizona State, but he wasn’t alone there. Who else was on that staff? Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich. Just some food for thought.
But in the final analysis, the league just doesn’t have a good body of work to base taking another uber-athletic quarterback coming from a novel college offense. For all of Mariota’s skills, Winston has a much better pro foundation in place. Winston has a great set of intangibles and is an adequate physical specimen.
If Winston can get past some significant issues with an elongated throwing motion, there shouldn’t be a whole lot to keep him from being integrated into an offense similar to the one Koetter ran with the Atlanta Falcons.
2. Tennessee Titans
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Randy Gregory, DE/LB, Nebraska
By the time April 30 gets here, this selection will be much more ironed out for the Tennessee Titans. What that means is the Titans will be at least closer to where they stand with the current group of quarterbacks on the roster. If the Titans front office decides that this team cannot be competitive in 2015 with some combination of what it already has, Mariota could certainly be the pick here.
However, after whiffing on quarterback Jake Locker back in 2011, is new general manager Ruston Webster going to roll the dice on an athletic signal-caller again? Obvious Ruston wasn’t promoted until the season after Locker’s pick, but I’m still not sure he wants to be a part of a Locker Part 2 situation so soon.
Instead, the Titans look to build in the trenches instead. Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory has all the markings of an elite edge player. At 6'6", 240 pounds, Gregory has a long, lean build, room to grow and excellent muscle tone.
In the 3-4 defense that Titans run, Gregory could grow into a phenomenal pass-rushing outside linebacker opposite linebacker Derrick Morgan. Gregory might not be ready to dominate as a rookie due to the radical position change, but give him a season, and he’ll be great.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC
It would appear that the Jacksonville Jaguars have their franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles. Jacksonville also has a nice young group of wide receivers, so that eliminates that need this early as well. This means the Jaguars can continue to try to create head coach Gus Bradley’s vision for his defense.
Looking at the Jaguars defensive line, defensive end Red Bryant plays that heavy end but will enter the season over 30 years old. In addition, defensive tackle Abry Jones, 23, is still young, but it is hard to look at him as a long-term solution.
So, to solve both problems, the Jaguars will draft USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams. At 6’5” and 291 pounds, Williams is really the ideal for Bradley’s defense. He has the strength and interior pass-rushing skills to play tackle, but with all that length and short-area speed Williams could certainly line up outside.
There’s a lot of hyperbole surrounding Williams and his potential, but he appears to have Richard Seymour-like skills and could be that sort of an impact player at the next level.
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4. Oakland Raiders
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Shane Ray, DE/LB, Missouri
Could the Oakland Raiders go for a linebacker two seasons in a row? When the first one is Buffalo’s Khalil Mack it is a no-brainer. So, when the opportunity comes back around to pair a player up with Mack who has the potential to be just as devastating, you don’t pass that up.
Missouri’s Shane Ray is more of a pass-rushing specialist compared to Mack, but regardless of how he does it, Ray is able to impact a game in multiple, terrifying ways.
Another benefit of Ray as the pick here is while he could stand up at linebacker to pair with Mack and Sio Moore, he can also be a 4-3 end with his hand on the ground situationally, which would allow defensive end Justin Tuck to stay fresh and perhaps extend his time with Oakland.
5. Washington Redskins
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Dante Fowler Jr., DE/LB, Florida
It is a little bit of a surprise just to see the Washington Redskins making a pick in the first round. After all, Washington hasn’t drafted in the first round since the debacle of 2012 that got it quarterback Robert Griffin III. But we shall not speak of it.
However, this means the Redskins front office has to make a smart pick here. And for as tempting as Mariota might be, it must look elsewhere. Going over the Washington roster, adding a disruptive player on defense is the top priority. Washington runs a 3-4 base defense, but other than Ryan Kerrigan, this group hasn’t really performed up to task.
Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr. is a solid pick here because he is a hybrid edge player with the added bonus of great size (6'3", 260 lbs). During his time at Florida, Fowler moved all over the field, which is a good thing and a bad thing.
While he’s not really settled into a spot, he does show potential to be great at several. Fowler’s size allows him to line up in-line and set the edge against the run. But with his arm length and explosion Fowler has the potential to be a great pass-rushing specialist opposite Kerrigan.
6. New York Jets
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Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Well, the New York Jets finally chose to move on from the Rex Ryan era. So, of course, for a team that struggled mightily on offense, you bring in another hard-nosed, defensive-minded coach in Todd Bowles.
But in all seriousness, developing a quarterback must be the top priority for whoever is on this roster. And this is where offensive coordinator Chan Gailey comes in. Gailey is expected to come in and energize an offense that was woeful in 2014. Is Gailey a quarterback guru? ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini painted a rather bleak picture of the talent Gailey has had to work with during his coaching tenure, so it is hard to say.
Having said all that, Gailey, Bowles and the rest of the staff are going to have to look at this roster and decide if the quarterbacks in place can win. And when they realize they do not have that quarterback, they will decide to draft Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
History doesn’t bode well for Mariota in the NFL with players like Griffin III and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick under such scrutiny. But Mariota is the shiniest present under the tree, and you just have to open it and see what’s inside.
What’s under that shiny green and yellow wrapping paper is an elite athletic specimen and emerging quarterback. There’s no way Mariota comes into the NFL and is inserted into a pro-style offense and has success. His ability to make reads is not where it needs to be to go through the hyper-quick progressions of a traditional offense.
If the Jets select Mariota, they must build an offense around him that plays to his strength. Marietta has a zippy arm, especially on short and intermediate throws, and can squeeze the football into tight spots as long as it isn’t too far downfield. More importantly, Gailey must find a way to incorporate the zone-read rushing game in where Mariota can keep defenses off balance with his ability to run and throw.
7. Chicago Bears
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Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
When I got to this pick I had to remind myself that a mock draft is a projection and not my personal preference. If I were making this pick, I’d probably go with a player like Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and let Brandon Marshall walk.
However, the Bears are in an awkward spot here. A defensive lineman is probably the top need at this point, but there has been something of a run on them to this point. So instead the Bears look to the defensive secondary and try to continue to build with a specific goal in mind.
Other than second-year cornerback Kyle Fuller, is there anyone in this group to be excited about? If the answer is no, the Bears can go a long way toward getting things back on track with Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes. While Waynes is an excellent all-around project, especially as a long zone-coverage cornerback, he also provides some flexibility.
The Bears have some reserve cornerbacks on their roster such as Demontre Hurst, who is a fascinating safety prospect. Wayne and Fuller at cornerback locks that position in, allows Tim Jennings to transition to slowly and might just fix the safety problem at the same time.
8. Atlanta Falcons
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Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The top need of the Atlanta Falcons is to get a pass-rusher. However, like the Bears, any pass-rusher at this point feels like a reach compared to the talent left on the board. There’s no reason to go after a guy early to fill a need when there are some really great players left on the board, so the Falcons won't panic here.
Wide receiver Julio Jones is truly one of the best players at his position in the league. However, Roddy White and Devin Hester are both over 30 years old (33 and 32 respectively) and on the backside of their careers. And is there not some synergy about adding another Crimson Tide wide receiver?
Yes, the pick here is wide receiver Amari Cooper. It only makes sense as quarterback Matt Ryan is in the prime of his career, and the time is right to strike in the NFC. Cooper is a similar player to White but with better straight-line speed.
9. New York Giants
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Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Some really exciting players have come off the board to this point. Because of that I apologize in advance that the New York Giants are going to bring down the room a little. This New York team has more holes in it than a leaky tub boat, so there are multiple directions the Giants can go here.
