NFL Mock Draft 2015

1. Tampa Bay (2-14)- Jameis Winston QB Florida State
I am not at all a winston fan but I think its inevitable at this point for Winston to wind up in Tampa Bay. There are flaws TO his Game starting with his intelligence and I do believe the Bucs will grow to regret this pick.
2. Tennessee (2-14)- Leonard Williams DE USC
The best player in the draft and he would be a nice fit for their 3-4 defense under Ray Horton. They were awful overall on defense but especially against the run. I would have to imagine that 3 players must be involved to block Williams and Orakpo otherwise they could reck havoc .
3. Jacksonville (3-13)- Danny Shelton DT Washington
The Jaguars are in a very strange spot in the draft and will most likely move back in a trade with a team that wants Mariota. We have seen them surprise us before like last draft and I think they will again. They finished 27th in the league in rush defense last season and need an upgrade in the interior of the defensive line. Shelton is a mountain at 340 pounds but has good feet. He could command a double team on the inside and be paired with a rotating Odrick or Sen’Derick Marks both of whom aren’t anything above a average to below average player. On a side note many people are saying Dante Fowler Jr. here but I don’t think that will happen as there are many pass rushers in this draft ad if they move back they could get one of similar quality at a fraction of the price.
4. Oakland (3-13)- Kevin White WR West Virginia
You can knock GM Reggie McKenzie on his free agency spending and letting players go but you can;t knock him on his draft history. So far he has taken players such as DJ Hayden, Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Gabe Jackson all who look promising as potential impact players. Historically the Raiders love players with speed and Kevin White possesses that with a sub 4.35 40. Derek Carr needs a number 1 target and White can wreck havoc on opposing secondaries but I do think he is more risky than Amari Cooper.
5. Washington (4-12)- Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
If Mariota is gone then I could see them trading back and gaining more picks. New GM Scott McGloghlan took over a trainwreck of an NFL roster partially due to not having a first round pick since the RG3 trade. They have holes all over the field although I love what Scott has done in Free Agency this year picking up Talent and potential in Chris Culliver, Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea. Mariota will be able to sit and watch for a year as RG3 plays behind the worst offensive line in the league before taking the reigns in 2016. I am a Mariota fan but I truly believe he needs to wait a little and become seasoned to the pace in the NFL as well as a different system.
6. New York Jets (4-12)- Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
The Jets have a surprisingly good roster and few holes outside of QB and a young pass rusher. They signed a trio of corners (Revis, Cromarti, and Buster Skrine) to solve their weakness at corner and also have Millner coming back from injury. They also signed Marcus Gilchrist to play next to Calvin Pryor and traded for Brandon Marshall at WR. With no Qb worth taking its important to get younger at OLB with both Calvin Pace and Jason Babin 34 years old. Beasley and Quinton Couples would pair as pass rushers for about a decade and could be one of the most formidable duos in the league. I am high on Beasley.
7. Chicago (5-11)- Amari Cooper WR Alabama
With the trade of Brandon Marshall to the Jets they lack a target opposite of Alshon Jeffery and also need a Right Tackle but that can be taken in round two. Cooper will give Cutler two high end targets to throw to and will really put the pressure on Cutler as if he struggles you can’t say there was “no weapons” as he would have Forte, Martelus Bennett, Jeffery, and Cooper. They had an awful defense but they signed some short term patches like Ray McDonald and Jarvis Jenkins while signing Pernell McPhee to big money.
8. Atlanta (6-10)- Dante Fowler Jr. Florida
New defensive coordinator Richard Smith stressed the importance of sacks and QB pressure but the Falcons with the leagues worst defense are lacking a pass rusher. They currently have Tyson Jackson, Kroy Bierman and Adrian Clayborn at DE which is awful. Fowler would give them a big improvement over those guys and be a starter from day 1. The real question with Fowler is how high his ceiling is and how much better can he get.
9. New York Giants (6-10)- Landon Collins S Alabama
They lost Antrel Rolle to the Bears and Stevie Brown is currently a free agent although rumors suggest the Giants want him back. Their current safeties are Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe which is potential for major problems during the season. Landon Collins could start from day one and bring potentially impact play for this team. They might be able to move back with a trade with a team such as the Dolphins or Chargers and be able to get him.
10. St. Louis (6-10)- DeVante Parker WR Louisville
There is a ton of talent on the Rams roster largely due to the RG3 trade and with Nick Foles I would guess they are expecting to make the playoffs. They have holes on the offensive line that could be patched up later in the draft or through a stopgap in free agency but they need a number one receiver which is not available in Free Agency. Parker would be able to stretch the field and be a reliable target for Foles and the Rams offense. To match the defense the offense has criminally underrated potential with receivers, Parker, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt and Brian Quick. Tight ends Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks and breakout RB Tre Mason. Watch Out!
