We did our first NFL mock draft before the free agency frenzy, but now that big names and key additions have been made throughout the league we have a better understanding of team needs. Here is our updated mock draft 2.0:
View our first 2015 NFL Mock Draft https://starcademedia.com/2015-nfl-mock-draft/
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston – QB Florida State
Jameis had a rough pro day, but has shown his skills during his time at Florida State and at the combine. He’s also answered questions about his character in the interview process at the combine and will again during personal team visits. Tampa needs a franchise quarterback who can provide leadership and stability and they have to roll the dice that Jameis is just that.
2. Tennessee Titans
Marcus Mariota – QB Oregon
Jake Locker has retired and even if he didn’t the Titans couldn’t have kept giving him chances to stay healthy and prove his worth. The Titans do like what they have in Zach Mettenberger, but we aren’t sure they can believe him in so much as to pass up this kind of talent staring them right in the face. They may decide to pass on him though, but only if someone knocks them over with a great trade offer. USC DE Leonard Williams is also in play here, but we believe that would be a mistake passing on a quarterback who could change the entire landscape of their franchise.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Leonard Williams – DE USC
Both receivers would make sense here if it was just about positional need, but Leonard Williams grades out much higher and Jacksonville’s coach Gus Bradley is a defensive guy who wants to make that side of the ball the Jaguars identity. Leonard Williams is versatile, athletic, and disruptive which will provide a much needed asset to a team that desperately needs assets and talent.
4. Oakland Raiders
Kevin White – WR West Virginia
The Raiders need more weapons for their young quarterback Derek Carr. Alabama WR Amari Cooper could be the pick here, but knowing the Raiders, they will go with the big, fast, athletic player over the one with the best receiving skills and route running. Luckily for them, both appear to be can’t miss receivers at the top of the draft.
5. Washington
Dante Fowler Jr. – OLB Florida
Brian Orakpo is gone and Washington needs to find his replacement to add to the pass rush that features Ryan Kerrigan. Dante Fowler Jr. is a versatile, physical, and explosive player who should make a quick impact on the defense.
6. New York Jets
Shane Ray – DE Missouri
Mizzou DT Sheldon Richardson has worked out marvelously so why not try another Mizzou standout in DE Shane Ray. Ray will add a dynamic edge rushing presence to a defense who lacks high quality talent in that area.
7. Chicago Bears
Trae Waynes – CB Michigan State
Let’s face it, the Bears need help at every level of that defense and with Randy Gregory’s character in question they go with the top corner in the draft with Trae Waynes.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Vic Beasley – OLB Clemson
Maybe with this explosive rusher off the edge creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks; the Falcons won’t need to pump in fake crowd noise?
9. New York Giants
Brandon Scherff – G Iowa
The Giants need to give Eli Manning time to get the ball to his weapons Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. Scherff is the best guard in the draft and although this isn’t a sexy pick; it’s a vital one.
10. St. Louis Rams
Amari Cooper – WR Alabama
The Rams traded Sam Bradford for Nick Foles and Foles is used to having talented receivers which the Rams don’t have. Tavon Austin hasn’t worked out, but maybe adding the prolific Amari Cooper will open things up for Tavon?
11. Minnesota Vikings
Devante Parker – WR Louisville
Teddy Bridgewater’s former teammate and with the loss of Greg Jennings, the Vikings need another receiver to take the pressure off Teddy, Patterson, and possibly Adrian Peterson.
12. Cleveland Browns
Danny Shelton – DT Washington
The Browns were soft against the run and Danny Shelton is anything but.
13. New Orleans Saints
Randy Gregory – OLB Nebraska
Although Randy Gregory failed a drug test at the combine and his character has come into question, rightfully so, his talent is too much to pass up on at this pick especially with this being a big need for the Saints.
14. Miami Dolphins
Landon Collins – SS Alabama
The Dolphins struggled in the back end of their secondary last season and Landon Collins will be a major upgrade for that unit. Landon has the ability to patrol the secondary or come down in the box on run support.
15. San Francisco 49ers
Arik Armstead – DT Oregon
Arik is a disruptive force in the middle and causes havoc in the backfield. Although the 49ers need help at linebacker with Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retiring; they can’t pass up on the talent of Armstead.