Offensive line is a definite need at both guard and tackle. With Iowa’s Brandon Scherff, the Giants have some real flexibility to fill either of those spots. Scherff is a powerful blocker with surprising quickness. His arm length could ultimately determine his place in the NFL, but when you see him get out in space and crush blockers in space you understand that he’s going to start lots and lots of games in the NFL.
10. St. Louis Rams
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T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pitt
After the St. Louis Rams selected Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson in the first round in 2014, it appeared the offensive line was going to be fixed. Unfortunately, Robinson is more of a project than many thought. This means adding a tackle is still a top priority. Even if Robinson is the future at left tackle, adding a franchise right tackle would allow Joe Barksdale to slide inside to guard in place of Davin Joseph.
Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings really came on strong over the course of the season and has entrenched himself well as one of the top offensive linemen in this draft. Clemmings' build is ideal for the NFL game with great length at 6'6" and a lean 315-pound build.
You can see that Clemmings started his career at defensive end. His quickness is elite, and he has great hand usage. His technique still needs some work with only two years at the position, but you cannot pass up his package of skills and all of that potential.
11. Minnesota Vikings
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DeVante Parker, WR Louisville
Now that the Minnesota Vikings have their franchise quarterback, the focus can now turn to adding pieces around Teddy Bridgewater to make him even better. No Vikings player got 60 catches in 2014, and running back Matt Asiata was second on the team with 44. Regardless of how you feel about wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, an upgrade is needed.
And is there any better pick than a wide receiver who spent three seasons catching passes from your franchise quarterback? It is an added bonus that Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker is also a dominant player with great size and polished all-around game.
Parker is the best red-zone weapon in this draft, and even when the entire defense knows he is going get the football he uses his physical style and body control to win the football over and over.
12. Cleveland Browns
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Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
With Cooper and Parker already off the board, the Cleveland Browns probably need to pump the brakes on a wide receiver with this first pick. Instead, the Browns can get bigger, and I mean much bigger on defense. Cleveland has some nice nose tackles on the roster, but getting bigger, stronger and more athletic is what it must do.
This is where Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton comes in. The 6'2", 339-pound Shelton is easily the top nose tackle prospect in this group and in 2014 has flashed truly elite skills. Shelton’s power makes him nearly impossible to block with a single offensive lineman, yet he is quick enough to split a double-team and penetrate.
Cleveland still needs to sort out its quarterback situation, but Shelton will go a long way toward getting the defense on track.
13. New Orleans Saints
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Shaq Thompson, LB Washington
The wheels really fell off the New Orleans Saints in 2014. After coming into the season with Super Bowl aspirations, the team struggled to a 7-9 record. A lot of that fell squarely on the shoulders of a defense that couldn’t stop anyone.
New Orleans needs to bolster its pass rush from one of its outside linebacker spots. Junior Galette had another solid season, but he needs someone opposite himself to take some of the pressure off. Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson is more athlete than football player at this point, but he has every trait you look for in a top 3-4 outside linebacker.
Thompson’s skills are raw, but his first step and agility are exceptional. Thompson is one of those players who will continue to ascend as offseason workouts go on because he is going to measure very well.
14. Miami Dolphins
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Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Looking over the Miami Dolphins depth chart, you see a lot of good players but very few great ones. The selection of Dion Jordan is starting to look questionable as he is still struggling to find his place on defense. The Dolphins linebackers could use a player who can come in and give them some scheme versatility and almost-guaranteed production.
Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney is a fun player to watch. He can line up inside or outside and be incredibly productive. McKinney has a high football IQ and can diagnose plays in a hurry. He has been compared to Brian Urlacher, and I think that is fair.
McKinney seems to always been around the football, and it doesn’t seem to matter what role he is put in—he finds ways to be productive. Miami has the option with McKinney to play him inside or outside and know he will produce.
