Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston will likely continue to dominate the headlines leading up to the 2015 NFL draft as their battle atop the quarterback rankings may decide the first pick. They are far from the only ultra-talented prospects in the class, though.
The best way to illustrate that fact is to note that Leonard Williams, who could very well become the most impactful player in the class, is slated to go fifth in the mock draft below. So teams drafting near the top of Round 1 should come away happy with their additions.
Things are sure to change as the draft process plays out in the months ahead—not radically, but some prospects will rise while others slide. Let's check out one of many possible scenarios for how the draft could play out in the first round.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
While Winston is generating a lot of buzz, Mariota remains the safer option for Tampa. He's coming off a season in which he tossed 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions while rushing for 15 more scores. He has also acted like somebody with the right mental make-up to succeed at the next level.
Nati Harnik/Associated Press 2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
The Titans are in prime position to trade down if they don't feel confident in Winston becoming a franchise quarterback. If the right offer doesn't come along, however, they should look to Gregory as they try to rebuild a lackluster defensive front. Leonard Williams is also a strong option.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Jacksonville quarterbacks were sacked a combined 71 times this past season. It's almost impossible to showcase any offensive development when opponents are constantly in the backfield. Scherff would be a welcome building block.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Raiders made some positive strides despite their poor record. That said, they still need to focus on adding more playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Cooper should have little trouble making an immediate impact after a terrific campaign with the Tide.
5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
As mentioned, Williams could ultimately go down as the best player in the class. He's a versatile lineman capable of filling and excelling in several different roles. Further technique coaching can turn him into a defensive stalwart for Washington.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
The possibilities for where Winston will land are numerous. Both of the top two teams need a quarterback, and if the one the Titans want most is gone, they could trade their selection to a team looking to snag the other one, which in this case is the Florida State star.
That said, regardless of how things play out at the top of the draft, it's tough to see a scenario where he slides past the Jets at No. 6. New York desperately needs an upgrade at the position and would have to take a chance, even with Winston's off-field issues.
There's no doubting his talent. When you watch him play, he often makes the game look simple, thanks to a big arm and the ability to drop throws perfectly over a defense. But the question is how the whole package compares to Mariota, who he'll be linked to forever, as illustrated by ESPN Stats & Info:
Ultimately, playing under the bright lights of New York City would either bring the absolute best out of Winston or lead to a quick NFL downfall. It's impossible to know. But the Jets would be getting the potential franchise signal-caller they need right now.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
The Bears gave up too many big plays defensively last season, especially in the passing game. Collins has emerged as the top safety because he's shown the ability to thrive both in coverage and stepping forward to stop the run. He's a do-it-all safety Chicago could certainly use.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Atlanta ranked near the bottom of the league with just 22 sacks last season. It's hard to have any level of consistency on the defensive side of the ball when you can't pressure the quarterback. Ray has the speed off the edge to develop into a serious pass-rushing menace.
Which of these edge defenders has the brightest future?
Which of these edge defenders has the brightest future?
Shane Ray
Shaq Thompson
Vic Beasley
9. New York Giants: Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
Fowler could end up pushing into the top five by the time draft day arrives. Should he slide to this spot, it's hard to imagine the Giants passing on him. They need another impact player at the linebacker position and he's got plenty of upside.
10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Even though St. Louis used its first-round pick on Greg Robinson last year, the offensive line remains a point of emphasis. Adding Peat, who's capable of playing on either side of the line, should finally bring some stability to the group.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Beasley doesn't feature ideal size, which is always a major talking point during the draft process. It's hard not to be intrigued by his potential as a pass-rusher, though. Given the importance of that aspect of the game, he's worth the investment.
12. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The fascinating thing about White is that he doesn't stand out in any single area. He's not the fastest receiver in the class and doesn't have the best hands. But he's really solid across the board and the complete package points toward a high chance of success in the NFL.
13. New Orleans Saints: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
New Orleans must continue to focus on upgrading its defense. Several key additions, including a potential top corner like Waynes, may well be enough to allow the Saints to enjoy a major bounce-back season in 2015.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images 14. Miami Dolphins: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
It may be fair to call this pick a reach if the Dolphins go this route. But McKinney represents exactly the type of player Miami needs in the middle of its defense, and there's almost no chance he'll still be on the board next time they are on the clock without trading up.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
The 49ers don't lack depth at wide receiver, but they do lack top-end talent. That's in large part because Michael Crabtree hasn't developed the way many thought he would. Strong would give Colin Kaepernick a new dynamic target to work with.
