Thursday, April 30, 2015

2015 NFL Mock Draft




With the NFL Draft starting fresh by relocating to Chicago for its 2015 event, all 32 clubs look to start fresh as the 2015 NFL Draft will inject new hope into fans, players and staff across the landscape of the league.
This year's draft class looks to provide another fresh batch of talent into the NFL, as players have dreamed their whole lives of hearing their name called on draft day.

The 2015 NFL Draft has generated buzz since the moment players began to announce their plans to make themselves available back in January. From Jameis Winston's immaturity to Randy Gregory's plummeting draft stock after a failed drug test, anything is still a possibility at this point.

Where will Marcus Mariota fall? Is Todd Gurley's ACL tear enough to scare potential suitors away? All questions you have, will now be answered.

And with the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select...  

1.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston, QB, Florida St
      Tampa Bay needs a fresh, new face of the franchise at the quarterback helm. With pocket poise, accuracy, a strong arm and anticipation, Winston is heralded as the most NFL ready quaterback in the class, and looks to right the ship in Tampa.


2.      Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
      The ultimate wildcard in the draft, Mariota's draft stock has been the classic definition of a roller coaster ride. Tennessee reportedly wanted Philip Rivers, but will have to settle with Plan B, the crowd favorite, mobile quarterback with a high potential ceiling. 


3.      Jacksonville Jaguars- Leonard Williams, DL, USC
      Leonard Williams has been proclaimed as the best player in this draft, and with good reason. Williams is a bully that consistently sheds blockers and finds the football with ease, and is a perfect fit for Gus Bradley's defense.


4.     Oakland Raiders- Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
      After a promising 2014 campaign by quarterback Derek Carr, Oakland needs to grab a solidified number one receiver. Cooper is the most polished receiver in the class and will provide an instant upgrade at the wide-out position for the silver and black. 


5.     Washington Redskins- Dante Fowler Jr, LB, Florida
      Following the departure of Brian Orakpo, Washington seeks his replacement-and will have to look no further than Dante Fowler Jr. Fowler is an explosive, speedy edge rusher that, given time and coaching, can not only replicate Orakpo numbers, but has the drive to go even further. 

6.     New York Jets- Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
      After being cited with possession of marijuana just a few days prior to the draft, Ray finds his draft stock slipping, but only by a spot or two. Ray's tenacity, strength and ability to explode into the backfield is exactly what new head coach Todd Bowles wants on his new team,

7.     Chicago Bears- Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
    With Brandon Marshall being shipped away, Chicago is due for a partner-in-crime to play alongside Alshon Jeffery. Kevin White's draft stock boosted with an excellent combine, and White has the size and ball skills to easily slide into a secondary role in the windy city.

8.     Atlanta Falcons- Vic Beasley, LB, Clemson
     In 2014, getting to the quarterback wasn't exactly Atlanta's forte. Falcons management looks to bring in a guy like Vic Beasley, who specializes in mowing down quarterbacks with his quickness off the ball and finesse pass rushing moves. 

9.     New York Giants- Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
      Protecting Eli has always been a priority in the big apple, and Brandon Scherff is the top offensive lineman in the draft. Scherff will provide a solid interior means of protection for Manning with an even greater assist with run blocking. 

10.   St. Louis Rams- Ereck Flowers, OL, Miami
    While this pick is a bit of a stretch, the Rams have expressed interest in the Hurricane product. Size and footwork are the key traits of Flowers at the tackle position, and will be needed to keep new quarterback Nick Foles upright in 2015.

11.   Minnesota Vikings- Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
      Although a Louisville reunion with a Teddy-to-Devante Parker combo is a possibility at the number 11 pick, the Vikings will look to aide their pass defense with Waynes, who some consider to be the best corner in the draft with speed to close out on the football. 

12.   Cleveland Browns- Danny Shelton, DL, Washington
      The options here for Cleveland are endless with another pick at 19, but decide to beef up the interior on the defensive front with Shelton. Shelton, who's listed as 6'2" and 339 pounds, can power his way through centers and guards often.

13.   New Orleans Saints- Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky
    Bud Dupree is the most beneficial recipient of the Randy Gregory saga, and is bumped up to the top 15. The Saints are in need of a new linebackerm and Dupree was productive in the Kentucky Wildcat defense and shined on tape against top SEC offensive lineman.

14.   Miami Dolphins- Devante Parker, WR, Louisville
      After dumping Mike Wallace to the Vikings, the Dolphins look to equip young quarterback Ryan Tannehill with a new weapon. Devante Parker is a go-and-get-it type of receiver, one who hits the big play often, and isn't afraid to get physical either.

15.   San Francisco 49ers- Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon
      Since the beginning of the offseason, 49ers fans have been tortured with defensive player after defensive player in the front seven either go down or step away from the game. Arik Armstead is a big, 6'8" run stopping freak that will command double teams for the 49ers defense.