15. San Francisco 49ers
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Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
There are several spots the San Francisco 49ers could consider with this pick. The 49ers need a wide receiver, a cornerback and defensive end. There are some great players on the board at all of these positions. In this case it comes down to taking the player who can not only come in and play right away, but also the one with the highest upside.
In this case, it is Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead. Armstead came on so strong this season. The 6’8”, 290-pound defensive end is a freakish athlete in every sense of the word. At Oregon, Armstead played natural 3-4 defensive end, which works well for what the 49ers will want from him.
In many cases, a 3-4 end is either a converted defensive tackle or a beefed up 4-3 defensive end. Armstead can come in and dominate right away. Armstead and Tank Carradine would make a rather formidable duo out on the edges of that defense.
16. Houston Texans
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Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Of all the areas on the Houston Texans roster that needs to be blown up and started over, quarterback is it. Unfortunately, there is no quarterback left on the board who warrants a pick this high. The Texans do need to draft a quarterback and should do so at some point in the draft, but not here.
Instead, the Texans will look to fix their struggling offensive line with Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat. By the time the draft gets here, Peat could be long gone. But for this exercise the Texans are able to steal this mauling run-blocker.
Peat is so strong and plays with such a good base that he is incredibly hard to move. He needs to get his kick step better to deal with pass-rushers, but he could easily start on the right while he gets the subtleties of his game together.
17. San Diego Chargers
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La'el Collins, OL, LSU
The mini run on offensive linemen continues with the San Diego Chargers. San Diego is another team with some nice pieces in place but is still held back by inconsistent offensive line play. This is particularly true of the interior, where Jeremiah Sirles and Chad Rinehart don’t exactly inspire.
LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins is an excellent drive-blocker who can play tackle or kick inside at guard. He has all the physical traits you look for and is perhaps the best finisher in this entire class. Collins paired up with D.J. Fluker on one side would be a terrifying sight for opposing defenders.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
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Landon Collins, S, Alabama
It was a horrible turn of events when star young safety Eric Berry was forced out of football for the foreseeable future while he deals with some significant health concerns. While everyone is rooting for Berry to make a full recovery, the Chiefs must plan for the possibility he will either not come back at 100 percent or maybe not at all.
The Chiefs would be fortunate, if this is their direction, to have Alabama safety Landon Collins on the board. While Collins is not the complete player Berry is, he is the star of this safety class and would add back that piece of the Chiefs defense the team needs in the secondary. Collins is a great center field player with excellent physicality and solid ball skills.
19. Cleveland Browns
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Kevin White, WR, WVU
After passing on a wide receiver with the first pick of the first round, the Browns go back on the clock with wide receiver on their mind. Unfortunately, for all of his potential, wide receiver Josh Gordon just cannot be counted on as an NFL player. For all the talk about the quarterbacks, the reality is none of them will be successful without adequate weapons around them.
The Browns need a player who is polished and reliable and can bail out a quarterback if need be. West Virginia’s Kevin White has shown himself to be all that and much more this season. White is as good a route-runner as there is in this league and looks ready for an NFL workload.
White’s long speed isn’t elite, but he’s shifty after the catch and gets to speed in a hurry. Also, White has strong hands and will snatch the ball out of the air, taking it away from defenders. The trick for Cleveland will be finding someone to get him the football.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
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Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
There were plenty of fans left scratching their heads when the Philadelphia Eagles selected linebacker Marcus Smith in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Even then, it seemed as if a player in the secondary was a higher priority. We fast forward to today, and a defensive back is still a top priority.
Taking Washington cornerback Marcus Peters is a risk. Is Peters open to coaching and committed to his team? Only time will tell, but all the talent is there. Peters is fast and strong with excellent body control and change of direction. Peters looks like a player who can excel in any system, assuming he’s putting out full effort.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
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Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
The Cincinnati Bengals are probably glad that the Eagles took Peters one pick before them. If Cincinnati is going to target a cornerback, the difference between Peters and Stanford’s Alex Carter isn’t great. Whereas Carter is slightly less skilled overall, his character slate is clean.
