2015 NFL Draft: First Round Mock Draft and Analysis

 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, 6'4", 230lbs, QB, Florida State, RS Soph.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
03/23/15 - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

I've been going back and forth on this pick for quite awhile now. The debate between the last two Heisman Trophy winners has been well-documented. Jameis Winston is comfortable in a pro-style offense, having played primarily under center in his two seasons in Tallahassee. He does a great job going through his progressions, has tremendous pocket presence and anticipates his throws well. He's a fiery leader and his presence commands respect. However, there are off-field concerns that question his maturity. Can Winston put the numerous incidents behind him? On the other hand, there's Mariota, a smooth athlete who ran the Ducks' spread offense to perfection and leads by example. He has good timing, accuracy and makes quick decision on where to go with the football, often throwing his receiver open on short-to-intermediate routes. Mariota may be at his best outside the pocket, where he's a threat to pass or run. Mariota is the type of athlete that can make plays in space with his legs with ease; he has a long stride that allows him to eat up yards in a hurry. The questions lie in whether Mariota can adapt to playing at the next level, playing under center, going through multiple progressions and whether he can push the ball down the field accurately on a consistent basis. It's completely a projection at this point, but I think Tampa may have shown their cards a bit. Dirk Koetter will run the offense and Mike Bajakian is the QB coach, both of whom have extensive experience in the spread. In fact, Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich once coached under Koetter. Their addition doesn't make this pick a done deal, but I think they would definitely help with Mariota's transition to the pro game. However, HC Lovie Smith has already come out and said he is okay with Winston's character issues and if that's the case, the focus will be on what he does once he steps between the white lines on game day. There's no question Winston has all of the skills to excel at the next level. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner has a tremendous feel in the pocket. He's comfortable under center, makes the proper pre-snap reads and has good footwork in his drops. Winston's escapability in the pocket is advanced, often stepping up or sidestepping pressure while keeping his eyes down the field. Winston has an NFL arm, blessed with a 97-mph fastball as a pitcher for the Seminoles baseball program, which allows him to push the ball down the field and fit the ball into tight windows. He also sees the field very well and will go through three and four progressions before releasing the football. Let's not forget his size and strength. Winston is 6'4" and 230 pounds and very strong, which make him very difficult to bring down. Maybe my favorite play involving Winston took place his Freshman year against Maryland. Winston was all but sacked in the backfield, but shook off two defenders and eluded two more, rolled right with his eyes down the field, finding TE Nick O'Leary in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard TD. On that play, Winston also showed off his accuracy and ball placement, putting the ball up and away from the DB where only his man could make the catch. 2014 was not as successful a season as Winston threw more 1st half Int.'s than total Int.'s a season before. He almost seemed to go through the motions, trying to force passes when the play wasn't there. However, when the 2nd half rolled around, Winston always seemed to find a way to will his team to a victory. He's a fiery leader and his enthusiasm is infectious. There's something innate about this kid that is special; guys follow him. There may not have been a better example of Winston's leadership on display than in the Notre Dame game. All-American LT Cameron Erving had just given up a sack to DE Sheldon Day and hung his head coming to the sideline. The redshirt Sophomore QB chased the senior tackle down the sideline, grabbed him by the shoulders and passionately talked him up, knowing he would need his LT down the stretch. The QB decision is critical and Tampa has to get this pick right if they want to compete in the NFC South. On the field, Winston may be the best QB prospect to enter the draft since Andrew Luck. If only Winston can prove he's left his immaturity in college.

2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota, 6'4", 219lbs, QB, Oregon, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Leonard Williams, DE, USC
03/23/15 - Leonard Williams, DE, USC
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Leonard Williams, DE, USC

The hottest topic of this year's draft is what is going to happen with Marcus Mariota. Will a team like Philly, San Diego or St. Louis trade up for a chance to land the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner? Or will Ken Whisenhunt buck the trend of his teams taking drop-back pocket passers and select Mariota himself, even with a young QB they like in Zach Mettenberger. Call it what you will, whether it's never passing on a chance to take a potential franchise QB or a play for the coach to buy some extra time at the helm, at the end of the day Mariota makes the most sense. I've projected USC DT Leonard Williams at this spot since March because he's a perfect fit for Tennessee's 3-4 scheme and would make an instant impact opposite fellow Trojan Jurrell Casey, whose sack total dropped from 10.5 in 2013 to just 5.0 in 2014. Would Williams make an impact in legendary DC Dick LeBeau's defense? Absolutely. However, I've come around to the idea that when you get a chance to land a QB who could be the face of your franchise and could take the organization to the next level, you take it. Mariota is an intelligent, cerebral QB who had the Ducks' offense built on deception down to a science. He knew exactly where to go with the football and took advantage of what the defense gave him. He was decisive with the football, getting the ball quickly out of his hands on short-to-intermediate throws and did an excellent job reading the DE on zone read plays, knowing when to hand the ball off and when to take it himself when the DE crashes down. Mariota is the most gifted athlete to enter the draft at QB since Robert Griffin III. He's dynamic in the open field, running with long, gazelle-like strides that eat up yards in a hurry. His 4.53 40 time was also the fastest since RGIII. However, at the next level, Mariota can't get away with running an offense based on deception and he won't have the same luck running the football as he did in college. He's going to have to prove he can make plays on a consistent basis from within the pocket. Maybe we are penalizing him because he was only asked to run the offense he was given. He was only asked to often make only one read in the Ducks' spread attack, but he seems to have the football IQ and savvy to be able to adjust to the pro game of being able to go through multiple progressions. Maybe he can run an offense from under center and in the pocket if it's asked of him. Right now, it's purely a projection. I think the mechanics are there. He keeps the ball high in his delivery and his release is quick and compact. Mariota did a good job putting the ball on his man so he can make a play after the catch. He can run an up-tempo, no-huddle offense and clearly had command of the offense he was running. I think where Mariota does need work is with consistent ball placement when pushing the ball down the field. Too many times when Mariota looked beyond 10-15 yards, some of his throws would sail on him or would be put where the DB could make a play on the ball. He also didn't consistently throw his WR open, meaning there were times when Mariota wasn't able to anticipate throws. He's going to have to do that from within the pocket consistently in the NFL. Mariota is a winner and a proven leader, someone who leads by example. He's in stark contrast to the fiery and charismatic Jameis Winston, as Mariota is soft spoken and seems almost timid in interviews. However, don't let that demeanor fool you. His character is off the charts and has the temperament to step in and become the face of a franchise. I think Leonard Williams makes a lot of sense in Tennessee, but Marcus Mariota would make a bigger impact on the field.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Amari Cooper, 6'1", 210lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15​ - Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
03/23/15 - Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida

The Jaguars were definitely active this offseason in free agency: They brought in Jeremey Parnell from the Cowboys to play RT to help an O-line that finished the 2014 season with the most sacks given up in the league, a whopping 71 for the year; Blake Bortles received a go-to target in Julius Thomas, who left the Broncos for the Jags; and the pass rush received some help with the addition of Jared Odrick up front. I've been calling for the Jaguars to take a pass rusher in the 1st Round for years. Could this be the year it finally happens? Florida's Dante Fowler, Jr. is the top prospect as a pass rusher as he has the size to play a DE in a 4-3 scheme and also has the athleticism to stand up in a 3-4. The Jags could absolutely use Fowler, especially considering Chris Clemons is now 33 years of age. However, there is also a good chance Jacksonville could be looking elsewhere with this pick as their pass rush improved immensely in 2014, registering 45 sacks, which was good for sixth in the league, with Chris Clemons and Sen'Derrick Marks each registering at least 8.0 sacks on the year. This could be where a team in need of a QB looks to trade up for Marcus Mariota. Would Chip Kelly give away the farm to land Mariota, who ran his offense to perfection in Oregon? What about St. Louis, Cleveland or even KC? If the Jags do stay at No. 3, I think this pick could actually continue the offseason momentum gained to bolster the league's worst-ranked offense from a season ago. Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns all made impacts as rookies, but what if they could land a true No. 1 WR for Bortles? You know what you are getting with Amari Cooper, a proven commodity over the last three seasons, and he hasn't done anything to dissuade me from keeping him at the top of my WR list. No WR was more explosive in 2014 than Cooper, who racked up 1,727 yards on 124 receptions with 16 TD. The Biletnikoff Award winner is a deep threat as well as an excellent route runner who is quick in and out of his cuts. He attacks the ball in the air, plucking it out of the air with his hands away from his body. He does a good job in traffic, uses his body to shield defenders from the ball and displays good body control while the ball is in the air. Cooper is also dynamic with the ball in his hands, showing he can make the first man miss and accelerate away from defenders on the outside. Cooper is the most complete WR in this year's draft and can make an immediate impact at the next level.