11. Minnesota (7-9)- Dorial Green-Beckham WR Oklahoma (Mizzou)
The Vikings are another team that will be in contention for the playoffs this season as they ail start with Teddy from day one. He needs another receiver to pair with Mike Wallace and Corderelle patterson who are both similar speed players. Beckham is extremely talented and without his problems at Mizzou could go in the top 5 but he falls here due to uncertainty. He is 6’5 and has the speed and power to go over the middle. They could also use a MLB, future pass rusher, and young corner but they will address those needs later.
12. Cleveland (7-9)- Brandon Scherff OT/OG Iowa
The Browns have two first round picks and need a WR for their offense but will have to wait with many of the top options off the board. They have the best offensive line in the league from the Center (Alex Mack) on over left to Bitiono and Joe Thomas but their right side needs work. Mitchell Schwartz has been awful at Rt while John Greco is subpar. Brandon Scherff would take one of those spots presumably RT while you can let Greco and Schwartz duke it out for RG. As far as the offensive one goes it maybe tacky to say but your only as strong as your weakest link and one deficiency can destroy your whole game plan.
13. New Orleans (7-9)- Arik Armstead DE Oregon
The Saints were woeful on defense last season and it needs to be fixed. I know they lost their big pickup Jairus Byrd early but they were so incredibly bad that other players must be held accountable. They picked up Brandon Browner and Danell Ellerbe to help that defense but they need help up front where they lacked a pass rush and had a porous run defense. The 6’7 Armstead will team with Cameron Jordan to create one of the better 3-4 DE combos in the league. They need Stanley Jean Baptiste to pick it up this season but they should be a lot better.
14. Miami (8-8)- Trae Waynes CB Michigan State
The Dolphins have made splashy signings the past 3 season (Wallace, Albert and Suh) and have high end talent but they lack depth in certain areas. One of them is Wr where they can’t get value at this point in the draft and another is Cb as Cortland Finnegan retired and where if Waynes is available they should grab him immediately. He would pair with one of the better corners in the league in Brett Grimes and would have to cover receivers such as Juilien Edelman, Eric Decker, and Robert Woods. The Dolphins next pick would most likely be a linebacker Oline or a WR.
15. San Francisco (8-8)- Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA
The 49ers had the unluckiest offseason with the retirement of star ILB Partick Willis due to injury and Chris Borland due to fearfulness and stupidity. Eric Kendricks is the brother of Eagles ILB Mychal Kendricks and could be a great player. The 49ers have been very effective in the first round recently with the exception of Jonathan Baldwin. They have a few other needs as well but they must fix the defense after losing Willis, Justin Smith, Borland, Chris Culliver and Perish Cox.
16. Houston (9-7)- Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State
The Texans waived goo bye to their franchise player Andre Johnson and need a receiver opposite of DeAndre Hopkins as Cecil Shorts III is a slot receiver. They will most likely select a linebacker in the next round. They might be reaching a little bit here but this will fill a need that must be filled to give Brian Hoyer a chance to be competitive.
17. San Diego (9-7)- Eddie Goldman NT Florida State
The Chargers are a team that could move up in the draft and we have heard rumors of Phillip Rivers being involved in a Mariota trade but I doubt the Chargers would do that. They need a big man on their defensive line to stuff the run and play next to Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes. They could also use a RB, SS and a pass rusher. They don’t have many needs but lack star talent on the defensive side of the ball save for Eric Weddle.
18. Kansas City (9-7)- Breshad Perriman WR UCF
He is FAST! He reportedly recorded a 4.22 40 yard dash time at his pro day which would be one of the fastest ever. Not an over the middle typer player but he would stretch the field similar to DeSean Jackson during his time in Philly. With Maclin on the inside this will help Alex Smith run the west coast offense and Perriman will be used plenty for bubble screens. They don’t have much salary cap room due to the franchise tag they placed on Justin Houston but if they get a long term deal done look for them to beef up their offensive line and their secondary. They should draft a ILB in the next two rounds.
19. Cleveland – from Buffalo (9-7)- Todd Gurley RB Georgia
Already having selected Offensive lineman Brandon Scherff they can move onto another need and that is RB where they really need someone who doesn’t suck. Gurley is coming off injury at Georgia but has insane talent and is relatively fresh due to being suspended for violating the NCAAs bullshit criminal monopolistic rules by signing autographs. He would be a game changer on the field although i would understand the fear of drafting another first round RB by Browns fans (Trent Richardson).
20. Philadelphia (10-6)- Malcolm Brown DT Texas
There are rumors of Chip Kelly moving up to select his college QB Marcus Mariota but I am not predicting trades in this mock draft. The Eagles do fill a need here selecting talented DT Malcolm brown who could take Cedric Thortons spot to form one of the better 3-4 combos in the league with Flethcer Cox or play the nose. They could also use a WR and RG but those options don’t have the value of Brown who is one of the more underrated players in this draft class.
21. Cincinnati* (10-5-1)- Andrus Peat LT Stanford
It seems every year a talented prospect falls to the Bengals you think would have been gone a long time ago. Outside of safety they really lack a position of weakness so they draft for the future here. Whitworth who is one of the best Left Tackles in the league is 33 and ail need to be replaced soon. By taking Peat he can start at LT and you can kick Whitworth into left guard with Boling playing center which would make this a top 3 line in the league.
