2015 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Latest Projections for 1st-Round Prospects
The risk-reward element of the 2015 NFL draft has a certain "wow" factor to it.
Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, by far the top two quarterbacks and perhaps players overall, both come with a unique set of risks.
So too does the top potential wideout and the top potential corner.
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To be fair, no team builds a championship contender by going 100 percent conservative. Even the Seattle Seahawks took a gamble on Bruce Irvin in the first round a few years back—he's part of what may be a dynasty in the making.
It is early in the process, but the teams who need to take risks are obvious.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Hear that?
It's the sound of keyboards clicking and pens scribbling about how Mariota is a risk because of his collegiate scheme.
Guess what? Scheme does not mean a player cannot perform outside of it. Tampa Bay understands this but will also compromise to make sure Mariota succeeds as its next franchise quarterback.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Folks know about Winston's troubles, so no need to dive deep into a rehash.
On the field, Winston is a prototypical NFL quarterback who can come in right away and command a pocket.
The Tennessee Titans could wait on Zach Mettenberger, but this is the NFL. A chance to draft another franchise quarterback may not present itself for a decade or more.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Look at what Gus Bradley did in Jacksonville.
He took a dive with Blake Bortles and as a result can now plug other major areas of need.
For example, his defense could really use a strong edge-rusher. The top one in the class is Randy Gregory, who does much to help mask a secondary that is still under construction.
4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
The reviews on USC's Leonard Williams are in—just ask NFL Network's Bucky Brooks:
Oakland lands a steal in the top five all things considered, as what the defense seems to miss is an interior presence who can open things up for the linebackers behind him and generate his own pressure up the middle.
5. Washington: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Future narratives will condemn Amari Cooper as not worthy of being the top wideout off the board, but keep in mind this is the guy so great that Nick Saban moved away from his run-first approach this season with a first-year starter under center.
Cooper catches nearly anything thrown his way and will contribute right away. Washington would like a secondary player here, but none is worth such a high selection.
6. New York Jets: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
In tandem with Percy Harvin, the New York Jets will have a solid one-two punch at wideout if Kevin White is the pick.
White caught 109 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 scores last year.
The quarterback situation in New York is a mess, but White is a talent who can catch jump balls or take a short pass the distance. The fit is obvious.
7. Chicago Bears: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Out with the old, in with the new.
Chicago needs more youthful talent up front to rush the passer. As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted recently, a team cannot go wrong with Shane Ray either:
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Ray will wreak havoc on the quarterbacks of the NFC North in a hurry.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Look, the Atlanta Falcons are an offensive team in the minds of most, but 22 sacks on the season last year is pathetic.
Luckily for the Falcons, the 2015 draft class is quite rich in talent who can rush the passer.
One such name is Kentucky's Alvin Dupree, a versatile, explosive player who can line up all over the field and reduce the amount of time a shaky secondary spends in coverage.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Eli Manning may have the next big thing on his hands with wideout Odell Beckham Jr., but that does not change the fact he is now 34 years old.
This means the powers in New York's front office better have its franchise quarterback's best interests at heart.
If they do, Brandon Scherff, easily the top tackle in the class, is the obvious choice.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
It seemed only a matter of time before Michigan State's Trae Waynes secured the top corner spot.
Miller compares him favorably to a first-round Michigan State corner from a year ago, too:
The St. Louis Rams do not have a glaring need, so more talent in a lagging secondary is the obvious route.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
While early, the Minnesota Vikings may have something special on their hands with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
The objective, then, is to secure more talent around him for years to come. DeVante Parker is a reliable target who can learn from Greg Jennings, as well as complement other weapons well.
Some may prefer the Vikings go defense, but with Mike Zimmer in charge, the unit will never be a weakness.
12. Cleveland Browns: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham might be the biggest risk in the draft.
A wild ride to the draft overshadows that he comes in at 6'6" and 225 pounds, a physical makeup nearly impossible to find when one pairs that with his elite skill set.
Cleveland has issues of its own with names such as Johnny Manziel, but DGB is too talented to pass. The reward might outweigh the risk in the end.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
The New Orleans Saints are a lot like the aforementioned Falcons in the reputation department.
That said, the team attempted to change this with Rob Ryan and big spending in free agency last offseason, but things fell apart in a hurry last season.
Ryan is back on board, though, and what his unit needs is a talent who can apply pressure from all over the field. Dante Fowler Jr. did just that at Florida and fits well in Ryan's scheme.
14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson is already one of the most polarizing players in the 2015 class thanks to his time at running back and linebacker.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah puts it best:
Talk about a one-two punch for the Miami Dolphins, though. Many perceive running back as a major need for the Dolphins, but the defense also needs help rushing the passer.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Marcus Peters is the hinted corner in the intro.
Peters finished the season without a team after his dismissal from Washington, something the NFL will be sure to dig into right away.
Regardless, Peters is a major first-round talent whom many teams in need, such as the San Francisco 49ers, will not allow to fall down the board.
16. Houston Texans: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Jalen Collins is the next corner on the board but will spend little time on it thanks to the Houston Texans.
Stuck in a division that houses Andrew Luck, Johnathan Joseph, now 30 years old, needs some help in order to turn things around for the unit.
