NFL Draft 2015: Ideal Picks for Each Team in 1st-Round Mock Draft
Even though it's an actual event, the NFL draft is a perfect metaphor for everything that makes sports great. It brings the hope and potential of what could be, which is why fans love to watch. After all, without the belief that things will get better and championships are coming, why bother watching?
That's a lot of pressure to put on players just out of college who are typically between the ages of 20-22, but the best ones are able to let their talent shine without getting overwhelmed by the stage. It's a delicate balancing act that some immensely talented stars aren't able to walk.
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Now that you're properly depressed about what will happen in the draft, let's build the excitement back up by going over the first round with an examination of what each team should do to help solidify its future.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Off-field issues aside, it's going to be hard for Tampa Bay to look at all the physical gifts Jameis Winston has and go in another direction.
Winston's key to securing the No. 1 spot will happen in interviews, as teams have to like what they hear from him and former coaches before investing such a high pick in him. If all that checks out, the Buccaneers will have their quarterback of the future.
2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The contrast between Winston and Mariota is fascinating. All the questions with Winston seem to be off the field, while Mariota has to prove his style of play will translate on the field. It's possible, as noted by Matt Brown of SportsOnEarth.com, those concerns are being overblown:
"Oregon's offense has always been prolific, but Mariota's skill set and command of the system allowed the Ducks to become more pass-oriented. He's an explosive runner -- which justifiably brings a lot of Colin Kaepernick comparisons -- but he's not a runner first. He's an intelligent passer who makes good decisions, avoids mistakes and has enough arm strength -- not as strong as someone like Kaepernick or Aaron Rodgers, but more than good enough -- to make all the throws required for an NFL quarterback.
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Sometimes we focus so much on what a quarterback like Mariota looks like when things go awry that it's easy to forget what he can do when the engine is moving right. He will need help to reach his full potential, but the risk is more than worth it for a team like Tennessee.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Leonard Williams is the most versatile defensive lineman in this class, boasting incredible strength on the inside and elite speed to move outside. Gus Bradley is a former defensive coordinator who wants to build a powerful unit to get this franchise out of the doldrums.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Amari Cooper is the missing piece that Derek Carr needs to go from serviceable rookie to true starting quarterback. The Alabama star isn't the biggest or fastest receiver you will ever see, but he's got tremendous run-after-the-catch ability, route-running skills and hands.
5. Washington: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
If Randy Gregory was more polished, he could challenge Williams as the first defensive player off the board. He looks like a JJ Watt type of player physically at 6'6", though Gregory needs to add more bulk.
The Nebraska star is a stud pass-rusher with size and speed, though he needs to get more physical in the running game to become an all-around dynamo. Washington needs an edge-rusher as much as anyone, especially if Brian Orakpo leaves via free agency.
6. New York Jets: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
The Jets don't necessarily need help on the defensive line with Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, but they can get more dynamic in that area with Shane Ray. The Missouri star can play outside on the line or at linebacker in a 3-4 set.
With Ray's versatility and pass-rushing polish, new head coach Todd Bowles will be excited to add him to a strong defensive line. It also helps to have as many players who can get after the quarterback as possible in a division with Tom Brady.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
Alabama defensive backs have had a mixed track record in the NFL recently. Landon Collins may have to overcome that stigma, though Albert Breer of NFL.com wrote in October that scouts are higher on him than other recent draftees:
"He's better than (Mark) Barron, he's better than Ha Ha (Clinton-Dix). If you look at him, he plays special teams, he plays defense and he's all-out. He's just a football player. Good range, good hands, explosive tackler, always around the ball. ... Barron was a good player, but more of a thumper. Ha Ha was more rangy. This guy is a mixture of both.
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The Bears desperately need an impact player in the middle of the field. One player alone won't fix this defense, but at least Collins will give it an identity moving forward.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
Speaking of a team that needs help on defense, the Falcons are starved for any contributors. Vic Beasley may not be the first edge-rusher on their board, but he's the right choice if things break this way.
