Mock Draft-by Garrett Kroeger
In a world where people call themselves an “expert” in sports, this so called NFL draft expert takes a stab and mocks the 2015 NFL draft.
1. Buccaneers- QB Jameis Winston (Florida State)
-Reason for pick: The Buccaneers need a QB, plain and simple. Winston, out of all the quarterbacks in this years draft, is the most NFL ready. If he can get rid of his questionable character concerns, Winston could pan out to be one of the best QB’s in his generation.
2. Titans- QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
-Reason for pick: Same reason as the Buccaneers, the Titans need a QB. Mariota has a high football IQ and is extremely athletic. The only thing that would make me shy away from him, if I were the Titans, would be that he has an RG3 type feel about him.
3. Jaguars- OLB Dante Fowler (Florida)
-Reason for pick: With the addition of Jared Odrick, the Jaguars decide to draft Fowler over Williams. Fowler adds a legitimate edge rusher onto the Jaguars roster.
4. Raiders- DE Leonard Williams (USC)
-Reason for pick: Williams is undoubtedly the best defensive prospect in the draft. With drafting Williams, it gives the Raiders a better option at DE rather than C.J. Wilson. Also, after picking up Michael Crabtree, I see the Raiders waiting till the second or third round to pick up a wide receiver.
5. Redskins- DE Shane Ray (Missouri)
-Reason for pick: After losing pass rush specialist Brian Orakpo to the Titans, the Redskins need some pass rush. Ray has all the tools to be an excellent pass rusher in the NFL. Plus he was the best player on defense in the hardest conference in college football, SEC.
6. Jets- OLB Vic Beasley (Clemson)
-Reason for pick: New head coach Todd Bowles loves to rush the quarterback and Beasley is one of the best pass rushers in the draft.
7. Bears- WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
-Reason for pick: After Alshon Jeffery, who do the Bears have at wide receiver? They do have Eddie Royal but he is better suited at slot. Kevin White has height and speed who would be a perfect replacement for Brandon Marshall.
8. Falcons- OLB Bud Dupree (Kentucky)
-Reason for pick: Falcons are in desperate need of pass rushing ability. Kroy Biermann lead the Falcons in sacks at 4.5 last year. Dupree has tremendous upside and is explosive of the edge.
9. Giants- OT D.J. Humphries (Florida)
-Reason for pick: Giants have had issues protecting Eli over the years. Humphries has been shooting up draft boards lately. He has tremendous talent. He has tremendous height, 6’5, and toughness.
10. Rams- WR Amari Cooper (Alabama)
-Reason for pick: Looking at the Rams depth chart, I see wide receiver as a position of need for them. You have Kenny Britt who is injury prone and Tavon Austin who is better suited for slot starting. Amari adds a vertical threat and has more height than Austin.
11. Vikings- WR Devante Parker (Louisville)
-Reason for pick: Who is Charles Johnson? He was the Vikings best wide receiver last year and that says something. Parker has past experience playing with Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and would add a red zone threat to the Vikings roster.
12. Browns- DT Danny Shelton (Washington)
-Reason for pick: The Browns were horrific against the run late in the season. With Phil Taylor being a huge disappointment and Ahtyba Rubin leaving, expect the Browns to take the massive Shelton to shore up their offensive line.
13. Saints- OT Brandon Schierff (Iowa)
-Reason for pick: The Saints traded their best receiving option, Jimmy Graham, for center Max Unger. So by looking at that trade, I have a feeling that the Saints are looking to improve their offensive line and if Schierff is still on the board, there is no doubt they will snatch him up.
14. Dolphins- CB Tre Waynes (Michigan State)
-Reason for pick: They cut Cortland Finnegan and Brent Grimes is the Dolphins only reliable option at corner, and he is 32. Waynes is the best corner in the draft and he would give a the Dolphins a corner to start next to Grimes.
15. 49ers- DT Arik Armstead (Oregon)
-Reason for pick: With Justin Smith on the brink of retiring and Ray McDonald now off the team, defensive lineman is a big need for the 49ers.
16. Texans- WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Missouri)
-Reason for pick: DGB has been compared to “Megatron” Calvin Johnson. With longtime receiver Andre Johnson leaving, leaves a big need on the Texans roster. If DGB is able to prove that his character concerns are in the past, he could be one of the best prospects out of this draft.
17. Chargers- RB Todd Gurley (Georgia)
-Reason for pick: Donald Brown, Danny Woodhead, and Brandon Oliver are not starting NFL running back material. Even though Gurley is coming off an ACL injury, he is still the most talented running back in the draft.
18. Chiefs- WR Jalen Strong (Arizona State)
-Reason for pick: Not one wide receiver caught a touchdown last year for the Chiefs. As of right now, Jeremy Maclin and De’Anthony Thomas are the Chiefs starting wide receivers. Thomas is not a starting NFL wide receiver. Strong is a big body receiver and would be a nice addition to the Chiefs wide receiver core.
19. Browns- WR Breshed Perriman (UCF)
-Reason for pick: After picking up a defensive lineman with their first pick, the Browns decide to get their wide receiver of the future as Josh Gordon’s future with the franchise is uncertain.
20. Eagles- SS Landon Collins (Alabama)
-Reason for pick: During free agency, the Eagles looked to improve their secondary. With Collins still on the board, it would give them a better option at strong safety and Collins, who was once projected as a top ten pick, would be a steal at 20th.
21. Bengals- OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
-Reason for pick: Gregory’s character concerns and his slender frame makes him fall to the Bengals. Gregory would be the best player available and he would bolster the pass rush.
22. Steelers- CB Marcus Peters (Washington)
-Reason for pick: With all the loses that the Steelers have experienced in their secondary, Steelers break their drought of not drafting a cornerback in the first round and draft Peters.
23. Lions- DT Malcom Brown (Texas)
-Reason for pick: After losing Suh and Fairley through free agency, the Lions decide to fill the holes along their defensive line.
24. Cardinals- CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
-Reason for pick: Cardinals look for a tall cornerback to replace the departed Antonio Cromartie.
25. Panthers- OT Andrus Peat (Stanford)
-Reason for pick: Carolina looks to improve their offensive line and look for someone to protect Cam Newton for years to come.
26. Ravens- RB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)
-Reason for pick: Justin Forsset is almost 30, which is now considered old in NFL terms. Gordon has been compared to Jamaal Charles by some NFL scouts.
27. Cowboys- CB Jalen Collins (LSU)
-Reason for pick: The Cowboys are in desperate need of a corner. Mo Claiborne has been extremely disappointing and Brandon Carr is way overpriced.
28. Broncos- OT La’el Collins (LSU)
-Reason for pick: The protection of Peyton Manning was not good and with starting tackle Orlando Franklin leaving makes it even worse.
29. Colts- OT Ereck Flowers (Miami)
-Reason for pick: The Colts offensive line is shaky to say the least. They draft Flowers to make sure their Andrew Luck stays healthy for years to come.
30. Packers- LB Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
-Reason for pick: Inside linebacker is the Packers biggest hole. Kendricks is the best inside linebacker in the draft and if the Packers are lucky to get him, it would allow Clay Matthews to play outside.
31. Saints- TE Maxx Williams (Minnesota)
-Reason for pick: The Saints just traded away Jimmy Graham, who was Drew Brees’ best option. They select Williams to replace Graham.
32. Patriots- DT Eddie Goldman (Florida State)
-Reason for pick: With Vince Wilfork leaving for Houston and other Patriot defensive lineman set to be free agents, the Patriots select Goldman to add talent and depth to their line.