4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams, 6'5", 300lbs, DE, USC, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
03/23/15 - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Raiders hit the ground running this offseason looking to improve the 21st-ranked defense. Curtis Lofton and former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith were brought in to play LB with Khalil Mack, FS Nate Allen will be teaming up with Charles Woodson at the back end of the defense and NT Dan Williams will be plugging the middle of the defense. As a result, I was expecting this to be an easy pick to project: The Raiders will take a WR to be the No.1 receiver, a go-to target for their newly-crowned franchise QB Derek Car, who had a solid rookie season after putting up over 3,200 yards and 21 TD. Adding Amari Cooper or Kevin White seemed like the sensible thing to do. Then Michael Crabtree was signed and that may have changed things. While adding White to team with Crabtree on the outside, moving Jones inside to the slot, would give Carr yet another weapon in his arsenal, the chance to land the top defensive player in this year's draft could be too much to pass up. They already landed the top defensive player in last year's draft when they selected Mack, so why not do it again? Oakland should be ecstatic to draft a player who is about as sure of a thing along the defensive line to come out of the draft since the likes of J.J. Watt or Ndamukong Suh. Teams regretted passing on Watt and Suh and I find it hard to see Tennessee make the same mistake. Simply put, Leonard Williams is the most dominant and most complete player in this year's draft. USC ran a 3-4 defense under DC Justin Wilcox and Williams was able to line up all over the line to take advantage of mismatches. He saw double teams most of his career because there was no way to block him one-on-one. Williams is explosive off the ball and can use his speed to get into his man quickly. Once he's engaged with a lineman, he shows off tremendous hands to get off blocks. He works hard to slap the lineman's hands away and will use a quick rip or swim move to penetrate the line of scrimmage. Williams is also physical at the point of attack, using his length and power to drive his man into the backfield. When you talk about Williams' strength, consider his 35 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press at the Combine were higher than the totals Watt (34) and Suh (32) posted. He's also tremendously active, finishing each season with at least 60 tackles and his 80 tackles in 2014 were good enough to make him the team's second-leading tackler. You want your players to be tough and play through pain and Williams definitely did that, playing through an ankle injury to dominate Stanford in a win over the Cardinal. Conditioning isn't even an issue because a lack of depth meant Williams rarely came off the field and, against Stanford and Boston College, didn't come off the field at all. Adding Williams would immediately upgrade the Raiders defense because he makes those around him better. Look for an instant impact in 2015.

5. Washington Redskins - Vic Beasley, 6'3", 235lbs, OLB, Clemson
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
03/23/15 - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

The Redskins actually have their 1st Round pick in 2015 and unfortunately it's another top-10 selection. I would imagine Washington is looking at three positions with this pick: OT, S and LB. That is unless Marcus Mariota is available. HC Jay Gruden has not done much to show his support of Robert Griffin III as his starting QB and after a private workout with Mariota, there's speculation they could be on the market for a replacement for RG3. Could it happen? Anything can happen during the NFL Draft! Let's say they pass on a QB and give RG3 another chance, what are the options? Protecting the QB, whether it was RG3, Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy, was a bit of a chore for the Skins as they gave up 58 sacks, good for second-most in the league. Trent Williams is a franchise LT, but the jury is still out on Morgan Moses, last year's 3rd Round pick brought in to play RT. Iowa's Brandon Scherff has the versatility to challenge Moses for the RT job and could be a Pro-Bowl caliber OG. Would the Redskins use a top-5 pick on a Guard? After the way Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio made an impact a season ago, it's entirely possible. Plus, Scherff can help bring back the days of Jim Lachey, Joe Jacoby and the rest of "The Hogs" up front with Bill Callahan running the show up front. Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark are both free agents and you can't expect both to be back in 2015, so Alabama's Landon Collins, the clear-cut top safety in this years draft, could give the Skins some stability in the back end of their defense. Finally, there's the pass rush, where the oft-injured Brian Orakpo bolted for Tennessee, leaving Ryan Kerrigan and last year's 2nd Round pick Trent Murphy as the only OLB's with more than 2.0 sacks in 2014. Adding Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton to play up front will undoubtedly help the pass rush, but finding someone to get after the passer from the outside is a priority and having elite pass rusher like Vic Beasley will be too much to pass up. Ray is explosive to the QB, but I haven't seen an ability to consistently set the edge against the run and there's some stiffness in his hips, which will be troublesome in coverage. Beasley, on the other hand, has tape where he showed he can set the edge. Beasley also put on 11 pounds since the end of the season when he weighed in at 246 at the Combine. He also put up 35 reps in the bench press, good enough to be among the top performers at this year's Combine and much higher than Ray's 21 reps. Add in a 4.53 40 time and it's clear the Combine has shown Beasley put in the work to improve himself, which will only improve his draft stock. There isn't another player in this year's draft that gets of the line quicker than Beasley, who often takes two to three steps before the LT is even out of his stance. Beasley is very flexible, showing he can bend when turning the corner, and playing with excellent leverage to dip his inner shoulder to run a tight arc to the QB. He has such quick hands to create separation and has an array of pass rush moves to get to the QB. He will often get deep into the backfield, but can plant and change directions in a hurry to get back up the field to the QB. He shows great effort and doesn't give up on plays. As a senior, Beasley showed he's not just a one-trick pony, showing he can drop into coverage. He gets good depth on his drops on pass plays over the middle to affect the pass. He also shows good play recognition. Against Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Beasley didn't get up the field with an all-out rush because he read the screen, stayed at home and was able to drop the RB for a loss on the play. Chicago needs to put pressure on the QB and be more disruptive in the backfield and Beasley can provide both; he finished with 52.5 tackles for loss and set a Clemson career sack record with 33.0 for the Tigers.

6. New York Jets - Andrus Peat, 6'7", 315lbs, OT, Stanford, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
03/23/15​ - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Todd Bowles is now at the helm of the Jets, ending the Rex Ryan era in New York. The first order of business for the normally defensive-minded Bowles was to inject some life into an anemic passing attack that finished dead last in the league with a measly 184.1 yards per game. The Jets then brought in Brandon Marshall to be their No. 1 WR, so you have to expect the Jets to then look to see if they could somehow land Marcus Mariota to get him the ball. If that doesn't happen, the next order of business might be to protect whoever is delivering the ball in 2015 as the line gave up 47 sacks a season ago. Three starting O-linemen will be over the age of 30 when the season begins, including 31-year old LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Ferguson is set to make $11.698 million in 2015, but $9.012 million of that is dead money. I have a feeling he could be a cap casualty following the 2015 season as his play has declined in recent years and his salary not only jumps to $14.107 million, but the dead money drops to just over $5 million. Stanford's Andrus Peat is this year's top LT prospect and I think he could push RT Breno Giacomini for playing time in his rookie season before taking over for Ferguson in 2016. Peat has the prototypical size at 6'7" an 315 pounds with a tremendous wingspan that he uses to keep defenders away from his body and the pocket. Despite his height, Peat gets out of his stance quickly to set up and is surprisingly light on his feet and moves well laterally to ride his man away from the pocket. He has a wide base and can move from a pass set to a power step inside to take away inside moves. He has a deep kick slide, but his wide base and balance allow him to move quickly. He played for the Stanford Cardinal, which means you know can also be a physical run blocker, dominating the point of attack. I don't understand why people consider Peat soft and lacks a mean streak. I beg to differ as Peat's tape shows he can get nasty in the run game, something that's a bit of a prerequisite to play along Stanford's offensive front. Peat is not afraid to punish DT's on down blocks too. He also has good bloodlines as his father also played in the league. There's no doubt Peat needs to work on discipline, specifically with his hand placement, as he racked up numerous personal foul penalties for illegal hands to the face. He will also overset at times, causing him to lunge and bend at the waist, leaving him susceptible to inside moves. There will be some growing pains at the next level, but Peat has all of the qualities to be an NFL LT for a long time.

