NFL Mock Draft 2015: Latest Projections with Under 3 Weeks to Go
Where will Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota eventually land?
This exact question has become the overriding storyline for the upcoming NFL draft.
While Mariota's overall talent isn't in question, the range where he could be selected tremendously varies.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is still an option for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first overall pick, but one league personnel man told Yahoo.com's Charles Robinson, ""If [Mariota] doesn't go in the top six picks, he could do an Aaron Rodgers."
A potential slide is contingent on the Oregon product getting beyond the quarterback-needy teams found among the top 10 overall selections.
It's unlikely to happen, as we'll see at the start of this week's NFL mock draft:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Pick: Quarterback Marcus Mariota, Oregon
The NFL draft process is often cyclical.
Highly touted players are picked apart as the process ensues. Sometimes, it's to the prospect's detriment. Other times, it's merely an attempt to get a player to slide for another team to capitalize.
The narrative written about Mariota is generally false. Oregon's scheme wasn't a major hindrance in his development, and the quarterback displayed traits that translate to the professional ranks.
The Buccaneers organization, meanwhile, continued to do its homework throughout the process as outside influences zeroed in on Florida State's Jameis Winston as the likely target.
Yet, the team continued to evaluate both Mariota and Winston.
As the draft nears, Mariota may once again be gaining the upper hand.
"The latest I'm hearing now from my sources around the league, who are pretty wired in, is that he's going to go number one now to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski told CSN Philly Sports Take (via PhillyMag.com's Tim McManus).
A shift from Winston to Mariota makes sense considering Tampa Bay's offseason coaching hires of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who worked with Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich for eight years, and quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian, who operated a spread system during his time as a collegiate coordinator.
Mariota may have the edge now, but the final decision has yet to be made.
2. Tennessee Titans
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The Pick: Quarterback Jameis Winston, Florida State
If the Buccaneers surprise with the selection of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota atop the draft, the Tennessee Titans will be sitting in a somewhat unexpected position.
The organization may even need to quickly reassess its priorities.
"Titans brass see (Zach) Mettenberger as a poor team’s Tom Brady," The Tennessean's David Climer wrote. "He’s the quarterback.
But Mettenberger's agent, Joe Linta, told Bleacher Report that the young quarterback hasn't been guaranteed anything. Nor should he.
The LSU product only started six games before ending the season on injured reserve. The Titans, meanwhile, are in position to potentially select a franchise-caliber quarterback prospect.
While Mariota may not be preferred by head coach Ken Whisenhunt due to his extensive background in a spread offense, Winston certainly fits the mold of the coach's previous quarterbacks.
The organization is doing its homework on Winston, too. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner was in Nashville Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Trading out of the second slot also remains a possibility with one of the top two quarterbacks available.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Pick: Defensive End Vic Beasley, Clemson
The Jaguars apparently "love" Beasley, according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.
What's not to love?
During his time at Clemson, Beasley set a new school record with 33 sacks. He added another 29 quarterback pressures and amassed a whopping 52.5 tackles for loss.
He then showed up at the NFL combine, weighed 246 pounds and blew away scouts and NFL decision-makers with his overall workout.
The ability to be disruptive in the backfield and get to the quarterbacks is a very valuable trait. One that Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley is looking for in his defense.
Defensive tackles Sen'Derrick Marks and Ryan Davis provided the most consistent pressure for the team last season, but the team's edge players weren't nearly as effective.
Chris Clemons still registered eight sacks, but he is entering his 12th season and turns 34 years old in October.
An upgrade is sorely needed at the Jaguars' "Leo" position and Beasley's addition would be lovely.
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4. Oakland Raiders
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The Pick: Defensive End Leonard Williams, USC
At some point, the Raiders must add pieces around quarterback Derek Carr. Williams, however, is too talented to pass up at this juncture.
The USC product is widely considered the best defensive prospect in this year's class. He might even come off the board a couple picks earlier if consensus around the league is to be believed.
Williams graded as the best run-stopper among college football's top interior defenders last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The lone knock on Williams' game is an overall lack of explosiveness. Rotoworld's Zach Whitman extrapolated his workout numbers to show the two-time All American was an average athlete at his position.
Even if Williams never develops into an elite edge- or interior pass-rusher, he still holds plenty of value as a dominant run defender and versatile lineman.
5. Washington Redskins
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The Pick: Defensive End Dante Fowler, Jr., Florida
While the Redskins attempted to play the shell game with Oregon's Marcus Mariota, even the quarterback's camp saw through the tactic.
