LWOS presents the second Joe Champine (@joecham) 2015 NFL Mock Draft. This one focusing on post free agency.
Joe Champine’s Post FA Mock NFL Draft
1. Tampa Bay- Jameis Winston QB Florida State
Last Mock- Jameis Winston
With Josh McCown gone and Mike Glennon not the answer in Tampa, Lovie Smith and Tampa GM Jason Licht take the franchise QB and buy some time. Winston has done everything right during this process, and has solidified himself as the top pick in the draft. Plus with Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson, Winston will be insulated with some decent offensive options.
2. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
Last Mock- Randy Gregory
Tennessee was aggressive in free agency and added 2 safeties, 2 outside linebackers and a defensive tackle. Ken Wisenhunt can try to win games with a re-vamped defense and draft his franchise quarterback in the process.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dante Fowler Jr OLB/DE Florida
Last Mock- Leonard Williams
Gus Bradley will need to fill the void of a pure pass rusher on his defense. Pairing Fowler with free agent signing Jared Odrick on the inside will start the re-build of his defense in the right direction.
4. Oakland Raiders- Leonard Williams DT Southern Cal
Last Mock- Amari Cooper
With 2 linebackers and a pure NT added in free agency, Reggie McKenzie will take the versatile California product Williams to pair with Khalil Mack to try and get the Raiders back to prominence.
5. Washington Redskins- Shane Ray OLB/DE Missouri
Last Mock- Dante Fowler Jr.
With two defensive tackles and Chris Culliver added as a corner in free agency, Ray will come in and immediately fill the void of Orakpo leaving as a pass rush specialist.
6. New York Jets- Vic Beasley OLB/DE Clemson
Last Mock- Shane Ray
The Jets added three top corners in free agency. New Head Coach Todd Bowles will try and find a pass rush piece in Beasley to fit into his complex blitz scheme to try and compete in the AFC East.
7. Chicago Bears- Randy Gregory DE/OLB Nebraska
Last Mock- Trae Waynes
Even with Waynes on the board, New GM Ryan Pace will continue the trend of pass rushers selected and take Gregory to try and wreak havoc and get to Rodgers, Stafford and Bridgewater in the division.
8. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) **TRADE** Amari Cooper WR Alabama
Cleveland and GM Ray Framer will make the jump into the top 10 and land the wide receiver they desperately need due to Josh Gordon’s 1 year suspension.
9. New York Giants- Brandon Schreff OG/OT Iowa
Last Mock- Arik Armstead
The Giants offensive line has been below average for the last two seasons. Manning needs more time in the pocket and with Schreff’s versatility of playing three positions across the line, the Giants get great value here at 9.
10. St. Louis Rams- Andrus Peat OT Stanford
Last Mock- M. Mariota
With St. Louis releasing two offensive line starters, the Rams address their need with Peat, who may need a year or two at right tackle before protecting Nick Foles blindside.
11. Minnesota Vikings- Todd Gurley RB Georgia
Last Mock- Devante Parker
While Parker may still be the pick here, I am going to assume Adrian Peterson will not be wearing Viking purple for the 2015 season. The Vikings get Gurley to help Teddy Bridgewater in the backfield.
12. Atlanta Falcons (from Cleveland)- Dorial Green Beckham WR Missouri
Atlanta’s new head coach Dan Quinn realizes that the defense need’s a makeover, but with all the pass rushers off the board, look for the Falcons to get another piece for Matt Ryan. Beckham’s raw skills and size, jump him over Kevin White from West Virginia, and are too alluring for the Falcons high powered offense to pass up.
13. New Orleans Saints- Kevin White WR West Virginia
Last Mock- Shaq Thompson
Out goes Jimmy Graham from the Bayou, and in steps White, who will give Brees and immediate deep threat for the Saints offense.
14. Miami Dolphins- DeVante Parker WR Louisville
Last Mock- Brandon Schreff
Losing Hartline to the Browns and with the Dolphins being a need based drafting organization, The Fins realize they need another option for Tannehill to pair with newly acquired Jordan Cameron.
15. San Francisco 49ers- Arik Armstead DE Oregon
Last Mock- Marcus Peters
Armstead is a freakish athlete and will fill one of the many holes on the 49ers defense. Pairing Armstead with Aldon Smith on the edge, the 49ers will aim to help their secondary by getting to quarterback more often.
