Although the free agency period hasn’t officially concluded, most impact free agents have been signed and teams are looking forward to the draft. Here is my latest NFL mock draft.
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Post-Free Agency NFL Mock Draft
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston (Florida State)
This pick has been somewhat finalized for a while now, so unless Jameis Winston does something stupid during the month of April, he will be a Buccaneer. The Buccaneers need to revamp their offensive line, but Winston will have plenty of targets to throw to (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Austin Seferian-Jenkins) in Tampa Bay if he is given some time. He might not win the Super Bowl as a rookie like he hopes, but the Bucs should be competitive in the weak NFC South.
2. Tennessee Titans: QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
It will be difficult for the Titans to pass up Leonard Williams, but if they believe Marcus Mariota’s skills can translate smoothly into their offensive scheme, he will be the pick. Jake Locker retired, so 2014 sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger and Charlie Whitehurst are the only options at quarterback right now. Obtaining a franchise quarterback is the most important task for any NFL team, so the Titans can get that done here. If another team wants to trade up for Mariota, this is a likely spot to do so.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Leonard Williams (USC)
The Jaguars need an elite pass rusher and Leonard Williams is the best defensive lineman in the draft. Williams can excel at defensive end or defensive tackle and he is widely regarded as the top prospect in the class. Whenever the best player available happens to fit a significant need, the selection is pretty easy to make. The Jaguars will be crying tears of joy if the Titans leave Williams on the board.
4. Oakland Raiders: WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
In this situation, the Raiders will probably look to find Derek Carr an elite target. Kevin White and Amari Cooper both fit that description, but Kevin White has been the popular pick so far. The Raiders finally possess a franchise quarterback and they must do everything in their power to guide his development.
5. Washington Redskins: OLB Vic Beasley (Clemson)
Vic Beasley is an elite pass rusher and he could replace Brian Orakpo in the Redskins scheme as a pass rushing outside linebacker. Beasley and Ryan Kerrigan would form one of the most dangerous pass rushing duos in the league. The Redskins defense wouldn’t get laughed at anymore after this selection, as they have formed a respectable unit.
6. New York Jets: OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Florida)
Mariota is off the board here, so the Jets will have to address their need for an elite edge rusher instead. While the Jets have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, they definitely need a dominant pass rusher from the outside. Adding Fowler to a defense that already has a scary pass rush and a revamped secondary would give the Jets one of the best defenses in the league.
7. Chicago Bears: S Landon Collins (Alabama)
The Bears had one of the worst safety duos in the league in 2014, but that could be entirely different in 2015. Antrel Rolle was signed in free agency and Landon Collins could start next to him. Amari Cooper is another option here, but the Bears did sign Eddie Royal after cutting Brandon Marshall and they believe that Marquess Wilson will develop into a legitimate threat.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Shane Ray (Missouri)
Shane Ray is an excellent pass rusher and the Falcons desperately need help in that department. Adrian Clayborn was a quality free agent signing, but he is on a one-year contract and the Falcons need more help than he can provide on his own. While Ray won’t fix the Atlanta defense, he can be a major piece in their rebuilding process.
9. New York Giants: WR Amari Cooper (Alabama)
Jerry Reese usually drafts the best player available so don’t be surprised if he forms one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Victor Cruz’s health is questionable at this point (look what happened to Steve Smith (USC) after a knee injury) and Rueben Randle has been extremely inconsistent. They won’t be committing too much money to the receiver position because Randle will be a free agent after this year and Amari Cooper would be on his rookie contract during the last four years of Victor Cruz’s large contract. A good offensive lineman like Laken Tomlinson or Jake Fisher will be available in the second round, but an elite wide receiver like Cooper won’t be.
10. St. Louis Rams: OG Brandon Scherff (Iowa)
Right now, the Rams need two or three starting offensive linemen. Brandon Scherff would form an excellent guard duo with Rodger Saffold and the Rams could re-sign Joseph Barksdale to play right tackle. If Nick Foles is given time, he will be able to utilize the weapons the Rams already have at wide receiver.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
The Vikings need an upgrade over Josh Robinson and Trae Waynes is the best cornerback in the class. Minnesota already has a solid pass rush and a cornerback duo of Xavier Rhodes and Waynes would put even more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. DeVante Parker is a legitimate option, but the Vikings acquired Mike Wallace to alleviate the pressing need for a receiver.
12. Cleveland Browns: WR DeVante Parker (Louisville)
After losing Josh Gordon for the year, the Browns desperately need an elite receiver. Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline were solid free agent acquisitions, but they are complementary pieces. Josh McCown is going to need plenty of help to succeed and the addition of Parker would give the Browns a respectable wide receiver corps.
13. New Orleans Saints: OLB Alvin Dupree (Kentucky)
Alvin Dupree is an exciting edge rusher who absolutely destroyed the combine. His stock is rising quickly and he fills a pressing need for the Saints. Randy Gregory would be an intriguing option here because of his talent, but the failed drug test will likely cause his stock to slide even further.
14. Miami Dolphins: DT Danny Shelton (Washington)
The Dolphins added Ndamukong Suh, but they lost Jared Odrick and Randy Starks in free agency. Danny Shelton is the best player available and this move could form one of the best defensive tackle duos in the league. Since DeVante Parker is already off the board, it wouldn’t make sense for the Dolphins to reach for a receiver.
15. San Francisco 49ers: OT La’el Collins (LSU)
The 49ers have injury concerns all across their offensive line and a versatile lineman like La’el Collins is exactly what they need to provide some stability. Collins could replace Mike Iupati at guard but he could also slide to right tackle if Anthony Davis gets injured again. Jaelen Strong is a possibility because of their need for a receiver, but Collins is a much better value.