Carter is one of the players whose stock could fluctuate this offseason based on his workouts. The 6'0", 200-pound defensive back has the look of an All-Pro cornerback or free safety. How teams project Carter could depend heavily on how fast he runs in offseason workouts.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Alvin Dupree, DE/LB, Kentucky
It is hard to imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting any position here other than cornerback or outside linebacker. The team looks to be losing players at both spots, and those left aren’t great. With the short run on cornerbacks, Pittsburgh might want to consider looking for a pass-rusher for its hybrid 3-4 front.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, Kentucky edge player Alvin Dupree is still on the board. Dupree is a near-ideal selection because not only is he a great edge-rusher, but at 267 pounds he would be a great fit on a defense that looks to be using more 4-3 looks in the upcoming season.
23. Detroit Lions
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Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
The direction this pick will go for the Detroit Lions will depend largely on if they are able to retain defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. If Suh is re-signed, the Lions would go a completely different direction with this pick.
However, for this scenario Suh does leave, and the Lions recognize that replacing him is a top priority. And if they are going to replace him, Oklahoma’s Jordan Phillips is a great option.
Phillips' size (6'6", 334 lbs) and quickness combo is tops among this class by anyone not named Leonard Williams. The dig on Phillips is lack of production, but some of that can be attributed to overall problems with the Sooners defense and coaching moves that pulled him off the field a lot.
24. Arizona Cardinals
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Vic Beasley, LB, Clemson
It’s hard to look at a team like the Arizona Cardinals and think it should draft any position but quarterback. However, like the Texans, the Cardinals are hamstrung by the fact that this quarterback class is more project players than franchise players. So, with quarterback off the menu, the Cardinals could go running back here or add a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
This running back class is too deep to panic, but Clemson linebacker Vic Beasley is just sitting there begging to be drafted. Beasley slides some because his size is a significant concern. The 6'2" Beasley is listed at 235 pounds but appears to play lighter than that. If Beasley weighs in at 220 pounds at the scouting combine, his draft stock could slide even more.
For all of his production and the dynamic athleticism he has shown in college, it is impossible to justify a high pick on a player that small at the position. However, if he is around 230 pounds, the Cardinals can bring him in on passing downs with fresh legs and allow him to turn the corner on tackles.
25. Carolina Panthers
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Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
When you have a player like quarterback Cam Newton, you have to do everything in your power to surround him with players in their prime. This includes the offensive line, where Carolina didn’t give Newton much help at all up front. Neither of the Panthers' starting tackles played very well in 2014, so an upgrade for either is a must here.
One of the names sure to start making waves this offseason Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. If you want to see what kind of pass protector and mauler Flowers can be, just go back and watch the Miami game against Florida State. That performance was as good as any I’ve seen by any offensive tackle this season.
26. Baltimore Ravens
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Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
There are a number of places the Baltimore Ravens could look with this pick. I’ve heard that running back should be the pick here, but I really don’t see it. Yes, Georgia’s Todd Gurley and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon are great, but with Justin Forsett on the roster, why not wait?
Instead, Baltimore needs to think about adding a cornerback here with the potential to be a true No. 1 shutdown cornerback. In this case that’s LSU cornerback Jalen Collins.
If the light can come on for Collins in terms of his play recognition, he has all the physical tools to be among the top cornerbacks in the league. Collins is a fluid athlete with exceptional speed and quickness. He has ridiculous size (6'2", 198 lbs) and press-man skills and hands like a wide receiver.
27. Dallas Cowboys
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Eli Harold, DE/LB, Virginia
This is another spot where the first running back could be coming off the board. If the Dallas Cowboys don’t opt for signing DeMarco Murray to a new contract, there will be a massive hole on their running game. I just have to assume that Dallas isn’t going to let the guy who set the single-season franchise record in rushing just leave via free agency.