Washington clearly wanted to drum up interest in order to procure a trade with a quarterback-hungry team and acquire extra picks.
Instead, the Redskins may have to stand pat and pick the best available talent.
Fowler is a prospect that drew interest from every team located within the top five picks. It's due to his natural athleticism and versatility.
"He's very explosive," NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said. "He's a jack of all trades but you could say he's a master of none because (Florida) asked him to do so many different things. I could say the same things last year about Khalil Mack when he came into the draft.
While Jeremiah's assessment was supposed to be a compliment, it's actually an indictment of Fowler, who only registered 14.5 sacks during his three seasons in Gainesville.
Fowler doesn't need to be the Redskins' primary pass-rusher, though. With Ryan Kerrigan already on the roster, defensive coordinator Joe Berry will be able to use Fowler in numerous ways from various positions.
6. New York Jets
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle Brandon Scherff, Iowa
A groan can be heard knowing the Jets just spent a top-10 pick on a guard. Yet, the overall sentiment belies the value Scherff presents and the caliber of player he really is.
“You know that friend we all have who can just pick up a musical instrument and play it? For Brandon, football is like that. Football just makes sense to him,” Iowa offensive line coach Brian Ferentz, who previously spent three seasons as the New England Patriots tight ends coach, The MMQB's Jenny Vrentas. “Rob Gronkowski was like that. It just made sense to him. He may not be able to verbalize to you exactly why he did something, but it’s perfect. You couldn’t coach it any better than he did it.”
This is the type of prospect that steps in from his first day as a rookie and makes an impact.
The Jets might want to to upgrade the team's quarterback situation and Scherff's selection isn't as sexy as a wide receiver, but the Iowa product helps build a foundation that makes everyone else better on offense.
7. Chicago Bears
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The Pick: Wide Receiver Kevin White, West Virginia
When the plan is to start training camp with an open competition between Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen, there is a problem in Chicago. Unfortunately, the Bears would either need to strike a deal and trade up for one of the top two prospects or build around the existing signal-callers.
The Bears have numerous options at this point.
A nose tackle like Washington's Danny Shelton or pass-rusher like Missouri's Shane Ray are certainly in play. But the team is also presented with an opportunity to select the top wide receiver in the class.
The decision really comes down to whether the organization prefers White, Alabama's Amari Cooper or Louisville's DeVante Parker.
In this scenario, White is the choice due to his combination of size, speed and potential.
After trading away an imposing target like Brandon Marshall, the 6'3", 215-pound White should be a welcome addition.
Plus, White can only get better after playing in West Virginia's limited passing offense. Once White develops his route recognition, he could prove to be unstoppable.
Alshon Jeffery and White will make life much easier for whatever quarterback is behind center this fall.
8. Atlanta Falcons
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The Pick: Defensive End Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky
When the Seattle Seahawks started to build their "Legion of Boom" defense, the organization invested its first draft pick on a unique talent in safety Earl Thomas.
It's easy to assume new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn would like to build his Falcons defense in the same matter, but he's not bringing a template from his time in the Great Northwest and putting together a cookie-cutter defense.
Instead, Quinn is searching for a unique defensive talent.
“It goes back to getting to know our team the best. And then once we find unique stuff they have and how to feature them, then that will play a big part in the scheme,” Quinn told SI.com's Greg A. Bedard. “So I don’t just want to say, ‘We’re going to do exactly everything the same,’ because it’s not the same so I want to make sure I get to know our own players as well as we can and try to feature the things they do best.”
Suffice to say, the Falcons aren't searching for the next Earl Thomas with their first pick in this year's draft.
Dupree, however, is a relatively unique talent and rare athlete at a major position of need. At 6'4" and 269 pounds, the hybrid edge prospect ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and jumped 42 inches in the vertical jump. Even at his size, the Kentucky product just as easily dropped into space as he did getting after the quarterback. As a result, Dupree could play base end, "Leo" end or "Otto" linebacker in Quinn's scheme.
While this may be considered a little early for Dupree to come off the board, the Falcons hosted the Kentucky product Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
9. New York Giants
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle Andrus Peat, Stanford
This may be another surprise choice with Peat coming off the board earlier than conventional wisdom dictates.
Make no mistake about it: This selection is based on upside.
Peat isn't the most athletic, technically sound or dominant offensive tackle in this class. Those designations belong to other prospects.
However, no prospect at the position presents the same amount of raw potential.
The Stanford product, who is only 21 years old, stands 6'7" and weighs 313 pounds with 34.375" arms. Peat's mammoth frame will only continue to fill out as he matures.