16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
This is another pick where a clear need may trump the consensus rankings. Hundley is currently viewed as more of a fringe first-round pick, but quarterback is the most obvious need for the Texans. If they feel he can make a difference, it would be worth taking the chance.
17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
The Chargers struggled to contain opposing rushing attacks last season. That was one reason a year that started off so promising ended without a playoff appearance. Shelton is a well-built interior lineman capable of playing a large role on early downs right away.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Football fans have heard the stats countless times, but it's worth repeating for emphasis: The Chiefs went an entire season without a wide receiver catching a touchdown. That's nothing short of astonishing given the brand of football played nowadays.
Parker would go a long way in getting the group back on track. He's a target with ideal size, reliable hands and the ability to go up to win battles in the air. Beyond that, Josh Norris of Rotoworld showed an example of him working the underneath game:
The good news for the Chiefs is that this receiver class is quite deep. So there should definitely be one worth taking at this spot. All the better if it's Parker, who can immediately make the red-zone impact they sorely lacked in 2014.
19. Cleveland Browns (from BUF): Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
This is where having two picks in the opening round is a major advantage. The Browns can add an impact defender in Brown after already improving the offense instead of having to wait until later on, when the prospects' chances of making a quick impact decrease significantly.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
The Eagles need more playmakers on defense. Since the team's fast-paced style of play doesn't lend itself to a typical shut-down defense, it becomes more important to force turnovers. Johnson fits the bill and would be another helpful piece for the secondary.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press 21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Goldman is still very much a work in progress. He arrived at Florida State amid plenty of attention but never developed into a consistent force. Though his upside is still evident, he may take a little longer than most first-rounders to reach his peak.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
A second straight Seminoles star comes off the board in Williams. He likes to play physical on the outside and is also willing to take chances. Sometimes those risks don't pay off, but more teams are leaning toward this type of corner.
23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Lions could still use further reinforcements for their secondary, despite the defense's overall improvement. Peters is the top corner left on the board and should be ready to play in certain packages right away before working his way into a bigger role.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images 24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
Arizona has more holes than its 11-5 record in 2014 suggests. None are bigger than the defensive front, which didn't get enough pressure and was mediocre against the run. Dupree is a well-rounded option who presents good value at this point.
25. Carolina Panthers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Cam Newton was under pressure far too much in 2014. That prevented him from finding his rhythm as a passer and caused him to take too many hits, both inside and outside the pocket. Ogbuehi should provide him with more time to operate next season.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Last year, the Ravens were able to patch together a solid rushing attack in large part due to the success of Justin Forsett, but there are still question marks at the position moving forward. That's why Gordon, who can handle a big workload, is a smart selection.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
Even though the Cowboys made some positive strides on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, they still lost too many battles at the point of attack. That was particularly clear in the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, who put up more than 400 yards of offense.
Orchard represents exactly the type of player they could use. The Utah product has flashed pass-rushing upside but also excels when taking on blockers against the run. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com highlighted that as part of his scouting report:
Against the run, Orchard is a surprisingly stout defender at the point of attack. He rarely concedes ground to big, physical blockers despite the significant size disparity when facing offensive tackles weighing 300-plus pounds.
All told, Orchard will need to add more moves to his arsenal to become a consistent pass-rushing threat at the next level. The Cowboys can afford to wait for that aspect of his game to develop. They just need him to win battles at the line for now.
28. Denver Broncos: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Denver could end up picking a tight end with this selection, assuming Julius Thomas lands elsewhere in free agency. If the Broncos don't feel comfortable with the options, the best route would be upgrading the line for Peyton Manning.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Daniel Herron showed some promise in the latter stages of last season. As a whole, the Colts' running back situation is still unsettled, though. As long as they are convinced Gurley's health won't be an issue, he's a nice selection at this spot.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images 30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
Since they need an inside linebacker, the Packers are probably hoping the Dolphins don't take McKinney earlier in the round so he's still on the board. If he's not, then Perryman could slide into the first round thanks to his run-defense capabilities.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
The Seahawks really don't have any must-upgrade areas. Adding more weapons like Funchess to the passing game, which is really a secondary factor, given their defense and running game, would just make the team that much harder to play against.
32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Green-Beckham could end up much higher on this list or outside of the first round altogether by the time draft day arrives. It's impossible to get a perfect read at this point. The talent is there, but teams will want to talk with him about his off-field issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment