2015 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 Predictions for Top Prospects Ahead of Senior Bowl
Although the Super Bowl still looms, the 2015 NFL draft is already starting to enter the spotlight. This week's Senior Bowl kicks off an extended stretch of prospect showcases, pro days and interviews that will shape the final big boards around the league.
It's a chance for players to improve their stock with some strong showings. Good workouts aren't enough to completely change the outlook. They can, however, force the talent evaluators to take a second look at the collegiate tape to see if they missed something.
The first round probably wouldn't be radically different if the draft was held shortly after the Super Bowl as compared to a few months later. But there are always risers and fallers. Let's check out how things stand now with a mock draft of the opening round.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The Bucs need help in a lot of areas. It starts with quarterback, which remains the most important position on the field and an area where they struggled in 2014. The debate comes down to Mariota or Jameis Winston, with the Oregon star holding the edge for now.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Tennessee has a couple of decisions to make. First, does it want to take whichever quarterback is left on the board after the first pick? Perhaps that depends on whether it's Mariota or Winston. If the answer is no, then the Titans must determine what direction to go.
If the Florida State quarterback is the one left standing, Gregory represents the safer route. He's a pass-rusher with an outstanding first step, an improving array of moves in his arsenal and the quickness to set the edge against the run.
He's also confident in his ability to make the NFL jump, as he explained to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com:
"I'm ready for the next challenge in my life. I look forward to the coaching I will receive and the chance to push myself alongside the best players in the world. Thank you to my coaches from all levels, the Nebraska fans, my teammates, and my family who have supported me from the start.
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A trade is also an option here if another team is willing to overpay in its pursuit of a quarterback, so the Titans have a lot to analyze in the months leading up to the draft. But if they stand pat and select Gregory, it will be a welcome upgrade for the defense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Drafting an offensive lineman inside the top five is rarely going to excite the fanbase. It's often necessary for building a successful offense, though. Scherff is a player the Jags should plug into the lineup immediately and watch him develop into a key building block up front.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Raiders have some promising pieces on both sides of the ball. Now comes the often arduous task of building around them. It starts by bringing in some more reliable targets for Derek Carr. Cooper fits the bill after a terrific final season at Alabama.
5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Williams is a player to watch closely during the draft process. The USC product sports an impressive array of skills that should allow him to move around the defensive line to create matchup problems. He might end up being a top-two pick in the end.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
This probably represents the most Winston could slide on draft day, barring a disastrous draft process. He's in play for the No. 1 pick, and teams may be interested in trading up for him. If not, heading to New York would create quite the spectacle.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Things spiraled out of control quickly for the Bears. The arrival of new head coach John Fox should bring some stability to the organization. The same can be said for Collins and the secondary, which gave up far too many big plays.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Atlanta needs to make major strides on the defensive side of the ball to move back into the contender category. Getting more pressure on the opposing quarterback should be the main focus after finishing near the bottom in sacks.
9. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Thompson is a do-it-all linebacker. He's not the most explosive pass-rushing option in the class, but he's probably the most complete prospect at the position. He can drop into coverage or step up to help stop the run. He would help cover up many of the mistakes the Giants defense made in 2014.
10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Despite the Rams' attempts to upgrade the line, their quarterbacks were still sacked 47 times, and the run blocking was equally lackluster. Adding Peat should finally lead to the type of progress that team has been desperately seeking.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Things are starting to trend in the right direction for Minnesota. The main reason for that is the development of Teddy Bridgewater, who appears ready to lead the offense to big things. The Vikings still need some playmakers on both sides of the ball, though.
That's where Beasley comes into play. He's one of the most interesting risk-reward picks of the draft. The upside is that he could develop into one of the league's premier rushers. However, Bryan Perez of Draft Breakdown isn't yet convinced:
Beasley doesn't have prototypical size at 6'2", 235 pounds and needs to become a more well-rounded contributor over time. That said, in an era where getting after the quarterback is so important, a team will likely be willing to take the risk early. Minnesota is one possible landing spot.
12. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Regardless of how the Browns decide to move forward at quarterback over the long haul, they must upgrade the targets. White is an intriguing talent who has shown the ability to use his 6'3", 210-pound size to gain an advantage, which should be an asset on key downs.