16. Houston Texans: WR Jaelen Strong (Arizona State)
Unfortunately, the Texans won’t be able to find a franchise quarterback with this pick. However, they can give Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett a chance to succeed with an excellent wide receiver corps of DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong, and Cecil Shorts. Strong would be a great replacement for Andre Johnson, who was a fan favorite but needed to be cut.
17. San Diego Chargers: RB Todd Gurley (Georgia)
The Chargers lost Ryan Mathews in free agency, but he couldn’t stay healthy anyway. Branden Oliver currently sits at the top of the running back depth chart for the Chargers, so there is definitely a need for a workhorse back. As long as Gurley recovers from his knee injury, he is the best running back in the class and he could revolutionize the Chargers offense. Philip Rivers could only get better with a consistent rushing attack.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Andrus Peat (Stanford)
Left tackle Eric Fisher has struggled so far in his young career, so Andrus Peat is a great fit for this team. Peat has the ability to start immediately at right tackle, but he has the potential to develop into a left tackle. If Fisher continues to struggle, he could be moved to right tackle and Peat could takeover on the blind side.
19. Cleveland Browns: OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
After failing a drug test, it is actually possible that Randy Gregory could be available when the Browns are on the clock for the second time. Obviously his talent makes him worthy of this selection, but the failed drug test has dropped his draft stock significantly. The Browns have a stacked secondary, but they need another edge rusher, so Gregory makes sense here if he can earn the trust of the Browns management.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Marcus Peters (Washington)
The Eagles added Byron Maxwell in free agency, but they still need another cornerback to start on the other side. A cornerback duo of Maxwell and Peters would be astounding for Eagles fans considering they watched Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher attempt to play last season. The Marcus Mariota rumors are still in play, however, so a trade could change everything.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Ereck Flowers (Miami)
Left tackle Andrew Whitworth turns 34 in December and right tackle Andre Smith is in a contract year and he’s coming off a season-ending injury. Flowers could start immediately at right tackle and develop into a replacement for Andrew Whitworth on the left side. His ability to play guard if both Whitworth and Smith are playing at a high level is also intriguing.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
The Steelers had one of the worst defensive backfields in the league last year and Kevin Johnson would be able to make an impact immediately. The Steelers need a durable cornerback that excels in coverage, so Johnson is a good fit. While they also need safety help, Landon Collins is off the board and no other safety is worthy of first-round consideration.
23. Detroit Lions: DT Malcom Brown (Texas)
Malcom Brown is the best player available and he happens to fill a position of need, so this is a great fit. The Lions added Haloti Ngata, but lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, so one more defensive tackle is needed. Ngata and Brown wouldn’t be quite as good as Suh and Fairley, but they would be a solid combination on the interior of the defensive line.
24. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Eli Harold (Virginia)
Harold is a good fit in the Cardinals’ 3-4 defensive scheme. They need a pass rushing outside linebacker and he is the best one available at this point. The offense should be fine now that Carson Palmer is healthy but Harold could be a key piece in the rebuilding process for a defense that has lost many talented players recently.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh)
Michael Oher is not the solution to the Panthers’ tackle problems, but T.J. Clemmings could be. Clemmings is a prospect that could start at right tackle immediately and develop into a legitimate left tackle in the future. A wide receiver that could complement Kelvin Benjamin is another option here, but the dire situation at tackle for Carolina makes Clemmings the more appealing selection.
26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Oklahoma)
Dorial Green-Beckham has the talent to be one of the best receivers in this class, but his off-field issues might make him available here. Steve Smith is 35 and the Ravens lost Torrey Smith in free agency, so the wide receiver corps is very weak right now in Baltimore. As long as Green-Beckham can stay out of trouble, this is a great value and it fills a pressing need.
27. Dallas Cowboys: RB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)
Melvin Gordon would excel behind the Cowboys offensive line and he would allow the Cowboys to maintain a balanced offensive game plan. The loss of DeMarco Murray is significant and Darren McFadden should not be counted on as a leading rusher. Tony Romo had a great season last year because the dominant running game took a lot of the pressure away from the passing attack.
28. Denver Broncos: C Cameron Erving (Florida State)
Cameron Erving is the best center in the draft, but he also has the ability to play guard and right tackle. That versatility will make it hard for the Broncos to pass up, especially considering they need at least one starting offensive lineman from this draft. Erving could compete with Manny Ramirez for the starting center position, but would likely start at right tackle as a rookie.
29. Indianapolis Colts: DT Arik Armstead (Oregon)
Kendall Langford was a quality free agent acquisition, but the Colts need more help on the defensive line. Arik Armstead could provide depth initially but develop into a talented starter down the road. The Colts have a very talented offense but must add depth throughout their defense and inject young players like Armstead into the mix.
30. Green Bay Packers: ILB Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
The Packers cut A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones, so inside linebacker is their top priority in the draft. Kendricks has experience in the 3-4 defensive scheme and he is the best inside linebacker in the class. The Packers already have one of the best offenses in the league so improving the defense makes this team even better for another Super Bowl run.
31. New Orleans Saints: TE Maxx Williams (Minnesota)
The Saints desperately need a replacement for Jimmy Graham, so taking the best tight end in the draft makes sense here. Maxx Williams has earned comparisons to Jason Witten, so the trade might actually work out for the Saints if they can get immediate production at the tight end position. Williams would certainly be better than any tight end currently on the roster.
32. New England Patriots: WR Breshad Perriman (UCF)
Julian Edelman became a hero for his Super Bowl performance, but the Patriots lack a legitimate difference maker after him. Breshad Perriman is a big receiver and he ran a ridiculous 4.25 40-yard dash at the UCF Pro Day. The Patriots mostly ran short routes with Edelman and Amendola last season, but Tom Brady would love to have a nasty deep threat like Perriman in his arsenal.
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