NFL Draft 2015: Teams to Watch in the 2nd Round

There is no shortage of talented players still available in the NFL draft. The pool remains deep at both offensive and defensive line, and several prospects in the secondary are loaded with potential.

With that in mind, which teams should you keep an eye on during the second round? Which teams could trade up or down, and which teams are well positioned to fill areas of need? Let's take  a look.

1. Tennessee Titans (No. 33)

Needs: QB, OT, WR

By selecting Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick, the Titans have presumably found their starting quarterback.

That leaves the Titans with prominent holes at wide receiver and on the offensive line. Those holes are of particular concern given the team's youth at quarterback. From a receiver perspective, there's plenty of speculation that Tennessee will gamble on former Missouri wideout Dorial Green-Beckham. As ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky tweeted earlier today:

Green-Beckham is generally regarded as the most physically gifted receiver in this year’s draft. His size and speed compare to Calvin Johnson, and if teams drafted based solely on potential, he would have been a top-five pick. But Green-Beckham comes with a well-chronicled history of off-field issues, which almost explains why he’s still available. Those could dissuade Tennessee.

If the Titans opt to pass on DGB, they have two choices. First, they could trade the pick. Plenty of talent remains on the board, and teams are eyeing players like Green-Beckham and former Nebraska linebacker Randy Gregory. Tennessee could perhaps leverage this pick into two later selections.

Alternatively, they can try to support Mariota by bolstering what was an average offensive line in 2014, per Football Outsiders. Coveted prospects like Oregon’s Jake Fisher and LSU’s La’el Collins, both offensive tackles, would be good fits and instant-impact players. Collins, however, comes with his own off-field issues.

2. Oakland Raiders (No. 35):

Needs: WR, RT, OLB/edge-rusher

The Raiders took highly touted receiver Amari Cooper in the first round, so they’re unlikely to enter the Green-Beckham sweepstakes. Oakland’s obvious choice would be Gregory, who was widely regarded as first-round material before off-field issues sent his stock tumbling. Gregory has bucket-loads of potential and would be an immediate boost, assuming the Titans don’t select him and Oakland is willing to shoulder the off-field risks.

Two, the Raiders could target one of several gifted secondary players still available. Former Alabama safety Landon Collins and LSU cornerback Jalen Collins are considered the top available prospects in that area and could instantly help a defense that ranked among the league's worst in 2014. Landon Collins, in particular, demonstrated a Kam Chancellor-esque physicality during his time at Alabama:

Finally, and perhaps most boldly, the Raiders could go after an offensive lineman. Several extremely talented players remain available; prominently among them are La’el Collins, Fisher and Penn State’s Donovan Smith. The Raiders appear committed—justifiably so—to Derek Carr, and they gave him a potential superstar target in Cooper. It wouldn’t hurt to give him some protection, too.

It’s worth noting the Raiders could feasibly trade the pick to a team desperate for Gregory, Landon Collins or La’el Collins. But with so much talent available, it seems more likely that the Raiders try to draft an impact player.

3. Cleveland Browns (No. 43):

Needs: WR, D-line, G

By selecting former Washington DT Danny Shelton in the first round, Cleveland gave its well-below-average defensive line a much-needed boost. The Browns could keep working on their D-line and take someone like Jordan Phillips or Eddie Goldman. But they could also go for a receiver with a high ceiling like Green-Beckham, as they do in this ESPN mock draft:

"

@therealtrizzo @caseykulas - Browns get WR help in Round 2: ESPN Second-round NFL mock draft http://t.co/oE55pmiwZO

— Brian Miller (@bmillercpa) May 1, 2015"

Cleveland holds the 11th pick of the round. It’s plausible for Green-Beckham and Arizona State product Jaelen Strong to remain on the board, and that would be a sensible pick for the Browns. Former Ohio State wideout Devin Smith would also make sense.

4. Seattle Seahawks (No. 63):

Needs: WR, OL, possibly secondary

The defending NFC champs didn’t have a first-round selection, making No. 63 the Seahawks' first pick of the draft. Seattle lost former All-Pro center Max Unger in the Jimmy Graham trade; left guard James Carpenter signed with the New York Jets; and the health status of cornerback Jeremy Lane is uncertain. The team will almost certainly focus on the offensive side of the ball with its No. 63 pick:

There are a few options here. From an offensive line perspective, the ‘Hawks would be thrilled to see someone like Fisher or Donovan Smith still on the board. But that’s unlikely, and Seattle will probably be choosing from a group of unexciting prospects by the time pick No. 63 rolls around. So, as the Patriots could conceivably trade up for help in the secondary, Seattle could do the same with an eye on wide receivers and offensive linemen.

If it trades up, it may have a shot at Fisher, Smith or former Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings. Or the Seahawks could gamble on one of the several talented receivers available, like Green-Beckham, Strong or Devin Smith.

5. New England Patriots (No. 64):

Needs: CB, DT, G

The Patriots, by all accounts, nailed their first round selection.

Malcom Brown, a defensive tackle from the University of Texas, was considered one of the premier run-defenders in the draft. He was a steal at No. 32. But while the Pats helped fill their needs on the defensive line, they still face major holes in the secondary after losing both Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in the offseason.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is both unpredictable and a draft-strategy master. It would surprise nobody if he somehow traded the team’s No. 64 pick for about 11 fifth-rounders. But Browner and Revis were critical to New England's title run, and the team has undeniable needs in the secondary. Luckily, several top-rated players are still available. Belichick could look to trade up to grab someone like Landon Collins or Jalen Collins.

Alternatively, the Pats could sit tight and see what happens. As ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss reported on Twitter, Belichick views the 2015 draft as especially fickle:

Several projected first-round picks are still available, including Gregory, La’el Collins, Fisher and Jalen Collins. Several such players are burdened with off-field concerns, and Belichick could conceivably expect the Patriots to have enough options at No. 64 that trading upward doesn’t make sense.