NFL Mock Draft 2015: Latest 1st-Round Predictions for Nation's Top Prospects
With the week of Super Bowl XLIX finally here, the 2014 season will soon be in the rearview mirror, and the focus will shift completely toward the 2015 NFL draft.
OK, let's be honest—the focus has been right there for every organization not named the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots for quite some time. Scouts have been poring over tape of top prospects from their bowl-game appearances, and many have put their talents on display in all-star events to wow scouts even more.
With the NFL Scouting Combine and months of pro days and individual workouts left to take place, so much can change atop the draft board between now and April 30. But let's go ahead and predict all of the first-round picks in the following mock anyway.
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
The Buccaneers enter this year's draft set on nabbing their franchise quarterback, and Marcus Mariota looks to be the right fit. The Oregon quarterback has the complete package in terms of throwing it downfield and possesses the valuable ability to extend plays with his feet and act as a threat in read-option scenarios.
2. Tennessee Titans: DT Leonard Williams, USC
The lazy pick would be to get Florida State's Jameis Winston at quarterback, but the Titans need so much more than that, which will lead them to grab the most dominating player in the draft, per NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah via NFL College Football 24/7:
The prospect of having USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams on the same three-man front as Jurrell Casey should have AFC South quarterbacks fearing for their safety.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Jacksonville made some strides in 2014, but an incomplete and struggling offensive line still stuck out like a sore thumb. The Jags are only one or two pieces away from completing the O-line, so expect them to select Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff to line up opposite Luke Joeckel up front.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
If the Raiders want promising young quarterback Derek Carr to take the next step, he'll need a more impactful receiver on offense. That's just what he and Oakland will get in Amari Cooper, Alabama's dangerous wideout who looks the part of the best all-around receiver to come out of college in years.
5. Washington Redskins: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
The Redskins enter the offseason with myriad problems, not the least of which is ineffectiveness off the edge. With the No. 5 pick, Washington will luck out and get the best pass-rusher in the class in Nebraska's Randy Gregory.
6. New York Jets: QB Jameis Winston, FSU
With a new coaching staff and front office, the new-look Jets will be intent on beginning a new era with Winston. The Florida State quarterback's leadership abilities, pocket awareness and arm strength are unquestionable, and all three will be important upon arrival in New York.
7. Chicago Bears: SS Landon Collins, Alabama
No team in the NFL needs an impact safety like the Chicago Bears, who will enjoy a best-case scenario by grabbing Landon Collins at No. 7 overall. The Alabama safety's hard-hitting prowess and ability to impact the run game will have him immediately emerging as a playmaker.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Shane Ray, Missouri
The Falcons sacked the quarterback just 22 times all season as team. That's second-worst in all of football for 2014. One draft pick might not be enough to rekindle Atlanta's pass rush, but if one pick can do so, it would be Missouri's Shane Ray—a physical defensive end who can line up in the trenches and make an early impact.
9. New York Giants: OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington
The Giants defense would have been a completely different animal with a ball-hawking player at the second level, which is just what they will get in Shaq Thompson. What Washington's outside linebacker lacks in size (6'1", 228 lbs), he more than makes up for with incredible instincts and a frame that could use some filling out.
10. St. Louis Rams: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford
The quarterback position wasn't concrete for St. Louis in 2014, but inept pass blocking was on display, as the team allowed 47 sacks all season. Those will be memories of the past with Andrus Peat arriving, as the 6'7", 316-pound Stanford lineman will keep whoever lines up under center in 2015 well-protected.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The Vikings defense took some major steps forward in 2014 in Mike Zimmer's first season at the helm, but personnel improvements are necessary to improve the secondary. Trae Waynes would do just that, as the Michigan State cornerback will use his ball-hawking abilities to lock down one side of the field for Minnesota early on.
12. Cleveland Browns: OT La'el Collins, LSU
Cleveland has invested in its offensive line in the draft as of late, but those moves will come full circle with the selection of LSU's La'el Collins. One of the most stout and physical tackles in the class will help to transform a struggling Browns offensive line.
13. New Orleans Saints: DE Vic Beasley, Clemson
It's hard to see the Saints taking that next step without significantly improving the pass rush, and they'll look to benefit from a loaded class of edge-rushers by nabbing Vic Beasley. Clemson's defensive end is an athletic freak coming off the edge, and he'll spin and juke his way to quarterbacks early in his NFL career.
14. Miami Dolphins: ILB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
The Dolphins are going to be in trouble in 2015 without a new leader on the defensive side of the ball—they have leadership but little formidability in the middle. It just so happens that Benardrick McKinney out of Mississippi State falls into their laps, and perhaps the only first-round talent at inside linebacker will put his abilities on display in Miami.
15. San Francisco 49ers: DT Danny Shelton, Washington
Few teams need personnel improvements at one position more than San Francisco on the defensive line, but 343-pound mammoth Danny Shelton figures to help fill that gap almost by himself. The former Washington nose tackle might be pushing 350 pounds in weight, but he moves like he's 275, with quick feet to serve as a headache for interior offensive linemen.
16. Houston Texans: FS Gerod Holliman, Louisville
The Texans didn't get a whole lot out of their secondary in 2014, and it played a huge role in their absence from the playoffs despite a strong one-year turnaround. Gerod Holliman would serve as an immediate improvement, and while the Louisville product still has some developing to do, he won't take long to earn a starting spot.