The other primary need the Cowboys have is upgrading their pass rush. Last season, the Cowboys scored with second-round pick Demarcus Lawrence. I look for a big season from him after he had a year to learn. This time around the Cowboys go get another pass-rusher with Virginia defensive end Eli Harold. Harold is a lesser-known prospect at this point, but when you put the tape on, you see just how disruptive he can be off the edge.
28. Denver Broncos
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Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Once you get this deep into the round, the teams typically don’t have glaring needs on either side of the football. That is the case for the Denver Broncos, who fell short largely because of poor play by quarterback Peyton Manning. So short of losing a ton of guys in free agency, Denver can go with the best player available at this point.
Who is that player, you ask? It might just be Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown. Brown is a massive one-gap penetrator at defensive tackle who relies on a quick first step and violent hands to get into the backfield. Brown doesn’t play as strong as his 320-pound frame would have you believe, but his leverage is sound, which makes up for it.
29. Indianapolis Colts
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Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU
Everything for the Indianapolis Colts starts and stops with quarterback Andrew Luck. He is truly one of the great young quarterbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately, for all he does for his team, his defense doesn’t always hold up its end of the bargain. Lack of a physical presence on the defensive line allows teams to move the football on the Colts much too easily.
With this pick, the Colts add a versatile defensive lineman well-suited to play inside or outside in a base 3-4 defense. Florida State’s Eddie Goldman is massive at 6'4", 320 pounds and flashes an elite skill set at times. Goldman would be an instant upgrade at nose tackle and could kick to defensive tackle on passing downs, where he would be able to penetrate in a one-gap set.
30. Green Bay Packers
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Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
One highlight of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game was the inspired play of the Green Bay defense. However, there are still spots where the Packers could improve. One area in particular where there could be a great marriage of need and talent this late in the round is at linebacker.
TCU linebacker Paul Dawson isn’t a flashy guy and probably not a name many of you know much about. But just lock this name away, and you will. Dawson is incredibly productive and as versatile as any player in the draft. Dawson just pops on film as he explodes to the football and finishes like a runaway train.
31. New England Patriots
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Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
It is amazing to think about the success that the New England Patriots and their quarterback, Tom Brady, have had with the cast of characters around Brady. Yes, tight end Rob Gronkowski is great, but beyond him, this group is more about what Brady does than what everyone else does.
One type of player Brady has shown he can use in this offense is the big hybrid tight end/wide receiver like Aaron Hernandez was. So, why not get an updated version of Hernandez with Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess.
At 6'5", 230 pounds, Funchess is an oversized version of Hernandez with better route running and softer hands. In the slot lined up tight, Funchess should work out like a star this offseason and showcase the skill set that makes him a perfect weapon for Brady and the Patriots.
32. Seattle Seahawks
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Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
The Seattle Seahawks are a team without many holes on either side of the football. Nevertheless, the Seahawks would be well-served to get quarterback Russell Wilson a dependable target in the passing game. After trading Percy Harvin and letting Golden Tate leave, the cupboards were pretty bare.
However, for a player like Wilson, the best thing Seattle can do is get him a big target who he can count on in the clutch. To me, that screams Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams. Williams was never able to fully utilize his gifts in that Gophers offense, but he just oozes big-play potential. Williams has a big body (6'4", 250 lbs), can shield off defenders and has strong hands. Williams is the red-zone weapon the Seahawks need.
Round 2
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest: The Buccaneers bolster their secondary with one of the fastest press-man cornerbacks in the draft.
2. Tennessee Titans—Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia: Even with running back Bishop Sankey, the Titans can’t pass up a potential franchise running back like Gurley.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars—Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin: The Jaguars add the explosive Melvin to give Bortles a dominant running game.
4. Oakland Raiders—Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State: The Raiders love big-play wide receivers, and Smith is one of the best in the draft.
5. Washington Redskins—Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State: The Redskins get a potential franchise left tackle with Sambrailo.