13. New Orleans Saints: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
New Orleans' defense is put under a lot of pressure due to the fast-paced nature of its offense. While that has an impact on the overall numbers, improvement on that side of the ball is still necessary. Waynes leads this year's corner group.
14. Miami Dolphins: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
McKinney is a force in the middle of a defense. His ability to attack the line of scrimmage, shed blocks and make plays against the run would be a welcome sight for a defense that gave up more than 120 yards per game on the ground.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Colin Kaepernick must play at a much higher level if San Francisco is going to bounce back in 2015. Giving him another target to work with would help increase the chances of his success. Strong is a powerful receiver with outstanding hands.
16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Hundley is one of the players with the most to gain or lose during the draft process. There are enough QB-needy teams, including the Texans, that some good workouts can allow him to rise quickly. But he's still a raw talent with plenty of work to do.
17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Chargers squandered a strong start in large part because they failed to control opposing ground games. That kept Philip Rivers on the sidelines far too long against top competition. Shelton can help ensure that doesn't happen again.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Perhaps the most obvious need in the NFL is the Chiefs and wide receivers. Even for a team that doesn't rely on the passing game, the group was extremely underwhelming. That could put Parker in line for a bunch of looks right away.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
The Browns upgraded the offense with their first pick of the round. Now they turn to the defense. Fowler is a versatile defender who will likely make his biggest impact as a pass-rusher, but he can also help the team's poor run defense.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
A consensus has yet to emerge about Ekpre-Olomu. An injury during bowl season has left his status up in the air heading into the draft process. Until more concrete information is made public, he gets placed here based on first-round talent.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Goldman probably isn't ready to play an extensive role right out of the gate. He's still quite a bit away from his sky-high potential. But the Bengals are in a situation where they can allow him to rotate into the lineup before taking on a larger role down the line.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Even though the Pittsburgh defense has revamped itself without a major drop-off, the secondary was a bit leaky. The Steelers ranked 27th against the pass, and Joe Flacco had little trouble moving the ball in the playoff clash between division rivals.
That's why Williams would be a nice match. Not only would be bolster the cornerback situation, but he comes from a winning program at Florida State. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network is impressed with everything the corner brings to the table:
Sometimes, he's a bit overzealous and could benefit from some further coaching on his technique, but his foundation is strong. Joining a team with a defensive presence like the Steelers would help smooth his transition to the next level.
23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Lions continue to trend in the right direction. That's especially true on the defense side of the ball, where they made major strides. The secondary is still an area that could use an upgrade or two, which Peters would provide in time.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
Arizona has a lot of needs for a team that finished 11-5 and made the playoffs. Defensive line is one of them, and a couple of solid options are available. Dupree, who would provide good value this deep in the round, is the best bet.
25. Carolina Panthers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Cam Newton took a step back as a passer this past season. A lot of that had to do with him being under constant pressure in the pocket, though. Adding an experienced tackle like Ogbuehi should help him return to form.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Gordon is the type of running back who still warrants first-round consideration. Not only did he display plenty of talent at Wisconsin, but he also hasn't been overworked to the point where the Ravens have to worry about a quick drop-off.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
The Cowboys were better on defense but still lost too many battles at the line of scrimmage. Orchard would be a good fit because he has flashed pass-rushing upside but is also willing to do the necessary dirty work in the trenches.
28. Denver Broncos: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
It could take some time before it's clear what direction Denver will go in the first round. The front office has quite a few key personnel decisions to make beforehand. Collins represents the best player available for the time being.
29. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
Though Indianapolis could use help in the secondary, there isn't a corner available who would represent good value at this stage. So the Colts can upgrade the line with Cann before turning the attention to defense with other selections.
30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
The Packers gave up nearly 200 yards rushing in their playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks and ranked 23rd against the run during the regular season. They need an eraser in the middle. Perryman is capable of filling that void.
31. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Green-Beckham is another prospect with serious rise-or-fall potential during the process. He's an impressive talent, but he will need to answer questions about this off-the-field behavior. If everything goes smoothly, he could push toward the top half of Round 1. For now, this is a safer projection.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
The Seahawks are able to control games without needing to air it out 50 times. Adding more talent to that phase of the game would make the team even more dynamic. That's obviously a scary thought for teams around the league.
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