2015 Mock Draft

1.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamies Winston – QB – Florida State

The off-the-field concerns about Winston are real. But he’s also really the only QB in this draft who can be an impact player next year.

2.       Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota – QB – Oregon

I’m not a believer in Mariota, but I do believe that someone will want him badly enough to trade for him. I think the Titans take him and try to leverage a trade from one of them teams that wanted him.

3.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Dante Fowler Jr. – DE – Florida

I know that Leonard Williams is the consensus best player in the draft, but I think that the Jags have a good enough interior defensive line to focus on their edge rush. Fowler can bring them the strong edge rusher they’ve been looking for.

4.       Oakland Raiders – Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama

Again, I know that I’m passing on the best player available here, but it’s still the Raiders. I think they’re committed to getting a big play receiver and Cooper is everything you could want from a receiver prospect.

5.       Washington Redskins – Leonard Williams – DL – USC

While the Redskins have addressed their interior line during free agency, I think they jump at the chance to get the best defensive prospect in this draft. They can live with a sub-par outside linebacker if Williams is causing havoc from the interior.

6.       New York Jets – Vic Beasley – DE/OLB – Clemson

The Jets have been looking for a dynamic pass-rusher since John Abraham left. I think Todd Bowles would love having Beasley screaming off the edge while Wilkerson and Richardson pressure Tom Brady from the interior.

7.       Chicago Bears – Danny Shelton – DT – Washington

The Bears need help all along their defense, but I think the hardest thing to find in this draft would be a true nose tackle. Danny Shelton’s pass rush is sub-par, but I think his run-stuffing more than makes up for it.

8.       Atlanta Falcons – Todd Gurley – RB – Georgia

I think Shane Ray is definitely a possibility here, but I think the local boy beats out the pass-rusher with a character question. I think Gurley is special and would be Dan Quinn’s version of Beast Mode.

9.       New York Giants – Brandon Schreff – OL – Iowa

The Giants need offensive line help and, while other players may have a higher ceiling, Schreff has the best chance to be a Pro Bowler. I’d rather have a Chris Snee than take a risk and get a Jason Smith.

10.   St. Louis Rams – Kevin White – WR – West Virginia

The Rams jump at the chance to give Nick Foles a big time down the field threat. I like Cooper more, but I see why some teams might prefer White.

11.   Minnesota Vikings – Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State

The Vikings jump at the idea of having another solid young corner to pair with Xavier Rhodes. Captain Munnerlyn is miscast as a starter.

12.   Cleveland Browns – Devante Parker – WR – Louisville

The Browns need to come out of this draft with a young receiver. In parker the find a guy who is only a shade below Kevin White and Amari Cooper.

13.   New Orleans Saints – Ereck Flowers – OT – Miami (Fl.)

The Saints have been in a state of extreme flux over this offseason, particularly their offensive line which will see two new starts in 2015. I think they add a third in Flowers who could transition from right to left tackle is Terron Armstead doesn’t play better. He can also play guard in the immediate future.

14.   Miami Dolphins – Nelson Agholor – WR – USC

The Dolphins have completely retooled their receiving corps. I can easily see them looking for a receiver who could play both in the slot and outside as an eventually starter opposite Jarvis Landry.

15.   San Francisco 49ers – Malcolm Brown – DT – Texas

With the retirement of Justin Smith looming as a very real possibility, the Niners need to look for his potential replacement. Brown plays with great leverage and effort. He could easily slide into one of the end spots and start wreaking havoc along the line.

16.   Houston Texans – Bud Dupree – OLB – Kentucky

While the Texans grabbed Jadeveon Clowney with the top pick last year, the departure of Brooks Reed (and overall health of Clowney) leaves the pass rush desperately in need of a complement to JJ Watt. While I am not sold on Dupree, I think at this spot the Texans will be happy to get him.

17.   San Diego Chargers –Shan Ray – DE/OLB – Missouri

I don’t think that Ray’s foot or marijuana citation will knock him out of the first round, though it will bump him from the top 15. I like Ray as a pass rusher and the Chargers need a dynamic pass rush to push this defense over the edge. Ray can at least compliment Melvin Ingram if not outright replace him.

