Free agency starts on Tuesday and each team will begin to have a better idea of their needs going into the 2015 NFL Draft. That being said, it’s never too early for speculation and who doesn’t love a mock draft? Here is my first attempt of the year, and like last year, two editions will follow.
Looking for more 2015 NFL Draft coverage? Make sure you check out our 2015 NFL Draft Headquarters, which includes scouting reports on many of the prospects and the top needs of each team before free agency begins.
Pre-Free Agency NFL Mock Draft
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston (Florida State)
With the top pick in the draft, the Buccaneers must address their quarterback situation. Franchise quarterbacks are rare and extremely valuable, so Winston is deserving of this selection as long as he can earn the trust of the Buccaneers front office. The playmakers already on Tampa Bay (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Austin Seferian-Jenkins) should make the transition to professional football smooth for Winston.
2. Tennessee Titans: DE Leonard Williams (USC)
Leonard Williams is a versatile defensive lineman and arguably the most talented player in the draft. Furthermore, the Titans need a dominant pass rusher badly, so this is a perfect fit. Former USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey has been a bright spot on a mediocre defense, so adding another dominant defensive lineman could turn the unit into a position of strength.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: OLB Vic Beasley (Clemson)
The Jaguars are hoping that Leonard Williams will be available, but Vic Beasley isn’t a bad consolation prize. He fills the Jaguars need for an elite pass rusher and would inject youth into an aging pass rush. His measurables at the combine (6’3”, 246 pounds) were impressive considering his athleticism, so his stock is rising rapidly. The Jaguars might opt to trade back here or take a different pass rusher, depending on their evaluations.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper (Alabama)
With Leonard Williams off the board, the Raiders will almost certainly choose an elite wide receiver. The selection will come down to their evaluations of Amari Cooper and Kevin White, but I’ll select Cooper for now. Young quarterback Derek Carr desperately needs a #1 receiver, and that need will be filled here.
5. Washington Redskins: OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Brian Orakpo is probably not returning to Washington, so the Redskins need a pass rushing outside linebacker to replace him. Randy Gregory’s ideal position for his size just happens to be pass rushing outside linebacker. Gregory and Ryan Kerrigan would form a dangerous pass rushing duo from the outside.
6. New York Jets: QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
The Jets will be delighted if Marcus Mariota falls to them, as the Geno Smith project has failed miserably. Percy Harvin and Eric Decker are solid weapons (although Harvin might be released soon), and Chris Ivory should be able to take some pressure off of Mariota with his powerful running style. The Jets won’t take long to finally possess a franchise quarterback if they have the opportunity.
Update: Replace Percy Harvin with Brandon Marshall. The pick stays the same though.
7. Chicago Bears: S Landon Collins (Alabama)
The Bears desperately need a talented safety and Landon Collins is the best safety in the draft by far. While his coverage skills aren’t great yet, his physicality will intrigue the Bears and he will be a very good strong safety. Chicago started to rebuild their miserable secondary with the quality addition of Kyle Fuller last offseason and Landon Collins would be another valuable piece of their secondary for years to come.
Update: After trading Brandon Marshall, the Bears might look to replace him with Kevin White here.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Shane Ray (Missouri)
The Falcons need a young pass rusher and Shane Ray is one of the best in the class at getting to the quarterback. His size is sometimes questioned, but Osi Umenyiora (free agent after playing in Atlanta last season) possesses a similar size and excelled as a Giant. Letting Umenyiora walk and replacing him with a younger pass rusher with an incredible motor would probably be the Falcons’ best option.
9. New York Giants: OT La’el Collins (LSU)
The Giants need one more starter on the offensive line, as Will Beatty, Geoff Schwartz, Weston Richburg, and Justin Pugh are basically guaranteed starting positions. The Giants probably want to move Justin Pugh to guard, so Collins makes more sense than Brandon Scherff here. Ideally, he will be an immediate starter at right tackle and replace Will Beatty at left tackle in the future.