16. Houston Texans- Trae Waynes CB Michigan State
Last Mock- Andrus Peat
This is a great value pick at 16. Waynes is the best corner in the draft. The Texans get some help on defense for JJ Watt and Clowney. In a division with Andrew Luck and very little done in free agency thus far, Waynes is an immediate upgrade at corner.
17. San Diego Chargers- Jalen Collins CB LSU
Last Mock draft- La’el Collins
With the chargers going out and getting Orlando Franklin in free agency, San Diego looks to try and slow down the three quarterbacks in their division. Collins is a long corner with good cover skills and should be able to match up against the opponent’s number one receiver by the middle of year one.
18. Kansas City Chiefs- Marcus Peters CB Washington
Last Mock draft- Landon Collins
With all of the issues in the chiefs secondary last year, the Chiefs will look at both Peters and Landon Collins here. But in the end, Peters can grow into a role of being on an island and make an impact more quickly for the Cheifs defense.
19. Cleveland Browns- TJ Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
Last Mock Draft- Danny Shelton
I had Cleveland moving up to 8 and acquiring Alabama wide receiver Cooper. I feel that Cleveland will keep this pick at 19 and not have to trade it. Clemmings is a raw tackle project who will be able to line up on the right side and be a very good run blocker from the start. Within a few years, I could see him transition to left tackle once Joe Thomas is gone.
20. Philadelphia Eagles- Bud Dupree OLB/DE Kentucky
Last Mock Draft- M. Mariota
With all of the turnover this offseason, this is the pick that I am least confident to make. With the departure of Trent Cole, Dupree could be the pass rusher the Eagles need. But I think that Kelly may end up getting Ifo Ekpre-Olomu here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- La’El Collins OL LSU
Last Mock Draft- Maxx Williams
Andy Dalton was paid a lot of money two years ago and needs to perform. That means he needs to stay in the pocket and the Bengals need to upgrade their offensive line with Collins.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers- Landon Collins SS Alabama
Last Mock Draft- Bud Dupree
The Steelers have to replace Troy Polamalu in the secondary and with Mike Mitchell signed long term, Collins becomes the selection to take the torch from Polamalu as the playmaker in the back seven.
23. Detroit Lions- Eddie Goldman DT Florida State
Last Mock Draft- Same
No Fairley. No Suh. The Lions must get a DT to fill the void for the #2 defense in the NFL last year.
24. Arizona Cardinals- Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
Last Mock- Todd Gurley
Arizona is equipped with a very good defense, even without Todd Bowles, and a 36 year old QB in Palmer. The offense needs help and Gordon could be the home run hitting running back the Cardinals need.
25. Carolina Panthers- D.J. Humphries OT Florida
Last Mock- Erick Flowers
Carolina has a franchise quarterback in Newton and they have to protect him. Humphries is the type of tackle that can be plugged in and played immediately.26. Baltimore Ravens- Maxx
26. Maxx Williams TE Minnesota
Last Mock- Jalen Collins
After losing 6 free agents this offseason, Baltimore takes value in Williams as a new target for Joe Flacco.
27. Dallas Cowboys- P.J Williams CB Florida State
Last Mock- Melvin Gordon
If Dallas can somehow get AP to pair with McFadden, Dallas will look to their defense here and Williams will help the back seven in big D.
28. Denver Broncos- Danny Shelton NT Washington
Last Mock- Devin Funchess
Denver fills the hole left by Knighton by bringing in Shelton in the middle of their defensive line.
29. Indianapolis Colts- Gerod Holliman S Louisville
Last Mock- Jaelen Strong
With Indy losing Sergio Brown, the Colts address the secondary and takes Holliman, a ball hawking safety.
30. Green Bay Packers- Malcolm Brown DT Texas
Last Mock- PJ Williams
With BJ Raji’s status beyond 2015 unclear, Brown comes right in as a fit into their 34 or 43 defensive fronts.
31. New Orleans Saints (From Seattle)- Shaq Thompson OLB Washington
Last Mock- Shaq Thompson
The Saints at some point have to address their defense. Thompson can help the linebacker core that lost Lofton. Thompson has big play potential.
32. New England Patriots- Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma
Phillips will bring youth and versatility to Bill Belichick’s ascending defense. He can play inside or outside in a 34 defense.
