First-Round NFL Mock Draft Before the Divisional Round
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Every weekend, we continue to get a better idea of what the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft will look like. Twenty four teams now know which slot they’ll be drafting in, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who own the first overall selection.
How will the 2015 NFL Draft play out? I don’t know, but I’ll do my best to project the outcome (minus trades).
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
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This one is a no-brainer. The Buccaneers desperately need a new quarterback with neither Josh McCown nor Mike Glennon being the answer. Mariota has proven during his collegiate career that he can be a dynamic quarterback, and should fall right into Tampa Bay’s lap with the first pick.
2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
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2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
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With all of the issues they’ve had at quarterback, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Titans passed on question mark-riddled Winston. Instead, they could aim at finding themselves the highest ceiling with Gregory, who has the athleticism and physical tools to become an elite pass rusher.
Offensive line isn’t the Jaguars’ top need, but passing on a bulldozer like Scherff certainly would be difficult. The big Iowa blocker is a dominant force in the trenches, paving massive running lanes with ease. His size, strength and explosiveness makes him an ideal fit along the Jacksonville front five.
4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
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4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
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For the second year in a row, the Raiders could get arguably the best player in the draft despite not owning the first overall pick. Teamed with Khalil Mack and the other young Oakland defenders, the wrecking ball that is Williams would make the future much brighter for the Raiders.
5. Washington Redskins: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
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5. Washington Redskins: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
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Leave it to the Redskins to draft the most mercurial player in the 2015 class. With Jay Gruden clearly fed up with Robert Griffin III, Washington could look to go in a different direction this offseason. There’s no denying Winston has the talent to be a star, but obviously has his fair share of off-the-field concerns.
6. New York Jets: La’el Collins, OT, LSU
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6. New York Jets: La’el Collins, OT, LSU
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With their top target (Winston) off the board, the Jets may be forced to upgrade their second biggest need – the offensive line. While Cooper could also be a consideration here, they have enough talent at wide receiver for now. Protecting whoever is under center should be a top priority, and Collins would certainly help.
7. Chicago Bears: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
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7. Chicago Bears: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
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This would be a dream come true for Bears fans. As we saw this season, Chicago’s two towering wide receivers' lack of speed and durability was revealed. Cooper falling into their laps, though, would be a best-case scenario. He’s the class’ top wide receiver, and has the well-rounded skill set to star in the NFL.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
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8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
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Year after year, the Falcons attempt to upgrade their pass rush, to no avail. This year, they could go big by drafting Ray, one of the most explosive edge rushers to enter the league in some time. He shoots out of his stance like a jack rabbit, and can turn the corner with the best of them.
9. New York Giants: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
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9. New York Giants: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
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The Giants don’t have a dire need at safety, but passing up a talent like Collins at nine would be very difficult. The former Alabama enforcer plays the run extremely well, but also excels in coverage and routinely finds his hands on the ball. New York needs a defensive playmaker, and Collins could be it.
10. St. Louis Rams: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
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10. St. Louis Rams: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
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This would definitely be a risky move, but the Rams haven’t normally had a problem with risky moves. Peters, in terms of on-field talent, is easily the best cornerback in the 2015 class. His off-the-field issues are a concern, but the talent outweighs the character problems on a Jeff Fisher-led team.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
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11. Minnesota Vikings: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
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The past two years, the Vikings have watched Matt Kalil go from a promising young tackle to a first-round bust. There’s still a little time for him to get back on track, but with only one year left on his rookie contract, the Vikings need a backup plan. Stanley, if he declares, is an excellent one.
Especially considering Josh Gordon’s inconsistency and history, and the Browns’ lack of quality wide receiver depth, new talent is needed in Cleveland. Adding Parker would be an excellent move for the Browns and whoever their starting quarterback is in 2015.
13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
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13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
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It was obvious in 2014 that the Saints needed another legitimate pass rusher on the other side of their 3-4 defense. Beasley has everything they could be looking for, which makes him an excellent option at 13. He’s blazing fast around the edge, shows good bend and has a knack for finding the quarterback.
14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
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14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
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As we saw this season, the Dolphins are only a few pieces away from being a playoff team. Upgrading the linebacking unit would also be a wise move. That’s where Thompson could come in. He’s athletic enough to fill in wherever they need him, and has a nose for the football.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
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15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
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Albeit a bit of a one-year wonder, White proved this season that he’s capable of putting a secondary through the shredder. With excellent speed, quickness and hands, White would be a welcomed addition to a San Francisco offense riddled with inconsistency out wide.
16. Houston Texans: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
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16. Houston Texans: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
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With no worthy quarterback on the board, the Texans are forced to look elsewhere with their first-round pick. Seeing as their pass defense struggled quite often this season, adding a cornerback couldn’t hurt. Waynes is a big, physical cover man with the quickness and body control to develop into a star.
