NFL Mock Draft 2015: Predictions for Top Prospects' Landing Spots
The Super Bowl may be on the immediate horizon, but the Super Bowl of the offseason is the NFL draft.
After all, it represents the best opportunity for every team from the bottom-dwellers to the previous champions to improve their rosters. There is plenty of intriguing young talent on the board this season as well, including a couple of quarterbacks who could change the fortunes of some struggling franchises.
With that in mind, here is the latest look at a mock draft for the entire first round.
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Draft order and team needs are courtesy of Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Top three needs: OL, pass-rusher, QB
Josh McCown was a stopgap for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at quarterback in 2014, but they need a signal-caller to build the franchise around for years to come. They will look no further than the defending Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota out of Oregon.
2. Tennessee Titans: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
Top three needs: QB, pass-rusher, CB
The Tennessee Titans will gladly wait around to take the quarterback that the Buccaneers pass on since they too need a franchise signal-caller. Jameis Winston may have had his troubles off the field, but he won a Heisman, led his team to a national title as a redshirt freshman and makes many of the difficult throws look easy.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Top three needs: OT, CB, RB
The Jacksonville Jaguars have other needs outside of a pass-rusher, but Nebraska’s Randy Gregory is simply too talented to pass up. Gregory is athletic enough to play defensive end in a 4-3 system and will explode past tackles in his first year. The Jaguars' young and talented core will add yet another piece.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, CB, WR
Dane Brugler of CBS Sports believes Amari Cooper is going to the Oakland Raiders:
"Last year's second round pick Derek Carr has done more than enough as a rookie to earn another year as the Raiders' starter, but he needs help, especially at receiver. Cooper doesn't have the size or speed of pass-catchers usually found in the top-five, but he knows how to do the two most important things at the position: get open and finish catches.
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Commentators and fans tend to fall in love with the physical attributes of a player from the end of the college season to the draft, but Cooper’s on-field production is just too hard to ignore. He was a monster at the college level and could become one in the NFL.
5. Washington: DT Leonard Williams, USC
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, DB, OT
Washington not only takes care of something of a need along the defensive line with Leonard Williams, it gets someone who is talented enough to be the No. 1 pick. Williams is a powerful force who can plow his way into the backfield from either the outside or the inside of the line and will immediately improve Washington's defensive front.
6. New York Jets: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Top three needs: QB, CB, OT
The New York Jets would likely love a shot at either Mariota or Winston, but they will have to settle for another need with the No. 6 pick. The Jets need help on the offensive line, and Iowa’s Brandon Scherff is the best of the bunch. This pick may be safe, but it also makes plenty of sense.
7. Chicago Bears: S Landon Collins, Alabama
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, LB, DB
The Chicago Bears could use help at every single level of the defense, and they will settle on the secondary with the No. 7 pick. Alabama’s Landon Collins is a versatile enough defender to stuff the run or control the passing game with his big hits and cover speed, which is exactly what the Bears need back there after this season.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Shane Ray, Missouri
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, TE, DB
The Atlanta Falcons were a good defense away from winning the very winnable NFC South, so don’t be surprised when they pull the trigger on Shane Ray as one of the better defensive ends in college football. Ray’s greatest strength is his explosive first step off the snap, which should help him get into plenty of backfields, even as a rookie.
9. New York Giants: DE/OLB Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, OL, ILB
While Eli Manning deserves plenty of praise for the New York Giants’ two recent Super Bowl rings, the defensive line controlled the game in the first one. The Giants want to get back to that style of football and will take sack-machine Alvin Dupree from Kentucky. You many not think Kentucky has much to offer in football, but Dupree is a monster along the line and racked up 24.5 sacks throughout his career.
10. St. Louis Rams: CB Marcus Peters, Washington
Top three needs: QB, CB, RB
The St. Louis Rams missed the playoffs, but their front seven is among the best in football. What they need now is a stronger secondary that can cover receivers for longer and open up a bigger window for the line to pick up a sack.
Enter Marcus Peters, who is one of the most interesting case studies of this entire draft because of his off-field issues at Washington and his on-field talent. The Rams will be too intrigued by Peters’ speed and ball skills when the pass is in the air to pass on him.
