NFL Mock Draft 2015: Pre-Senior Bowl Projections for Underrated Prospects
Similar to the deflation of a football, unearthing gems in the 2015 NFL draft class is a slow process.
The Senior Bowl is the first major step on the path to the draft, although the spectacle in Mobile, Alabama, for the most part only features seniors brave enough to weather the storm of pro scouts and national attention.
As a whole, underrated prospects continue to emerge by the day as more scouts, front offices and media members dive into film and piece together the bigger puzzle.
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As draft season slowly hits a steady pace, be sure to know some of the underrated names on the rise.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Hey, even Marcus Mariota knows about the underrated label.
Mariota did not exactly have a ton of stars next to his name before joining the Oregon program, but now he is the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers need a reliable quarterback who can start and grow with the organization. Bonus points for zero off-field drama.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis Winston is not going to fall in the draft.
His stock remains too high, as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller helps to point out:
The Tennessee Titans may never be in this position again. Teams rarely ever get a shot at a potential top-tier quarterback unless they are the Indianapolis Colts, so look for the Titans to pull the trigger.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
It is hard to underrate Randy Gregory.
By far the draft's best edge-rusher, Gregory is a force who will wreak havoc for a long time in the pros if he lands in the proper scheme.
He fits well as a complement to Sen'Derrick Marks in Jacksonville, so look for Andrew Luck to be on the run for a long time if Jacksonville calls Gregory's name.
4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
The Oakland Raiders are in a position to take the top overall player.
It helps that the quarterback class after Winston is a mess, but the team has something special on its hands with Derek Carr anyway.
Leonard Williams is the top player available and just so happens to fill a major need. With the USC product in the trenches, Khalil Mack will be even better than his superb rookie campaign thanks to more open space to go to work.
5. Washington: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
One of three Heisman Trophy finalists, Amari Cooper remains the top wideout in the class, although the path to the draft may attempt to break him down.
Regardless, Washington loves his sure hands and savvy routes that make him an instant contributor with a high ceiling.
Jay Gruden needs to build around his quarterbacks. Cooper is how to do that the right way.
6. New York Jets: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Become familiar with the name Kevin White.
Schematic questions aside, even NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes White is one of the top players in the class:
There is no quarterback for the New York Jets to take. The next best thing is an explosive weapon such as White, who can do much to help an eventual learning quarterback along in future years.
7. Chicago Bears: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
A once-proud Chicago Bears defense ranked 30th against the pass and 17th against the rush in 2014 despite high-profile additions such as Jared Allen.
The Bears need to be a bit quieter than that and build through the draft.
Shane Ray, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, is a strong addition who helps in that regard. His contributions on a rotational basis will make a world of difference.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Get to know the name Alvin Dupree.
While not from a major SEC program, Dupree is a scheme-versatile talent who continues to impress many, including Miller:
The Atlanta Falcons need another presence like Dupree to keep opposing offenses guessing, which will help improve upon last year's worst overall pass defense.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Eli Manning threw just 14 interceptions while being sacked 28 times in 2014, but now 34 years old, he needs to take fewer hits.
The New York Giants understand this and the fact that the draft's top offensive tackle falls into their lap.
Brandon Scherff is a mauler who can help wherever the staff decides to plug him in, so the fit is obvious.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
While a bit strange, the St. Louis Rams do not have a ton of needs at No. 10 overall.
It would be nice if the secondary were a tad younger, though, so Jeff Fisher should want to make Michigan State's Trae Waynes the first corner off the board.
Waynes does not have to start right away. Of course, that does not mean he is not capable.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Mike Zimmer needs to turn his attention to the offensive side of the ball in Minnesota.
The man can get great production out of ragtag defenses, but he will not help Teddy Bridgewater along in a significant manner if he does not acquire more weapons.
With that in mind, DeVante Parker is the pick. The Louisville product knows a thing or two about playing with Bridgewater.
12. Cleveland Browns: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
It takes a major leap of faith to roll the dice on Dorial Green-Beckham.
Some franchises, such as the Cleveland Browns, should be willing to do this in order to take the proverbial next step and compete for the postseason.
Look, the Browns already did this with Johnny Manziel, so why not grab Dorial Green-Beckham, easily the top wideout in the class were it not for off-field concerns? Besides, they have two picks in the first round.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Dante Fowler Jr. was lost in Will Muschamp's disaster of a season at Florida.
It is time to get back on the train, though. As CBS Sports' Rob Rang details, Fowler is versatile enough to grab the attention of every team in the draft:
"A talented pass rusher with experience at outside linebacker and all over the defensive line, Fowler is an intriguing athlete with range, strength and flexibility. He isn't as explosive off the snap or productive as some of the other pass rushers on this list but Fowler's awareness and physicality make him better suited to handling the run. Fowler, who before the Birmingham Bowl announced his intentions of leaving early for the draft, ended his career in fine form, recording three sacks against East Carolina.
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Fowler sounds like the perfect fit for Rob Ryan's defense in New Orleans, which needs more versatile rushers who can make an every-down impact.
14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson can do it all.
Thompson is a talented runner with the football in his hands. He can rush the passer thanks to his athleticism, a trait that also allows him to move sideline to sideline and stuff the run.
Running back is a need in Miami, with a 24th-ranked run defense also an issue. Thompson does a little bit of everything upon arrival.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The biggest need in San Francisco at this point is health.
An influx of additional talented youth in the secondary would not hurt, either.
Were it not for his dismissal from Washington, Marcus Peters might be the first corner off the board. The 49ers, of course, are not going to complain. One of the league's top rosters only becomes deeper.