16. Houston Texans
Jaelen Strong – WR Arizona State
Andre Johnson is in Indianapolis and whether it’s Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer at the helm they will need some serious help to make something of this offense.
17. San Diego Chargers
Melvin Gordon – RB Wisconsin
Ryan Mathews is in Philadelphia behind DeMarco Murray, but now San Diego is left with nothing at the running back position. Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley is the pick here to give Philip the help he needs with a strong run game.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
La’el Collins – OT LSU
The Chiefs need to give Alex time in the pocket to survey the field. They need to open up more holes for Jamaal, Knile, and De’Anthony. The Chiefs need depth and versatility on their line and La’el Collins would give them a very good starting five with new additions Paul Fanaika and Ben Grubbs. Plus, the Chiefs need to replace the LSU player they lost in Dwayne Bowe, haha.
19. Cleveland Browns
Ereck Flowers – OT Miami
Coined the best pass blocking right tackle in the draft, Ereck Flowers will bolster the front line to help whoever is in that backfield at quarterback and running-back.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
Bud Dupree – OLB Kentucky
Bud Dupree is very raw, but explosive, athletic, and shows tremendous potential as a pass rusher which the Eagles desperately need with the loss of Trent Cole.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Andrus Peat – OT Stanford
They need to replace Andrew Whitworth and Andrus Peat has good feet and size to be able to contain those edge pass rushers as a left tackle protecting Andy Dalton’s blindside.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
Marcus Peters – CB Washington
The Steelers need help in the secondary with Ike Taylor aging and not sure about his future. They like tough and physical corners and that’s exactly what they’ll get by drafting Marcus Peters.
23. Detroit Lions
D.J. Humphries – OT Florida
D.J. shows potential at left tackle and the Lions need to give Matt Stafford more time in the pocket so he’s not just chucking everything up to Calvin Johnson when hurried.
24. Arizona Cardinals
Eli Harold – OLB Virgina
The Cardinals added Sean Weatherspoon in free agency and by drafting Eli Harold who is a very underrated pass rusher; the Cardinals defense will get a nice shot in the arm.
25. Carolina Panthers
T.J. Clemmings – OT Pittsburgh
Clemmings is a project and needs some development, but the Panthers need offensive line help badly to keep Cam upright, healthy, and productive.
26. Baltimore Ravens
Eddie Goldman – DT Florida State
Haloti Ngata is a Detroit Lion and Eddie Goldman is a very nice replacement to make sure they continue to be strong in the trenches.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Todd Gurley – RB Georgia
The Cowboys lost DeMarco Murray in free agency to their rival the Philadelphia Eagles and replaced him with Darren McFadden. They need a replacement who can be more productive than McFadden has been thus far in his career. Todd Gurley is coming off an injury, but should be ready to role and be extremely productive behind that big Cowboys line.
28. Denver Broncos
Cameron Erving – C Florida State
The Broncos need to protect Peyton Manning at all costs as we saw how Peyton performed with that quad injury. They’ve bet everything on Peyton and they need to protect that investment. Cameron Erving is a smart and versatile linemen that will provide stability to their line.
29. Indianapolis Colts
Eric Kendricks – ILB UCLA
The Colts added key offensive weapons in Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, but they need that leader in the middle on defense. Eric Kendricks can be that man in the middle for them for years to come.
30. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Phillips – NT Oklahoma
Jordan Phillips is a dominant man in the middle with his strength and tenacity to get into the backfield to ruin plays. The Packers just re-signed B.J. Raji, but to a one-year deal and need to look to the future.
31. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle in Jimmy Graham trade)
Dorial Green-Beckham – WR Missouri
The Saints lost Kenny Stills and Jimmy Graham in trades and need another receiver for Drew Brees to go with Colston and Cooks. Dorial Green-Beckham will keep the Saints a scary offense and give Sean Payton enough toys to put in different positions even with the big loss of Jimmy Graham.
32. New England Patriots
Kevin Johnson – CB Wake Forest
The New England Patriots lost Darrelle Revis to the in-division rival, New York Jets and lost Brandon Browner to the New Orleans Saints. The Patriots will need to add talent and depth to their secondary to even try to compensate for those losses.