7. Chicago Bears - Kevin White, 6'3", 210lbs, WR, West Virginia
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
03/23/15 - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Danny Shelton, NT, Washington

John Fox inherits the 30th-ranked defense, which was absolutely abysmal in 2014. The pass defense was especially horrendous, giving up 4,230 passing yards; only Atlanta and Philadelphia gave up more. If the pass defense is going to improve, the back end must get an upgrade. Chris Conte can't seem to stay healthy, rookie Brock Vereen struggled to adapt to the pro game and Ryan Mundy, who led the team in tackles and Int., will be a free agent after the 2015 season. Adding Antrel Rolle in free agency is a start, but additional help is needed and Alabama's Landon Collins is the best Safety in the draft by a wide margin and would likely start immediately. However, with John Fox and Vic Fangio coming in, there will be a transition to a 3-4 scheme with some probable hybrid personnel situations thrown in. The Bears didn't get what they were hoping for from Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen in terms of providing a pass rush and while adding Pernell McPhee will help, I don't think they're done, so adding a pass rusher is always possible. I've had Danny Shelton here as any 3-4 defense needs a dominant NT. The last NT taken in the first half of the 1st Round was Dontari Poe at No. 11 in 2012. The future of Jay Cutler remains in question and there's a possibility that with Fox and GM Ryan Pace at the helm, Chicago could be looking to dump Cutler and his contract and start over. If the Bears want to land Marcus Mariota, it will take Cutler and a multitude of picks. Anything's possible, but I can't see Chicago surrendering picks when they have so many need areas to be addressed. You know Fox wants to bring toughness to his offense and pound the ball on the ground with Matt Forte. To do that, he's going to need a physical offensive line. Fox brought in Will Montgomery, who played for him in Denver, to replace Roberto Garza at Center and former 1st Round pick Kyle Long has the versatility to play either at OT or OG and is a hard-nosed, physical player, which sounds a lot like Brandon Scherff, the top O-line prospect in this year's draft. The trade of Brandon Marshall to the Jets leaves Alshon Jeffery as the lone WR target on the outside. Jeffery, Marquess Wilson and the newly-acquired Eddie Royal would give Jay Cutler a solid WR corps, but he still needs a No. 1 WR on the outside. White was a deep threat for the Mountaineers and hauled in over 1,400 yards a season ago. He put everything together after a ho-hum junior year in 2013. He also dazzled everyone at the Combine, proving he was the fastest and strongest WR at the Combine. So why would the Bears pass him up? White's stock is based on potential and if he can continue to build upon what he did in 2014. There may not be a more physical WR in this year's draft than West Virginia's Kevin White. After coming to Morgantown as a JC transfer for the 2013 season, White had a breakout All-American 2014 season, catching 109 passes for 1,447 yards with 10 TD. He's a guy that is virtually impossible to jam at the line and does a great job creating separation while the ball is in the air. He can go up in traffic and attacks the ball in the air with his hands. White also has a burst off the line to get vertical by the CB, creating separation early in the route. He's an excellent downfield threat because of his body control to adjust to the ball in the air. White's performance at the Combine solidified himself as the No. 2 WR in this year's draft. His 26 reps in the bench press is proof of his strength and physicality with which he plays and the blazing 4.35 40 time, impressive for someone over 6'2", proves he can create separation vertically. He still needs some refinement on his route running, which prevents him from creating separation over the middle. This was also on display when he went one-on-one with TCU's Kevin White, who held him to just 3 receptions for 28 yards. TCU's White was on the hip of WVU's White on virtually every pass play and would get on top of his routes, beating WR White to the ball. White will be a Week 1 starter and should become Cutler's go-to target early in 2015.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Dante Fowler, 6'3", 260lbs, DE/OLB, Florida, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
03/23/15 - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

The NFC South was up for grabs in 2014 and with Matt Ryan throwing for nearly 4,700 yards and Julio Jones establishing himself as one of the league's top WR's, you would have expected the Falcons to be in the thick of the race. The only problem was the defense was the league's worst, giving up almost 400 yards a game. The pass rush was virtually non-existent as Atlanta managed just 22 sacks and only one player, Kroy Biermann (4.5) registered more than 2.5 sacks on the year. There is no secret the Falcons will go with a pass rusher here and I'd expect new head man Dan Quinn to go after a player with whom he already has a history. Quinn was Florida's defensive coordinator before he took over Pete Carroll's defense in Seattle. In fact, Quinn was even Dante Fowler's position coach for a season before he made the move to the NFL. Quinn knows exactly what he'd be getting if he were to bring Fowler in. Would Quinn trade up with Jacksonville to get Fowler? Quinn has already started to overhaul his defense, starting with the free agency signings of Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and Adrian Clayborn. While the additions will help the pass rush, an elite rusher off the edge is still the top priority and at this point in the draft. The problem is there are durability and character concerns surrounding both Randy Gregory and Shane Ray, two of the most explosive edge rushers in this year's draft. Gregory tested positive for marijuana prior to the Combine and was slowed during the 2014 season with injuries and Ray was recently slowed by a toe injury that was thought to have required surgery and was cited for speeding and marijuana possession just days prior to the draft. These questions will be enough to keep Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff away as Quinn has talked about chemistry and character for his team. If Quinn wants an elite pass rusher, he and Dimitroff will look to do what it takes to trade up to land Fowler. However, what if Atlanta can't pull off a trade and stay put? Atlanta is also in need of offensive line help, specifically at LG and RT. Would Atlanta really go after an offensive lineman after drafting Jake Matthews with the sixth overall pick a season ago? I think it's a definite possibility with Brandon Scherff. I just think Quinn knows what he's getting in Fowler, Jr. and Dimitroff isn't afraid to make a move to get him. Fowler was an intimidating presence for the Gators and spent progressively more time in the backfield in each of his three years in Gainesville, finishing with 15.0 tackles for loss in his final year. His best asset may be his ability to transition speed to power to get into the backfield. Fowler extends his arms into the OT and explodes into his man to get him off balance then disengages and shows a burst to get to the ball. He also has good first step-quickness and lateral agility which allow him to rush the passer in a variety of ways. Fowler can use his quickness to beat the OT off the edge, then come back the next play and fake outside, then come across the OT's face back inside with a quick inside move to pressure the QB. Fowler can line up at OLB and shoot the gaps up the middle and can even rush the QB after first dropping back into coverage. He's relentless in pursuit of the football as well, making it difficult to keep him blocked. Against the run, Fowler has the strength to set the edge and the speed to run down the ball carrier from behind. With his physical talents, you would expect Fowler to have racked up more than 14.5 sacks in his career as a Gator. That would tell me he's not a finished product as a pass rusher. However, he's the most complete DE prospect and after a solid showing with a 4.61 40 at the Combine, he solidified himself as the first pass rusher off the board.

9. New York Giants - Brandon Scherff, 6'5", 315lbs, OT, Iowa
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
03/23/15 - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The Giants need to re-work their line a bit if they plan on protecting Eli Manning, who has been sacked 71 times over the last two seasons. Brandon Scherff would give the Giants options along the offensive front, as he could either move inside and be a Pro Bowl-caliber OG or could play RT, which would allow Justin Pugh to move inside. Either way, the Giants can plug Scherff in at either position and would immediately bring some power and nastiness to the line. Scherff made headlines in 2014 after video of his 443-pound hang clean went viral. His strength translates to the football field as there may not be an O-lineman in this year's draft that is more physical at the point of attack than Brandon Scherff. The Outland Trophy winner has very violent hands to deliver a punch off the ball that will drive his man back. In the run game, once he gets his hands on the DE, Scherff displays tremendous leg drive to take his man down the field. From there, expect Scherff to finish his block and drive his man to the ground. He's a tremendous drive blocker, often extending one arm to drive his man off the ball, not allowing the defender to get his hands on him. Scherff is also much improved as a pass protector. He gets out of his stance quickly, is a natural knee bender and has the lateral quickness to move with DE's. He anchors well against a bull rush and has active hands to keep his man in front. Scherff does have a tendency to overset, making him susceptible to the inside rush, his kick slide will get short at times and there's concern about his length, which could limit is ability to play outside at OT. However, if anyone questioned his athletic ability, check out his Pro Day, where his 7.07 time in the three-cone drill was faster than seven WR's at the Combine! Scherff was one of my favorite players to watch in college over the last two years because of his strength, athleticism and nastiness and I think that would be a welcome addition up front for the Giants.