Once his overall technique catches up to his potential, Peat could prove to be a dominant blindside protector for the next decade.
With the team's uncertainty at offense tackle due William Beatty's escalating contract and Justin Pugh better suited at guard, Peat is a smart long-term investment.
10. St. Louis Rams
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The Pick: Wide Receiver Amari Cooper, Alabama
Cooper is an interesting evaluation, because he's not a true X-receiver who usually warrants a top-10 overall selection.
At 6'1" and 211 pounds with 4.42-second 40-yard dash speed, Alabama's record-setting receiver is closer in size and style of play to the Green Bay Packers' Jordy Nelson or former Indianapolis Colts target Reggie Wayne than he is to the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones or Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green.
For the Rams, though, the offense simply needs a reliable receiver who consistently produces. The team already spent multiple picks on Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Brian Quick. Kenny Britt was also re-signed.
Britt led the group in 2014 with 48 receptions for 748 yards. Cooper, on the other hand, led the NCAA with 124 receptions, which led to 1,727 yards.
Alabama's all-time leading receiver certainly fits the ball as a productive target, and quarterback Nick Foles will be grateful for his inclusion into the offense.
11. Minnesota Vikings
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The Pick: Cornerback Trae Waynes, Michigan State
Another love affair appears to be blossoming in Minnesota between Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and Waynes.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported the Vikings are "in love" with Waynes as a potential fit in Zimmer's secondary.
The Michigan State defensive back is considered one of the draft's elite talents as a press corner with 4.31-second 40-yard-dash speed.
For the Vikings, Waynes will form a long, athletic and aggressive cornerback tandem opposite Xavier Rhodes.
12. Cleveland Browns
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The Pick: Defensive Tackle Malcom Brown, Texas
Size matters. The Browns desperately need to overhaul a defensive front that finished 32nd against the run last year. While there are some talented young players along the Browns defensive line, none has proved to be legitimate difference-makers against the run or collapsing the pocket when rushing the passer.
Brown is a versatile defender, who played the 0-, 1-, 3-, 4- and 5-techniques during his time in Austin, Texas. He owns very good first-step quickness and refined hand play.
In fact, Brown compares favorably to New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson when their predraft workout numbers are placed next to each other. The biggest difference was Brown weighed 25 more pounds at the NFL combine.
13. New Orleans Saints
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The Pick: Defensive End Shane Ray, Missouri
This is a popular pick at this particular slot.
Why?
Because it makes a lot of sense.
Veteran Parys Haralson will play this season under a one-year deal, and the organization wasn't exactly happy with Junior Galette's previous off-the-field issues.
Plus, the Saints defense was one of the league's worst last season
Even with Galette on the roster, the team still needs a long-term answer at outside linebacker opposite the fifth-year pro.
And Ray does one thing exceptionally well: He relentlessly pursues the quarterback.
14. Miami Dolphins
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The Pick: Nose Tackle Danny Shelton, Washington
A defensive front comprised of Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon, Ndamukong Suh and Danny Shelton might even worry Tom Brady a little bit.
Shelton is often stereotyped as a two-down run-stuffer, yet he was one of the most productive interior defenders in the nation last year with 16.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
The Washington product can play next to Suh as the team's 1-technique and take advantage of the numerous one-on-one blocks he would surely face.
With Sheton added to the mix, opposing offenses must make a decision each snap.
Who will they double-team, and which Dolphins defensive lineman will have an opportunity against a single block?
It's not an easy choice, because all four can wreak havoc in the backfield.
15. San Francisco 49ers
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The Pick: Wide Receiver DeVante Parker, Louisville
Colin Kaepernick receives his fair share of criticism for an overall lack of development, but the young quarterback hasn't been surrounded by the best supporting cast at the skill positions.
Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree proved to be reliable targets, but they weren't game-breakers.
The team started to overhaul the wide receiver corps by signing speedster Torrey Smith and let Crabtree walk during free agency. It's only a start.
Parker is in the same class as West Virginia's Kevin White and Alabama's Amari Cooper. The Louisville product, who already visited with the 49ers, is a smooth operator and forms a dynamic duo with Smith.
With Parker, Kaepernick finally has the weapons to truly threaten a defense.
16. Houston Texans
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The Pick: Safety Landon Collins, Alabama
During Romeo Crennel's illustrious career as a defensive coordinator, the coach benefited from the play of Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison and Eric Berry.
