NFL Mock Draft 2015: Pre-Senior Bowl Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects
There will be plenty of factors that will ultimately change the outlook of the 2015 NFL draft heading up to its commencement on April 30. The impending Senior Bowl falls into that category, as performances by its participants will have an enormous effect on their draft stock.
This game can surely change the landscape of the first round, as prospects holding second-round grades can put together a tremendous week of workouts, cap it off with a great on-field showing during the game and catapult themselves into the first-round discussion. Unfortunately, for others, the Senior Bowl can also have an adverse effect.
Before Saturday's contest kicks off, and draft boards are shaken up once again, let's take an updated look at how the draft's first round is likely to play out.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
It's still difficult to see the Buccaneers taking anyone but Mariota at No. 1 overall. The Oregon product has zero off-field concerns, and his body of work on the field has been nothing short of spectacular. An accurate passer who takes care of the football and is always a threat to run, Mariota is the quarterback Tampa Bay has been waiting for.
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Titans could go several directions here, but they do have a need along the defensive line, and Williams could be the most exceptional athlete in this year's draft. At 6'5" and 298 pounds, he has a great blend of size, strength and athleticism. Combined with good agility and speed, Williams is versatile enough to cause havoc in opposing backfields from any position along the defensive line.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Jacksonville invested heavily in the offensive side of the ball in 2014, taking a quarterback in Round 1 and two wide receivers in Round 2. To protect that investment, the team must upgrade at offensive tackle. Scherff figures to be the best at his position in the draft. Standing at 6'5" and 320 pounds, he has the size and wide base to anchor himself in pass protection, and the strength to bully defenders when blocking for the run.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Oakland needs to add some reliability around quarterback Derek Carr, so selecting Cooper here makes perfect sense. A star at Alabama, the 6'1", 210-pound Cooper flourished due to his crisp route running, soft hands and vision to gain yards after the catch. Great acceleration off the line allowed him to get over the top of opposing secondaries as a consistent vertical threat.
5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
The future of Brian Orakpo is in doubt, and Washington would do well to add a complementary pass-rusher opposite Ryan Kerrigan. Gregory would be a nice fit. At 6'6" and 245 pounds, he uses his length to separate himself from blockers on the edge. With good speed and agility, he is a constant disruption in the backfield, routinely chasing down ball-carriers and finding opposing quarterbacks.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Winston may scare off some scouts with his off-field issues, but the Jets are in dire need of a quarterback and it will be difficult to pass on the Florida State product's services here. Winston has NFL size at 6'4" and 232 pounds, a cannon for an arm, good pocket awareness and plenty of experience playing on big stages.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Collins could easily be the cure for what ails the Bears defense. This team has struggled in coverage—especially against the deep ball—and hasn't been good against the run. Collins happens to excel in both of those categories, as he showed improvement in his coverage skills in 2014 and continued to play with physicality when up in run support.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
One of Atlanta's biggest issues in 2014 was the lack of a consistent pass rush, and that need must be addressed early in the draft. Ray may be the most dangerous edge-rusher available. He boasts tremendous speed, an explosive first step and the strength to fight through blocks. Able to change direction quickly, he locates the football and effectively pursues ball-carriers as well.
9. New York Giants: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Giants have a great thing going on offense, and this team will only get better with the return of Victor Cruz. To keep up that momentum, adding another reliable offensive lineman is a must. Peat is a monster in the trenches at 6'7" and 312 pounds. He has a strong, wide frame, but he is also surprisingly agile and very reliable in pass protection.
10. St. Louis Rams: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
St. Louis has one of the most dangerous defensive lines in the NFL, but if the team adds another big threat in its linebacker corps, it may have the best front seven. Fowler is a do-it-all player on the defensive side of the ball. He has great speed and instincts, and is able to play a variety of positions. His skill set could be used in a rotation along the defensive line or at weak-side linebacker.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The Vikings could opt for an offensive linemen here, but adding a big weapon for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is an enticing option as well. White has great size at 6'3" and 210 pounds. He boasts a very large catch radius, has extremely reliable hands and is a great deep threat due to nice acceleration off the line.
12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Cleveland needs to fill the void at wide receiver. This team can't rely on Josh Gordon, and the position is thin thereafter. Adding Parker at No. 12 overall will be a big step in the right direction. The Louisville product has a long 6'3" frame and combined with his leaping ability, he is a very friendly target with a huge catch radius. He can get down the field quickly, but he excels in underneath routes and making plays in space.
13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
The Saints really missed the mark on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, but adding a playmaking outside linebacker could turn the tide. Beasley routinely beats offensive linemen around the edge with his explosion off the line and speed around the outside. He may only stand at 6'2" and 235 pounds, but he packs a big punch as a tackler.
14. Miami Dolphins: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Miami has a very talented defensive line, but adding a presence at linebacker would provide a big boost for the team's defensive front. Dupree is a versatile player who is capable of performing with his hand in the dirt or standing up. At 6'4" and 267 pounds, he has nice length and is very agile. He was a successful pass-rusher at Kentucky due to good technique and speed around the edge.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The 49ers have some depth concerns along the defensive line, so adding a talent like Shelton here would be a smart move. The Washington product is a force in the trenches at 6'2" and 343 pounds. He has a very wide base and is tough to move out of position. Not only is he powerful against the run, but Shelton has a mean bull rush and can cause plenty of problems for opposing quarterbacks.