10. St. Louis Rams - DeVante Parker, 6'3", 210lbs, WR, Louisville
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Brandon Scherff, OT/OG, Iowa
03/23/15 - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
03/01/15 Post Combine - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

This was the year the Rams were supposed to make a push in the NFC West, until Sam Bradford went down with another season-ending knee injury in the preseason. The O-line has been their biggest area of concern over the last few seasons and last year was no exception, as they gave up 47 sacks. Jake Long's season was cut short after yet another injury and was ultimately released in a cash-saving move. Last year's No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson played both at OG and OT and struggled to make the transition to the next level. I continue to wonder whether his future is in the interior of the line. However, Jeff Fisher reportedly is committed to Robinson at LT. With Brandon Scherff and Andrus Peat off the board, I had the Rams taking La'el Collins of LSU; that was until police wanted to question him in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. He's not considered a suspect and is just wanted to give some additional information about the case, but rather than cooperating with the investigation and flying immediately to New Orleans to answer questions, he's proceeding with taking part in the Draft. Fisher hasn't been afraid to take a player with character concerns, but not at No. 10. If Collins is ultimately their guy, I'd expect GM Les Snead to work his draft day magic and trade down. I just don't see it happening because the Rams are strapped for cash at this point. If the Rams stay put, this pick could easily be used on a No. 1 WR. Stedman Bailey, Brian Quick and Tavon Austin have all been recent draft picks of the Rams, but Bailey and Austin work best from the slot, meaning another WR on the outside with Quick would make sense. Plus, new starting QB Nick Foles still needs a go-to target. Kenny Britt was re-signed, but will he be a No. 1? Yes, this is a deep WR class, but too often the Rams have passed on a top WR and spent a mid-round draft pick later. Now may be the time to find a true No. 1 WR and I think St. Louis can still help the O-line on Day 2. That's why DeVante Parker of Louisville makes a lot of sense if Amari Cooper and Kevin White are off the board. Just to throw in another option, don't rule out Michigan State CB Trae Waynes here. E.J. Gaines is a keeper from last season, but Janoris Jenkins seems to operate to the beat of his own drummer and is entering the last year of his contract. Waynes is the clear-cut No. 1 CB, especially after checking in at 6'1" and then running a blazing 4.31 40 time. This may not be a popular pick, but the Rams just need to look in their own division to find the formula for success. Seattle doesn't have a true No. 1 WR, but they beat you with their defense and running game. The Seahawks can get after the QB and the Legion of Boom is a dominant secondary. St. Louis has the dominant D-line and adding Waynes would get them closer to having one of the better secondaries in the league. I think the Rams will stick to their board. I can't project trades in a mock draft. Could the Rams package a deal that sends Nick Foles to Tennessee so they can land Marcus Mariota? Foles fits the mold for a Ken Whisenhunt-type QB, so I wouldn't rule it out either. However, with the Rams staying put, they'll take the best player on their board, much like they did with Aaron Donald falling into their laps a season ago. Letting the board play out could mean getting the chance to add a player with a blend of size and speed who looks a lot like A.J. Green on the field. Parker has the speed to get vertical, isn't afraid to go over the middle and has the leaping ability to win the 50-50 balls in traffic. Parker has strong hands, attacking the ball and plucking the it out of the air. He has tremendous body control to work the sidelines and is a target in the red zone. Parker is an absolute difference maker. He only played in seven games as a senior, but still managed 43 receptions for 855 yards and 5 TD. He solidified his spot in the top half of the 1st Round at the Combine, running a 4.45 40 time, which is impressive after he measured in at 6'3", and showing off his leaping ability with a 36.5-inch vertical leap.
 

 11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes, 6'1", 182lbs, CB, Michigan State, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
03/23/15 - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
03/01/15 Post-Combine - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

I've had this pick coming down to Louisville WR DeVante Parker and Michigan State CB Trae Waynes. for quite some time. I thought the scales were tipping toward Trae Waynes until the team signed Terrence Newman, who gives the team a veteran presence in a relatively young secondary. The Vikes traded for Mike Wallace and are just two years removed from drafting Cordarrelle Patterson in the 1st Round, but it has to be tempting to target a WR with whom Teddy Bridgewater was very familiar while at Louisville. Parker was Bridgewater's go-to guy with the Cardinals and the chemistry they built in college is undeniable. Adding Parker to a receiving corps that already includes Wallace, Patterson, Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and TE Kyle Rudolph would give Bridgewater plenty of weapons to help compete in the NFC North against the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler. The Vikings also have a decision to make with Matt Kalil. After a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2012 Kalil's play dropped significantly while bothered by an injury and never recovered in 2014, where he was atrocious. However, with Kalil in the final year of his contract, I expect the Vikes to give him one more year to return to his Pro Bowl form or let him walk after next season. That said, the line still needs to be addressed as the Vikes surrendered 51 sacks, good for fifth most in the league, and allowed another 96 QB hits. La'el Collins is another lineman with the versatility to play both OT and OG. I just think the chance for HC Mike Zimmer to land the top CB in this year's draft would be too much to pass up. Waynes would pair with Xavier Rhodes, a rising star and a 1st Round selection from two years ago. Newman provides depth at the position, while Captain Munnerlyn would serve as the team's nickel back. I think Waynes solidified himself as the top CB in this year's draft by showing off his athleticism and ball skills. Waynes isn't the best technical CB, as he's often high in his back pedal and is susceptible to getting beaten deep if he gives too much space. However, Waynes is 6'1" with long arms, is very physical and likes to jam the WR at the line of scrimmage. He also showed he can play on an island with the Spartans. While he is high in his back pedal, Waynes makes up for that with very quick, fluid hips to turn and run with the WR. He does a good job pinching the WR to the sideline on deep balls while running stride for stride up the field and can get over the top of the route. He does a good job locating and tracking the ball and displays tremendous ball skills, often high-pointing the ball to knock it away. Waynes also shows good change of direction skills, driving on balls thrown underneath to make a play on the ball. He can even come up and play the run, taking his physicality downhill to drop RB's for little gain.

12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, 6'2", 339lbs, NT, Washington
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
03/23/15 - Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

Just when it seemed as though things were moving in the right direction in Cleveland, Johnny Manziel checked himself into a treatment facility and Josh Gordon failed another drug test, meaning he'll face a one-year ban. The Browns let Brian Hoyer walk, but signed veteran Josh McCown as a stop gap until they figure out the future of the QB position. I have no doubt that Cleveland will take a QB in this year's draft, but don't expect them to package the 12th and 19th picks to move up for Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. The top three needs that will be addressed early in this year's draft will be WR, RT and NT. I wouldn't expect this pick to be a WR unless one of The Big Three - Cooper, White and Parker - somehow fell. Even if Parker does fall, this is a deep WR class and after signing Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in free agency, I'd expect the WR position to be a lower priority on draft day and a position to be addressed later in the draft. That would leave the RT position. In last year's mock draft, I wrote the Browns should strongly consider a RT to play opposite All-Pro LT Joe Thomas. The Browns opted to take OG Joel Bitonio in the 2nd Round, who wound up being one of the best Guards in the league in 2014. Current RT Mitchell Schwartz is in the last year of his contract and really is better suited to play inside. Drafting a RT would give Cleveland some options. They could then move Schwartz inside to RG next to Center Alex Mack, giving the Browns what I'd say would be one of the better lines in the league. Andrus Peat may be the best available OT, but he's best suited to play LT and wouldn't be the best fit in Cleveland and No. 12 would be a bit of a reach for La'el Collins or Miami's Ereck Flowers. NT Ahtyba Rubin signed with Seattle, which means Cleveland must find someone to take over the nose in their 3-4 scheme. UW's mammoth Danny Shelton certainly fits the bill as an immovable object in the middle of the defense. He has explosive power to bench press his man at the point of attack to create separation then tosses his man aside like a rag doll. Don't expect Shelton to simply take up space. Last season, Shelton registered a staggering 93 tackles from the interior of the Husky defense. He's excellent working down the line and uses surprising quickness for his size to shoot into the backfield. He's very active behind the line, having racked up 16.5 tackles for loss a season ago, and his 9.0 sacks were a product of his quick burst to split double teams. Shelton reminds me a lot of Kansas City's Dontari Poe because he's a three-down player who rarely comes out of the game. If Shelton doesn't make it out of the top 10, Texas' Malcom Brown makes a lot of sense here.

13. New Orleans Saints - Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, 6'4", 264lbs, Kentucky
Last Pick 04/21/15 - La'el Collins, OT/OG, LSU
03/23/15 - Brandon Scherff, OT/OG, Iowa
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

