2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Senior Bowl Projections for Top Prospects
There are no surprises when it comes to the NFL draft these days.
Think about it. In the past, an event such as the Senior Bowl would have unearthed a few gems for teams around the league. Now, thanks to technology and ever-increasing access to information, it is more difficult than ever for a prospect to shock the globe.
Alas, a few—such as UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa—did just that at the 2015 Senior Bowl.
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The ripple effects from such an outburst can have major impacts on draft boards and mocks.
With that in mind, it's time to review where things stand.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Hear that?
It is boatloads of controversy swirling around Marcus Mariota, who not only skipped the Senior Bowl, but also now may not throw at the combine, per CollegeFootball 24/7:
So what?
Mariota remains the best in the class. As far as upside goes, Tampa Bay will find none better at the most important position of all.
2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis Winston will overtake Mariota in the minds of many at some point.
So long as Winston continues to have a quiet path to the draft, he will be a top-two selection.
The Tennessee Titans may have Zach Mettenberger on board, but Winston is a potential franchise quarterback who may even perform better right out of the gates despite less experience in the system.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Unlike others, Randy Gregory could sit out the rest of the path to the draft and be just fine.
Comparisons such as this, via Mike Loyko of NEPatriotsDraft.com, will not cease:
The Jacksonville Jaguars need a strong edge-rusher to boost an already strong rush. The value and fit is obvious.
4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DL, USC
It is not unreasonable to consider Leonard Williams one of the best interior defensive lineman prospects to enter the draft in the last decade.
Williams changes games on his own, something the Oakland Raiders are desperate for on that side of the football.
A talented set of young linebackers, led by Khalil Mack, will benefit the most from Williams' arrival.
5. Washington: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Some may point out that Amari Cooper does not fit a position of need, but new general manager Scot McCloughan is not one to pass on the best player available.
With that in mind, look for the revamped front office to draft smart and better build around its quarterbacks.
Cooper, one of three Heisman finalists at run-first Alabama, is a great way to do that.
6. New York Jets: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Wideout is not exactly the top need in New York, either, but new coach Todd Bowles will want to make a splash with his first top-10 selection.
Kevin White is a strong way to do so, especially with no viable quarterbacks on the board.
White is an explosive weapon in multiple facets of the game and, at least in theory, combines with Percy Harvin to give the Jets a dynamic set of wideouts.
7. Chicago Bears: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
SEC Defensive Player of the Year Shane Ray has some ground to make up if he is going to remain a top selection.
Bleacher Report's Luke Easterling sums up a developing thought process well:
For now, Ray makes sense for the Bears, a team that cannot lean on veterans such as Jared Allen for production much longer.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The Atlanta Falcons attempted to revamp the defense last year, which resulted in just 22 sacks.
Twenty-two.
Kansas City's Justin Houston had that many on his own.
Atlanta needs help, and the versatile Alvin Dupree is a major step in the right direction.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Eli Manning is no spring chicken, and the New York Giants saw two years ago what can happen if he becomes rattled.
In order to keep Manning away from leading the league in picks again, as well as to get even more from rookie sensation Odell Beckham Jr., look for the Giants to think offensive line.
Brandon Scherff is the top tackle, a status that went unchallenged after nobody exploded onto the scene at the Senior Bowl.
10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
There is no such thing as too many defensive backs on a single roster. Not in today's NFL.
The St. Louis Rams have no major needs that fit a great value at No. 10 overall, so look for Jeff Fisher to take the top corner on the board.
That would be Trae Waynes, who can play physical at the line or drop into zone and line up with the physical receivers of the NFC West.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham is a risk, but one the Minnesota Vikings should be willing to take.
Mike Zimmer is no offensive guru, but he can see what a talent DGB is if his off-field issues remain on the back burner.
For a team with Teddy Bridgewater under center, the priority is grabbing as many weapons as possible. The last thing Zimmer wants to do is wind up like the Carolina Panthers, a team that still struggles to get its star quarterback what he needs.
12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
If it was not obvious before, the Cleveland Browns will use one of two first-round picks on a wideout.
SportsCenter breaks the news:
DeVante Parker is the smart fit. A reliable target, Parker can break off big gains after the catch or stretch defenses deep, opening things up for others.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Rob Ryan will be back with the New Orleans Saints in 2015.
Simple health is a need, as is an additional pass-rusher to complement names such as Junior Galette.
With that in mind, Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. makes a lot of sense. Ryan's amoeba look that keeps offenses guessing fits well with Fowler, who lined up all over the place with the Gators.
14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
The Miami Dolphins are one of the more difficult teams to predict, with running back and pass-rusher being the biggest needs.
Why not knock out both at once?
It is hard to know exactly how a team will deploy Shaq Thompson at the next level, but he is wildly talented with a football in his hands and can also act as a rangy linebacker.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The San Francisco 49ers are similar to the Saints in that it would just be nice if the defense could stay healthy.
That said, more talent in the defensive secondary is nothing but a good thing. As B/R's Ian Wharton writes, Marcus Peters is one of the top corners in the class too:
There is a bit of baggage with Peters that the 49ers will investigate, but about halfway through the first round, he's a great value.
16. Houston Texans: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Stuck in a division with Andrew Luck, 30-year-old corner Johnathan Joseph is going to need more help next season.
