With the 2014 season concluding after this weekends Super Bowl we now step into the thick and gooey quicksand known as the draft process. This multiple month long educated guessing-game filled with all-star games, combines, and pro-days all add up to a sticky trap of spewing information on every draft eligible player from your blue chip prospects to your under the radar sleepers and every guy in-between. One of the more enjoyable parts of the never-ending charades in the entertainment brought on from the numerous mock drafts that gives you multiple avenues and train of thought in which direction draft day could likely unfold.
I grabbed eDraft.com’s lead editor Vincent Frank to alternate picks and add fuel to the kindling fire of other mock drafts that will soon be up in flames. After returning from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama I can say I have a better feel for who’s stock is rising and who failed to live up to the hype during the week long event. And more so what specific team needs have started to take shape underneath the surface of obvious choices, so please indulge in your daily dose of another possible outcome of round one of this years 2015 NFL Draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State (Luke)
“Give it time, but rest assured once the dust has settled teams will realize Winston is the better pro-prospect right now, making this the right choice barring a trade down.”
2. Tennessee Titans, Leonard Williams, Defensive Line, USC (Vincent)
“Somewhat of a difficult decision with Mariota on the board, but Tennessee is in need of help upfront.”
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, Randy Gregory, Defensive End, Nebraska (Luke)
“Disrupting the QB is still the name of the game, and Gregory's complete game as an every-down player makes him the easy choice with Williams gone as the other blue chip defensive prospect.”
4. Oakland Raiders, Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Alabama (Vincent)
“All things equal, Raiders trade down if the board falls this way. But Cooper is a legit No. 1 for Derek Carr.”
5. Washington Redskins, Brandon Scherff, Offensive Lineman, Iowa (Luke)
“Not just the best run blocking lineman in the draft, but the safest too. The Outland Trophy award winner immediately adds a physicality to Grudens' vital offensive running attack that is desperate for a new identity. RG3 needs the option game working to live up to his potential and this is the right place to start. Of course it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Daniel Snyder go bat shit crazy (like always) and take Marcus Mariota would it? Ya I said it…”
6. New York Jets, Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon (Vincent)
“Well this was an absolute no-brainer. If Mariota falls to six, the Jets are doing cartwheels. Day 1 starter, period!”
7. Chicago Bears, Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle, Washington (Luke)
“It happens every year, a big Senior Bowl star thrusts his way into the top-10. With Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense in place a dominating nose tackle gets the most important piece to the puzzle out of the way, starting this era out right.”
8. Atlanta Falcons, Shane Ray, Linebacker, Mizzou (Vincent)
“It's not a secret that Atlanta needs a pass rusher (or five). Ray is one of the best natural EDGE players in the draft.”
9. New York Giants, TJ Clemmings, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh (Luke)
“Clemmings did not live up to the hype during the Senior Bowl, but still the fact remains he has the most raw physical talent and ability (played defensive end just two years ago) over any one of his peers.”
10. St. Louis Rams, Shaq Thompson, Linebacker, Washington (Vincent)
“Thompson would be a tremendous fit with Ogletree, completing what would be one of the best 4-3 front 7's in the NFL.”
11. Minnesota Vikings, Kevin White, Wide Receiver, West Virginia (Luke)
“While Devante Parker will be the sexy pick here throughout the draft process with the Louisville connection, soon fans will realize White brings everything to the table Parker does, offering up a more complete weapon from top-to-bottom.”
12. Cleveland Browns, Devante Parker, Wide Receiver, Louisville (Vincent)
“With Gordon's looming suspension, Browns NEED another WR for whoever is under center. Parker is pro-ready.”
13. New Orleans Saints, Dante Fowler, Linebacker, Florida (Luke)
“Defensive toys are needed for Rob Ryan and Fowler will have him looking like a 5 year old at Christmas with his jolt off the snap and array of pass-rushing moves.”
14. Miami Dolphins, Eric Kendricks, Linebacker, UCLA (Luke)
“The more I watch the more I love. Kendricks is a 3-down sideline-to-sideline linebacker that has the "it" for making plays (and NFL-Bloodlines)”
15. San Fransisco Forty-Niners, Trae Waynes, Cornerback, Michigan State (Vincent)
“Not the sexy pick, but 49ers could lose both Cox/Culliver in free agency. Waynes is consensus No. 1 CB prospect and will add to a young core of defensive talent to build around for years to come.”
16. Houston Texans, Brett Hundley, Quarterback, UCLA (Vincent)
“The first "reach" of the draft, Houston needs a franchise QB. Hundley could be that guy in two years.”
17. San Diego Chargers, Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, Running Back (Luke)
“In a rare combination of talent and depth at the position then we’ve seen in a decade Gordon is the best of the bunch and will give the team a consistent home-run threat since that LT guy. Want to keep Philip Rivers around a few more years? This will help..