16.   Houston Texans- Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
      Houston parted ways with franchise great Andre Johnson, and will seek a counter part for up and coming receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Perriman is a home run hitter who possesses the size and speed to play on Sundays, with ball consistency being the only issue. 

17.   San Diego Chargers- Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
      Phillip Rivers isn't going anywhere, and the Chargers are in need of a running back after Ryan Matthews took his talents to Philly. Todd Gurley has everything you look for in a NFL running back and has potential to be very special- if he can stay healthy.

18.   Kansas City Chiefs- Andrus Peat, OL, Stanford
    Kansas City has had some issues up front with staying healthy, and even when healthy, the offensive line hasn't exactly been top-tier. Andrus Peat is a do it all guy that is reliable in both the run and pass offense. 

19.   Cleveland Browns- Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
      With Josh Gordon done and Cooper/Parker/Perriman off the board, it's a toss up between Arizona State's Jaelen Strong and Agholor for this pick. The advantage goes to Agholor for being able to seperate himself from coverage, something Strong isn't exactly phenomenal at. 

20.   Philadelphia Eagles- Landon Collins, S, Alabama
      Help in the secondary would be much appreciated in Philidelphia, and Landon Collins brings memories of a young Brian Dawkins. Collins is a physical, downhill playing safety that is well coached and ready to come on day one and start learning.

21.   Cincinnati Bengals- Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
      Malcolm Brown is a 6'2" 320 pound tackle with excellent technique and explosion off the ball. The Bengals will need all the run clogging help they can get in the AFC North.

22.   Pittsburgh Steelers- Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
      With Ike Taylor and Brice McCain gone, Pittsburgh drafts the athletic, coverage monster that is Kevin Johnson. Johnson is able to cover man or zone and is able to make open field plays as well. Johnson could come in and mold immediately for the Steelers DB style of play.

23.   Detroit Lions- Eddie Goldman, DL, Florida State
      The monster that was Ndamukong Suh has left Detroit, and Eddie Goldman has potential to make some noise of his own if Detroit were to take him. Goldman plays similar to Suh, bullying his way through the interior of an offense and making plays with his power.

24.   Arizona Cardinals- Randy Gregory, LB, Nebraska
      After an eventful past few months for Gregory, which includes a failed drug test at the NFL scouting combine, serious character issues and even some not-so-smart social media takes, Gregory slips all the way into Arizona's hands, and the Cards will gladly take the dominant, athletic freak linebacker at a discount. 

25.   Carolina Panthers- T.J. Clemmings, OL, Pittsburgh
      As Carolina has probably just figured out, protecting your quarterback is something you should probably do. The Panthers re-assure Cam Newton he will be protected by selecting Clemmings, who if coached right, can turn into a valuable piece of the Carolina offensive line.

26.   Baltimore Ravens- Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
      So tempting as it is for Baltimore to grab a wide-out, Melvin Gordon's appeal here is a tad bit too daunting for the Ravens to pass up with the dismissal of Ray Rice and uncertainty of Forsett's play this year. 

27.   Dallas Cowboys- Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
      Dallas is seeking secondary help with Clairborne and Carr providing inconsistent at best coverage for the 'boys. With Waynes/Johnson off the board, Marcus Peters has ideal size and ball skills you would want out of an NFL corner.
     
28.   Denver Broncos- Jake Fisher, OL, Oregon
    In perhaps the final season of the great Peyton Manning, the Broncos need some help at the O-line department, and Jake Fisher is a perfect fit in Kubiak's play action, roll-out protection zone scheme. 

29.   Indianapolis Colts- Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State
      Landon Collins is off the board and the Colts are looking to upgrade at the safety spot. Damarious Randall is the next best prospect with a nose for finding the football and making agressive plays in both the passing and running portions of the game. 

30.   Green Bay Packers- Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
    With the Packers pretty much set on offense, Green Bay looks to address their defensive backfield with Jalen Collins, a corner that has the size, speed and ball coverage skills to potentially be a shut down corner for the Packers in a division against gun-slinging teams.

31.   New Orleans Saints- Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
    Jimmy Graham was shipped to Seattle, Kenny Stills is off to Miami and Brandin Cooks is still finding his footsteps as a NFL receiver. Drew Brees needs a target, and he needs one now. Jaelen Strong is a big, reliable receiver who has a high ceiling if his work ethic carries him to do so.


32.   New England Patriots- Laken Tomlinson, OL, Duke
      Logan Mankins, Tom Brady's BFF, was traded to Tampa Bay last season and all hell broke loose in the Brady's world. However Tom will be happy to see Laken Tomlinson, a 6'3" guard who plowed defensive lineman over and is technically smart.

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