11. Minnesota Vikings: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford
Top three needs: OT, RB, CB
Drafting for need is never a bad way to go, and that is exactly what will happen with the Minnesota Vikings. With Scherff off the board, the Vikings will turn to Stanford’s Andrus Peat because of his versatility and ability to play on either the right or left side of the line.
12. Cleveland Browns: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville Cardinals
Top three needs: WR, ILB, DL
The Cleveland Browns may have to accept the idea that Josh Gordon won’t be a reliable top option in the passing game thanks to his off-field issues. The team will respond to that notion by drafting DeVante Parker in the first round as someone who can do a little bit of everything from burning corners deep to making critical catches underneath on third down.
13. New Orleans Saints: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
Top three needs: CB, pass-rusher, QB
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller had nothing but positive reviews for Michigan State’s Trae Waynes:
The New Orleans Saints love to blitz, but the only way to do that effectively is with strong cornerbacks who can hold their own when left on a man-to-man island. New Orleans did not get nearly enough of that in 2014 and will respond accordingly with this draft pick.
14. Miami Dolphins: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
Top three needs: LB, CB, OT
Shaq Thompson is one of the most athletic prospects in the draft on either side of the ball, and the Miami Dolphins need speed and athleticism at the linebacker spot. This matching makes plenty of sense, and Thompson will even have the opportunity to start in his rookie season.
15. San Francisco 49ers: DE Dante Fowler, Florida
Top three needs: QB (backup), OL (depending on their free agents), DL
Dante Fowler has the overall skill to be a top-10 pick, so the San Francisco 49ers would get impressive value here, especially since he covers an area of need. Look for Fowler to line up on different sides of the line throughout the game trying to find the best way to use his speed to blow past tackles on the outside.
16. Houston Texans: WR Kevin White, West Virginia
Top three needs: QB, WR, OT
The Houston Texans have the running game to compete in the AFC South if and when Arian Foster stays healthy, but they need more firepower in the passing game. They will address that by selecting Kevin White in the first round as a physically imposing receiver at 6’3”. White is fast enough to run go routes and savvy enough to pinpoint the ball at its highest point and make an impressive catch in traffic.
17. San Diego Chargers: OL La’el Collins, LSU
Top three needs: CB (Brandon Flowers is on a one-year deal), NT, OL
When offensive line is a need, sometimes teams just have to make the safe call in the first round of the draft and move on. The Dallas Cowboys certainly built themselves a formidable line with that strategy, and the San Diego Chargers will take a step in that direction with La’el Collins. Collins is the rare prospect who has experience at both tackle and guard and will bring a dimension of versatility to the Chargers’ front.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Top three needs: WR, OT, CB
Incredibly, the Kansas City Chiefs did not tally a single receiving touchdown from a wide receiver all year. It is only natural then that they select a pass-catcher, and they will respond accordingly with Jaelen Strong. Had Strong played his college games in the Eastern time zone, he would be a household name because of his ability to make difficult catches in traffic and blow past corners on deep balls.
19. Buffalo Bills (pick owned by Cleveland Browns): DE/OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson
Top three needs: QB, LB, S
Both Miller and Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate pointed out that Clemson’s Vic Beasley has been all over the place in the predraft evaluation process:
The Browns could use someone with linebacker potential, and Beasley will entice them enough with a speed and power combination. He was the leader of a dominant Clemson defense and has enough raw ability to be a first-round pick.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
Top three needs: CB, S, OLB
Lost in the shuffle of the no-huddle attack for the Philadelphia Eagles is the need for healthy offensive linemen. The Eagles will bolster their depth up front with Ronnie Stanley from Notre Dame. Philadelphia may not have a glaring need for a lineman, but it needs more depth in case someone gets hurt or tired when running so many plays in the offensive attack.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
Top three needs: CB, S, PK
The need for another corner is fairly straightforward for the Cincinnati Bengals since both Leon Hall and Terence Newman are past their 30th birthday. Florida State’s P.J. Williams brings size and speed to the table and can challenge receivers in a division that includes Gordon for the Browns and Antonio Brown for the Steelers.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: DT Malcom Brown, Texas
Top three needs: S, DL, CB
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have the typically dominant defense fans are accustomed to seeing this season, and they will draft accordingly. Malcom Brown was one of the few bright spots for Texas this season and has the potential to be a run-stuffer up the middle for years to come in the NFL.