The Clemson star is undersized at 6'2" and 220 pounds, yet his ability to find the quarterback with speed through the gaps and underrated tackling skills against the run will make him a strong fit for the new coaching staff.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Giants struck gold last year with Odell Beckham, who happened to play a sexy position. Brandon Scherff isn't a glamorous talent on the offensive line, but he's exactly what this franchise needs to start moving forward in 2015.
New York has gotten destroyed up front in recent years, forcing Eli Manning to move more than he is comfortable with and leading to some of those mistakes. Scherff will stabilize an inconsistent offensive line and should fit nicely on the right side of that group.
10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
It's fun to look at how the Rams are built. You would think they understand the value of an offensive line given what they see their defensive line do to opponents and how banged up their quarterbacks have been in recent years.
Andrus Peat is the piece Jeff Fisher's offense needs moving forward. Rob Rang of CBSSports.com raved about how athletic the Stanford star looks moving to the next level:
"He has long arms, broad shoulders and good weight distribution with tree trunks for thighs. Given Peat's monstrous frame, it is almost unfair that he gains an immediate advantage on his opponent with surprising quickness off the snap. He is balanced and light on his feet to slip out to the second level and can adjust to moving targets.
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The Rams want to be physical and knock teams around. They can do that with their defensive line but need to get better on offense to become a playoff team.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
DeVante Parker is the weapon Teddy Bridgewater needs. He's a big-play machine with an aggressive style that overwhelms smaller defensive backs. It doesn't hurt that there's also a rapport with Bridgewater from their days at Louisville.
12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
One reason Cleveland fell apart down the stretch, besides the quarterback issues, was the defense's inability to stop the run. Getting bigger and more physical in the middle is essential for this team, which makes Danny Shelton the most valuable player for the Browns in this draft.
Shelton isn't a huge factor against the pass, though he's hardly incapable of getting after the quarterback. He's just built to stop the run with a long, massive 332-pound frame and power to bowl over offensive linemen.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
The Saints need to go through a massive roster overhaul this offseason. They won't get rid of a lot of players, but it's time to start building toward the future, because as presently constructed, they aren't going anywhere.
First order of business is addressing the defense, especially up front, where the Saints need a pass-rusher. Dante Fowler is still growing in that area after his breakout season with Florida, yet there's enough there already with a 271-pound star who has shown strength and quickness off the snap to attack quarterbacks.
14. Miami Dolphins: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
For some, Marcus Peters' powerful attitude will come off as cocky and arrogant. Teams that can overlook how loud he can be will see a tremendous physical cornerback who plays the ball as well as anyone and will get in the face of bigger wideouts.
There are certainly some scouts who love Peters' ability, with one NFC East scout telling NFL.com he's the best cornerback to come out in a long time: "Best cover corner prospect I've seen in the last 14 years."
There will be questions for Peters to answer about what happened at Washington, but this is a special talent who belongs in the first-round conversation.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Kevin White gives the 49ers the home run hitter they need to take advantage of Colin Kaepernick's arm strength. He's not fast in the traditional sense, likely not winning a 40-yard contest, but he's got elite hands and isn't afraid to attack the ball.
16. Houston Texans: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Whatever happens with Houston's quarterback situation, the franchise will need to add another wide receiver. Andre Johnson is getting old and expensive, so getting a weapon to put alongside DeAndre Hopkins is essential.
Jaelen Strong looks like a good replacement for Johnson, either right away or in the next two years, because he's 6'3" and 212 pounds. He's not a burner down the field but finds ways to make big plays with long arms and good speed at the top of his routes.