The Texans don't have a safety of that caliber on their roster. Rahim Moore was signed during free agency to address free safety, but strong safety remains an issue.
D.J. Swearinger received one of the worst safety grades last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The second-year pro was simply abysmal against the run.
Collins, though, is an ideal strong safety candidate and the top prospect at his position. His physical style of play will provide immediate dividends against the run, and Collins can also slide into the slot to cover on passing downs.
17. San Diego Chargers
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The Pick: Defensive End Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Every team around the league is trying to determine Gregory's value after he admitted he failed a drug test at the NFL combine and habitually used marijuana to NFL.com's Kimberly Jones.
The Chargers are certainly doing their homework on the talented pass-rusher. In fact, Gregory visited San Diego Saturday, according the San Diego Union-Tribune's Michael Gehlken.
Gregory is a rare athlete and a special talent, though. Very few pass-rushers offer his combination of length (6'5" height; 34" arms), flexibility and movement skills (4.64-second 40-yard dash) off the edge.
The Nebraska product only registered seven sacks as a junior, but it doesn't take away from him being an elite prospect.
With the losses of Dwight Freeney and Jarrett Johnson, the Chargers' search for a legitimate pass-rusher ends with Gregory.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Pick: Center Cameron Erving, Florida State
The loss of Rodney Hudson in free agency and the selection of Erving might cancel each other out, but Ervin's versatility is a major selling point for an offensive line riddled with question marks.
Hudson once converted to center in the professional ranks, because he lacked the bulk to remain at guard. Erving, on the other hand, moved to center, because he was Florida State's best offensive lineman and the team needed help at the position because of injuries.
Once Erving moved inside from left tackle, his overall performance reached another level.
The Florida State product replaces another former Seminole, but he's also a stabilizing force in case the Chiefs need help at guard or tackle.
A projected starting lineup of left tackle Eric Fisher, left guard Ben Grubbs, right guard Paul Fanaika and Donald Stephenson or Jeff Allen at right tackle plus the inclusion of Erving should improve a unit that struggled to establish any consistency in 2014.
19. Cleveland Browns (from the Buffalo Bills)
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The Pick: Wide Receiver Nelson Agholor, USC
While many—myself included—have been late to the party, Agholor quietly established himself as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the eyes of multiple teams.
The Nigerian native improved every year for the Men of Troy. Agholor, who was once considered a 5-star recruit by Rivals.com, settled into his role as a wide receiver after playing running back and defensive back as well.
During his junior campaign, the 6'0", 198-pound target registered 104 receptions for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns. For a team like the Browns that's been plagued by drops in recent years, Agholor caught 77.6 percent of the passes thrown his way with only five miscues, according to NFL Network's Ben Fennell. By comparison, the Steelers' Antonio Brown, who led the NFL in receptions and receiving yardage, caught 70.9 percent of his intended passes.
Finally, Agholor also provides added value as a kick and punt returner. Both were areas of concern for the Browns a year ago.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Pick: Wide Receiver Breshad Perriman, Central Florida
After head coach Chip Kelly decided to move on from DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles no longer present a true vertical threat within the offense.
Perriman is the ultimate deep threat in this year's class.
As the only wide receiver at the FBS level to record at least 50 receptions and still maintain an average of over 20 yards per catch, Perriman's ability to take the top off a defense was always present.
His abilities were only reinforced when he ran a blistering (unofficial) 4.26-second 40-yard dash at UCF's pro day.
At 6'2" and 212 pounds, Perriman's combination of size, speed, ability to make the contested catch, overall potential and bloodlines—his father, Brett, played 10 seasons in the NFL—make him too enticing despite other needs on the Eagles roster.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle La'el Collins, LSU
After making the playoffs for four straight seasons, the Bengals already built a solid foundation to their roster. Unfortunately, that foundation is on the verge of needing extra support.
Andrew Whitworth has quietly been one of the NFL's best left tackles for multiple years, but he'll turn 34 years old in December.
At right tackle, Andre Smith is entering the last year of his current contract. The massive strong-side blocker also missed the final six games of the season due a torn left triceps.
Offensive tackle is clearly a question mark for the Bengals beyond this season.
Collins presents the size (6'4" and 320 pounds) and physical style of play the Bengals prefer in their offensive linemen. The versatile blocker can potentially play all five positions if needed, but offensive tackle is in where his future lies in Cincinnati.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pick: Cornerback Marcus Peters, Washington
With Troy Polamalu's and Ike Taylor's decisions to retire, the talent in the Steelers secondary dramatically dipped.