18.   Kansas City Chiefs – Phillip Dorsett – WR – Miami (Fl.)

It’s no secret that the chiefs need receiver help. While Andy Reid did add one of his former first round picks in Jeremy Maclin, he also knows that his offense was at its best when Maclin was paired with a burner. If there’s one thing Dorsett can do, its burn. I think Andy Reid sees Desean Jackson in this kid.

19.   Cleveland Browns – Arik Armstead – DT – Oregon

I’m not big on raw prospects, but at this point the value is too good and it’s a reach for them to go for other players. Armstead needs to refine his technique and build into his frame, but I think Mike Pettine can work with him.

20.   Philadelphia Eagles – Cameron Erving – OC – Florida State

With Chip Kelly cutting Todd Herremans and trying to trade Evan Mathis, the Eagles need interior line help. Erving might allow the Eagles to kick Jason Kelce inside or, more likely, move Erving to one of the guard spots. Don’t be surprised if he trades up for Mariota or Armstead.

21.   Cincinnati Bengals – Andrus Peat – OT – Stanford

Peat lacks the versatility of other O-line prospects, but he can slide into left and allow Andrew Whitworth to slide around the line. Both Whitworth and Andre Smith are getting up there in age and are in the final year of their contracts.

22.   Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Johnson – CB – Wake Forest

The Steelers need defensive backs. The safety class is weak and the corner class is top-heavy. Marcus Peters and Jalen Collins have too many questions surrounding their character, so Johnson is the pick.

23.   Detroit Lions – Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida State

The Lions need to do everything they can to replace Ndamukong Suh’s production. Goldman is a pure run stuffer, but could see some pass rush playing next to Haloti Ngata.

24.   Arizona Cardinals – Randy Gregory – DE/OLB – Nebraska

I’m not a fan. Gregory seems far too much like an Aaron Maybin/Vernon Gholston type. That said, someone is going to take a chance on him and I think the Cardinals will jump at the chance to grab a top-10 player talent wise and have him learn beside John Abraham.

25.   Carolina Panthers – La’el Collin – OL – LSU

Versatility is the theme of this offensive line class. The Panthers need help along the line and Collins could be a solid left tackle. Even if he isn’t, he could slide to a number of positions along the line, a la Travelle Wharton.

26.   Baltimore Ravens – Jaelen Strong – WR – ASU

Regardless of what the Ravens are saying, I think they are seriously looking at the receivers in this draft. I like Jaelen Strong and think he could be an Anquan Boldin-type opposite Steve Smith and give Joe Flacco a big time mismatch in the red zone.

27.   Dallas Cowboys – Melvin Gordon – RB – Wisconsin

While Jerry Jones is trying to fend off the idea of taking a running back, no one is buying that they would pass on Gordon or Gurley if they come available. The Cowboys saw what a strong running game did to their offense just like everyone else. Gordon has big play potential and could remind Jerry of Demarco Murray.

28.   Denver Broncos – D. J. Humphries – OT – Florida

The Broncos ended up switching guard Louis Vasquez from guard to right tackle last year to get their running game going. With Orlando Franklin gone and Vasquez likely moving back to the guard position, the Broncos can plug Humphries into the right side.

29.   Indianapolis Colts – Landon Collins – S – Alabama

I’m very weary of Alabama defensive backs, but Collins looks like the type of thumper who the Colts need patrolling the middle of their defensive backfield.

30.   Green Bay Packers – Byron Jones – CB – Connecticut

The Packers have big holes at the corner spot and inside linebacker spot. I think they go for the corner because the inside linebackers have slid into the second round. I like Jones’ athleticism and ball skills.

31.   New Orleans Saints – Marcus Peters – CB – Washington

I think the questions about Peters commitment to the game could push him out of the first round all together. I also think that at this spot the Saints jump at the chance to get the best man-to-man cover corner in the draft.

32.   New England Patriots – Eli Harold – DE/OLB – Virginia

Odds are that the Patriots trade this pick away. But if they don’t, I think they look at Harold as a potential replacement for Chandler Jones If they can’t get a deal sealed with Jones. If they do, they might even view Harold is a good complimentary pass rusher.