22. Pittsburgh* (11-5)- Alvin “Bud” Dupree OLB Kentucky
The Steelers have a huge need at corner that they refuse to address in the first round. They love taking linebackers early (Shazier, Jarvis Jones, Timmons) and need a pass rusher to eventually replace James Harrison. Dupree is one of the higher rated players on my board and the Steelers get lucky if he slides. They also could use a left guard, Nose Tackle, safety and a couple corners.
23. Detroit* (11-5)- Marcus Peters CB Washington
The Lions had to deal with the loss of Suh and Fairley but they traded for Haloti Nghata and signed Tyrunn Walker who are going to be their defensive tackles. Darius Slay has been inconsistent and Rashean Mathis is 35 so they need a corner for the future. Marcus Peters is a very talented corner but got kicked off the football team last year due to off the field issues and bad behavior. They could use some offensive line help as well as some pass rushing depth.
24. Arizona* (11-5)- Shane Ray OLB Mizzou
Coming off a strange year many people have the Cardinals taking a running back or someone on the offensive side of the ball and that certainly makes sense but thats just not how the Cardinals do things. They like to build from the inside out primarily through defense. They lack a true pass rusher to put pressure on the quarterback. They signed Sean Whetherspoon to play one side and Ray would play another. Prbably the best GMand Head coach tandem in the league but they have a need additionally at C, RT, RB and on the Dline.
25. Carolina* (7-8-1)- La’el Collins OT LSU
They made the playoffs due to the worst division in years but next year it will be more difficult. Byron Bell is a UFA and likely will not be resigned. They need a LT but some people question whether Collins is a LT or better suited on the interior. I think he would be an all-pro guard but I don’t know how good of a LT he will be but due to his talent I would take him as he has an extremely high floor and he can slide to guard or right tackle as the Panthers are devoid of talent on the oline. They also haven’t had an above average corner since Chris Gamble retired.
26. Baltimore* (10-6)- Jalen Collins CB LSU
The Ravens are mired in salary cap hell which has forced them to trade Ngata and watch Torrey Smith leave. They could absolutely use a receiver here but none are worth taking right now. Jimmy Smith is a UFA in 2016 and will be expensive so Collins could slide in and be the replacement. There is not a lot of holes on this Ravens team but corner depth is important especially to cover Marcus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant of the Steelers.
27. Dallas* (12-4)- Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
They need a replacement for the departure of DeMarco Murray and while they covet Adrian Peterson the Vikings have said they will not release him. Dallas had a Miracle season last year but they have holes all over the defense filled with below average players outside of Sean Lee and their corners. After selecting Zach Martin last year and seeing that go so well they will not be afraid to make the boring pick. Gordon will be a stud bulldog running back perfect for Dallas.
28. Denver* (12-4)- Ereck Flowers OT Miami
Peyton is going into what is likely his last season in the NFL and Denver must do everything it can to win this year. They have lost talent in free agency in Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin, Rahim Moore, Nate Erving and Wes Welker that they need to somehow replace. The whole at left guard by the departing Orlando Franklin is the most concerning because Peyton is fragile and immobile at this stage of his career. They can plug Flowers in at RT and move Chris Clark to LG. Still they have to replace depth at other positions in the draft.
29. Indianapolis* (11-5)- Cameron Erving C Florida State
They need a Center for Andrew Luck similar to what Peyton Manning had in Jeff Saturday. Having a leader at center is critical to maintaining consistency in the offensive line. I don’t see any other needs on offense but defense they really do need some help. No one is above average up front and they need safeties but having a center can make a difference and complete this offense which might be the leagues best in 2015.
30. Green Bay* (12-4)- Randy Gregory DE Nebraska
Green Bay builds almost single handedly through the draft. After resigning BJ Raji they really don’t have any holes on their roster but they can look to get better at OLB pass rusher and younger to replace Julius Peppers eventually. Gregory could fall in the draft due to failing a drug test for weed and his bad combine. He needs to gain some weight and going to the Packers can allow his to gain weight and sit for a little before being forced into action.
31. New Orleans – from Seattle* (12-4)- Maxx Williams TE Minnesota
Following the pick of Arik Armstead they could look to address another void which was caused by the Jimmy Graham trade. Drew Brees was vocally pissed off about that trade and they need to get another weapon for him as they’ve lost Graham and Kenny Stills. The Saints are not done making moves as they have had to recover from salary cap hell and have some holes on their team.
32. New England* (12-4)- Jordan Phillips NT Oklahoma
The Patriots did win the Super Bowl so there isn’t a lot of holes but there are a couple following the departures of Darell Revis, Brandon Browner and Vince Wilfork. In Jordan Phillips they can get their next big man to stop the run which is critical toward the end of the game when opponents are trying to run out the clock. They could also use a corner or two.