It’s never too early for a mock draft.
If you’re reading this, it means you’re just as crazy as I am. You live and breathe the NFL. You simply can’t get enough. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The NFL Draft has become a nice appetizer before our main course in September. A mock version of said draft is meant to educate, and even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.
What follows is my first attempt at figuring out the best players available for next season’s draft class. I used the current odds of winning the Super Bowl from Las Vegas to determine the draft order.
Until next season, here’s my 2015 NFL Mock Draft:
ROUND ONE
1) Jacksonville — Leonard Williams, DT, USC, Jr.
After drafting Blake Bortles, Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, the Jags will likely focus on defense next season. Williams is a quick defensive tackle that could be an end in a 3-4 setting as he plays in the 285-290 range. I expect him to dominate this season for the Trojans.
NFL DRAFT: COMPLETE COVERAGE
2) Oakland — Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska, Sr.
Landing Gregory a year after Khalil Mack fell in their lap would be quite the coup. He had 9.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2013 for the Cornhuskers. Gregory is also versatile enough to play in both the 4-3 or 3-4.
3) Tennessee — Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon, Jr.
Selecting Zach Mettenberger in the sixth round would stop the Titans from grabbing the quarterback with the highest upside of next year’s crop. I’m Still surprised Mariota didn’t declare this season. He was guaranteed to be a top 5 selection, even with his MCL sprain. He’s very close to graduating at Oregon, so I can’t imagine there’s a good chance he stays again.
4) Cleveland from Buffalo — Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama, Jr.
The pick the Browns received for allowing the Bills to draft Sammy Watkins lands them the best wide receiver in next year’s class. The star Crimson Tide receiver said he ran unofficlal 40-yard dashes of 4.31, 4.35 and 4.38 seconds following Alabama’s pro day event.
5) N.Y. Jets — Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa, Sr.
The Jets offensive line was a “secret” need going into this draft, and they really didn’t address the tackle position. Scherff could emerge as the leader from what looks to be a very talented offensive tackle class. His technique is as solid as I’ve seen in recent years.
6) Washington — Landon Collins, S, Alabama, Jr.
Expect the Redskins to be in a lot of shootouts this season. They will certainly score points, but I don’t expect them to stop anyone through the air with their current secondary. Aside from C.J. Mosley, no one on the Tide’s defense flew to the ball like Collins did in 2013.
7) Tampa Bay — Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA, Jr.
Josh McCown and Mike Glennon are likely not the answers at quarterback for the Bucs. Like Mariota, the potential Heisman candidate would have likely gone early in the first round this year.
8) St. Louis — Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor, Sr.
Sam Bradford has one more season to prove he can be the man. If not, Petty is a great alternative. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he has good arm strength, accuracy and will likely put up another season of prolific numbers in Art Briles offense.
9) Minnesota — Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon, Sr.
The Ducks senior could have left early for the 2014 NFL draft, but opted to return to school for his final year of eligibility. Ekpre-Olomu broke up half a dozen passes last season as a junior and has recorded seven interceptions over the past two seasons in Eugene. The top-tier cornerback can also help out in run support. He recorded 84 tackles, including five tackles for loss, and should only improve in that area with another season in college.
10) Miami — Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona St., So.
There have been speculation the Dolphins were shopping Mike Wallace, which is odd considering they’re not very strong at the position even with Wallace.
11) Detroit — P.J. Williams, CB, Florida St., Jr.
The Lions passed on a cornerback this year. They shouldn’t have. An emerging superstar last season, Williams was the Defensive Player of the Game in the BCS Title Game and has a big future ahead of him as a versatile defensive back.
12) Cleveland — Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford, Jr.
Joel Bitonio and Mitchell Schwartz are both guards, making right tackle a need area. Peat is next in a long line of what appears to be dominant lineman out of the Stanford factory.
13) N.Y. Giants — Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan St., Jr.
The Giants don’t have any hopes of returning the the Super Bowl until they upgrade their defensive line. Calhoun actually reminds me of Michael Strahan a bit. His 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries and 14.5 tackles for loss during his sophom*ore season or only scratching the surface of his potential.
14) Houston — Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M, Sr.
Another Texas A&M first round offensive tackle, making it three straight years with the Aggies producing a blocker in the top-32 picks.