17. San Diego Chargers: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
The Chargers missed the playoffs because of a bad run defense and poor offensive line play. There's not a great run-stopper to take here, so going with La'El Collins makes the most sense. He's got quick feet and good setup to throw quicker defensive players out of the way.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
The Chiefs need a big-play threat on the outside. Alex Smith may be too conservative, but look what he had to play with last year. Devin Funchess is a matchup problem at 6'4" and 235 pounds, though he's still learning to be a wide receiver after spending time at tight end.
ESPN's Mel Kiper told reporters during a conference call, via Mark Snyder of The Detroit Free-Press, that Funchess needs to find more consistency before truly becoming a first-round talent:
"Funchess, whether you look at him as a tight end, which he played, or a wide receiver, is one of those guys who moves around, good athlete, size, imposing height, all that. He did drop some catchable balls this year, and you'd like to see him be more consistent, but I think second round would be an area, with today's NFL the way it is and universal kid like this, the second round would make sense.
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There's a long way to go and a lot of evaluation left, so some team will find reasons to fall in love with Funchess' size and speed.
19. Cleveland Browns: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
The Browns got their run-stopping defensive tackle earlier, but they can continue to shore up the middle of that defense with Benardrick McKinney. He's got the strength to line up inside, but he is also fast enough to line up on the edge as a pass-rusher.
McKinney's versatility is going to make him valuable, especially for a Cleveland team that's invested a lot of money in disappointing free agents like Paul Kruger and Karlos Dansby.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Trae Waynes will step into an Eagles uniform and immediately become the best cornerback on the roster. That's not a high bar to clear, but the Michigan State star is also worthy of that designation. He's long at 6'1" and comes with that physical attitude taught by Mark Dantonio at Michigan State.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
When Eddie Goldman is focused and giving max effort on the field, he's a lock first-round pick. The problem is he's had so many lapses in focus that it's hard to peg down where the Florida State star will fall.
Bryan Fischer of NFL.com has more insight into why Goldman is such a hard evaluation this draft season:
"At times dominant against opposing offensive lines, Goldman is widely viewed as a potential star at the next level with his strength, length and athleticism despite having the prototypical weight of an NFL defensive linemen. While there were times when he disappeared -- he failed to show up in the box score and on the field against Oregon in the Rose Bowl -- Goldman still flashed the ability to take over games when Florida State needed him to.
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If Goldman wants to be great, there's no reason to think he won't be. Sometimes college isn't the best way to properly challenge an athlete like this, so let's see how he handles himself against professional talent.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
Pittsburgh's secondary needs an infusion of youth desperately. Gerod Holliman is a raw talent who can slide into the first-round mix because of his ability to find the ball. He's got to get more aggressive when trying to make open-field tackles, but it's rare to find a safety who can track the quarterback's eyes as well as he does.
23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Detroit's vaunted defensive line will undergo drastic changes this offseason. Ndamukong Suh may be too pricey for the Lions to keep, so investing in another defensive tackle makes as much sense as anything.
Malcom Brown will make a suitable replacement thanks to his ability against the run. He's a powerful 317-pound monster with good drive and balance, though he needs to get quicker at the snap to make an impact in pass-rushing situations.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Adding another dimension to the offense has to be a high priority for the Cardinals. Carson Palmer was great when healthy last year, but he's 35 and was erratic for years before that. A solid running game can help this offense take the next step in 2015.
Drafting a running back in the first round isn't in vogue, but the Cardinals need to make an exception. Melvin Gordon is a dynamic talent who has proved he can carry an offense on his own. He's got incredible vision and explodes through the hole as well as anyone in this class, Todd Gurley included.
25. Carolina Panthers: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Ereck Flowers is the high-ceiling talent Carolina needs to address some of the problems on its offensive line. He's still raw and developing as a pass-blocker, too often staying high and not getting a good angle on edge-rushers, but the size and tools have shown at various times in the past to make him worth a risk at this spot.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
The Ravens secondary was decimated last season, especially in the playoff loss against New England. The Ravens ran out of healthy bodies, making it hard to keep opponents at bay.
