Draft Nuggets 2015: Entry #18
By Jeff Bowers of www.youtube.com/TheSportsNarrative
Twitter: @sportsnarrative
Mock Draft:
Now is the time when all the hours and hours of draft prep, wading through rumor and fact alike, culminate in a final prediction of the events of draft night. Ironically, even most “experts” are happy is they get even 4 or 5 correct. Last year, I am proud to say I had both Manziel and Martin mocked to the Cowboys, finally making the correct choice on Martin as did the Cowboys. This year, the trade market is rampant and I would not be shocked to see several deals go down on draft night. Here is my best guess for the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, as heard here LIVE on The Ticket starting Thursday night at 6pm.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
No shocker here. Rumors about doubts or a trade by Tampa were never an issue.
2. TRADE! Cleveland Browns – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
And Draft Night opens with a bang as the Browns give up a king’s ransom for their QB (2 #1’s 12 and 19, a 4th rounder # overall and their 2016 1st as well.. But I expect this to go right to the wire with packages like the Chargers 1st (#17 overall), their 3rd (#83 overall), their 2016 1st round pick and Phillip Rivers and players from Philly (DL Fletcher Cox and LB Mychael Kendricks) all being dangled.
3. TRADE! Atlanta Falcons – Dante Fowler Jr, OLB, Florida
The Jaguars are one of the most difficult teams to forecast in a mock draft and while most have Fowler here, I think they make a bold stroke and trade down with Atlanta for an extra 2nd round pick
4. Oakland Raiders – Leonard Williams, DT, USC
This is where my mock could get lost, expecting the Raiders to do the right thing and draft the best player in this draft who actually wants to be a Raider.
5. TRADE! New Orleans Saints – Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
The Redskins really want to trade and are hoping Williams or Beasley gets to them at #5 and the Saints give up a 3rd (#77 overall) to land an edge rusher for their defense.
6. New York Jets – Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Jets will entertain trade offers but ultimately just take the best player available in Cooper.
7. Chicago Bears – Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The Bears are happy to add a big play threat opposite of Jeffery for QB Jay Cutler.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
The Jags drop down a few spots and draft the best RB in this draft now that his knee has checked out.
9. New York Giants – Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Giants like Peat over Schreff as a starter at LT eventually.
10. St Louis Rams – Brandon Schreff, G/T, Iowa
The Rams are thrilled to have Schreff fall in their lap and help fix their OL situation.
11. Minnesota Vikings – Trae Wayans, CB, Michigan State
The Vikings have been locked in on Wayans for some time, hoping he can become a true #1 CB in Mike Zimmer’s defense.
12. Tennessee Titans – Devante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Titans start their draft bonanza with the talented WR from Louisville
13. Washington Redskins – Alvin “Bud” Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
The Skins drop down and still get an edge rusher for their defense.
14. TRADE! Dallas Cowboys – Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Dolphins are looking to deal down unless Parker or Gurley get here. A proposed deal with Dallas is #27, their 3rd #91 overall and a 2016 4th round pick to get their Murray replacement.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
The Niners could try to move up for Williams, but I think they will stay put and add a new 5 tech.
16. Houston Texans – Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Rumors that the Texans have put Swearinger on the market mean they draft his replacement here.
17. San Diego Chargers – Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
Though they don’t land Mariota, the Chargers do get a big man for the middle of their DL.
18. Kansas City Chiefs – Cameron Erving, C/G/T, Florida State
The Chiefs replace their center Rodney Hudson with the versatile OL from FSU.
19. Tennessee Titans – Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
The Titans bolster their defense with the sliding talent from Nebraska.
20. Philadelphia Eagles – Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State
The Eagles will be quite active through the draft with Chip Kelly remaking the roster in his image. Here they take Here they take a cover safety that is rising very quickly.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
The Bengals love the agile Fisher to protect Andy Dalton’s blindside.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
The Steelers could currently starting former Cowboy BW Webb at CB, so they need some help there.
23. Detroit Lions – Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
The Lions change their DTs from Suh/Fairley to Ngata/Brown.
24. Arizona Cardinals – Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
The Cards just stay put and grab a RT with a mean streak in Flowers.
25. Carolina Panthers – DJ Humphries, OT, Florida
The Panthers must keep Cam upright and add Humphries as a guard or tackle starter.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Ravens are always happy to take the best player available and do so here with the controversial Peters.
27. Miami Dolphins – Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
The Dolphins drop back, pick up a 3rd rounder and add some real speed to their WR core.
28. Denver Broncos – Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
The Broncos get the injured Aggie OT who could be top 10 talent.
29. Indianapolis Colts – Eddie Goldman, NT, Florida State
The Colts grab the big disruptive force in the middle.
30. Green Bay Packers – Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
The Packers wanted Alabama’s CJ Mosely last year to fill ILB but had to settle for another Bama defender. This year they get their man in the middle in the speedy Kendricks.
31. New Orleans Saints – Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
The Saints use the pick they received from Seattle in the Jimmy Graham trade to continue to add to their defensive front.
32. TRADE! Jacksonville Jaguars – Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
The Champs end round 1 by trading out getting more picks and Jacksonville gets their controversial pass rusher.