10. St. Louis Rams: WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
Kevin White would be the third West Virginia wide receiver on the Rams (Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey), but he would immediately battle with Brian Quick for the #1 receiver role. Quick’s ability to be a consistent top receiver is questionable, so adding a talented receiver here would remove any doubts about this receiving corps. If Sam Bradford can somehow stay healthy, he will thrive with all of these weapons at his disposal.
11. Minnesota Vikings: OG Brandon Scherff (Iowa)
The Vikings finally have their quarterback of the future in Teddy Bridgewater and he needs to be protected. Scherff’s situation this year is similar to Zach Martin’s last year, as he’ll probably excel at guard immediately, but he has the ability to play right tackle if needed. Either way, the Vikings offensive line needs as much help as it can get.
12. Cleveland Browns: DT Danny Shelton (Washington)
The Browns were abysmal against the run last season, and a run-stuffing defensive tackle like Shelton is exactly what they need. While a stud wide receiver is also a pressing need, they can address that with their second first-round pick. Shelton has the ability to dominate the running game at nose tackle for many years like Vince Wilfork did in New England.
13. New Orleans Saints: OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Florida)
The Saints would be ecstatic if Fowler is still available here because he will fit in perfectly as a 3-4 outside linebacker in their scheme. The combination of strength and athleticism that he displayed at the combine could launch him even higher on draft day. If the Saints do end up trading Junior Galette, their need for a pass rushing outside linebacker will be even greater.
14. Miami Dolphins: WR DeVante Parker (Louisville)
Mike Wallace’s future in Miami is in question and Brian Hartline is a free agent, so the Dolphins will certainly be looking for a wide receiver in the near future. Parker has the tools to be a #1 receiver, but because of the strength of the wide receiver class, he will probably be the third receiver taken. Ryan Tannehill is going to need another weapon besides Charles Clay, so Parker would be a nice option if he’s still available.
15. San Francisco 49ers: WR Jaelen Strong (Arizona State)
Michael Crabtree will probably walk in free agency and Anquan Boldin turns 35 in October, so the 49ers need a productive wide receiver immediately. Jaelen Strong is physical and explosive and he has the ability to become a #1 receiver. Boldin, Strong, and Vernon Davis would form a lethal receiving trio for Colin Kaepernick to play with.
16. Houston Texans: CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
Kareem Jackson is a free agent and the Texans probably won’t be able to match the overpriced contract offer that he will inevitably receive on the open market. Therefore, the highest-rated cornerback in the class would be a good replacement. Trae Waynes will be able to make an impact immediately and assist an already talented Houston defense.
17. San Diego Chargers: DT Arik Armstead (Oregon)
The Chargers had a weak pass rush in 2014 and they need another quality defensive lineman next to Corey Liuget. Armstead’s stock has been rising recently, as his massive size and athleticism form an intriguing prospect. His ability to play either defensive end or defensive tackle in San Diego’s 3-4 scheme also makes this a good fit.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Andrus Peat (Stanford)
Eric Fisher has been far from an elite left tackle so far in his young career and the Chiefs have a need at right tackle. Andrus Peat could develop at right tackle in the beginning of his career and then swing over to the left side if Eric Fisher doesn’t pan out. Peat isn’t as polished as the other first-round tackles, but his upside is probably greater than any other offensive lineman in the draft.
19. Cleveland Browns: WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Oklahoma)
Would the Cleveland Browns dare to replace a troubled wide receiver with another troubled wide receiver? Well, we are talking about the Browns here, so why not? Dorial Green-Beckham has the talent to become an elite wide receiver as long as he stays out of trouble off the field. After passing on a receiver with their first selection, the Browns must fill this pressing need here.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Marcus Peters (Washington)
I doubt the Eagles will be willing to mortgage their future to move up for Marcus Mariota, but Chip Kelly is unpredictable. If they do stay here, they must fill their major need at cornerback. Marcus Peters definitely has first-round talent, and if he can earn Chip Kelly’s trust, don’t be surprised if the Eagles land another Pac-12 player.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: DE Alvin Dupree (Kentucky)
After losing Michael Johnson in free agency last offseason, the Bengals front four struggled to apply pressure all season. While the injury to Geno Atkins certainly played a role in their struggle, poor play from the other defenders was the primary reason. Alvin Dupree is a talented pass rusher that can replace Michael Johnson and rejuvenate the pass rush of the Bengals.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Jalen Collins (LSU)
The Steelers secondary struggled in 2014 and the team lacks a legitimate #1 cornerback. Jalen Collins has the upside to become that top corner and his excellent combine will help his draft stock. He possesses the ideal size for a cornerback and he could replace an aging Ike Taylor.
