First and only mock for 2015. Should be a fun draft. For more great mocks, check out WalterFootball.com.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Most logical conclusion at this point, but definitely frightens me a bit as a prospect.
2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Lot of weirdness surrounding this selection and Mariota, but he seems likely to be selected here regardless of which team ultimately makes the pick.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Jags opt to help Bortles with an elite receiver. Cooper is a lethal route runner and should form a strong duo with second-year man Allen Robinson.
4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams, DL, USC
Last year the Raiders had Khalil Mack fall into their laps, and this year it happens again with Williams -- who many view as the top overall prospect in the draft.
5. Washington Redskins - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
With a new GM and a laundry list of needs, Washington is a bit of a wildcard this year. In this case, they go for one of the few elite prospects in the class to improve their passing game.
6. New York Jets - Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
The Jets need some help up front, and get it by drafting the top offensive lineman in the class.
7. Chicago Bears - Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon
Might be a bit high for Armstead, but the Bears are a long way from fielding a front three of the quality Vic Fangio is accustomed to. This is a step in the right direction.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dante Fowler, Jr., Edge, Florida
The Falcons are thrilled in this scenario to nab the top edge rusher in the draft without having to trade up. Strong fit for Fowler.
9. New York Giants - La’El Collins, OL, LSU
Whether he ends up at right tackle or guard for them, Collins will help shore up the Giants offensive line and add some nastiness to the run game.
10. St. Louis Rams - Andrus Peat, OL, Stanford
Peat is a monster and makes sense for the Rams. He likely slides in at right tackle with last year’s top pick, Greg Robinson, manning the left side.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Randy Gregory, Edge, Nebraska
Gregory is a high-risk, high-reward prospect. Mike Zimmer has produced great results in the past coaching players with similar baggage, and teaming Gregory with Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen will make for a potentially scary pass rush in Minnesota.
12. Cleveland Browns - Bud Dupree, Edge, Kentucky
Dupree has the measurable but not the tape. This just feels like a Browns pick to me.
13. New Orleans Saints - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
If Parker makes it this far, I have trouble seeing New Orleans passing on him. He would be a great long-term replacement for Marques Colston and would help cushion the blow of losing Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills this offseason.
14. Miami Dolphins - Marcus Peters, DB, Washington
The Dolphins are in need of a sticky coverage corner opposite LCB Brent Grimes. Peters displays a great ability to shadow opposing wide receivers, and should be a good fit in their system.
15. San Francisco 49ers - Danny Shelton, DL, Washington
The Niners could use some help along the defensive front. Shelton’s size and ability would translate well to the nose in their defense, with the potential to flex out to the five technique spot as well.
16. Houston Texans - Vic Beasley, Edge, Clemson
With Brooks Reed departing and Jadaveon Clowney a bit up-in-the-air with regard to health, the Texans could use some help at rush linebacker. Beasley would be a great addition to the rotation with his ability to turn the corner, and could quickly beat out Whitney Mercilus for reps.
17. San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
With Gurley still on the board and multiple question marks in the backfield, the Chargers select the elite rusher. Gurley is a potential foundation piece and would be an immediate upgrade in the run game.
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Trae Waynes, DB, Michigan State
While Waynes is typically mocked a bit higher, I don’t see his style being a great fit for every team. The Chiefs would present a solid fit, however, and end his slight slide here.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills) - Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
The Browns could really use a playmaking receiver and grab the highly intriguing Perriman. His athleticism is off-the-charts, but he has shown mental lapses in his game and an affinity for drops. This also feels like a Browns pick to me.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Surprise? I’ve had a bit of an obsession with Chip Kelly’s drafting ever since I nailed his first two picks (Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz) two years ago. I obviously fanned on last year’s selection of Marcus Smith, along with everyone else. I have a weird feeling that Funchess is his guy this year. Funchess will likely be underdrafted after a year of sub-par tape due primarily to injury, but not in this mock. Having watched every game of his career, I know the guy is an absolute mismatch on the field when healthy.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Ereck Flowers, OL, Miami
With Andrew Whitworth nearing retirement, the Bengals take a player who has been compared to Whitworth in evaluations. Flowers is a mauler and could easily be selected higher, but fits in nicely with Cincinnati in this mock.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Shane Ray, Edge, Missouri
Ray has had a pretty poor draft season, and his stock seems to be all over the place right now. Much like with Jarvis Jones, who profiled somewhat similarly, the Steelers end his slight slide.
23. Detroit Lions - Byron Jones, DB, UConn
The past two offseasons, just about every mock sent a corner to the Lions. This year, the similarly lazy approach is the best available defensive tackle. While I’m not arguing the fact that defensive tackle is a need, I have experienced enough Mayhew drafts to not make lazy assumptions.
Rashean Mathis played at a high level in 2014, but it’s important to recognize that he will be 35 when the 2015 season kicks off. This is a forward-looking move, and it gives Jones a year to learn from Mathis and Darius Slay before starting in 2016. Jones will enter the league as one of its best athletes ever, and a borderline redshirt season would be very beneficial to the development of the technical side of his game.
24. Arizona Cardinals - Melvin Gordon III, RB, Wisconsin
Gordon would be a solid fit for the Cardinals, and I would be surprised if he fell further than Arizona.
25. Carolina Panthers - Cedric Ogbuehi, OL, Texas A&M
Definitely agree with Josh Norris of Roto on this pick. With positive news on the medical side of things, it’s sounding more and more like Ogbuehi will be selected in the first. There may not be a needier team at tackle than Carolina. In the words of Ken Nunn, “It’s just that easy.”
26. Baltimore Ravens - Malcom Brown, DL, Texas
Part of the reason Baltimore was able to trade Haloti Ngata was the high-level play of Brandon Williams. Brown profiles very similarly to Williams and would be a strong, young option to add to the rotation up front.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, DB, Wake Forest
It’s sounding like Johnson could potentially be long gone before the Cowboys are on the clock. In this situation, they grab the talented corner out of Wake Forest to help shore up their pass defense.
28. Denver Broncos - Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
I’m a fan of Erving and think this would be a great destination for him. His versatility should be a major plus in the NFL.
29. Indianapolis Colts - Landon Collins, S, Alabama
This pick makes too much sense. I was shocked when I looked at the lack of talent in the Colts two-deep safety rotation. Collins’ stock seems to be pretty volatile at the moment, but I don’t expect him to drop out of the first round.
30. Green Bay Packers - D.J. Humphries, OL, Florida
If Aaron Rodgers was quarterbacking my team, I wouldn’t be thrilled to keep trotting out David Bakhtiari at left tackle. Humphries is a bit raw, but the frame and athleticism are there. The Packers haven’t shied away from slightly shorter-armed tackles in the past, and don’t let that hurt their evaluation of Humphries here.
31. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle Seahawks) - Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
The Saints are alarmingly thin at linebacker, and could really use better coverage in the short to intermediate areas of the field. Kendricks provides that in spades and should be a fun player to watch.
32. New England Patriots - Jake Fisher, OL, Oregon
The Pats nab the highly athletic offensive lineman, with Fisher likely landing at guard in their scheme. The rich get richer.