17. San Diego Chargers: OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Looking for another long-term option up front to play opposite D.J. Fluker, the Chargers won't have to search long to find an athletic specimen. Cedric Ogbuehi's shaky season at Texas A&M in 2014 helped his draft stock plummet, but his vast potential was also on display and will have San Diego betting high.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Kevin White, West Virginia
It would just be cruel for the Chiefs to avoid getting a wide receiver early in the draft this year, especially after no wideout caught a touchdown pass last season. That will change in an instant with Kevin White of West Virginia, a complete package at receiver who will be Alex Smith's new best friend.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
Josh Gordon messed up again, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and once again the Browns will likely have to accept life without their star wideout—possibly for good. Cleveland's wideout corps was so weak that it needed a player like DeVante Parker anyway, but with Gordon's issues, the playmaking Louisville receiver can show up as an effective replacement.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is still recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the College Football Playoff, but his ability won't be lost on Chip Kelly—his former coach at Oregon. Previously the best cover corner in the draft class, Ekpre-Olomu will sway a hapless Eagles secondary into picking him here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: DE Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky
Rushing the passer is one thing in the regular season but another beast in the playoffs, where Cincinnati's inability to get to Andrew Luck was on display. The Bengals could do no wrong by adding Kentucky defensive end Alvin "Bud" Dupree, who can also serve as an option at the outside linebacker spot but will mainly play off the edge in the trenches.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: DE Dante Fowler, Florida
Another athletic specimen of an SEC pass-rusher goes to an AFC North team that needs some punch on defense. This time, the Steelers grab Florida's Dante Fowler to help bridge the gap between two eras of the defense.
23. Detroit Lions: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
As the Lions enter the prime of Matthew Stafford's career, having a rushing option that is more capable of helping shoulder the load will be crucial. Investing in a promising talent like Todd Gurley wouldn't be ill-advised. The Georgia running back's insane ability has been put on display, and rushers Joique Bell and Reggie Bush could carry the load, while Gurley finishes recovery from a torn ACL.
24. Arizona Cardinals: DE Nate Orchard, Utah
It's hard to pinpoint a more dangerous pass rush than that of the Arizona Cardinals, but it's easy to tell how significant the injury toll was on them in 2014. Utah defensive end Nate Orchard might not fit into what the Cardinals are doing right away, but he doesn't have to. Instead, the sack maestro will be able to develop on his own, and it won't take long for playing time to appear for him.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Running the ball wasn't much of a problem for Carolina late in 2014, but the solution for keeping Cam Newton protected was ever elusive throughout the season. The problems begin up front, so the Panthers should grab a promising prospect in T.J. Clemmings out of Pittsburgh to help shore up the offensive line.
26. Baltimore Ravens: OT Cameron Erving, FSU
Offensive linemen are hot commodities as usual in this mock, but few teams could truly get to the next level with just one strong pick. That looks to be the Baltimore Ravens, who had flashes of greatness in 2014 but just couldn't keep Joe Flacco as protected as he needed to be. With some questions up front, the Ravens will get Cameron Erving out of Florida State to make for some training-camp competition for playing time.
27. Dallas Cowboys: CB Marcus Peters, Washington
Yes, the Cowboys defense had some sort of a turnaround in 2014, but it wasn't thanks to improvement from the secondary, which still gave up big plays. Dallas needs to find the lockdown corner that Morris Claiborne isn't, and former Washington stud Marcus Peters' size (6'0", 198 lbs) and athleticism would be a marquee fit.
28. Denver Broncos: OT Ereck Flowers, Miami
The word isn't out on Peyton Manning's future, but The Denver Post's Woody Paige reported Manning has indeed told the team he wants to return. Denver will know for sure by the draft, and offensive line issues throughout 2014 will spur Gary Kubiak and Co. to add formidability up front in Ereck Flowers to help prevent the line from falling apart like it did for a stretch of last season.
29. Indianapolis Colts: OT Tyler Sambrailo, Colorado State
It's remarkable how impressive Andrew Luck and the Colts have been over the last three years without doing much to address the offensive line. While the unit got it together late, it will benefit greatly from Colorado State's Tyler Sambrailo, one of the blue-chip tackles of the class whose potential will be overlooked thanks to a few previously selected linemen.
30. Green Bay Packers: DT Eddie Goldman, FSU
After watching the Packers give up more rushing yards than all but nine NFL teams in 2014 and allowing an unthinkable late Seattle comeback predicated on running the ball, it's more apparent than ever that Green Bay needs a new stud in the defensive trenches. Eddie Goldman fits the bill, as he blends his strength with athleticism to force double-teams and open up lanes for his fellow pass-rushers.
31. New England Patriots: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
In the same vein as Manning in Denver, the Patriots will surround Tom Brady with whatever he needs down the stretch of his career. While the stats don't show it, he still lacks a true dominant downfield threat that most star quarterbacks have, and New England will draft huge receiver Jaelen Strong (6'3", 212 lbs) to improve an already potent offense.
32. Seattle Seahawks: DT/DE Arik Armstead, Oregon
Seattle will add to its already impressive defensive line by grabbing regional stud Arik Armstead out of Oregon. An interesting offseason of free agency awaits the Seahawks, and it could lead to holes opening up front, which Armstead would be able to fill rather quickly.
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