NFL Mock Draft 2015: Edition 3
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| Jameis Winston |
Off-the-field issues overshadowed Winston's success in Tallahassee but as the NFL Draft combine inches closer (and the Draft just weeks later), Tampa Bay may not be able to resist "Famous Jameis". Winston has NFL size for the quarterback position, standing at 6'4" and an arm that can wow you at times. The Buccaneers may be taking a risk here by opting not to go with the safer pick in proven Marcus Mariota, but keeping Jameis in the state of Florida would be the smartest move here.
Previous Selection: Marcus Mariota, QB
2. Tennessee Titans Leonard Williams, DL
Williams was absolutely dominant his past two seasons at USC, and that was without being 100 percent in 2013-2014. He has the high motor, versatility and brute power to become a dominant defensive linemen and play a role similar to the one Albert Haynesworth played in Tennessee, although much more athletic. While Tennessee needs an offensive spark, picking up Williams to shore up their average front seven would be the right decision.
Previous Selection: Jameis Winston, QB
3. Jacksonville Jaguars Randy Gregory, DE/LB
Blake Bortles was not terrible in his rookie season after being selected third overall a year ago, in fact he showed a lot of promise. But, the Jags missed a key opportunity to pick up a player who could dominate defensively for years to come by not selecting Khalil Mack. They shouldn't miss out on a pass rusher this year; Gregory is the top available.
Previous Selection: Leonard Williams, DL
4. Oakland Raiders Amari Cooper, WR
While receivers Kevin White and DeVante Parker are slowly creeping up draft boards, Cooper is still the best option at the position as of right now. Cooper's incredible athleticism and Derek Carr's huge arm could give Oakland a dynamic passing game, something that they have lacked for at least a decade.
Previous Selection: Amari Cooper, WR
5. Washington Redskins Brandon Scherff, OT
The Redskins still have some major defensive deficiencies and have no clue who their quarterback will be moving forward but one is paramount for Washington: offensive line help. The gritty Scherff, a veteran leader out of Iowa, won't wow anything with his physical tools but he could be the steadying force this unit needs after a dreadful 2014.
Previous Selection: Brandon Scherff, OT
6. New York Jets Marcus Mariota, QB
Nobody can deny how terrible the Jets' offense has been the past couple seasons, especially the passing attack. It is clear that major changes must be made if new head coach Todd Bowles is ever going to win in New York. Luckily for Bowles and new GM Mike Maccagnan, Mariota could fall all the way to six if Tampa doesn't choose the Oregon star. If this happens, the Jets could be gifted with a young signal-caller who does everything well, and can deal with the pressure of playing in New York.
Previous Selection: Randy Gregory, DE/LB
7. Chicago Bears Shane Ray, DE/LB
The Bears have lacked a legitimate pass rusher for some time now, as Julius Peppers was a disappointment there and Jared Allen barely did anything this past year and is not a long term solution. Ray is the perfect solution to the Bears' problems; he has the versatility to play either end or linebacker and has a lightning quick first step, something that helped him rack up 14 sacks this year at Missouri.
Previous Selection: Landon Collins, S
8. Atlanta Falcons Dante Fowler, DE
Fowler has the physical gifts to rise up very quickly up boards in the coming months, so Atlanta could be getting a steal here. Fowler, a former Florida Gator, has superb athleticism, is extremely strong and has an NFL frame. He has the talent to grow into a dominant pass rusher for years to come in Atlanta.
Previous Selection: Shane Ray, DE/LB
9. New York Giants La'El Collins, OT
The Senior Bowl rarely impacts prospects' draft stocks as much as the NFL Combine but putting on an impressive performance there can still move you up some boards. Collins played extremely well in the Senior Bowl and will give the Giants some much needed protection for Eli Manning, at either tackle slots.
Previous Selection: Bud Dupree, DE
10. St. Louis Rams Andrus Peat, OT
Offensive tackle has long been a problem for the Rams' offense, which has attempted to pick up Jason Smith and just last year, Greg Robinson to fill the void. Robinson still may have a future for St. Louis but even so, drafting someone here for extra insurance wouldn't hurt. Peat is a solid, steady prospect who was extremely productive at Stanford and could help fix the Rams' tackle woes.
Previous Selection: La'El Collins, OT
11. Minnesota Vikings DeVante Parker, WR
Don't be surprised to see Parker absolutely shoot up draft boards in the coming months. The Louisville product is blessed with great size and tremendous leaping ability, allowing him to make fantastic plays on jump balls and feast on smaller defenders. Plus, to further convince Minnesota this is the right move, Parker even played with Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville, reeling in 885 yards and 12 touchdowns from the quarterback in 2013.