23. Detroit Lions: DT Malcom Brown (Texas)
Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are free agents and the Lions won’t be able to re-sign both of them. Malcom Brown could be an immediate replacement on the defensive line for the one the Lions lose. While he might not be the best defensive tackle in the NFL like Suh, he could help to maintain the dominant defensive tackle duo the Lions have had, assuming their retain one of their free agents.
24. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Eli Harold (Virginia)
The Cardinals outside linebackers are nothing special and Eli Harold could change that. Harold’s pass rushing ability is intriguing and he could bring a different dimension to the Arizona defense. The Cardinals lost a few key defensive players already this offseason (Darnell Dockett, Larry Foote) and a few others are free agents, so they must rebuild through the draft.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT Ereck Flowers (Miami)
The Panthers offensive line struggled in 2014, mostly because of their mediocre tackles. Ereck Flowers is a prospect that will likely begin his career at right tackle, but he has the upside to eventually move over to left tackle. Cam Newton is going to need more time to operate if the Panthers want to reach the playoffs again.
26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Sammie Coates (Auburn)
Torrey Smith is a free agent (the Ravens don’t have much cap space), Steve Smith can’t play forever, and Jacoby Jones was recently released, so the Ravens are definitely in the market for a receiver. Sammie Coates could replace Torrey Smith for now and Steve Smith could help him develop into a fearsome threat. While he is a raw prospect, Coates possesses an intriguing combination of size and athleticism that could earn him a first-round selection.
27. Dallas Cowboys: RB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)
The Cowboys don’t have much cap space and DeMarco Murray should be able to find a large contract in free agency. If he leaves, Gordon could be a great replacement and produce immediately. The Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in the league and Gordon should be able to run successfully behind them as a rookie.
28. Denver Broncos: TE Maxx Williams (Minnesota)
Julius Thomas will likely walk in free agency and the Broncos could take the best tight end in the draft to replace him. Maxx Williams will be a consistent receiver immediately and give Peyton Manning another target during possibly his last chance at a Super Bowl. With Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Maxx Williams, the Broncos will once again have one of the best offenses in the league.
29. Indianapolis Colts: RB Todd Gurley (Georgia)
The Colts could look to finally stabilize their running back position if Gurley is still available. The Trent Richardson trade backfired horrendously and while Dan Herron showed some potential, his ability to consistently be the lead rusher is highly questionable. As long as Gurley recovers fully from his injury, he has the potential to dominate like Marshawn Lynch.
30. Green Bay Packers: OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh)
Bryan Bulaga is a free agent and the Packers could go for a younger and cheaper right tackle in the draft. Clemmings is very raw, but his potential is limitless and he should be able to succeed at right tackle immediately. Protecting Aaron Rodgers should always be the Packers’ primary objective because he will continue to shred defenses if he is given time.
31. Seattle Seahawks: CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
Byron Maxwell will most likely walk in free agency, so the Legion of Boom will be looking for a new member. Kevin Johnson is an aggressive defender and he should be able to succeed immediately with the incredible talent surrounding him in the Seattle secondary. He performed well at the combine and his coverage skills are impressive.
32. New England Patriots: DT Jordan Phillips (Oklahoma)
The Patriots let Vince Wilfork go after 11 impressive seasons with the team, so they will likely draft his replacement early. Jordan Phillips is basically the same size as Wilfork, so it would be ironic if he does become his replacement. Phillips is very powerful and surprisingly athletic for his size, so the Patriots will be delighted if he is still available.
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