23. Detroit Lions: DT Danny Shelton, Washington
Top three needs: CB, DL (if Ndamukong Suh is not re-signed), PK
The Detroit Lions need to find a replacement for Suh if he leaves, and Danny Shelton can be that guy if put in the right situation. He can stuff the run in the middle or occupy multiple blockers when rushing the passer, which frees up the linebackers and defensive ends to make plays in space.
24. Arizona Cardinals: QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
Top three needs: DL, OLB, MLB
A scout believed that UCLA’s Brett Hundley made the right call to come back to school for the 2014 campaign, via Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times:
"I think he made the right decision coming back. He has holes, and scouts would have found them last year. He holds the ball too long. He's not as accurate in the pocket once you start charting him. Those things would pop up as scouts go through their evaluation of him.
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Hundley may still be something of a work in progress at the quarterback position, but his ability to fling it downfield or make plays with his legs will entice an Arizona Cardinals squad that needs more firepower on the quarterback depth chart.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, OT, CB
Cam Newton was banged up for much of this season for the Carolina Panthers, and keeping him healthy will be a priority moving forward in 2015. The best way to do that is by stockpiling offensive linemen, and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings certainly fits the bill. Clemmings uses his physicality to steamroll defensive linemen and will help create running lanes and keep Newton upright next year.
26. Baltimore Ravens: G A.J. Cann, South Carolina
Top three needs: Pass-rusher, RB, OL
The Baltimore Ravens are yet another team that needs help along the offensive line, and the best place to bolster depth is in the draft. South Carolina’s A.J. Cann may be a guard instead of a tackle, but he is the best one available in this draft. That should count for something in the evaluation process.
27. Dallas Cowboys: DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
Top three needs: CB, DL, TE
The Dallas Cowboys need to improve on the defensive side of the ball next season, and a good place to start is up front. Florida State’s Eddie Goldman has done all he can at the collegiate level, including winning a title, and he can use his physicality to bolster Dallas’ run defense in his first season.
28. Denver Broncos: TE/WR Devin Funchess, Michigan
Top three needs: DL, LB, TE/WR (both Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas are unrestricted free agents this offseason)
This offseason will be fascinating for the Denver Broncos, and there are bound to be a number of changes. One of those changes will be improving the depth at the tight end position with a hybrid-type athlete in Devin Funchess. Funchess is a walking mismatch because he is more athletic than most tight ends and bigger than most wide receivers.
Peyton Manning will appreciate that (if he comes back).
29. Indianapolis Colts: OT Ereck Flowers, Miami
Top three needs: OL, ILB, S
Andrew Luck made the AFC Championship Game this season and seems bound to win a Super Bowl at some point in his career if he stays healthy. Keeping Luck healthy is the job of the offensive line, and it will get a boost when the team selects Ereck Flowers in the first round this season.
30. Green Bay Packers: DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State
Top three needs: ILB, DL, TE
The Ohio State defensive line put on a show against the high-powered Oregon attack in the national championship game, and Michael Bennett’s ability to bull rush up the middle was a big reason why. He could occupy multiple blockers for the porous Green Bay Packers run defense next season and give stars like Clay Matthews the opportunity to rack up big-time numbers.
31. New England Patriots: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Top three needs: WR, DL, RB (if they don't re-sign Stevan Ridley)
The New England Patriots rarely follow convention, and they won’t start in the upcoming draft. Look for New England to go against the grain and take a running back in the first round, and the best running back available is Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon. All he did was shatter records this season for the Badgers, and production still matters in the predraft evaluation period.
32. Seattle Seahawks: LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
Top three needs: TE, OL, DL
The Seattle Seahawks have other needs outside of linebacker, but the rich will get richer when Benardrick McKinney falls to the bottom of the first round. McKinney has the talent to go much earlier thanks to his ability to both stop the run and drop back into coverage against the pass. The best defense in the league will find a spot for someone like that next year.
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