The Saints finished the 2014 season averaging more yards per game on offense than any other team in the league. So how could they possibly miss the playoffs in an NFC South that was up for grabs? It's simple: the defense was atrocious, finishing 31st in the league in total defense. That's why there's no surprise the biggest needs are on the defensive side of the football. The focus could very well be on the pass rush, which finished in the bottom third of the league last year. Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan combined for 17.5 of the team's 30 sacks and the two didn't get much help elsewhere. The Saints signed Anthony Spencer to help with the pass rush, but this pick could still be used on Dupree to take some of the pressure off Galette and Jordan. It's also apparent New Orleans is looking to overhaul its roster and inject some youth into the organization. Jimmy Graham was traded to Seattle for C Max Unger and the 31st overall pick and then Ben Grubbs was traded to the Chiefs. Don't forget they also released their leading tackler from a year ago LB Curtis Lofton and RB Pierre Thomas and sent WR Kenny Stills to Miami. So there are a number of need areas which begs the question - What will New Orleans do with this pick? The Saints addressed their ground game by re-signing Mark Ingram and then brought in C.J. Spiller to provide some speed. I think Drew Brees needs another weapon on the outside,especially after losing Graham. I would think DeVante Parker would get a lot of attention here because he could play on the outside with Marques Colston, which would allow Brandin Cooks to play from the slot. La'el Collins could be an option to either replace Grubbs inside or Zach Strief at RT. However, with questions swirling about Collins right before the draft, I think the nod will ultimately go to Dupree. "Bud" Dupree is climbing draft boards after a freakish Combine performance and an impressive Pro Day. His 4.57 40 time at the Combine is faster than all but seven of the RB prospects, had the 6th-best vertical leap, jumping 42 inches and his standing broad jump of 11 feet, 6 inches, bested all but DB Byron Jones and WR Chris Conley. Those in attendance at Dupree's Pro Day said he turned heads following a bull rush that sent the Bengals position coach flying. There's no doubt Dupree was very active for the Wildcats and spent a lot of time in opposing backfield. He averaged 11.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks over his final three seasons at Kentucky. He is an accomplished pass rusher with an explosive get-off, quick, violent hands to drive the OT back or slap his hands away and an ability to dip his inside shoulder and run the arc to the QB. Dupree does have tight hips when turning the corner, but he makes up for it with a good closing burst to the QB. He is incredibly active, having recorded 247 tackles in his career. Dupree also has the strength to set the edge and the quickness to pursue the ball from behind. While he can break down in space and make the open field tackle, he'll have to make sure he doesn't give the more explosive athletes a two-way go in space. Dupree would disappear at times throughout his career, but he's the type of athlete the Saints could absolutely use in their front seven and could learn from a veteran like Spencer.

14. Miami Dolphins - Malcom Brown, 6'2", 320lbs, DT, Texas, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
03/23/15 - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

The Dolphins were a borderline playoff team for much of 2014, but their defense faltered down the stretch, which means HC Joe Philbin and DC Kevin Coyle need to find some playmakers . The Fins hit the jackpot by winning the Ndamukong Suh sweepstakes. However, with the departures of Randy Starks and Jared Odrick, Miami will need to find someone to pair with Suh. Texas DT Malcom Brown should be the target here. If the Dolphins do go elsewhere, the secondary is in need of an overhaul. The aging Cortland Finnegan has already been released, while Pro Bowler Brent Grimes is over the age of 30, so getting younger at CB is a priority. Brice McCain was signed away from Pittsburgh, so that's a start. LSU's Jalen Collins, Washington's Marcus Peters and Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson will get a look here, but No. 14 is a bit of a stretch for each of them at this point. The Fins will only go CB if Trae Waynes falls to them. I think they could wait until the 2nd Round and take a guy like Miami (OH)'s Quinten Rollins. The Dolphins have been overhauling their WR corps after releasing Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson, while Mike Wallace was traded to Minnesota. WR was first thought to be where Miami would go with this pick. Now, I don't that's the case. The Fins have a keeper in Jarvis Landry, who had a stellar rookie campaign, traded for Kenny Stills to replace Wallace's speed on the outside, signed Greg Jennings to be the veteran presence in the receiver corps and signed TE Jordan Cameron to be a weapon down the middle of the field. Adding Brown to team with Suh inside and Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon on the outside would give the Dolphins one of the more formidable defensive fronts in the league. Malcolm Brown is one player that is not getting quite the buzz he deserves. Brown lined up all over the line for the Longhorns, both in a 4-3 and a 3-4 scheme. Brown has the size and strength to hold the point of attack against the run. He plays with good leverage and can walk his man back into the backfield. However, maybe more impressive is his explosiveness off the ball. I've hear a lot of people say he doesn't have first-step quickness, but when watching the Longhorns, it was apparent Brown could not be blocked one-on-one. He has the burst to shoot the A gap and split double teams to penetrate the line. He repeatedly beat his man off the ball, used his hands to toss his man aside and showed a relentless attitude to pursue the ball. Teams will look to double team Suh often, meaning Brown will see a lot of one-on-one matchups and he's difficult to block straight up, which means the Fins would be more disruptive up front in 2015.

15. San Francisco 49ers - Arik Armstead, 6'8", 290lbs, DE, Oregon, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
03/23/15 - Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, 6'4", 264lbs, Kentucky
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

Maybe one of the more disappointing teams of 2014 was the San Francisco 49ers, whose defense was riddled with injuries and an offense that had a top-five running game, but a passing game that was anemic and finished 30th overall in the league. Add to the mix that Patrick Willis and Chris Borland have retired, Justin Smith may be next and Frank Gore left in free agency and you have a roster that needs overhauling. San Francisco has already made a splash this offseason, addressing two key need areas when they signed WR Torrey Smith and DE Darnell Dockett. I would expect there to be some focus on the offensive line, especially since Mike Iupati has signed with the Cardinals and RT Anthony Davis has battled injuries. Brandon Scherff and La'el Collins would make sense if either is around here. What about the secondary? The 49ers' pass defense was in the top five in the league a season ago, but depth was a concern following a slew of injuries that struck the unit. Last year's starters Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox bolted in free agency to Washington and Tennessee, respectively, following strong seasons in 2014. I had Kevin Johnson penciled in here to start opposite Tramine Brock up until the Niners signed Shareece Wright and Chris Cook. On draft day, I think GM Trent Baalke and HC Jim Tomsula have to continue to address the depleted front seven. I think you have to expect San Fran to look at the pass rush. Ahmad Brooks took a step back in 2014 and while Baalke has come out and said he'll be on the active roster in 2015, his cap hit nears $10 million in 2016, so unless he has a big year, this may be his last in the Bay Area. Then there's embattled OLB Aldon Smith, who struggles off the field, which translates to losing time on the field. Last year's 5th-Rounds pick Aaron Lynch appears to be a steal as he finished the year tied with Brooks with 6.0 sacks. Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree has to be an option. Up front, Ray McDonald was let go and Justin Smith is considering retirement, and while signing Dockett is a good start, a long-term answer up front will be needed and Oregon's Arik Armstead is an ideal fit for the Niners. Armstead's game reminds me a lot of Smith's in that both are quick off the ball and use speed to power to walk their man back into the backfield. The physicality at the point of attack and violent hands to toss O-linemen aside have been big parts of Smith's game and you see that in Armstead as well. Armstead is a physical freak at 6'8" and 290 pounds with a very long wingspan. He's been slowed by injury, but was finally at full health toward the end of the season and played his best football when it counted. In the Rose Bowl, Armstead repeatedly bull rushed Florida State's All-American OG Tre Jackson and used his hands to get off blocks and shoot past Jackson into the backfield. In the National Championship Game against Ohio State, Armstead used a variety of pass rush moves to beat RT Darryl Baldwin and pressure QB Cardale Jones all game long. There was one play against the Buckeyes that especially stood out: Armstead used a quick swim move to beat Baldwin at the line, then had a big collision with RB Ezekiel Elliott, running through his block and very nearly sacking Jones for a safety. Armstead's best football is still ahead of him, which could be scary.

16. Houston Texans - Breshad Perriman, 6'2", 215lbs, Central Florida, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15​ - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
03/23/15 - Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

I wrote two months ago that what the Texans do in free agency would determine what they do with this pick. Well, they actually re-signed both RT Derek Newton and CB Kareem Jackson, so this pick will either be on a WR to replace Andre Johnson or to give J.J. Watt some help defensively. 2014 Butkus Award winner Eric Kendricks of UCLA is a tackling machine and would fit nicely next to Brian Cushing at ILB. J.J. Watt was the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, but he's going to need some help up front and the Texans could use an upgrade over Jared Crick, who is better suited as a backup. Adding Arik Armstead or Malcom Brown, should they fall, to team with Watt and Vince Wilfork would be a formidable group up front. I think the Safety position needs focus as well. Free safety Rahim Moore was brought in because of his ability in pass coverage, but current strong safety D.J. Swearinger, known as a big hitter, is a liability against the run. Swearinger has also been in the news for all the wrong reasons: his dog bit teammate Jadeveon Clowney, sending him to the ER, and he allegedly stole his own vehicle before finally making a payment. I think the Texans could do much better than Swearinger and Landon Collins is the top safety in this year's draft. For a dozen years, Andre Johnson was a fixture at WR for the Houston Texans. However, the 33-year old Johnson has moved on to play with the Colts, meaning a position of need coming into the draft became an even bigger need to address. The Texans tempered the need a bit with the signing of Cecil Shorts, but Houston has to look for another target on the outside to take pressure off DeAndre Hopkins. Perriman's draft stock received a huge boost at UCF's pro day after he ran a 4.24 and 4.27 in the 40 yard dash, which is blazing fast for any draft prospect, let alone one that is 6'2". What makes Perriman a 1st Rounder is his ability to separate from defenders vertically. Perriman caught 50 passes for 1,044 yards, averaging 20.9 yards per catch, making him the only receiver with at least 50 receptions to average over 20 yards per catch. He has the size to be a red zone option and is a prolific leaper, allowing him to go up and win the 50-50 balls. Perriman also does a tremendous job tracking the ball in the air and has the body control to adjust to the ball in midair. It was Perriman that caught the Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game to beat East Carolina, so he can step up when a big catch is needed. If you're not already sold on Perriman, let's add the fact that he has tremendous bloodlines, as his father Brett was a 10-year NFL veteran at WR. I would have liked to have seen Perriman stay at UCF one more season, which could have solidified him as the top WR in the 2016 draft. Perriman can separate vertically, but he lacks polish in his route running. He's also had inconsistent hands, often letting the ball get into his body, which often forced him to double catch passes. Perriman had several inopportune drops that he really needs to clean up. I think Perriman has the athletic attributes to be a No. 1 WR at the next level, but I worry that his lack of polish could make him the next Stephen Hill, another tall, fast WR with inconsistent hands who has struggled to make an impact at the next level.