15) Dallas — Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson, Sr.
Despite having a monster junior season — 13 sacks and 23 tackles for loss — Beasley returned to the Tigers. I don’t know why I keep mocking defensive players to the Cowboys. Jerry Jones refuses to draft them in the first round, despite obvious needs.
16) Cincinnati — Cameron Erving, OT, Florida St., Sr.
The Bengals lost Anthony Collins in free agency to the Bucs and didn’t replace him in the draft. Erving would have been a first round selection this year if he hadn’t stayed.
17) Baltimore — Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia, Jr.
After two years without a first round running back, we could see a few come off the board next year, led by Gurley who has everything you want at the position. Ray Rice’s career seemingly has gone off the rails.
18) Atlanta — Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin, Jr.
Back-to-back running backs in the first round? I must be crazy, but a lot of scouts believed if Gordon would have left school he would have been the first tailback off the board, hands down.
19) Arizona — Jameis Winston, QB, Florida St., Jr.
Winston has the skills to be the No. 1 overall pick, but he’s not completely polished yet. Plus, off-the-field baggage is starting to weigh his draft stock down.
20) San Diego — Nelson Agholor, WR, USC, Jr.
The Chargers didn’t take advantage of a very deep wide receiver class this year. Agholor has the physical attributes to create explosive gains from anywhere on the field, but is especially effective on intermediate routes that showcase his precise route running.
21) Pittsburgh — Jalen Collins, CB, LSU, Jr.
The Steelers secondary is aging in dog years. This will be Collins first year as a full-time starter, but he’s already shown the potential and his propensity to make big plays in big games.
22) Kansas City — Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland, Jr.
How the Chiefs didn’t draft a single wideout is beyond me. From a pure talent standpoint, Diggs will be the top WR in the Big Ten next season, and it really isn’t even close. The only question is, how will Diggs respond after having surgery to repair a broken fibula he suffered last season? When healthy, this is one of the most explosive playmakers in all of college football.
23) Carolina — La’el Collins, OT, LSU, Sr.
The Panthers entered the draft potentially needing to draft two tackles. They didn’t draft a single one. Collins is a massive prospect who is able to perform equally well at tackle or guard.
24) Philadelphia — Noah Spence, DE, Ohio St., Jr.
Reaching for Marcus Smith didn’t solve the Eagles pass rush issues. Spence had a standout sophom*ore season, totaling 51 tackles and eight sacks for the Buckeyes.
25) New Orleans — Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi St., Jr.
McKinney played quarterback, linebacker and punter for his high school team. Now 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he has been a tackling machine for the Bulldogs at middle linebacker with more than 170 tackles the past two seasons.
26) Indianapolis — Devonte Fields, DE, TCU, So.
Fields missed nine games of 2013 with a foot injury, but look for him to return to the dominant form he showed as a freshman when he led the Horned Frogs with 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.
27) Chicago — Kurtis Drummond, S Michigan St., Sr.
Brock Vereen was a nice grab at safety in the fourth round, but the Bears will need another one next year. Once again a defensive captain for the Spartans, I expect Drummond to break out this season and challenge Collins for the top safety prospect in the next year’s class.
28) Green Bay — Dante Fowler, DE, Florida, Jr.
The Packers will continue to address their pass rush. More of a prototypical defensive end, Fowler has both the speed and hands to get off the line in a hurry.
29) San Francisco — Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan St., Jr.
At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Waynes has the size and the mindset to get physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage in press coverage to go along with the speed to turn and run with just about anyone in the country.
30) New England — Devin Funchess, TE, Michigan, Jr.
I expect the All-Big Ten tight end to have a monster season considering he’ll likely be the primary receiving target for the Wolverines. Funchess has the athletic skills to develop into something special.
31) Denver — Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford, Jr.
Peyton Manning can’t play forever. This might be the guy for teams looking for a pocket passer, the Blake Bortles type of next year. He can move around a little bit, but so far his accuracy in the pocket is what should have NFL teams looking at the 6-foot-4, 228-pounder.
32) Seattle — T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama, Jr.
How much more tread does Marshawn Lynch have on the tires? Yeldon has cleared 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He has a great blend of size and speed, which will make him a candidate to play all three downs at next level. He also runs hard enough to be a goal line option.