17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
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17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
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It seems like every year we’re talking about the Chargers needing more help on the defensive line even though they got more the year before. Well this time around, they’re in desperate need of a nose tackle because Sean Lissemore isn’t cutting it. Shelton is a monster in the middle, and a perfect fit for San Diego.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
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18. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
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Evidenced by the fact that Chiefs receivers did not catch a single touchdown in 2014, it’s time for an upgrade in Kansas City. Funchess is a physical specimen with the size and quickness to cause matchup problems, and the hands and reliability to become Alex Smith’s go-to target.
19. Cleveland Browns (via BUF): Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
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19. Cleveland Browns (via BUF): Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
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Karlos Dansby was a solid addition to the Browns’ lineup this offseason, but he’s far from a long-term solution. Drafting someone like McKinney, however, would be. Not only does he have the size and speed to clog running lanes, but he offers enough athleticism to play all three downs.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
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20. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
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Put simply, the Eagles’ cornerbacks were far from reliable this season. They finished 2014 with the second-worst pass defense in the NFL, which means it’s time for a change. By drafting Mills, the Eagles would be adding a fast, instinctive cover man to the ranks who can contribute from Day 1.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
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21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
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Even after drafting Darqueze Dennard last year, the Bengals still need help at cornerback. While Dennard could obviously develop into a quality starter despite a disappointing rookie season, adding the underrated Carter to the mix would help stabilize the secondary even more. Adding a safety could also be an option.
With there being a good chance that Troy Polamalu retires this offseason, the Steelers are going to need some more playmakers on the backend. By bringing in Holliman, Pittsburgh would be getting a ball hawk who, with some work on his tackling, could steal the starting free safety job before Week 1.
23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
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23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
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There’s a good chance one (or both) of either Ndamukong Suh or Nick Fairley could be gone in 2015, which is why upgrading at defensive tackle will be imperative. Goldman is an absolute force along the front four, and has the size/strength/agility combo to help make the transition easier for Detroit.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
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24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
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The Cardinals’ outside linebackers have been solid this year, but they could certainly use an upgrade. Many see Dupree as a potential Top 15 pick, so getting him here would be quite the steal. He’d immediately upgrade the pass rush and give them a long-term solution on the edge.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
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25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
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There’s no way around the Panthers addressing the offensive line this offseason. Their pass blocking was miserable throughout the 2014 campaign, and Byron Bell was a mess as the starting left tackle. Adding Peat, a proven pass blocker with tons of athleticism and smarts, would be a wise move.
While the Ravens would certainly love to add some cornerback talent to the mix, the top prospects are already off the board. So instead, they could look to upgrade their offensive line. While Ogbuehi had a down year in 2014, his athleticism, versatility and footwork make him an intriguing option for Baltimore.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
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27. Indianapolis Colts: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
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Let’s not pretend like Trent Richardson or Dan Herron is the long-term answer in Indianapolis, and the team doesn’t want to depend on the injury-prone Ahmad Bradshaw. While Gordon isn’t a true three-down back yet, he has the dynamic talent and speed to develop into Andrew Luck’s new best friend.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
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28. Dallas Cowboys: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
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I’ll admit I’m not a big fan of Fowler’s tape, but he definitely has the speed and athleticism off the edge to go in the first round. The Cowboys are still lacking in the pass rush department, and could use a boost at defensive end. Fowler has the potential to be a stud with some serious work on his technique.
29. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
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29. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
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It’s no secret that the Packers’ run defense was pitiful at times this season. That’s what happens when Letroy Guion is your starting nose guard, though. The B.J. Raji era is all but over, so drafting a freak athlete like Phillips and inserting his 6’6’’, 334-pound frame into the starting lineup makes sense.
30. New England Patriots: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
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30. New England Patriots: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
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Let’s be honest – Tom Brady is probably tired of making something out of nothing. He’s ready to have a true No. 1 receiver who can dominate defenses on a week-to-week basis. That’s where a player like Strong could come in. The former Sun Devil is a matchup nightmare with excellent hands.
31. Denver Broncos: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
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31. Denver Broncos: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
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There’s a very good possibility that Julius Thomas will not be with the Broncos when the 2015 season rolls around. That’s why adding an athletic, play-making tight end will be integral for the Broncos to stay atop the AFC. Williams has all of the physical tools to be the second coming of Rob Gronkowski.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
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32. Seattle Seahawks: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
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The Seahawks are no strangers to surprise picks. Especially with Marshawn Lynch expected to be headed out of Seattle this offseason, they’ll need a big, powerful back to turn to. Christine Michael and Gurley could combine to become one of the best one-two punches in the NFL.
Gil Alcaraz IV is the Director of Content for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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