17. San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley, 6'1", 222lbs, RB, Georgia, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
03/23/15 - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
03/01/15 Post-Combine - La'el Collins, OT, LSU

I could see the Chargers going in a number of directions with this pick. The Chargers' pass rush was abysmal in 2014 as they 29th in the league with just 26 sacks. Dwight Freeney's future is up in the air and Melvin Ingram has only registered 6.0 sacks in the last three years. Last year's 2nd-Round pick Jeremiah Attaochu shows promise, but he's going to need a running mate on the opposite side and Bud Dupree would be a nice fit if he drops. The Bolts have little at DE outside of Corey Liuget and the interior of the defensive line needs work as well since Sean Lissemore has just not worked out at NT. Malcom Brown or Arik Armstead would make a lot of sense should either be available at this point in the draft. Oft-injured RB Ryan Mathews left in free agency, leaving Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown and Branden Oliver as the only RB's on the roster, none of whom would qualify as an every-down back. This is a deep RB class, so the Chargers could opt to address other needs here and pick up a RB like Indiana's Tevin Coleman or Boise State's Jay Ajayi in Round Two. However, I think San Diego needs to help QB Philip Rivers, who is entering the final year of his contract and appears to be playing out the remainder of his current contract without negotiating a long-term deal. Is Rivers waiting to see whether the team will move to Los Angeles? He's from the South and may want to finish his career there if a move happens. Or is Rivers just waiting to see what the organization will do to add weapons around him? As decorated a QB as Rivers is, with six 4,000-yard passing seasons, he cannot continue to take the beating he took a season ago. Rivers was sacked 36 times and was hit or under pressure 114 times on dropback passes. Rivers hasn't missed a start since taking over the role in 2006, but he was bothered by bruised ribs and a bulging disc in his back last year. When the Chargers have the 30th-ranked rushing offense, defenses don't fear their ground game. That means they can tee off on Rivers and if he has a similar year of getting beaten up in 2015, he's almost sure to be on his way out in 2016. What better way to make a splash in this year's draft than to take arguably the best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson? Gurley has been the perfect combination of speed and power in his three-year career with the Bulldogs. Gurley has an upright runner with a one-cut running style and was most effective when his pads were square to the line of scrimmage. His downhill running style allowed him to run through arm tackles and accelerate quickly away from defenders. What draws comparisons to Peterson is the aggressiveness with which he runs and the ability to pick up yards after contact. The ferocity in his running style allows Gurley to run through arm tackles, shrug others off and will drop his pad level to deliver the blow to defenders. His forward lean is tremendous, keeping the momentum moving forward. You better tackle him low and wrap up because otherwise he'll just throw you aside. Gurley also has tremendous lower body strength to drive the pile and carry multiple defenders for extra yards. In a game against Clemson, Gurley took a toss to the perimeter, following FB Quayvon Hicks, squared his shoulders and ran through OLB Tony Steward's tackle, then stop at the sideline and threw MLB Stephone Anthony aside before accelerating down the sideline, then lowered his pads to deliver a blow to finish his run. What is remarkable is that as powerful as Gurley is between the tackles, he has impressive speed and acceleration to get to the second level in a hurry. He'll show the athleticism to hurdle defenders, but then be back at full speed within two steps. His vision is also quite impressive, seeing the cutback lane, then planting his foot and exploding to the hole. This suddenness and acceleration through the hole puts him at full speed by the time he's entering the second level. The attitude with which he runs reminds me of Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. Both seem to get better as the game goes on and both are tremendous receivers out of the backfield. Gurley has 65 receptions in his career and has proven he's a natural pass catcher. Against Tennessee, a pass was thrown behind him and Gurley was able to reach back and haul in the pas before accelerating up the field, delivering a stiff arm on a DB and then lowered his pads on MLB A.J. Johnson to finish the run. His explosiveness is also apparent in the return game, averaging 38.4 yards on 11 kickoff returns, taking 2 back to the house. Gurley's versatility doesn't end there as he's also a tremendous pass blocker, showing he can step up and pick up a blitzing LB up the middle or come across the formation to pick up a corner blitz, forcing the CB up the field and away from the pocket. The concerns surrounding Gurley are with his durability. Gurley was nicked up throughout his career with a variety of injuries. He missed 3 1/2 games in 2013 with an ankle injury and battled a slew of injuries in 2014 before tearing his ACL in the 4th quarter of the November 15 game against Auburn. Can Gurley stay healthy at the next level? That will be the issue as Gurley is a top-10 talent. Will San Diego want to take another RB with durability concerns after Mathews struggled to stay on the field? I think it's an ideal spot because the Bolts do have a trio of backs that could be a place holder until Gurley has fully recovered from his knee injury. If Gurley can manage to stay healthy throughout his career, he can be a difference maker in all facets of the game, which would have to excite Rivers.

18. Kansas City Chiefs - Jaelen Strong, 6'3", 315lbs, WR, Arizona State, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15​ - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
03/23/15 - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

The Chiefs had the seventh-ranked defense in 2014 along with a top 10 rushing attack with Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis leading the way. However, the passing attack lacked true weapons. Travis Kelce proved he's one of the top TE's in the league, leading KC with 67 receptions. Dwayne Bowe was the top WR and second on the team with 60 catches. The only other WR with at least 20 receptions was DeAnthony Thomas with 23. Andy Reid has looked to improve the passing game this offseason, reuniting with Jeremy Maclin, who played for him for four years in Philly. Dwayne Bowe is gone, so another difference maker on the outside is absolutely needed. - Jaelen Strong has been a bit of a forgotten man, even after we saw him run a 4.49 at the Combine. Most of the discussion has been on the top three WR in this year's draft class. However, there is no WR in this year's draft with a larger catch radius than Strong, which made it easy for whoever was the QB for the Sun Devils, whether it was Taylor Kelly or Mike Bercovici, because they knew all they had to do was put it near Strong and he'd haul it in. Strong is usually at his best outside the numbers and is a tremendous job working the sidelines. Strong has excellent body control to adjust to the back shoulder throw, positioning himself so the DB has to go through him to get to the ball. He has tremendous length, which allows him to extend for the ball and pluck the ball with his hands away from his body. Strong was very productive, having recorded two 1,000 yard seasons since transferring to ASU from Pierce College, and was extremely clutch, as approximately 74% of his catches went for either a 1st down or a TD. Strong needs to improve his route running and will round off his cuts, but he's physical, can create separation late and can elevate and high-point the football over the defender. Should KC look elsewhere, it could be up front, where they've already traded for Ben Grubbs, but Florida State's Cameron Erving could be brought because of his ability to play multiple positions and would start right away at Center.

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) - Melvin Gordon, 6'1", 213lbs, RB, Wisconsin, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
03/23/15​ - La'el Collins, OT, LSU
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami, Fla.