Collins is a step in the right direction as the latest LSU corner to turn pro with plenty of big-play talent.
17. San Diego Chargers: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
Right now, the San Diego Chargers may feature the worst interior offensive line in the league.
The team ranked 26th in rushing, and Philip Rivers spent more time on his back than upright thanks to 36 sacks.
Normally interior linemen are not a great value high in the first round, but A.J. Cann fits one of the most obvious needs of all.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Try not to forget about Jaelen Strong.
Some, such as Bleacher Report's Connor Rogers, think more of him than other prospects:
"Right now I have Jaelen Strong ahead of DeVante Parker and Kevin White. The hard part is grading the latter two.
— Connor Rogers (@CRogers_NFL) January 20, 2015"
It sounds strange, but the Kansas City Chiefs can do no wrong with any of the first-round prospects at the position one season removed from no touchdown receptions by a wideout on the roster.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Cleveland can take a safer pick with its second of two selections in the round.
DGB is a gamble, whereas the team knows what it will obtain with Clemson's Vic Beasley.
Beasley is a talented rusher who at one point heard chatter about a top-five selection last season. His stock is down in a deep class, but the talent is still there.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
When one thinks of bad pass defense numbers, one thinks of the Philadelphia Eagles.
This is not necessarily because of the talent in place so much as it is because the offense's high-flying ways place more pressure on the secondary.
Landon Collins is an ideal piece for a unit that ranked 31st against the pass last year. He at the very least is a pair of fresh legs to rotate into games given the situation.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Cincinnati Bengals need more production on the interior of the defensive line next to Geno Atkins.
Malcom Brown fixes this problem with emphasis thanks to his ability to clog running lanes at will.
For a team with so few needs, Brown fills the biggest one of all, literally.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
There is no such thing as too many pass-rushers on one team. Just ask the Seahawks.
This is why the Pittsburgh Steelers should have a heavy interest in Oregon's Arik Armstead, who did nothing short of further elevate his stock in the past month, as NFL.com's Bryan Fischer points out:
Armstead can join the rotation right away and make the increasingly youthful defense even more dangerous.
23. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
This one writes itself.
The Detroit Lions may lose one of, if not both, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairly this offseason.
Meanwhile, Danny Shelton continues to elevate his stock as a sheer run-stopping force who can influence pro games right away.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Should the injury bug be most unkind to the Arizona Cardinals once again, Bruce Arians is going to need players he trusts more than Ryan Lindley and Logan Thomas.
For the time being, Brett Hundley seems to be the consensus third quarterback.
It is a smart fit any way sliced, as Hundley needs years of development under the mind of someone like Arians, although his upside suggests the right mind could help him be a franchise quarterback.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Carolina Panthers have a mobile quarterback under center by the name of Cam Newton.
They also have a need for longer-developing pass plays in order to keep Kelvin Benjamin involved.
In other words, the team needs an upgrade in the trenches such as Andrus Peat. No matter where he plays as a rookie, Newton and the offense will be better for it.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is a talent who creates a lot of controversy due to a recent season-ending injury.
Many figure he will fall a few rounds as a result, but a team that falls in love with his film and believes his recovery will go well may roll the dice in the first round.
The Baltimore Ravens know a thing or two about defensive talent and may not want to risk missing someone who may have been the first corner off the board were it not for injury.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Benardrick McKinney is the top inside linebacker in the 2015 class by a long shot, so it takes one team in need with a desire to not miss an upgrade for him to come off the board in the first round.
Dallas is the team. The Cowboys need a leader in the middle, as well as another presence to combat the seemingly unstoppable injury bug.
28. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Get comfy with T.J. Clemmings, as his climb up draft boards is just beginning.
CBS Sports' Dane Brugler notes that the Senior Bowl is just the start for the former Pittsburgh star:
Clemmings recently made the switch to tackle, something that continues to pay off in the stock department. The Denver Broncos need more talent in the trenches, no matter where he lines up.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
The Indianapolis Colts did manage 41 sacks in 2014, but why stop there?
Especially after Bjoern Werner did not even suit up for the AFC Championship Game.
Nate Orchard is next up in terms of rushing talent, something the Colts will not want to skimp on in order to improve.
30. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
It is no secret that the Green Bay Packers need help in the defensive trenches.
Hence Seattle rushing for 194 yards, two scores and 5.5 yards per pop in the NFC Championship Game.
Eddie Goldman, a scheme-versatile prospect, is a great place to start.
31. New England Patriots: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
Tired of seeing tight ends mocked to the New England Patriots yet?
Bill Belichick loves to be unpredictable, hence random big games by Tim Wright and Jonas Gray this year. Why not add another weapon to the mix? Especially after ESPN's Todd McShay throws out an interesting comparison for Maxx Williams, per Andy Greder of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
Williams and others give Tom Brady—and Belichick—plenty of options each time out.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
Remember that note about Irvin and the Seahawks?
The front office will not stop there. A team with few weaknesses will only become stronger with the addition of Danielle Hunter.
For a team that must walk a delicate cap tightrope in the coming years, swapping out a veteran contract with Hunter's rookie deal is a smooth move.
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 19 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
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