Previous Selection: Andrus Peat, OT
12. Cleveland Browns Kevin White, WR
Following yet another failed drug test this week that will result in a one-year ban, Josh Gordon's career in Cleveland, and possibly the NFL, has come to a close. Cleveland will hope either Cooper or Parker drops here, but White is not a bad consolation prize. White was dominant his senior season at West Virginia and can catch nearly everything. If Johnny Manziel ever is going to be the franchise guy in Cleveland, he needs weapons like White surrounding him on the field, a player that can actually stay out of trouble off of it.
Previous Selection: DeVante Parker, WR
13. New Orleans Saints Vic Beasley, DE/LB
Few teams in the NFL this past season struggled to get pressure on the quarterback as much as the Saints did. If Rob Ryan's aggressive defensive scheme is going to have success he needs another pass rusher. That is where Vic Beasley, a sack machine with excellent versatility, can come in and contribute right away.
Previous Selection: Dante Fowler, DE
14. Miami Dolphins Shaq Thompson, LB
While the Dolphins' offense still needs some work done, the defense also has some very notable deficiencies, especially in stopping the run. Enter Thompson, an incredible athlete who can do it all in Miami. While not excellent in run support, Thompson could grow, and he is already proven as a quality coverage linebacker.
Previous Selection: Shaq Thompson, LB
15. San Francisco 49ers Jaelen Strong, WR
San Francisco's receiving corps is a complete disaster. The oft-injured Michael Crabtree is set to hit free agency this summer, Anquan Boldin continues to age and the team's most reliable pass catcher, Vernon Davis, struggled in 2014. The best option for the Niners here could be to trade down as selecting a receiver here with White, Parker and Cooper off the board may be a stretch. Whether they do or not, Strong is a physical weapon with reliable hands who would certainly help out.
Previous Selection: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
16. Houston Texans Danny Shelton, DT
Already armed with recently award NFL Defensive MVP J.J Watt, Houston could get only better in their front seven by adding Shelton, who was absolutely dominant this past year at Washington. The 345-pound punisher of a tackle can clog up running lanes but is also gifted with pretty decent athleticism. He has the chance to be the best pass rusher at nose tackle since Ndamukong Suh, a major reason why this would be an absolute steal here at 16.
Previous Selection: Danny Shelton, DT
17. San Diego Chargers Melvin Gordon, RB
It is time for a major change in the San Diego backfield after years of average play by former first-rounder Ryan Matthews. Matthews' contract is up, and Branden Oliver did not prove he is a long-term option for the Bolts. While Gordon isn't as big or powerful as fellow back Todd Gurley, he has no injury concerns and has the explosiveness that this San Diego offense needs.
Previous Selection: Trae Waynes, CB
18. Kansas City Chiefs Landon Collins, S
The Chiefs are in a tough predicament here. They clearly need a receiver, but the major ones have been off the board for a while. Trading down or up is an option here, but perhaps the smartest move would be Collins, who has the potential to be a Top 10 pick. Eric Berry was one of the NFL's best safeties but a Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis could end his promising career. Filling the void with the ball hawking Collins would be a quality solution to an extremely tough situation.
Previous Selection: Kevin White, WR
19. Cleveland Browns Arik Armstead, DL
With their major problem solved offensively, Cleveland should focus on the other side of the football. They need another pass rusher, and Armstead would be a fantastic option. The 6'7" beast of a linemen can play multiple positions and can contribute as a pass rusher or in run support. Armstead is an intimidating force at the very least, who will only grow with the Browns.
Previous Selection: Benardrick McKinney, LB
20. Philadelphia Eagles Marcus Peters, CB
There are rumors the Eagles and Chip Kelly want to trade up and select Marcus Mariota, but that would take a lot of value to do and Philadelphia must address other needs first. Cornerback is the biggest issue on this team, and Peters could be a solution. Although his dismissal from Washington raises questions, Peters has the exceptional athleticism and strong build needed to be a shutdown corner.
Previous Selection: P.J. Williams, CB
21. Cincinnati Bengals Bud Dupree, DE
The Bengals could go any direction here, but improving the team's inconsistent pass rush would be the smartest route. Not only is Dupree an elite pass rusher with loads of potential he is the best defensive player available if he does slip all the way down here (No. 9 in previous mock) and Cincinnati would be foolish not to make a move on the Kentucky talent.
