NFL Draft 2015: Full Predictions and 1st-Round Mock Draft Ahead of Super Bowl
Although much of the football world is currently focused on the impending Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, there are 30 franchises looking forward to improving through the 2015 NFL draft.
With some college football all-star games already having taken place and the draft combine on the horizon, the evaluation process is starting to pick up some steam. There is still plenty of time between now and the first round of the draft in April, but several prospects have established themselves as viable top picks.
As the draft process rolls on, here is a full rundown of predictions for every team scheduled to take part in the first round.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The Buccaneers need to make a huge splash after an awful 2014 season, and the best way for them to do that is to draft Mariota and hope he lives up to the hype as a potential franchise quarterback in the NFL.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Tennessee has some major deficiencies on both sides of the ball, but one of its biggest issues is an inconsistent pass rush. If Gregory lives up to his promise, though, the Titans defense will make life much tougher for opposing quarterbacks.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
One of the savviest ways to take a team from the basement to the top is to build from the trenches out. The Jags have some decent pieces along the offensive line already, and Scherff would strengthen it even more.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Quarterback Derek Carr has an opportunity to make a big jump in his second season, but he needs some help. If the Raiders manage to land Cooper at No. 4, he will have a true go-to receiver who can be trusted in all situations.
5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
On the heels of a terrible defensive season, the Redskins desperately need an impact player on that side of the ball. Williams is a dominant lineman when he is on his game, and he would be a perfect fit in Washington.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The Jets hired a defensive-minded head coach in Todd Bowles, but it is no secret that New York needs an answer under center. Geno Smith likely isn't it, but Winston could potentially be the stud that the Jets have been searching for.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Chicago's defense held it back in a big way last season, but with John Fox now in charge, there will be renewed focus on fixing that side of the ball. Perhaps the best way to do that is by selecting a leader in the secondary like Collins.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
Despite missing the playoffs by just one game in 2014, it is clear that the Atlanta Falcons are a flawed team. Most of those flaws reside on the defensive side of the ball; however, a pass-rusher like Missouri's Shane Ray could change that in a hurry.
With 14.5 sacks in 2014, Ray proved to be one of the elite defensive players in the country. He received All-America honors and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year as well. Ray enters the NFL with plenty of accolades, and he certainly looks to be the latest in a long line of Mizzou defensive stars.
The Falcons were tied for 30th in sacks this past season with just 22, so pressuring the quarterback is a major deficiency. Ray is a perfect fit, especially since he believes that he can be effective in any style of defense, according to David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune.
"I'm more than capable of playing outside linebacker. I'm more than capable of keeping my hand in the dirt," Ray said. "It's really whatever system they think I'll fit the best. I'm quick. I'm fast. I'm strong. I feel like I'll be able to do whatever you need me to do."
In addition to that, head coach Gary Pinkel paid Ray the ultimate compliment following his decision to declare for the draft. Per Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Pinkel believes few players he has encountered compare to Ray from a competitive standpoint:
Atlanta desperately needs more competitive spirit on defense, and everything Ray accomplished with the Tigers suggests he will provide that in spades.
Getting in the quarterback's face consistently is something that can make an entire defense better, which is why the Falcons can't afford to bypass Ray if he is there for the taking at No. 8.
9. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Defense was the Giants' greatest strength during their two most recent Super Bowl runs. Results have been mixed on that side of the ball in recent years, but selecting Thompson would instantly make Big Blue far more dynamic and fearsome.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The Rams are in what is arguably the NFL's toughest division, but one way to potentially compete is by building an elite defense. St. Louis has some of the necessary components, and adding a top corner like Waynes would be another positive step.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater proved during his rookie season that he has the ability to be great at the NFL level. In order to ensure that his progress continues in 2015, the Vikings should fortify his protection by taking Peat.
12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
To say that Cleveland's quarterback situation is murky would be an understatement, but that doesn't mean the organization can't surround the QB with talent. As good as wide receiver Josh Gordon can be, he needs a running mate, and Parker is the perfect fit.
13. New Orleans Saints: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
The Saints are good enough offensively to make the playoffs and contend, but the same can't be said on defense. New Orleans needs a player who can lock down top receivers, and Ekpre-Olomu has the capability to be that guy.
14. Miami Dolphins: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Miami has an extremely talented defense, but its ragtag group of linebackers has prevented the team from approaching elite status. McKinney may be the best middle linebacker in this draft, and he'll make an instant impact.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Danny Shelton, DL, Washington
Shelton's ability to eat up space and take on blockers is unmatched by anyone else in this draft class. The 49ers have some definite question marks along the defensive line, but Shelton would make everyone around him better.
16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
There is no doubt that the Texans would have been a playoff team in 2014 with even average quarterback play. It can be argued that no signal-caller is worth the 16th pick, but if Houston likes Hundley's upside, it's worth taking a chance on him.
17. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
Erving has many assets, but versatility may top the list. He was a dominant center in 2014 after spending much of his collegiate career at tackle, which should be appealing to a Chargers team that dealt with a ton of injuries along the offensive line.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Chiefs wide receivers had a stagnant season for the ages, as none of them caught even a single touchdown. Quarterback Alex Smith needs something to work with, and drafting White would finally give him a legitimate weapon.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
It is no secret that Browns head coach Mike Pettine likes to get after the quarterback. Few collegiate players did that better than Beasley over the past few years, so he seems like a natural fit at No. 19.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
The Eagles' biggest Achilles' heel over the past few seasons has been the play of their secondary. It may take more than one player to fix that, but Williams is a great start after a fantastic college career at Florida State.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
Cincinnati ranked dead last in the NFL this past season in sacks. That is something that must change if it wants to end its playoff losing streak, and Fowler has the ability to be a perennial double-digit sack guy.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
The Pittsburgh Steelers were once known for their defensive dominance, but things are changing in the Steel City. With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown leading the way, Pittsburgh has become an offense-first team.
That may continue to be its identity for the foreseeable future, but it must rebuild its defense as well. With veteran defensive backs like Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor nearing the end of the line, the Steelers must revitalize their secondary.
One way to do that is by selecting Stanford cornerback Alex Carter. While Carter's 2014 numbers don't jump off the page, with just one interception, the fact is that his presence changed offensive game plans by forcing offenses to throw the ball elsewhere.
Carter is an intelligent player with solid size, and former Cardinal teammate Graham Shuler believes his drive to succeed is top-notch:
"#2012 to be well represented in NFL Draft. I loved playing with Alex Carter and Andrus Peat because they want to be THE best. #StanU
— Graham Shuler (@GrahamShuler) January 6, 2015"
That latter point is huge in terms of carrying on the tradition of great defense in Pittsburgh. It may take some time for the Steelers defense to develop as younger players ascend to greater roles and veterans are phased out.
With that said, Carter is the type of player who can grow into a shutdown cornerback and make the entire defense better in the process.
23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Lions could look to add to their defensive line depending upon what happens with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency, but the secondary has been shaky for quite some time, and Peters is a possible answer.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Arizona was eventually able to muster a solid pass rush once the 2014 season progressed, but it was inconsistent, to say the least. Dupree could be a dominant force off the edge in the NFL, and the Cardinals can't afford to pass him up.
25. Carolina Panthers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Despite going just 7-8-1, the Panthers made the playoffs and even won a game. If they want to take another step in the right direction, though, they must keep quarterback Cam Newton upright, which makes Ogbuehi a wise choice.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Ravens were much better in 2014 due to the presence of a running game behind Justin Forsett. As good as Forsett was, however, Baltimore needs a more permanent option in the backfield, and Gordon is the best possible option.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
There are plenty of divisive prospects in the 2015 NFL draft, but it can be argued that Utah defensive end Nate Orchard is near the top of that list.
While Orchard has not generated even close to the amount of hype as guys like Gregory, Ray, Fowler and Dupree, he really broke out in a big way as a senior for the Utes in 2014. He logged an impressive 18.5 sacks, including four against UCLA and 3.5 against Stanford, who are far from pushover foes.
Even so, many have questioned just how good Orchard can be at the NFL level. That remains to be seen, but he has acquitted himself well during Senior Bowl practices.
According to Robbie Rosenhaus of 92.9 The Game, Orchard has drawn plenty of attention due to his solid work:
Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net added that Orchard has also shown a great deal of versatility by performing well as a linebacker too:
One team that could really use a strong pass-rusher is the Dallas Cowboys, who went quite far this season without any consistent pass-rushing threats along the defensive line.
Orchard had the type of production at Utah that NFL teams like to see, and he seems to be proving that he is worthy of a first-round pick.
If the other more heralded pass-rushers are off the board by No. 27, Orchard will be a great option for the defensive end-starved Cowboys.
28. Denver Broncos: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Denver is somewhat in a state of flux after getting ousted in the AFC Divisional Round. It is unclear who will be staying and who will leave via free agency, but the Broncos need to improve the middle of their defense regardless, which is where Goldman comes in.
29. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
The Colts are still a long way from being the class of the NFL, but they can get closer to that level with an improved running game. One way to make that happen is by drafting the best true guard available in the form of Cann.
30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Florida)
Green Bay was absolutely gashed on the ground late in the NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks. The Packers desperately need a true stopper in the middle, and Perryman fits that description perfectly.
31. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
The Patriots have the luxury of doing essentially anything they want with this pick, so why not take a chance? They would benefit from a true threat at outside receiver, and Green-Beckham has the skills to be a Pro Bowler.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
Luke Willson has come along nicely for the Seahawks at tight end, but he is a fringe starter at best. Funchess would give Seattle a true threat at that position and cause matchup problems by splitting out wide at times too.
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