2015 NFL Mock Draft: Projections for Prospects Ahead of Senior Bowl
The 2015 Senior Bowl, as does most everything else, influences each prospect's stock.
That goes double for a prospect's standing in the realm of mock drafts.
An eye-popping measurement at the Senior Bowl on its own can change the fortunes of a prospect outright. Look at Stanford's Ty Montgomery, who measured in much smaller than his team listed him, per Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News:
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Not all is lost for Montgomery, but others are busy upping stock at the same time. While only seniors attend (with a few rare exceptions), the results so far affect the draft board in a noticeable way.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Yes, Marcus Mariota is a senior.
Yes, his decision to skip the Senior Bowl, per CollegeFootball 24/7, will cause plenty of controversy:
"Marcus Mariota declined his Senior Bowl invitation. --> http://t.co/XaEOXvTb0j pic.twitter.com/OMmSgjeAZZ
— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) January 20, 2015"
Mariota can afford the hit, though. By now, NFL teams have enough film on this year's Heisman winner and enough interaction with him off the field to know he is the top overall pick.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Were this any other year, Jameis Winston might fall a few spots.
It's not, though.
There is little to speak of after Winston when it comes to quarterbacks. For the Tennessee Titans, the decision between waiting on Zach Mettenberger with crossed fingers and taking a prototypical pro quarterback with a high ceiling is rather easy.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Jacksonville quietly amassed 45 sacks in 2014 to rank just outside of the top five.
Do not expect Gus Bradley to stop now.
Bradley has his potential franchise quarterback with Blake Bortles, so he is free to scoop up Randy Gregory, who will do nothing but add to that impressive sack total.
4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
Defensive linemen such as Leonard Williams rarely come around. Expect Ndamukong Suh-esque hype by the time the draft begins.
There is a reason Williams is Daniel Jeremiah's top overall player:
The Oakland Raiders will not hesitate to pull the trigger, especially if he frees up talented rusher Khalil Mack.
5. Washington: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Washington needs many things, but the NFL draft is a delicate balance of need and value.
Simply put, the value for most needs is not smart in the top five.
Amari Cooper is a smart remedy to the problem, though. Jay Gruden will want to continue to build around his quarterbacks, which means landing one of three Heisman finalists is a good idea.
6. New York Jets: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Kevin White is one of a few receivers who might steal the top spot from Cooper by draft day.
Questions about his system, the same that made Tavon Austin a collegiate star, remain and drop him ever so slightly.
The New York Jets will not complain either way. With no viable quarterbacks on the board, new coach Todd Bowles will want to grab a strong offensive weapon to build for future years.
7. Chicago Bears: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Chicago did manage 39 sacks in 2014, but the days of leaning on Willie Young and Jared Allen for that production are numbered.
Shane Ray may get flack for his size (6'3", 245 pounds), but the fact he is one of only a few pure 4-3 ends in the draft helps to boost his stock.
Surrounded by veterans, Ray can ease his way into the NFL life while still making an impact.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Say hello to one of the draft's most obvious picks.
Atlanta mustered all of 22 sacks in 2014, with Kroy Biermann's 4.5 leading the charge.
That needs to change if the Falcons are going to be relevant in a pass-happy division, so Alvin Dupree fits thanks to his status as the top versatile rusher on the board.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Brandon Scherff is another senior to take a pass on the Senior Bowl, as Rotoworld's Josh Norris details:
It is a bit of a strange decision, as the outlook for offensive linemen is messy at this point.
Still, Scherff's film points to his being the top tackle in the draft if a team elects to use him in that manner right away. The focal point for the New York Giants being Eli Manning's health, the shoe certainly fits.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The status as top corner in the class is up for debate, but injury and off-field concerns help Trae Waynes to rest in the spot for now.
That is not meant to take anything away from Waynes, a corner who might be better than any of the players taken in the first round last year.
The St. Louis Rams need to get younger in the secondary and improve on a pass defense that ranked 19th a season ago. Waynes is as pro-ready as it gets at the position.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
As Norris details above, DeVante Parker is also absent from Mobile, Alabama.
To be fair, the Louisville, Kentucky, native who has scored 33 touchdowns over the course of four seasons needs little help in the stock department at this point.
The Minnesota Vikings will make him the pick in order to help along Teddy Bridgewater, although one has to wonder if Parker would switch spots with a receiver higher up had he attended the Senior Bowl.
12. Cleveland Browns: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham can certainly be the first wideout off the board.
There are just a wealth of issues to consider with DGB, chief among them the fact he has rarely seen the field in a year as a result of off-field situations.
Still, a team with a pair of first-round picks seems like a good place to slot him at this point. Had there not been any off-field concerns, DGB would by far be the first wideout, no questions asked.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Things went down the drain for the New Orleans Saints early last year, especially thanks to injuries along Rob Ryan's defense.
Still, the lack of a complementary pass-rusher was an issue going into last year's draft.
The staff will not neglect the position once again. This is especially the case with Dante Fowler Jr. on the board, a high-motor player who lined up at multiple spots during the course of his collegiate career.
14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson is one of the draft's most interesting prospects.
A talented runner, the Washington product can also rush the passer well and has enough range to play an inside linebacker spot in order to stuff the run.
The Miami Dolphins need more versatility on the defensive side of the ball. They would not mind an extra body in the running game, so look for Joe Philbin and Co. to pull the trigger.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Said off-field corner concerns belong to former Washington standout Marcus Peters.
Peters left the program last season, something the NFL will break out the heavy shovels for in order to dig on his character and past.
If it all checks out, a team in need, such as the San Francisco 49ers, will be more than happy to snatch him out of his free fall.
16. Houston Texans: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Jalen Collins is a corner who will see his stock rise the more he is able to work out for pro teams.
This is where declaring for the draft early can hurt a prospect, as Collins' inability to play in the Senior Bowl prohibits him from an early stock boost.
Alas, Collins will be the right man for the job in Houston, as the Texans need to infuse more youth into a struggling secondary.
17. San Diego Chargers: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
An amendment to the note about offensive linemen earlier—one thing crystal clear is that South Carolina's A.J. Cann is the top interior prospect in the class.
Call that music to Philip Rivers' ears.
Rivers hit the turf for 36 sacks last season while his running game floundered. That begins to turn around with an addition such as Cann.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Sammie Coates is the biggest winner of the Senior Bowl so far.
CBS Sports' Dane Brugler explains why:
Hello, Julio Jones comparisons. Coates is a burner with great size, exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs need so a wideout can actually score a touchdown next season.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Vic Beasley's decision to also pass on the Senior Bowl is curious because his stock is already much lower than where it was going into last year's draft.
Some of this has to do with just how deep the 2015 class is, though.
Beasley is still a force who can rush from a number of spots. In an effort to become more athletic up front to match other AFC North rivals, look for the Browns to pull the trigger.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
Landon Collins' stock continues to fall as more folks grab his film and realize he is more of an in-the-box run defender than a center fielder.
Certain teams, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, will love this when the value is right, though.
Chip Kelly's defense ranked 15th or worse against the pass and rush last season, so an upgrade in the secondary is the perfect boost.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The days of leaning on Domata Peko and hoping for something from Devon Still or Brandon Thompson are near their end in the Queen City.
Especially with Malcom Brown on the board, a run-stuffing terror who can put pressure on the quarterback as an added bonus.
Speaking of terror, that sums up what opposing quarterbacks will feel when Brown lines up next to Geno Atkins.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
A young defensive core in Pittsburgh needs more talent that can rush the passer on each down.
With Arik Armstead on the board, the decision is a rather easy one.
Armstead joins young talent just as Jarvis Jones, Stephon Tuitt and others to help the Steelers remain a formidable force on the defensive side of things.
23. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Expect to hear more and more about Danny Shelton as the Senior Bowl continues.
Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar sums up Shelton best:
The Detroit Lions, a team that figures to lose Suh to free agency, will be comfortable with the comparison.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Sometimes upside is the name of the game for a team in the first round.
The Arizona Cardinals still have Carson Palmer under contract, but should he not recover properly, the team cannot afford to waste another year turning to Ryan Lindley and others.
Brett Hundley is a dual-threat weapon who can produce when used well, but he is also a great potential franchise quarterback when viewed through a long-term scope.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
At one point, Andrus Peat seemed to be the top tackle in the class.
There is plenty of time for the Stanford product to regain that footing, but for now, he slots in with the Carolina Panthers, a team that must continue to do whatever it takes to help along Cam Newton.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is the subject of the injury comment when it comes to the top corner in the class.
An untimely knee issue derailed Ekpre-Olomu's College Football Playoff aspirations and his draft stock, but a team that can afford to wait on his recovery will still roll the dice.
Look for that team to be the Baltimore Ravens, a franchise in need of secondary help that also happens to be a great judge of talent in that area.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Eddie Lacy of the Green Bay Packers ran for 101 yards on just 19 carries against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional round.
That loss will stick with the Dallas front office, which in turn will lead to its staff deciding to shore up its run defense.
Look for the Cowboys to seek out the draft's top inside linebacker, Benardrick McKinney. His impact right away will be noteworthy.
28. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
T.J. Clemmings is yet another player on the receiving end of a stock boost at the Senior Bowl.
Just ask NFL Network's Mike Mayock:
"Mayock: Pitt's T.J. Clemmings has physical traits to thrive as NFL LT. http://t.co/srw2S0MdqR pic.twitter.com/JaBw0Q5UfP
— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) January 20, 2015"
Regardless of what happens to the Denver Broncos in the coming months, production on the edges of the line needs an improvement. Clemmings does that right away.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
It says a lot that Bjoern Werner, the Indianapolis Colts' 2013 first-round pick, was inactive for the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
With that in mind, look for the Colts to beef up their rush in the coming months.
Nate Orchard is first on the list at this point. A versatile presence, Orchard does much to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing.
30. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The playoffs are quite indicative of what the Packers will want to address in the draft, too.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch ran for 157 yards and a score on just 25 attempts, meaning the Packers will want to stop toying with spot fixes in the defensive trenches.
Eddie Goldman fits well as a piece who can line up at multiple spots and prevent such lashings in the future.
31. New England Patriots: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
Expect to hear more and more about Maxx Williams in the coming months.
Easily the top tight end in the draft, the Patriots will have an obvious interest in the Minnesota product's versatility and athleticism.
As great as Tom Brady continues to look, more weapons is nothing but a good thing.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
A team with plenty of pass-rushing talent needs more pass-rushing talent.
This is the NFL, where rushers and defensive backs reign supreme. Danielle Hunter is a budding talent who is a bit lost in a deep class, which is just fine by the Seahawks.
After all, the front office needs more rookie contracts at critical spots on the roster to help keep potential dynasty dreams alive.
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
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