Cleveland has this pick following their trade with Buffalo in last year's draft that saw the Bills trade up to select Sammy Watkins. As aforementioned, the Browns will be considering an OT here and if they do select one, I'd imagine it would be Miami's Ereck Flowers, who quietly became one of the better OT's in college football. La'el Collins could also be a target here, but teams will likely shy away someone dealing with any sort of off-field issues. Adding Flowers would give them bookend tackles with Joe Thomas, allowing Mitchell Schwartz to move inside with Joel Bitonio and Alex Mack to give whoever is playing QB a rather formidable offensive line. However, I think this pick should be used on the best player available, which means I can't see the Browns taking Flowers, Florida's D.J. Humphries or Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings. I think if Cleveland had been looking at Shane Ray and Randy Gregory, I think things changed after their off-field issues, especially considering they aren't far removed from Johnny Manziel checking himself into rehab. If the Browns still decide on an OLB, Alvin "Bud" Dupree could be the guy if he's around. Cleveland started the 2014 season with Ben Tate as its starting RB, but finished the year with a two-headed rookie combo of Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell. While both were pleasant surprises, neither is an every-down back that could wear down defenses. Adding last year's Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Runner-Up could be that guy. Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon finished the 2014 season with 2,587 yards rushing, just 35 yards shy of Barry Sanders' single-season record. Gordon is a very patient back who allows his linemen to make their block before making his cut upfield. Once he does get up the field, Gordon is able to make lateral cuts or cut upfield without losing speed. Gordon also runs with power between the tackles, running with a low pad level. He has the speed to hit the hole in a hurry and breakaway into the secondary and the strength to execute the stiff arm on a defender and the leg drive to drag the pile for extra yards to finish the run. The vision, burst and acceleration were on display on November 16 when he ran for a single-game record 408 yards against Nebraska in just three quarters. It took Gordon just three quarters to break the record, eclipsing the mark with a 26-yard TD on the final play of the 3rd quarter. The record was broken a week later by Oklahoma's Samaje Perine, but it's a reminder of just how explosive Gordon can be. In addition to the 408-yard performance, Gordon also racked up five 200-yard games and registered at least 100 yards rushing in 12 of his 14 games played in 2014. Gordon can be a bit impatient and will look to bounce runs outside, rather than wait for a cutback lane to open up. Ball security is a definite concern for Gordon, who once tallied 322 carries before his first fumble. Gordon went on to fumble seven times, or once in every 51 carries, and lost a total of six. Coming into the 2014 season, Gordon only hauled in 3 passes in his career with the Badgers. It wasn't until this past season where he became a factor in the passing game. Granted, most of his receptions were on screen or swing passers, but Gordon did show soft hands and has the ability to catch the ball away from his body. Gordon may not be the receiver some of the other RB's in the draft are, but the Browns weren't a team to throw to the back out of the backfield a season ago. When a guy runs a lot like KC's Jamaal Charles, he can easily make the Browns a more versatile offense.

20. Philadelphia Eagles - Damarious Randall, 5'11", 196lbs, FS, Arizona State
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Shaq Thompson, LB/SS, Washington, Jr.
03/23/15 - Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Chip Kelly was given the reins to the team and I think everyone is trying to figure out what he is doing. First, he trades Lesean McCoy to Buffalo to bring in MLB and former Oregon Duck Kiko Alonso, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013, but was out with a torn ACL in 2014. He then tries to fill McCoy's shoes with Frank Gore, who gets cold feet shortly after it was announced and ultimately signed with Indianapolis. Kelly then lets his No. 1 WR Jeremy Maclin walk. Let's not forget the trade that sent Nick Foles to St. Louis for Sam Bradford. Ryan Mathews signed a free agent deal, then DeMarco Murray was reunited with Bradford, his college roommate. Everyone had been expecting Kelly to make a big deal to trade up to draft Marcus Mariota, but Kelly put that speculation to bed by declaring the asking price would be just too high. There's still speculation that could have been a smokescreen and that he could use Bradford to make a deal with Cleveland to move up to get the reigning Heisman Troiphy winner. Were you able to follow all of that? So where is he going to go with this pick? The Eagles once again had one of the top offenses in the league in 2014 and defensively, the pass rush was among the league's best racking up 49 sacks on the year. However, their pass defense was atrocious, finishing 31st in the league following a lackluster performance from the secondary. Bradley Fletcher was beaten deep repeatedly and isn't back, while Cary Williams ran hot and cold and even went as far as to question Kelly's practice habits, which ultimately led to his release. Kelly has already addressed the CB position by bringing in Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond III, which means the focus shifts to the SS position as Nate Allen signed with Oakland. Landon Collins was widely regarded as the top Safety in this year's draft, but he's an in-the-box safety and lacks cover skills. I am anticipating Kelly would think outside the box and had the versatile Shaq Thompson, who played three different positions at Washington, coming off the board here. However, Thompson wasn't really tested in coverage. I think the pick will instead be used on Damarious Randall, largely regarded as the top cover safety in this year's draft. The Eagles could use Randall paired with Jordan Simone to be one of the most active safety tandems in all of the FBS in 2014. He may not have ideal size for the safety position, but he makes up for it with football instincts and an aggressive style of play. Randall can line up and cover receivers in the slot and has the versatility to also play over the top and gets depth in zone coverage. He showed off good ball skills for the Sun Devils and isn't afraid to lay out to make a play on the football. Randall did pick off three passes in 2014, including returning one 59 yards for TD against Notre Dame, and broke up another 9 passes. He's also a tremendous in-the-box player, trusting his eyes and reacting quickly to the play. He works well through traffic and reads the play well to beat the block. On more than one occasion, Randall would read the WR screen and beat the block on the outside, shooting in to drop the WR for no gain. Randall is very reliable tackling in the open field and isn't afraid to throw his body around. I think Randall can be a special teams standout and should be a starter early in 2015.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Ereck Flowers, 6'6", 324lbs, OT, Miami, Fla., Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami, Fla.
03/23/15 - Eli Harold, DE/OLB, Virginia
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

Cincy struggled to get after the passer last year, managing a league-worst 20 sacks. Carlos Dunlap led the team with 8.0 sacks, but No. 2 on the team was DT Geno Atkins, who managed to get to the QB only three times. The Bengals must change up personnel to put consistent pressure on the QB and signing free agent Michael Johnson was a start. You can expect Cincy would think about Randy Gregory and Shane Ray here, but the character concerns are too much for them to take a chance on either of them. Gregory's positive drug test at the Combine and Ray's marijuana possession just four days prior to the draft make you wonder whether either is smart enough to stay out of trouble. I could easily see this pick being used on a corner. Why would they spend another 1st Round pick on a CB when they just drafted Darqueze Dennard a season ago? For starters, Leon Hall and Adam Jones are over the age of 30 and both of them and Dre Kirkpatrick are in the final year of their contracts. Hall also has a cap number of $9.6 million. Don't rule it out. Offensively, Cincy will be looking to find an OT of the future, especially considering starters Andre Smith and Andrew Whitworth are both in the final year of their contracts. Whitworth has become one of the top OT's in the league, but he'll be 34 years of age when his contract runs out and Smith is coming off season-ending triceps surgery, so adding Flowers would give the Bengals a contingency plan at OT. Flowers emerged this season as one of the better OT's eligible for this year's draft. I think it was the Florida State game where Flowers forced everyone to take notice. He was coming off knee injury to repair a torn meniscus that forced him out of action for just one week. Flowers elevated his game in his return against the Seminoles, cementing his status as one of the top LT's in college football. There is no question Flowers has the size and length to engulf pass rushers off the ball. What was surprising was just how light on his feet he was, showing he can get out of his stance quickly and slide to beat the speed rushers to the edge. He plays with good leverage because he's a natural knee bender, which makes it easy to get his hands under his man's pad level. Flowers also has the power and leg drive to generate a push and can sustain his block to the whistle. He gets his hips around to seal off the DE and shows the agility to climb to the second level, often getting multiple blocks in the process. His nimble feet make it possible for Flowers to down block on the DT and then slide outside to pick up the DE or blitzing LB crashing down off the edge. Prior to the knee surgery, Flowers had started 21 consecutive games, so durability shouldn't be a major concern.
 

 22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Landon Collins, 6'0", 220lbs, S, Alabama, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Landon Collins, S, Alabama
03/23/15 - Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Landon Collins, S, Alabama

The popular 1st Round pick for Pittsburgh early in this year's draft process is CB and it's not hard to understand why. Ike Taylor retired and Brice McCain left in free agency. Then there's Cortez Allen, who received a new contract only to be benched due to his poor play. William Gay was the one CB that had a decent season, but he's over 30 and will be in the last year of his deal. Pittsburgh hasn't used a 1st Round pick on a CB since Chad Scott in 1997 and there are some that are betting on the trend to continue, but it's apparent the Steelers have to get younger in the secondary and their late round draft picks at the position haven't panned out, meaning if there ever was a year use a 1st Round pick on a corner, this would be the year. Jalen Collins, Marcus Peters and Kevin Johnson will all get a look here. Another option is at OLB, where the sudden retirement of Jason Worilds has left Pittsburgh looking for pass rushers. James Harrison has been brought back for two more years and they're hoping Jarvis Jones can finally make an impact, but you have to expect the Steelers to do their homework on Shane Ray and Randy Gregory should their free fall continue this far. Virginia's Eli Harold was also brought in for a workout and his explosiveness off the ball would be enticing. However, maybe the biggest need is at safety now that future Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu has retired from the game. I imagine Pittsburgh would look for another intimidating presence patrolling their secondary in this year's draft and Collins fits the bill. At 6'0" and 220 pounds, Landon Collins is a big safety who plays more like a linebacker against the run, playing downhill and delivering big hits on RB's. He's instinctive and takes good angles to the ball, breaks down well in space and is a textbook tackler, driving through the ball carrier. He has excellent range and can play sideline3 to sideline. Collins, a unanimous 1st Team All-American, was even a standout performer on Special Teams, where he plays like a heat-seeking missile. There are concerns that Collins will only be an early-down safety because his cover skills are lacking. He struggles to stay with his man in the slot, takes poor angles over the top and has very questionable hands, as he's dropped several Int. That said, Collins made an impact in all facets of the game in 2014, racking up 103 tackles, intercepting 3 passes and breaking up another 7. After the recent success of Mark Barron and HaHa Clinton-Dix, both Bama safeties taken in the 1st Round, Collins will be expected to be the next in line.

