Rampant trade talk and a pick-your-flavor class of prospects will make the first
NFL Draft held in the city of Chicago a memorable one.
While
most are focusing on what the Tennessee Titans will do with the No. 2
overall pick, the action could really get interesting a pick later, as
most anticipate quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will,
indeed, be the first two picks off board. Rather than pick between
defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Dante Fowler, Jr. the Jaguars may
instead elect to take a player on offense for the sixth consecutive
year.
Sparking the offense (and fan base) could be decision that
helps Jacksonville become relevant and sparks a crazy first day of the
2015
NFL Draft.
***** Final Update *****
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State:
Though questions still remain about Winston's maturity, from a purely
football perspective, he is an excellent match in Tampa Bay as he
possesses the awareness, accuracy, and arm strength to take full
advantage of the Bucs' massive pass-catchers. Winston has Pro Bowl
talent and makes Tampa Bay instantly competitive in a very winnable NFC
South.
2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon:
Whether the Titans select Mariota or trade this pick to another team
(the Browns or Eagles appear most likely), sources throughout the league
expect the reigning Heisman Trophy winner to come off the board at No.
2. Mariota isn't as pro-ready as Winston but he has possesses all of the
traits to be a franchise quarterback.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama:
Giving second-year quarterback Blake Bortles the most pro-ready
receiver in the draft helps Jacksonville more than adding another pass
rusher to a squad that already finished sixth in the NFL in sacks a
season ago.
4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams, DT, Southern Cal:
Arguably the best defender in the draft fell into the Raiders' lap a
year ago with Khalil Mack. Williams has said he'd like to play for the
Raiders and would complement Mack, giving Oakland its' first fearsome
defensive front in a long time.
5. Washington Redskins -- Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida:
With the draft's most pro-ready pass rusher still available, Washington
is able to quickly replace free agent departure Brian Orakpo - who the
club attempted to keep.
6. New York Jets - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia:
New general manager Mike Macaggnan and head coach Todd Bowles have no
ties to incumbent quarterback Geno Smith and could make a bold play for
Mariota. If standing pat, adding arguably the most gifted receiver in
the draft could give Smith the trio of receivers (along with Brandon
Marshall and Eric Decker) necessary to knock the CB-needy Patriots off
their perch in the AFC East.
7. Chicago Bears - Danny Shelton, DT, Washington:
Any debate as to the direction of Chicago's pick could be answered if
both of the top receivers are off the board. John Fox's allegiance lies
on the defensive line anyway and he and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
may see Shelton as the ideal building block at nose guard.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson:
The Falcons brought in former Seahawks' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
as head coach to bring some intensity and pass rush to Atlanta. Pound
for pound, Beasley is the most explosive edge rusher in the draft.
9. New York Giants - Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa:
The Giants could be intrigued by some of the edge rushers still on the
board but if Scherff - the draft's best offensive lineman - is
available, he'd make too much sense to pass up.
10. St. Louis Rams - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami:
The Rams developed a fearsome defensive line with the picks gained in
the 2012 Robert Griffin III trade but reinforcements are still needed on
the opposite side. Like last year's No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson,
Flowers is a mauler in the running game.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State:
Given the receivers Minnesota faces each year in the NFC North, it
wouldn't be a surprise to see defensive-minded head coach Mike Zimmer
push for another long-lanky corner for his scheme, especially should the
top talent at the position fall in his lap.
12. Cleveland Browns -- Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida:
If the Browns are unable (or unwilling) to trade up for Mariota,
filling holes at wide receiver and along the line of scrimmage would
become the priority. Perriman has the explosiveness to replace Josh
Gordon as a vertical threat and could emerge as a true No. 1 target if
he eliminated some of the drops. Watch out for this pick (or No. 19
overall) going to Philadelphia in a deal for veteran quarterback Sam
Bradford.
13. New Orleans Saints - Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky:
With two first round picks but multiple needs after jettisoning Jimmy
Graham, Kenny Stills and Ben Grubbs, the Saints could go in a variety of
directions here. Providing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan with an
explosive rusher like Dupree could provide the greatest immediate
impact.
14. Miami Dolphins - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia:
With his surgically-repaired knee reportedly earning positive reviews
from NFL doctors during the Combine re-check April 17, Gurley is likely
to get a late bump up draft boards. By already investigating a trade
into the top 10 for a receiver, Miami appears committed to making a big
splash on draft day, similar to the aggressive move made in free agency
with the signing of Ndamukong Suh.
15. San Francisco 49ers - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington:
Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retiring has shifted the attention in
San Francisco to inside linebacker but replacing starting cornerback
Chris Culliver is also a concern. Peters comes with obvious character
concerns after getting kicked off the team at Washington but the Oakland
native would have local support here and plays with the physicality to
handle playing in the rough and tumble NFC West.
16. Houston Texans - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville:
The addition of veterans Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington may not equal
what the Texans lost with Andre Johnson heading to divisional rival
Indianapolis. Parker's gliding gait and wide catch radius could
complement the toughness and physicality that DeAndre Hopkins already
brings to the field.