William Gay is expected to start at cornerback, but the team lacks a legitimate option opposite the eight-year veteran.
Peters is an interesting case, because he's one of numerous prospects in this class where teams need to evaluate him as much off the field as they do his on-the-field performance.
After being kicked off the Huskies this past season, it speaks to Peters' character that he was allowed back to participate with his former teammates at Washington's pro day. And he stole the show.
Very few cornerbacks in this class present the same type of upside. Peters owns elite potential as long as he remains on the same page as his coaches.
The Steelers made sure they got to know the defensive back a little better when he visited the team Thursday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly.
23. Detroit Lions
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The Pick: Running Back Todd Gurley, Georgia
In a draft class absolutely loaded with running back talent, Gurley stands above the rest. Some team will jump on this gifted ball-carrier sooner than expected even as he recovers from a torn ACL.
The Lions are that team in this scenario.
Their only concern is whether Gurley's injury history enters the dreaded realm of injury prone. The knee wasn't the running back's only injury during his limited playing career. Previous battles with a high ankle sprain, quad strain and bruised ribs are also concerning.
When Gurley is fully healthy, though, very few backs present his type of overall talent. In 30 career games, the Georgia product averaged 109.5 yards per game and 6.4 yards per carry.
With Joique Bell and Theo Riddick on the roster, the 222-pound freight train from Tarboro, North Carolina, will eventually take over as the team's workhorse on first and second down. Once he's fully healthy, that is.
24. Arizona Cardinals
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The Pick: Cornerback Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
Patrick Peterson needs a new running mate.
After Antonio Cromartie left the desert to reunite with Darrelle Revis in New York City, the Cardinals were left without a complementary cornerback opposite one of the game's best players.
Clearly, there are bigger needs on the Cardinals defense, specifically linebacker. But head coach Bruce Arians would "really like" to add another cornerback, according to ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.
Arians' wishes may be granted later in the draft if a talented pass-rusher or top nose tackle is available. Johnson provides a better overall value at this point as one of the smoothest defenders in this year's class.
After all, the Cardinals showed enough interest in the Wake Forest cornerback to schedule a workout with him prior to the draft, per The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson.
25. Carolina Panthers
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle D.J. Humphries, Florida
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman should be thrilled with how this scenario played itself out with multiple talented offensive tackles available.
The logic behind the selection of a potential left tackle is very simple.
Jordan Gross retired after the 2013 season. Byron Bell attempted to fill the void last season, but he proved incapable of doing so. Bell walked in free agency. Instead, Michael Oher signed. Oher hasn't showed the ability to legitimately start at left tackle over an extended period. All of this equals left tackle still being a major need in Carolina.
Fortunately, Humphries was available and quickly scooped up to man Cam Newton's blind side. Of any offensive tackle in this class, the Florida product displays the best footwork and overall athleticism to make him arguably the top offensive tackle available.
There are also no concerns about eventually moving Humphries to another position. He's a left tackle, first and foremost.
26. Baltimore Ravens
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The Pick: Running Back Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Veteran running back Justin Forsett experienced a breakthrough campaign in 2014 with 1,266 rushing yards. But Forsett lacks size to be a lead back, and he'll turn 30 years old during the season.
The Ravens still locked up Forsett with a three-year, $9 million contract this offseason. A long-term answer, however, doesn't appear to be on the roster.
Instead, the Ravens remain heavily interested in Wisconsin's leading rusher.
"Melvin Gordon will not get past Baltimore at No. 26," SI.com's Peter King wrote in his weekly MMQB column.
With Forsett already on the roster, the veteran and the rookie could provide a dynamic one-two punch until Gordon eventually takes over as the workhorse.
When Gordon was handed that same role this past season, he posted the second-best rushing season ever at the FBS level and nearly caught Barry Sanders 26-year record.
27. Dallas Cowboys
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The Pick: Defensive End Mario Edwards Jr., Florida State
Momentum is certainly building in Edwards' favor.
"I look around the Internet at these mock drafts and I don't think I've seen him in the first round in one of them," one NFL evaluator told CBSports.com's Jason La Canfora. "He's not showing up in any of them. I think you're missing on him. He's going to surprise some people. I think he goes in the first round. In this [not overly talented] draft, he's definitely a first-rounder for me."
Raw talent was never an issue for Edwards. The Florida State legacy was the nation's No. 2 recruit coming out of high school, a two-year starter in Tallahassee and tested well at the NFL combine.
Concerns stemmed from a lack of impact plays and explosiveness off the snap.