18. Kansas City Chiefs, Devin Funchess, Wide Receiver, Michigan (Vincent)
“KC receivers didn't catch a single TD in 2014. Funchess is that big body receiver that could team up with Kelce.”
19. Cleveland Browns, Sammie Coates, Wide Receiver, Auburn (Luke)
“Zero to hero sums up the Browns receivers after this draft. The team can not go on any longer with the Josh Gordon charades and behind him is literally nobody! One look at Coates in Mobile and I was sold on a developmental talent that has all the physical tools to be a star on Sundays.”
20. Philadelphia Eagles, Landon Collins, Safety, Alabama (Vincent)
“Do we even need to look at Philly's safety play the past few seasons? Collins is the consensus number one safety and while he has flaws in coverage, he will help give the Eagles defense a physical presence they’ve been missing since Brian Dawkins.”
21. Cincinnati Bengals, Vic Beasly, Edge Rusher, Clemson (Luke)
“Praying Collins would have felt, the Bengals grab the best pass rusher on the board. Beasly was being discussed as a top-5 pick had he came out last year. While he may not fit this defense to a “T” have faith coach Lewis will maximize his strengths.”
22. Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcus Peters, Cornerback, Washington (Vincent)
“With Ike Taylor playing horribly in 2014 and team moving on from him, Pittsburgh needs a young CB. It's that simple.”
23. Detroit Lions, Jalen Collins, Cornerback, LSU (Luke)
“Not a household name yet, but post combine Collins will be in discussion as a top CB candidate with his long 6'2" frame. With a ferocious front-four this secondary is thirsty for a playmaker to take advantage of quick drop backs and arrant throws.”
24. Arizona Cardinals, Cameron Irving, Offensive Lineman, FSU (Vincent)
“Mainly an OT, Arizona would move Erving inside to center, at least initially. It's a major need for this up-and-coming team. Now cross your fingers Jonathan Cooper is fully rehabilitated to give them a nasty 1-2 punch in the physical NFC West.”
25. Carolina Panthers, La’el Collins, Offensive Tackle, LSU (Luke)
“The top tackle on many boards still to this day, Panthers get lucky at a position desperate for talent and depth. They now can take advantage of a deep receiver class in rounds two or three for a compliment to Benjamin like Justin Hardy or Tyler Lockett.”
26. Baltimore Ravens, Gerod Holliman, Safety, Louisville (Vincent)
“The back end of Baltimore's defense has been a mess. Holliman can't tackle, but he sure can cover.”
27. Dallas Cowboys, PJ Williams, Cornerback, FSU (Luke)
“Jerry learned the hard way that his secondary still can't hang w Aaron Rodgers and the big boys. Williams can’t fix it all but will start from day-one and add talent and depth to a position of need. Free agency will have a huge impact on this teams needs specifically running back and receiver (Murray and Bryant)
28. Denver Broncos, Benardrick McKinney, Inside Linebacker, Mississippi State (Vincent)
“In need of upgrading over Nate Irving, McKinney is the best true ILB in the draft. No brainer here.”
29. Indianpolis Colts, Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas (Luke)
“Colts just need to build a respectable defense and Luck will take care of the rest. Brown is big and nasty and can play both DT and DE. Brown will go a long way into adding a certain physicality into the Colts defense they’ve been missing for some time now.”
30. Green Bay Packers, Max Williams, Tight End, Minnesota (Vincent)
“Andrew Quarless is good and all, but Williams would be so dynamic in this offense, almost to the point of being unfair.”
31. New England Patriots, Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma (Luke)
“Think of this as a pre-retirement present for Brady, to ironicaly keep him out of retirement for as long as possible. Then when you’re done thinking of that think about Gronk and Beckham in the red zone together…”
32. Seattle Seahawks, Todd Gurley, Running Back, Georgia (Vincent)
“Lynch isn't coming back (and if he does, not for too long). You can’t just replace Lynch but if you were going to try this would be the guy, Gurley fits this scheme to a T.”
Luke’s Top-Five Available
1) Eli Harold, OLB/DE, Virginia
2) Bud Dupree, OLB/DE, Kentucky
3) Laken Tomlinson, Guard, Duke
4) Paul Dawson, Linebacker, TCU
5) Hau’Oli Kikaha, Linebacker, Washington
Vincent’s Top-Five Available
1) Eddie Goldman, Defensive Tackle, Florida State
2) Arik Armstead, Defensive Lineman, Oregon
3) Alex Carter, Cornerback, Stanford
4) Jalen Strong, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
5) Ereck Flowers, Offensive Tackle, Miami