16. Houston Texans: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
The Houston Texans are another team that must deal with Luck for another decade or more, so look for the front office to seek an upgrade to help a 21st-ranked pass defense.
Jalen Collins can line up at multiple spots and help on returns, so his versatility allows him to be the third corner off the board.
Collins is by no means the end of the work the Texans must do on that side of the ball, but he is a superb start.
17. San Diego Chargers: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
A.J. Cann is a ferocious interior lineman who would fall further down the board based on the value of his position were it not for the San Diego Chargers.
Where to start? The Chargers ranked 26th in rushing. Philip Rivers is 33 years old and was sacked 36 times.
Cann is the definition of a perfect fit and makes a huge splash in San Diego from day one.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
One of the names who continues to take the Senior Bowl by storm is Sammie Coates.
It helps that he reels in catches such as this, as captured by Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times:
Coates is a burner who opens things up for others and makes splash plays. In other words, his addition means Kansas City Chiefs wideouts will be relevant once again.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Now, the Browns can take a safe pick to help an area of need.
Vic Beasley's stock is down quite a bit in comparison to last year's projections, but he is still a mid-round prospect who fits well in Cleveland's system.
Beasley projects better as a player who rushes from an upright position, meaning the Browns have another talented player to rotate in and match the athletic fronts of the AFC North.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
One spot in front of the Falcons in terms of pass defense rests Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles.
The man somewhat brings this on himself because of his quick-twitch offense that forces opponents to the air in order to keep up.
No matter, though, as Kelly can obtain the draft's top safety, Landon Collins, to add to the secondary rotation and help keep everyone fresh.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The hype train for Malcom Brown is just beginning, although the Cincinnati Bengals can only hope his stock hovers right around where it is now.
Alex Dunlap of Orangebloods explained last month why Brown's stock continues to rise:
The Bengals need an upgrade next to Geno Atkins, so Brown is an ideal selection.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
Dick LeBeau is gone, but the foundation for a brighter, younger future is still in place for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
To keep that future in focus, look for the Steelers to add a versatile rusher such as Arik Armstead out of Oregon.
Similar to the Browns above, the defensive arms race in the AFC North is how the Steelers can continue to compete for the postseason. After all, the offense is just fine.
23. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Danny Shelton is this year's tackle who clogs running lanes with relative ease and can provide an unorthodox rush up the middle on occasion.
He also owns one of the more predictable pro landing spots considering the Detroit Lions seem ready to lose one of, if not both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.
Shelton will help to keep the elite unit clicking along at a steady pace.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
The duel for the third quarterback slot behind Mariota and Winston may look very different by draft day, but for now, it belongs to UCLA's Brett Hundley.
Thank his supreme athleticism and status as a solid dual-threat quarterback for that, even if he is a long-term project for a patient coaching staff.
That coaching staff is likely Arizona, a team that still has Carson Palmer in the fold but needs more options if injuries strike once again.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Carolina Panthers hit it out of the park last year, finally becoming serious about surrounding Cam Newton with more talent.
Now, all the front office needs to do is better protect him.
With that goal in mind, Stanford's Andrus Peat is the obvious selection. Even if Peat kicks inside for a few years, Newton will be much better off and have more time to stand tall and hit Kelvin Benjamin more often.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu's stock seems ruined thanks to a knee injury, but it takes one team who believes in his long-term recovery and outlook to pull the trigger.
Right now, the Baltimore Ravens seem like an obvious candidate.
C.J. Mosley was a home run last year, so now the Ravens need to address a 23rd-ranked pass defense.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
The Dallas Cowboys defense is on an upswing, especially after finishing the season ranked in the top 10 against the rush.
While the offense may lose key pieces to free agency, there is no excuse to take the foot off the pedal when it comes to the defensive rebuild.
This is especially the case when the staff has a chance to solidify the heart of the defense for years to come with Benardrick McKinney.
28. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
This hype will only continue to build.
T.J. Clemmings switched to offensive tackle only recently, but as NFL Network's Mike Mayock points out, per CollegeFootball 24/7, the hype train is just leaving the station:
No matter what happens in Denver over the course of the offseason, better line play is necessary. Clemmings provides a major boost no matter where the staff throws him.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
The Colts continue to look like a team that will be very predictable in the first round.
With Daniel "Boom" Herron flashing in the postseason, the staff can wait to address the running back position.
Instead, look for the Colts to grab a pass-rusher such as Nate Orchard, especially after Bjoern Werner was a healthy scratch from the AFC Championship Game.
30. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
The Green Bay Packers cannot go another season without addressing the defensive tackle spot in a smart manner, especially not after ranking 23rd against the rush.
While all is quiet on the Eddie Goldman front as of late, the best player on last year's Florida State defense is a force on every down who can provide the Packers with an upgrade and some versatility to boot.
31. New England Patriots: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
Hop aboard the Maxx Williams hype train before it leaves the station.
The tight end position is rather weak this year, but Williams is an elite prospect who can do it all, including leaping tall buildings in a single bound:
Ignore the exaggeration. Don't ignore the fit in New England, where Tom Brady could use another reliable target as a chess piece before the snap.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
The Seattle Seahawks are approaching a critical offseason in which cap space will be a premium. As a result, the team needs to use its draft selections in such a way that it can exchange veteran contracts for cheaper rookie ones at critical spots.
Take rotational pass-rusher, for example. Danielle Hunter is a smart fit and will be on a cheap deal, which frees up more cash for costly extensions.
That, folks, is how dynasties become reality.
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus. Names in italics denote underrated prospects.
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