Thursday, March 12, 2015

NFL Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft After Opening Days of Free Agency

lathur | 7:38 AM | | | | |
NFL Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft After Opening Days of Free Agency

Julio Cortez/Associated Press




Free agency took what many expected to happen in the 2015 NFL draft and turned it on its head, with many NFL teams' biggest needs being answered in the open market throughout the opening few days.


The league's new year is only a couple of days old, but some of the league's biggest names have already seen changes of scenery, and surprise moves have appeared in droves. While not much has happened to change some of the picks at the very top, plenty of teams have seen their draft focus shift recently.


With that said, let's take a look at how the first round of the draft should shake out.





































































































































































Round 1 2015 NFL Mock Draft
1Tampa Bay BuccaneersJameis Winston, QB, FSU
2Tennessee TitansLeonard Williams, DT, USC
3Jacksonville JaguarsDante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
4Oakland RaidersAmari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5Washington RedskinsRandy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
6New York JetsMarcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7Chicago BearsVic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
8Atlanta FalconsShane Ray, DE, Missouri
9New York GiantsLandon Collins, S, Alabama
10St. Louis RamsKevin White, WR, West Virginia
11Minnesota VikingsBrandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
12Cleveland BrownsAndrus Peat, OT, Stanford
13New Orleans SaintsLa'el Collins, OT, LSU
14Miami DolphinsDeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15San Francisco 49ersTrae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16Houston TexansGerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
17San Diego ChargersDanny Shelton, DT, Washington
18Kansas City ChiefsT.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
19Cleveland Browns *via Buffalo*Arik Armstead, DT/DE, Oregon
20Philadelphia EaglesMarcus Peters, CB, Washington
21Cincinnati BengalsJalen Collins, CB, LSU
22Pittsburgh SteelersAlvin "Bud" Dupree, DE, Kentucky
23Detroit LionsTodd Gurley, RB, Georgia
24Arizona CardinalsEddie Goldman, DT, FSU
25Carolina PanthersD.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26Baltimore RavensMelvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27Dallas CowboysP.J. Williams, CB, FSU
28Denver BroncosEreck Flowers, OT, Miami
29Indianapolis ColtsBenardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
30Green Bay PackersDenzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
31New Orleans Saints *via Seattle*Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
32New England PatriotsCameron Erving, C, FSU


1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, FSU


The beginning of the free-agency cycle proved to be quiet in Tampa Bay, which is likely just how the Buccaneers would have liked it. They've long been set on adding a franchise quarterback to a young offensive nucleus, and the time is finally arriving to do so.


For what Tampa Bay covets, there's no better fit than Jameis Winston.


The Florida State quarterback has the total package of a strong, accurate arm along with in-pocket awareness and an intelligence to both sniff out coverages and take advantage of their weaknesses. Few quarterback skill sets have been as polished coming out of school, most of which are in the midst of incredible careers.


The biggest speed bump for prospective NFL teams has always been his maturity level, but even that is taking big strides in the predraft process. ESPN's Darren Rovell uncovered that Winston not only deleted his Twitter account, but he also met with the league commissioner:


The emergence of Oregon's Marcus Mariota may have made it a two-horse race for the top spot in the draft, and it should turn out that both have strong careers. But you don't pick a quarterback at No. 1 overall unless you're sold on him, and Winston's stock is the easiest one to sell at the moment.


3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE/OLB Dante Fowler, Florida


David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still a few stud players away from truly turning the corner, so why not look in-state when one of the draft's top prospects hails from the University of Florida?


Of course, Dante Fowler possesses much more than just a home-state feel. The 6'3", 261-pound menace is a dominant edge-rusher and run-stuffer, racking up 15 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hurries during his final season with the Gators.


In a class that boasts a number of elite edge-rushers, Fowler may be the best, per Bleacher Report's Matt Miller:


Jacksonville has been associated as one of the league's worst teams over recent history and justifiably so, but the Jags defense actually took a surprise turn for the better in 2014. The 45 team sacks ranked sixth in the NFL, with most of the danger coming from the interior rather than the edge.


But those days without an impact off the edge will be over and done with if the Jaguars take Fowler at No. 3 overall. It's picks like this that get a team like Jacksonville away from the top five of the draft in the future, and this could be the selection that finally puts the Jags over the hump and allows for some real improvement.


10. St. Louis Rams: WR Kevin White, West Virginia


Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Former No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Sam Bradford might be gone, but recently acquired gunslinger Nick Foles is going to need better options in the passing game. After having his fair share of weapons in Philadelphia, he's entering a Rams team awfully shaky at the skill positions.


Now that head coach Jeff Fisher has somewhat of an idea of how his team's offense is going to look, he can take the next step by giving Foles his very own go-to receiver in West Virginia's Kevin White.


The Rams attempted to bring in a game-changer with the eighth overall pick of Tavon Austin in the 2013 draft, a selection that hasn't exactly paid off. But while Austin emerged in a relatively weak receiving class, White has emerged as a serious candidate to be drafted ahead of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper.


Foles won't be able to get very far in St. Louis without the Rams addressing their need at the skill position, but it's not really a big one. Plug in a player of White's caliber alongside Austin and Kenny Britt, and the Rams could have a much more potent offense in 2015.






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