6. New York Jets—Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State: First New York gets a new quarterback and now a weapon for Mariota in the passing game with Strong.
7. Chicago Bears—Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn: If Marshall doesn’t return, the Bears need to add a wide receiver to pair with Alshon Jeffery, and Coates is an explosive weapon.
8. Atlanta Falcons—Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State: The Falcons get the pass-rushing defensive end they are missing with Smith.
9. New York Giants—Hau'oli Kikaha, LB, Washington: Versatile linebackers are a plus for the Giants, and Kikaha can play well on the inside or outside.
10. St. Louis Rams—P.J. Williams, CB, FSU : The secondary has been a concern for the Rams, and Williams is an smooth cover corner with excellent speed.
11. Minnesota Vikings—Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana: Coleman makes great insurance for the Vikings should running back Adrian Peterson not return.
12. Cleveland Browns—Josue Matias, OG, FSU: The Browns make a move to upgrade their offensive line with the athletic Matias.
13. New Orleans Saints—Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon: The rebuild of the Saints defense continues with the aggressive and athletic Ekpre-Olomu.
14. Miami Dolphins—Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon: Fisher is an athletic lineman with the disposition to kick inside and play guard at a high level.
15. San Francisco 49ers—Nelson Agholor, WR, USC: It would be a steal for the 49ers to get a pass-catcher like Agholor this late to help out Kaepernick.
16. Houston Texans—Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA: The Texans roll the dice here on the tremendous upside of Hundley at quarterback.
17. San Diego Chargers—Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU: Hunter’s game is all about length and raw athleticism as a pass-rusher at outside linebacker for the Chargers.
18. Kansas City Chiefs—Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma: When you are talking about risk/reward, the Chiefs roll the dice here on the troubled and talented wide receiver.
19. Buffalo Bills—Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami: Rex Ryan loves big, thumping inside linebackers, and Perryman is a hammer in the middle.
20. Philadelphia Eagles—Lorenzo Mauldin, LB, Louisville: The Eagles need to add talent at the linebacker position, and Mauldin is a highly productive player.
21. Cincinnati Bengals—Nate Orchard, DE, Utah: Cincinnati scores big getting a pass-rushing specialist like Orchard this late in the second round.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers—Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio): Pittsburgh finally gets the big, fast coverage player it has been missing.
23. Detroit Lions—Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma: Detroit gets a massive offensive tackle prospect who should allow Riley Reiff to move inside to guard.
24. Arizona Cardinals—Michael Bennett, DL, Ohio State: The Cardinals keep adding to a stacked defense with the powerful Bennett.
25. Carolina Panthers—Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford: The speedy Montgomery is a perfect player to pair up with Kelvin Benjamin in Carolina.
26. Baltimore Ravens—Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska: If the Ravens want a running back, Abdullah can be a three-down player for Baltimore.
27. Dallas Cowboys—Ronald Darby, CB, FSU: With so many running backs coming off the board the Cowboys sit tight and add to their secondary with the athletic Darby.
28. Denver Broncos—Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA: Denver adds another disruptive player on defense with the aggressive and undersized Kendricks.
29. Indianapolis Colts—Markus Golden, LB, Missouri: Indianapolis adds another pass-rushing specialist to pair up with linebacker Bjoern Werner.
30. Green Bay Packers—Carl Davis, DT, Iowa: Green Bay turns to defense again with Davis, who can control the line of scrimmage as either an end or tackle in a 3-4 defense.
31. New England Patriots—Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss: With the potential loss of multiple defensive backs, the Patriots bring in the ball-hawking safety Prewitt.
32. Seattle Seahawks—Mario Edwards Jr., DE/DT, FSU: The Seahawks are always looking to get better on defense, and Edwards has tons of untapped potential in that right defensive tackle spot on the Seattle defense.
All player date courtesy of the college football section of Sports-Reference.com.
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