17. San Diego Chargers - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin:
If unable to swing a deal for Mariota, the Chargers may take the more
conventional route of boosting its offense by investing a first round
pick in a runner - the same route that landed the club LaDainian
Tomlinson and Ryan Matthews, the only two backs to rush for over 1,000
yards for San Diego this century.
18. Kansas City Chiefs - D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida:
Under general manager John Dorsey, the Chiefs have consistently drafted
with an eye towards the future. As such, a defensive back makes sense.
Don't put it past head coach Andy Reid (a former offensive line coach)
to ignore a talent like Humphries, who possesses the light feet to
handle left tackle, allowing former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher to
remain at his more natural right tackle position.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) - Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon:
The Browns finished dead last in the NFL in run defense a year ago and
have allowed over 2,000 rushing yards in 14 of the past 16 seasons - a
recipe for disaster in the black and blue AFC North. If standing pat, it
is hard to imagine defensive-minded head coach Mike Pettine not pushing
for help along the line of scrimmage and Armstead has the raw tools to
develop.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State:
The Eagles may very well wind up trading out of this pick but with
concerns along the offensive line and Chip Kelly's preference for
versatile and highly athletic blockers, Erving could be a perfect match.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford:
The Bengals have two solid tackles in Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith
but each will be entering the final year of their respective contracts
in 2015. The notoriously frugal Bengals may already be looking ahead to
the future, especially if a talent like Peat falls into their lap.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Randy Gregory, OLB/DE, Nebraska:
With a once-proud defense aging, Steelers' general manager Kevin
Colbert may be a little bit more willing to roll the dice on a player
with character red flags. Cornerback is the team's greatest need by edge
rushers with Gregory's length and agility don't come around very often
outside of the top 20 picks.
23. Detroit Lions - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas:
The loss of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency makes
defensive tackle an obvious area of concern for the Lions. Brown is a
quick-twitch penetrating defensive tackle whose blue-collar work ethic
might be especially appreciated in Detroit after Suh took the money and
ran and Fairley failed to live up to expectations.
24. Arizona Cardinals - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri:
A citation for marijuana possession this week and a
less-than-spectacular Pro Day has Ray's stock slipping but for an
Arizona squad looking for edge rushers, the reigning SEC sack king could
fit perfectly. Ray has an electric first step to beat pass blockers off
the edge and if inserted into a defense as talented as Arizona's, he
could quickly prove a steal.
25. Carolina Panthers - Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon:
The addition of veterans Michael Oher and Jonathan Martin sound good on
paper but reinforcements along the offensive line are needed. Fisher, a
former tight end with experience at both left and right tackle, has the
athleticism and grit to contribute immediately.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Nelson Agholor, WR, Southern Cal:
Despite owner Steve Bisciotti claiming that the Ravens don't need help
at receiver, the loss of deep threat Torrey Smith to free agency and
advancing age of Steve Smith begs to differ. Agholor starred in a
pro-ready offense and has the agility and speed to take full advantage
of Joe Flacco's big arm.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest:
Cornerback is one of the few areas of concern on an otherwise stacked
roster in Dallas. Johnson, a four year starter, has terrific agility and
speed but some question his ability to handle the physicality of the
NFL at 6-0, 188 pounds, which could allow him to drop into Dallas' lap.
28. Denver Broncos -Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M:
Gary Kubiak's beloved West Coast Offense calls for athletic offensive
linemen. They don't come much more athletic than Ogbuehi, who was viewed
as a possible top 10 pick entering the year. Ogbuehi is still
recovering from a torn ACL but his upside is exciting and Kubiak (and
his staff) will know him well following their time in Houston.
29. Indianapolis Colts - Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State:
No player has flown up the board faster over the past few months than
Randall, whose agility and instincts in coverage make him better suited
to handing today's pass-happy offenses than Alabama's Landon Collins.
For a club needing help at safety and hoping to vault past Denver and
New England as the elite team in the AFC, Randall makes sense.
30. Green Bay Packers - Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA: The Packers may have been a dropped onside kick from playing in the
Super Bowl
but allowing 157 rushing yards to Marshawn Lynch in the NFC
Championship didn't help. It also wasn't a one game issue, as the
Packers finished the regular season ranked 23rd in the league in run
defense and have since released inside linebackers AJ Hawk and Brad
Jones. Kendricks lacks the bulk of a traditional 3-4 inside linebacker
but his instincts, speed and ball-skills could be the quick fix GM Ted
Thompson is looking for.
31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle Seahawks) - Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut:
With the addition of a pass rusher at No. 13, the Saints can take
advantage of the depth of this year's cornerback class with Jones, whose
athleticism would serve as an ideal complement to Keenan Lewis.
32. New England Patriots -Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State:
Don't be surprised if the Patriots trade out of this pick, as teams
will want to take advantage of the five-year contract options allowed to
first round picks, making the No. 32 overall selection much more
valuable than No. 33. If standing pat, Goldman's size and strength could
make him an ideal replacement for longtime nose guard Vince Wilfork.