Kevin Johnson is an off-the-radar name now just because he played at Wake Forest, but he's got size at 6'0" and incredible route anticipation. He's going to record a lot of easy interceptions because of his eyes and instincts.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Tall cornerbacks are all the rage in today's NFL. Jalen Collins certainly fits that bill at 6'2" and 198 pounds. He uses that frame to play physical in man-to-man coverage situations, though he does struggle playing in zone situations.
That isn't a fatal flaw for Collins, whom teams could fall in love with depending on how well he runs. It's hard to teach size and speed in the NFL, so a cornerback with his measurables is going to be a hot commodity.
28. Denver Broncos: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
The Broncos are set on the outside at linebacker with Von Miller, but they can use more versatility and depth on the inside. Denzel Perryman isn't going to win any NFL Scouting Combine trophies at 5'10" and 243 pounds, but his instincts and tackling ability are as good as those of any linebacker in this class.
According to the ESPN.com scouting report, Perryman is also one of the smartest defensive players on the field:
"Vocal quarterback of defense. Hard work in film room shows up on tape. Picks up on tendencies and flashes above average anticipation. Quick diagnose and tracks ball well as a run defender. Sniffs out misdirection better than most. Good recognition and reaction time when it comes to play action.
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It's easy to compare players with similar physical traits, but it's not a stretch to say that Perryman has some of the same qualities that made Chris Borland so valuable for San Francisco in 2014.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The Colts have proved against the better teams that they can't match up physically. Their front office has whiffed on first-round picks the last two years, as Bjoern Werner and Trent Richardson (who was acquired for a first-round pick in 2013) didn't play in the AFC Championship Game.
Getting bigger and more physical on the offensive line is the first step toward becoming a major player in the AFC. Cedric Ogbuehi did have problems at left tackle last season, but the Colts are set at that spot with Anthony Castonzo.
Moving Ogbuehi to his natural right side, either at tackle or guard, will open up the passing game and, especially, the running game.
30. Green Bay Packers: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
The Packers have been trying to draft an impact pass-rusher for years. It hasn't worked out yet, which is why the team had to sign Julius Peppers last season. Arik Armstead should be next in line, as the Oregon star is going to dazzle scouts with his 6'7", 285-pound frame.
Despite being a physical freak, Armstead didn't dominate like you would expect. He had only 2.5 sacks in 2014, so there's certainly work to do from a development standpoint.
Fortunately, thanks to the presence of Peppers and Clay Matthews, the Packers can afford to be patient while Armstead gets the tutelage he needs to turn those physical gifts into actual production.
31. New England Patriots: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
The last time New England drafted a pass-catcher in the first round was Ben Watson in 2004. It's not Bill Belichick's style to go after a wide receiver this early, but then again, who knows what the mad genius is ever going to do?
From a purely athletic standpoint, Sammie Coates would look great catching passes from Tom Brady. He's the deep threat this offense has been missing for years. The Auburn star is already making a good impression on scouts at the Senior Bowl workouts, per Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com:
"Coates was 12 pounds heavier than his listed weight at Auburn, but it appeared to be all muscle on his lean, defined frame.
Coates also impressed with his arm length (33 1/2”), which was better than several of the offensive tackles on the South roster like LSU's La'el Collins (33 1/4"), Colorado State's Ty Sambrailo (33 1/8”) and Alabama's Austin Shepherd (32 3/4").
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Coates is floating toward the back of the first round right now, but with these measurables and more workouts ahead to show off his blazing speed, it will be a shock if he lasts this long come April.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
Seattle's wide receiver situation is precarious. Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin aren't a traditional starting duo, being shorter and playing better out of the slot, but they have a good rapport with Russell Wilson.
However, the Seahawks' draft priority may have changed after Paul Richardson tore his ACL in the playoff win over Carolina. Nelson Agholor will fit into the offensive mix nicely with quick feet and precise routes, though he does need to get stronger in traffic.
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