The defensive lineman answered at least one of those questions when he showed up in Indianapolis at 279 pounds—he played closer to 300 pounds during the past two years—and ran extremely well (4.84-second 40-yard dash). Edwards finally looked like the athlete he was always expected to be at Florida State.
Teams are enamored with that potential, and the Cowboys already worked out the versatile defensive lineman, per SiriusXM NFL Radio.
28. Denver Broncos
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
With at least one more run in Peyton Manning's right arm, the Broncos have been diligent in their evaluations of offensive linemen. To get the most out of the 39-year-old gunslinger, the team must keep him upright.
Ryan Clady is still one of the NFL's top offensive tackles when healthy, but right tackle Chris Clark struggled during his first full season as a starter.
Clemmings would immediately compete for a starting spot on the strong side after converting to offensive line from defense two years ago. The Pitt product is already a powerful run-blocker—an area that proved problematic for Clark a year ago—and he's a tremendous all-around athlete.
The former basketball player's pass protection needs refinement, but he has all the tools to develop into a quality starter at right or left tackle with proper tutelage.
Clemmings' overall upside at this point in the draft makes him an intriguing option for the Broncos even if he can't step in from Day 1 and start.
29. Indianapolis Colts
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The Pick: Offensive Tackle Ereck Flowers, Miami
The Colts claim multiple areas of concerns despite being a potential Super Bowl contender.
The offensive line, particularly right tackle, continues to be a thorny subject for a couple of reasons.
First, quarterback Andrew Luck has already been sacked 99 times during his first three seasons and faced far more pressure, which was only avoided by his mobility.
Second, the team's running attack finished in the bottom half of the league each of those seasons as well.
Plus, the organization can move on from veteran Gosder Cherilus, who hasn't played to the level of the contract he signed in 2013, and save over $4 million against the salary cap.
Flowers is big, physical and filled with potential. The Miami product has yet to turn 21 years old, and some teams consider him the top offensive tackle prospect in the class, according to FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager.
30. Green Bay Packers
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The Pick: Nose Tackle Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Green Bay's defensive interior features Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji. Both re-signed for only one year during free agency.
Nose tackle needs to be filled by a bigger and more stout presence than the previously mentioned veterans.
Phillips is built completely different than both. At 6'5" and 329 pounds, the Oklahoma product is already far more stout against the run than Guion or Raji.
"He has the body type and length to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 front, but there is no reason to move him from the nose," an anonymous AFC scout told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "If he gets that motor going, he could be a dominant pro."
With Phillips added to nose tackle alongside Guion and Mike Pennel, Raji could play multiple positions up front, and the Packers' 23rd-ranked run defense should see instant improvement.
31. New Orleans Saints (from the Seattle Seahawks)
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The Pick: Wide Receiver Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
With Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills out of the picture, the Saints are without their top two leading receivers from last season.
Stills, in particular, developed into the team's No. 1 wide receiver in 2014. But the organization felt it was more important to add assets than retain the emerging target.
Quarterback Drew Brees is now down to the soon-to-be 32-year-old Marques Colston, Nick Toon and Brandin Cooks, who missed six games during his rookie campaign due to a thumb injury, as his top three wide receivers. While the group can get the job done, it's not exactly an inspiring trio.
The Saints offense is predicated on passing the football, and Brees spreads the ball around as well as any quarterback in the league. Can an aging Colston with unproven receivers prove to be enough?
It's unlikely, and Strong adds another physical presence to help fill the void left by Graham. The Arizona State product clearly isn't as big or as athletically gifted as the Saints' former tight end, but he uses his body and high points the football as well as any receiver in this class. His style of play would fit seamlessly into the Saints offense.
32. New England Patriots
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The Pick: Cornerback Byron Jones, Connecticut
A growing consensus is building around Jones to the Patriots. The reasons are simple.
First, the Patriots lost both starting cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, to free agency. While the team still has multiple competent cornerbacks on the roster, none of them present the raw upside of Jones.
Second, Jones is an Olympic-level athlete. While this term is often used without context, Jones actually broke a world record with a broad jump of 12'3" at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. And that was only the start of his day. The cornerback added a 44.5" vertical jump, 6.78-second three-cone drill, 3.94-second short shuttle and 10.98-second long shuttle. Each of these were among the top three performances at the event.
Jones only added to his growing legend with an unofficial 4.36-second 40-yard dash at Connecticut's pro day.
Finally, the cornerback was a team captain and considered a "high-character player," according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
All of these things signal a potential Patriots pick...if Jones is even available at this point.
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