LSU's Jalen Collins is a bit of a late riser after a surprise commitment to the draft, but his versatility and athleticism make him a first-round pick.
In Houston, his rangy skills and instincts mean the Houston staff can deploy him in certain situations right away.
17. San Diego Chargers: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
Owners of one of the league's worst interior lines in the NFL, it is obvious how the San Diego Chargers will act on draft day.
A.J. Cann is the top interior lineman on the board in 2015, and while he's a bit of a reach for the position, there is nothing more important than the health of Philip Rivers at this juncture.
Cann will not sell a ton of jerseys, which is just fine. The best teams know when to take this sort of hit in the public relations department.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Sometimes the Senior Bowl backfires on a prospect.
Such is somewhat the case for Sammie Coates, as Bill Vilona of the Pensacola News Journal
explains:
The event was not a complete disaster thanks to strong practices, though, and a team such as the Kansas City Chiefs will see the value in grabbing a big deep threat of his ilk.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Vic Beasley is a bit off the radar at this point in comparison to his stock this time last year.
It doesn't help that he comes in at 6'3" and 235 pounds, but his athleticism and versatility are traits a team such as the Browns will covet.
In order to keep up with the hyper defensive fronts of the AFC North, it is only right for the Browns to obtain one of the most versatile defenders on the board.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
At one point, Landon Collins figured to be a top-10 selection.
Safety is just a weak position this year, though, even if he leads the way. While more of a run-stuffing presence than pass defender, Chip Kelly's unit needs a boost in the back end.
Collins provides that and a bit of attitude, which, in theory, will help the unit keep pace with the high-flying attacks of the NFC East.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Cincinnati Bengals wound up ranked 20th against the pass and rush in 2014, a far cry from the elite units of the past few years.
Some of this had to do with Zimmer's departure. Most of it, though, came via a simple lack of production in the defensive trenches.
Malcom Brown is a great way to address the issue and an ideal complement to Geno Atkins, thus freeing up edge-rushers too.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
The defensive arms race in the AFC North is underway yet again.
Pittsburgh has plenty of younger pieces to build around in the coming years, but that should not prohibit the front office from adding even more talent to the puzzle.
Arik Armstead is another versatile weapon who can make the unit more unpredictable as he rotates in with players such as Jarvis Jones.
23. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Detroit is perhaps the most boring team in the 2015 first round.
With Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley headed to free agency, defensive tackle seems to be the obvious need.
Unless the team really wants to have veteran C.J. Mosley as an every-down starter, Washington's Danny Shelton is a good way to shore up the trenches once again.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, LB, UCLA
About Odighizuwa.
A relative unknown before the Senior Bowl, he used the event to jump way up draft boards in a hurry, as Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net notes:
Odighizuwa fits well with an Arizona defense that totaled 35 sacks in 2014.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The hinted building issues by the Panthers mean the front office must now turn its attention to the offensive line.
One year removed from grabbing Kelvin Benjamin, the offense needs to better protect Cam Newton and open wider running lanes for any number of names out of the backfield.
Andrus Peat's stock is down a bit, but he remains one of the top linemen prospects in the class and will contribute right away.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Along with Cincinnati's struggles, it was also a tad strange to see Baltimore rank 23rd against the pass in 2014. To that end, it only makes sense that the defensive-minded team grabs a top-flight corner such as Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
While a recent injury hurts his stock, the Oregon star was one of the top overall players. Baltimore certainly will not mind the wait.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
Can the Dallas Cowboys really depend on Sean Lee and others to stay healthy?
There is no easy answer, but late in the first round, the team would be wise to grab a top linebacker to solidify the future.
Benardrick McKinney is the name to know, especially as his talent will allow him to break through as a starter sooner rather than later.
28. Denver Broncos: La'el Collins, OL, LSU
La'el Collins is another prospect who used the Senior Bowl to his advantage.
Some, such as Shane P. Hallam of DraftTV.com, see him as a top pick:
For the Denver Broncos, a fall by Collins in the eyes of some is a golden opportunity to finally get better play on the edges of the line.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
No matter what the explanation is for Bjoern Werner being inactive for the AFC Championship Game, the Indianapolis Colts need more help when it comes to rushing the passer.
With that in mind, Nate Orchard is one of the top players on the board to consider.
A physical freak at 6'4" and 255 pounds, Orchard can contribute on a rotational basis right out of the gates.
30. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
No more patchwork jobs for the Green Bay Packers in the defensive trenches.
After ranking 23rd in the league against the rush last season, the Packers need more versatility and production up front.
Florida State's Eddie Goldman is the answer—or at least a large part of it. He can rotate in right away and make an impact.
31. New England Patriots: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
By far the top tight end in the class, Maxx Williams is an ideal fit for the New England Patriots.
Williams can line up all over the field and has a gigantic catch radius.
Not only does this make life easier on Tom Brady, it frees up other weapons such as Rob Gronkowski and players out of the backfield.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Carl Davis, DL, Iowa
Pauline mentions Carl Davis in his note above for good reason.
Davis exploded at the Senior Bowl and cemented his status as a top defensive tackle.
This surely has the attention of the Seattle Seahawks, a team that could use cheaper contracts in the defensive trenches, not to mention a continued deep rotation.
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
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