Second Round: 33. Tennessee Titans - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State:
Strong isn't as dynamic as his Combine workout suggests but he's the
reliable pass-catcher needed to help Tennessee's offense grow.
34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State: Releasing Michael Johnson opens up a big need for defensive ends in Tampa.
35. Oakland Raiders -- Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami: The need for speed lives on in Oakland.
36. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Eli Harold, DE, Virginia: The Jaguars continue to reinforce the pass rush, adding a more traditional LEO edge rusher with Harold.
37. New York Jets -- Eric Rowe, CB, Utah: Concerns at corner and safety could be alleviated with Rowe, who starred at both positions while with the Utes.
38. Washington Redskins -- Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke: Adding toughness and physicality along the offensive line will be a priority in Washington.
39. Chicago Bears -- Landon Collins, S, Alabama:
Collins could slip due to concerns about his agility in coverage but
he's a terrific in-the-box enforcer who could give the Bears' some
much-needed teeth in the secondary.
40. New York Giants -- Mario Edwards, Jr., DE, Florida State:
The Giants are often willing to gamble on edge rushers and Edwards has
created a lot of buzz for himself with terrific workouts.
41. St. Louis Rams -- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma:
Despite plenty of focus on the position, the Rams still are lacking a
true No. 1 receiver. The club has been willing to gamble on character
concerns in the past and will know the talented but troubled
Missouri-transfer very well.
42. Atlanta Falcons -- Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State: Adding size and physicality along the line of scrimmage will be the priority for the Falcons.
43. Cleveland Browns -- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA:
The Browns gambled on traits with the selection of Barkevious Mingo two
years ago and could be similarly intrigued with Odighizuwa.
44. New Orleans Saints -- Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson: The ultra-physical Anthony was built to star in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme.
45. Minnesota Vikings -- A.J. Cann, OL, South Carolina: Cann's physicality makes him an easy fit in Norv Turner's drive-blocking scheme.
46. San Francisco 49ers -- Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State: The surprise retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland makes ILB a huge concern.
47. Miami Dolphins -- Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington:
Scouts are split on whether Thompson fits best in the NFL as a
linebacker or safety but there is no denying that he's a playmaker.
48. San Diego Chargers - Carl Davis, DT, Iowa: Powerful enough to handle nose guard or defensive end duties in the 3-4, Davis could provide the Chargers lots of flexibility.
49. Kansas City Chiefs -- Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami: With Derrick Johnson coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon at the age of 32, the Chiefs might want to consider the future.
50. Buffalo Bills -- T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh:
Medical red-flags have Clemmings' stock slipping as the draft
approaches but at this point, he might offer too much ability for the
Bills to ignore.
51. Houston Texans - Jalen Collins, CB, LSU:
Resigning Kareem Jackson was critical but depth behind he and fellow
starter Johnathan Joseph is lacking and Collins has exciting tools to
develop.
52. Philadelphia Eagles -- Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State: Despite what Chip Kelly might say, the Eagles missed DeSean Jackson's homerun threat. Smith could provide that.
53. Cincinnati Bengals -- Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson:
Geno Atkins hasn't looked the same since tearing his ACL. Jarrett
possesses many of the same attributes, including power, quickness and a
terrific motor.
54. Detroit Lions - Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska: The Lions may see the dynamic Abdullah as an ideal complement to underrated big back Joique Bell.
55. Arizona Cardinals - Duke Johnson, RB, Miami:
The Cardinals investigated DeMarco Murray and could see similar
lead-back characteristics in Johnson, who blends great vision, balance
and burst.
56. Pittsburgh Steelers - Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota:
The Steelers re-signed Matt Spaeth to a two-year deal so tight end may
not be a critical need with longtime starter Heath Miller entering the
final year of his deal. At this point in the draft, though, Williams'
upside (and fit in this scheme) may be too much to pass up.
57. Carolina Panthers -- Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State: The Panthers consistently bet heavy on unique traits and Darby has speed to burn.
58. Baltimore Ravens -- P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State:
Ozzie Newsome has bolstered his Hall of Fame resume by nabbing good
players who slip due to character red flags. Williams fills a need and
is certainly worthy of second round consideration.
59. Denver Broncos - Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State:
The local favorite has the blend of athleticism and accuracy on the
move to be a nice developmental option behind Manning in Kubiak's West
Coast Offense.
60. Dallas Cowboys - Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana:
The Cowboys aren't likely to wait long on draft day to supplement a
running backs corps that currently is led by Darren McFadden.
61. Indianapolis Colts - Nate Orchard, DE/OLB, Utah: Orchard isn't a flashy athlete but he might just be the savviest pass rusher in the draft.
62. Green Bay Packers - Jordan Phillips, NT, Oklahoma:
Phillips has first round traits but concerns about the long-term health
of his back could push him down the board. At this point, he could be
seen as a steal.
63. Seattle Seahawks -- Tre Jackson, OG, Florida State:
Jackson isn't a flashy athlete but he's powerful and reliable, making
him a potential replacement for free agent defection James Carpenter at
left guard.
64. New England Patriots -- Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio):
Given the turnover at cornerback for the Patriots, an athletic cover
corner with Rollins' ball-skills would likely fetch plenty of interest.