16. Houston Texans: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Houston has some question marks all over the offensive side of the ball; however, before this team addresses most needs, an upgrade along the offensive line is necessary. Collins would be a great fit for the Texans. He's an aggressive run-blocker, and he is very light on his feet for his 6'5", 308-pound frame. Due to his wide base and ability to get to the second level, Collins could flourish as a guard as well.
17. San Diego Chargers: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
San Diego was plagued by injuries in the defensive secondary in 2014, and the team's inadequate depth was exposed. Adding Waynes at No. 17 overall is the right move to fix that issue. At 6'1", Waynes has great size for an outside corner. He is physical in coverage, gaining leverage and fighting for jump balls. Not afraid of contact, the former Spartan is also reliable in run support.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
The Chiefs have been sorely lacking a viable wide receiver for far too long, and it's time to change that. Strong is a powerful outside option, and at 6'3" and 215 pounds with good length and great leaping ability, he provides a big target for his quarterback. He isn't a burner, but he has good acceleration to serve as a nice vertical threat.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Cleveland already nabbed a great offensive playmaker, and now it's time to do the same for the defensive side of the ball. The Browns need a disruptive presence at outside linebacker, and Thompson will be just that. At 6'2" and 231 pounds, he isn't the largest prospect, but he is a sure tackler and has great speed around the edge—he even played running back at Washington in a pinch.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Philadelphia's secondary struggled greatly in 2014, and the team's cornerback situation must be addressed immediately. Peters makes a solid addition here. At 6'0" and 198 pounds, he has the size and strength to cover bigger receivers on the outside. A very athletic player, he won't have trouble keeping up with quicker receivers, either.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The Bengals defensive line has suddenly become a weakness, and this team needs to add depth to improve its rotation. Goldman has great size at 6'3" and 320 pounds. He is a great gap-stuffer against the run, but he also possesses a good bull rush, which allows him to push his way into the backfield and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Pittsburgh is getting a bit long in the tooth in its secondary, so selecting a cornerback here shouldn't come as a surprise. Williams has the size to play outside at 6'0" and 196 pounds. He has solid ball skills and is quick enough to remain on the hip of faster receivers. Not afraid of contact, his physical nature fits the Steelers well.
23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
If Detroit loses Ndamukong Suh in free agency, adding Brown won't be a bad answer. At 6'4" and 320 pounds, Brown is an absolute force on the line of scrimmage. He can fight through double-teams and is quick off the ball, routinely finding his way into opposing backfields. Surprisingly fast for his size, Brown routinely makes plays away from the line of scrimmage as well.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Arizona has a very solid defense, but its lack of depth was apparent when the injury bug struck in 2014. Selecting McKinney addresses that issue due to his versatility. A great athlete and very physical, McKinney is best at inside linebacker; however, he's also spent time on the outside as an edge-rusher, showcasing his speed and agility.
25. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Clemmings doesn't have a ton of experience on the offensive line, but he's displayed natural ability and the intelligence to warrant a very high ceiling. At 6'5" and 307 pounds, Clemmings has the quickness and athleticism to thrive at left tackle. His long arms and ever-improving technique allow him to hold up against stronger defenders when blocking for the run.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Baltimore's offense improved dramatically in 2014 thanks to the emergence of Steve Smith and Justin Forsett; however, the offensive line is still in need of an upgrade. Flowers has nice size at 6'5" and 324 pounds. His length and balance allow him to flourish in pass protection, and he is quick to get to the second level when blocking for the run. An added bonus, he has experience playing both tackle positions.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys should be looking to upgrade on the interior of their defensive line, and selecting Phillips here gives the team a massive force on the inside. At 6'6" and 334 pounds, Phillips is an absolute monster. However, he's freakishly athletic for his size, displaying good speed, agility and a nice burst. He has the power to knock offensive linemen back on their heels and cause problems in the backfield.
28. Denver Broncos: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
We'll see what happens with Demaryius Thomas in free agency, but there's a chance the All-Pro receiver will be heading out of town. If that's the case, looking at Green-Beckham here may be an option for Denver. At 6'5" and 235 pounds, this receiver has the size, length and leaping ability to provide an enormous catch radius. Possessing good acceleration, he can thrive as a deep threat opposite Emmanuel Sanders.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Trent Richardson's future looks bleak, and Daniel Herron doesn't appear to be the answer in Indianapolis. This team needs to get a running game going, and selecting Gordon is the right move at No. 29 overall. A great athlete, Gordon has a nice blend of athleticism, speed, burst and quickness to identify his running lane and get up the field in a hurry. A proven runner, he'll step in and contribute immediately.
30. Green Bay Packers: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
An upgrade along the defensive line will go a long way for a Packers defense that struggled for most of 2014, and adding the 6'7", 296-pound Armstead is the right move here. Not only does he have great size to play end in Green Bay's 3-4 base defense, but he is highly athletic and is very light on his feet. Armstead is just coming into his own, and his upside is enormous.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Cameron Erving, C/OT, Florida State
Seattle loves versatility, so it shouldn't have a problem pulling the trigger on Erving here. A tremendous athlete, the 6'5", 308-pound Erving transitioned to offense and thrived at both left tackle and center. He's a very aggressive run-blocker who finishes his blocks but also is light on his feet in pass protection, consistently beating some of the nation's best pass-rushers.
32. New England Patriots: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
New England's offense has been stellar, but it can get even better with a true No. 1 receiver. Coates has ideal size at 6'2" and 213 pounds, and he blends his strong frame with phenomenal speed and athleticism, making him a dangerous vertical threat and red-zone target. He'll flourish in New England's spread offense.
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