Previous Selection: Jaelen Strong, WR
22. Pittsburgh Steelers Trae Waynes, CB
The "Steel Curtain" that was the Steelers' defense has been pretty weak the last couple years, especially in the secondary, where injuries and inexperience have been a problem. Trae Waynes had a superb career at Michigan State and has all the tools needed to be a solid contributor to Pittsburgh's secondary for years to come.
Previous Selection: Gerod Holliman, S
23. Detroit Lions Eddie Goldman, DT
Ndamukong Suh has been one of the league's most dominant pass rushers since he was selected out of Nebraska, but his high price tag and dirty play could force the Lions to look elsewhere. Goldman is still growing as a defensive tackle but the Florida State product could be a quality option for Detroit's dilemma at tackle.
Previous Selection: Malcolm Brown, DT
24. Arizona Cardinals Eli Harold, DE/LB
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| Eli Harold |
While the Cardinals fielded one of the worst offenses in Playoff history this past January, it should be much better next year if Carson Palmer is healthy. What the Cardinals need is another pass rusher to solidify a unit that was very strong for much of 2014. Eli Harold is still very young but his potential, size and ability to contribute at either end or linebacker make him a good move here for Arizona.
Previous Selection: Brett Hundley, QB
25. Carolina Panthers Ereck Flowers, OT
Last year's left tackle, Byron Bell, was extremely underwhelming throughout 2014 and now he hits the open market. Even if Carolina does want to bring him, which would be a surprise, adding a young talent like Flowers, who has heaps of potential, would give the Panthers a building block on their O-Line for the future.
Previous Selection: Ereck Flowers, OT
26. Baltimore Ravens Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
The Ravens are a complete wild card with this pick. They could draft a long term replacement at back after the Ray Rice debacle or invest at corner or somewhere else on defense. Though, the most pressing concern in Baltimore should be at receiver, where they have no long term options, especially if Torrey Smith does not resign. While character concerns are a question for "DGB" he has the speed, size and stamina to be a steal.
Previous Selection: Devin Smith, WR
27. Dallas Cowboys Malcolm Brown, DT
Led by Demarco Murray, the Cowboys' rush offense was among the NFL's best; but on the other side of the ball, their rush defense was average at best. Help arrives in the form of 6'4", 320-pound Texas Longhorn brute Malcolm Brown, who will immediately add a proven run stopper to the interior of the Dallas front seven.
Previous Selection: Danielle Hunter, DE/LB
28. Denver Broncos T.J. Clemmings, OT
Peyton Manning's future in the Mile High City is uncertain but no matter whether he is back or not, the Broncos need some serious help on the line, in multiple spots. Clemmings, a converted defensive end at Pitt who helped fill the void of talented Aaron Donald, would be an absolute steal here, as he has Top 15 grades by many scouts and scouting services.
Previous Selection: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT
29. Indianapolis Colts Paul Dawson, LB
The Colts' defense wasn't a serious problem a year ago but it certainly could improve, especially in coverage. Having a superb coverage linebacker with leadership abilities and good tackling discipline would definitely help Indy's defense. Dawson, who was absolutely fantastic at TCU this past year would add those things and could rise very quickly in the coming months.
Previous Selection: Todd Gurley, RB
30. Green Bay Packers Benardrick McKinney, LB
Clay Matthews is a great athlete with excellent versatility but he is not suited to play long term at inside linebacker like he spent serious time at in 2014. The solution to the Packers' inside linebacker woes could come with McKinney, a Mississippi State Bulldog with a nose for the ball and the ability to play a variety of different roles
Previous Selection: Eddie Goldman, DT
31. Seattle Seahawks Sammie Coates, WR
Seattle was one yard away from a second-straight Super Bowl and while the play call was foolish in that situation, it would have helped to have a more physical receiver than Ricardo Lockette. Coates, who does have some injury concerns but is still supremely talented, is stronger and faster than anyone the Seahawks have right now and could quickly become a go-to target for Russell Wilson.
Previous Selection: Devin Funchess, WR/TE
32. New England Patriots Devin Smith, WR
Like I said in my previous mock, no QB gets the most out of his receivers than Tom Brady. But, there comes a time when he needs a little more help, and that is where Smith should come in. Smith, a speedster who had a fantastic career at Ohio State, will open up openings underneath for Julian Edelman and lanes for Rob Gronkowski.
Previous Selection: Rashad Greene, WR
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