23. Detroit Lions - La'el Collins, 6'5", 321lbs, OT, LSU
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
03/23/15 - Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Carl Davis, DT, Iowa

The Lions had one of the top defenses in the league a season ago and a lot of that can be attributed to the defensive line. Now that Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are gone, the DT position is now a need area, especially since C.J. Mosley and Andre Fluellen are also free agents. Adding Haloti Ngata is a nice consolation prize to the Suh sweepstakes, but this offseason has decimated the interior of the defensive line, so reloading the DT position will be afocus early in the draft. Malcom Brown and Florida State's Eddie Goldman have been tied to this pick for some time now, but the DT flying under the radar is Iowa's Carl Davis, who stood out at the Senior Bowl, winning the Most Outstanding Practice Player for his play during the week leading up to the game. However, I project Brown to be off the board by this point and I think this is too high to take Goldman or Davis, so HC Jim Caldwell could change his focus to the running game. Joique Bell is coming off Achilles and knee surgeries after having off-season knee surgery last year, so his durability is a huge question mark. Plus, an effective running game will take some of the focus off Matthew Stafford, Megatron and the passing game. Adding Melvin Gordon would go a long way toward improving the 28th-ranked rushing offense from a season ago. If Gordon is off the board, Detroit could look to find an OG to play next to LT Riley Reiff. Collins could very well go higher if teams don't shy away from the whirlwind surrounding the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend just days before the draft. Police have said Collins is not a suspect, but the announcement may have come too soon for teams to make a sufficient check to ensure he's worth the investment. If he does fall, Collins could be a steal for the Lions at No. 23. Collins would team with RG Larry Warford to give Detroit two of the most physical maulers in the league. When you look at Collins, his body type seems to say he'll be a OG at the next level. However, he's surprisingly agile with very quick feet and can move laterally against edge rushers, which says he can play OT. Collins is known for his run blocking and his mauling physical style with which he plays. He generates an excellent push at the point of attack and continues to drive his man down the field. He's definitely nasty as a run blocker, playing with excellent leverage, active hands and an ability to not only sustain blocks to the whistle, but to also emphatically finish them. His agility also allows him to get out in front as a lead blocker. If there's any question about his athleticism, just put on the tape of the Florida game, where Collins dominated Dante Fowler all game long. Collins does have a tendency in pass protection to get off balance, lunge at his man and bend at the waist, which puts him out of position. I think Collins' future could be at RT, where he can punish defenders in the run game as he continues to develop as a pass protector. However, he could easily make a home inside.

24. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Kendricks, 6'0", 236lbs, ILB, UCLA
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
03/23/15 - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

The Arizona Cardinals were the surprise team of 2014, finishing the year with a 11-5 record and a trip to the playoffs. If Coach of the Year Bruce Arians wants to get back to the playoffs in 2015, he'll have to improve the 24th-rated defense of a season ago. I think he's done just that in free agency. At LB, he brought in LaMarr Woodley to rush the passer off the edge and is hoping Sean Weatherspoon can recover from his injuries to man the middle of the field. A pair of Coreys in Corey Redding and Corey Peters will add depth up front. The Cards could take a RB here, but with such a deep draft, I'd expect them to pick up a back in later rounds. If they go defense, don't be surprised if this pick is used on Kevin Johnson, a tall, long CB with 4.5 speed, who can replace Antonio Cromartie opposite Patrick Peterson. Arians wants speed on the defensive side of the football and adding a pass rusher with explosiveness off the edge is a must. Virginia's Eli Harold will certainly be in the discussion. But what happens if Randy Gregory and Shane Ray are here at No. 24? I think Arians and GM Steve Keim will proceed with caution. Their maturity is being called into question and you have to wonder whether there will be further off-field issues, plus Gregory's positive test will already place him in the substance abuse program. Couple the off-field issues with durability concerns and I think they could pass on both. I think Arians will instead look inside, where Larry Foote is still said to be 50-50 on a return next season and Daryl Washington, who is returning from a year-long suspension for substance abuse, may face further suspension for a domestic violence incident. That would leave Kevin Minter, who is a capable starter, and Kenny Demens, who is best suited as a backup. Eric Kendricks can come in and make an immediate impact, both on special teams and the defensive side of the ball. Kendricks won't be much of a factor rushing the passer, but he can do everything else really well. Kendricks is an instinctive inside backer who trusts his eyes and will take you to the football. He diagnoses the play quickly and flies to be in position to make a play on the ball. Kendricks does a good job playing inside out, often forcing RB's wide, allowing OLB Myles Jack to bring down the back in the open field. He was rarely out of position and seemed to be in on every tackle, which is why there's no surprise he racked up 481 tackles in his career, including three straight seasons of 100+ tackles. The 2014 Butkus Award winner can also drop in coverage, matching up well against RB's and TE's. He has tremendous ball skills, often finding a way to put his body in position to make a play on the football. His height is just average and he's a bit undersized, but keep in mind Freeman makes plays with his speed despite only being 6'0" and 220 pounds. Kendricks also proved he was a better athlete than I thought at the Combine, running a 4.61 40 time and showed good lower-body explosion showing off a 38-inch vertical leap. Like his brother Mychal, who is starting in Philly, Kendricks will start early in his career and will make an impact for the Cards' defense.

25. Carolina Panthers - Jake Fisher, 6'6", 306lbs, OT, Oregon
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
03/23/15 - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami, Fla.
03/01/15 Post-Combine - T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

The Carolina Panthers are still looking for a long-term replacement for Jordan Gross, who retired prior to the 2014 season after 11 seasons holding down the LT position. Without Gross, the cupboard was bare at OT, which was a big reason for the 42 sacks given up last season. That's why Michael Oher was brought in to protect Cam Newton's blind side. Keep in mind Oher started at LT in 37 of his 80 games. Nate Chandler made the move from DT to OT to fill in and the team brought in Jonathan Martin to at least provide some depth up front, but and signed Michael Oher to play RT. A long-term solution to the position is a necessity. I've been struggling with trying to justify a team selecting D.J. Humphries or T.J. Clemmings in the 1st Round. Both are athletically gifted, but are very raw and come with question marks. Humphries battled through injuries in each of the last two seasons, which is why he only started 19 gams in his career at Florida. Meanwhile, Clemmings is just two years removed from his transition from DT to the offensive side of the ball. You can see the athleticism, but it's clear he's going to need time. While Carolina could absolutely take either one of them in Round One, they'd likely be making the pick based on potential and with the expectation that it will take time to see results. To me, Humphries and Clemmings are 2nd Round picks. Jake Fisher was always on the draft radar, but it wasn't until his injury that made it clear just how much he meant to the Ducks up front. In Oregon's first three games with Fisher lined up at LT, the Ducks went 3-0, averaging 52 points a game and Marcus Mariota was sacked only 4 times. Fisher then went down with a leg injury and was out for the next two games. In those games, the Ducks went 1-1, tallying 31 points per game and giving up 12 sacks. When Fisher returned against UCLA, the Ducks beat the Bruins 42-30, Mariota accounted for 4 TD and the line didn't give up any sacks. Fisher has been shooting up draft boards after his performance at the Combine. He ran the second-fastest 40 time at 5.01 and was fastest in both the three-cone drill (7.25) and 20-yard shuttle (4.33), forcing teams to take notice of his athleticism. There is no question Fisher is light on his feet, can get off the line quickly to beat edge rushers to the corner and has the length to keep defenders away from the pocket. His technique as a pass blocker is above average, but he's going to need to get stronger. He also committed six holding penalties last season, which is indicative of his tendency to get sloppy with his hands. If he can get stronger and can improve his hand placement, Fisher should be able to find his way onto the field as a starter early in his career.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Marcus Peters, 6'0", 190lbs, CB, Washington, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
03/23/15 - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

The Ravens could go in a number of directions with this pick. The secondary struggled in 2014, especially with Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson going down to season-ending injuries and Ladarius Webb struggling with injury himself. All three will be back and healthy in 2015, but Newsome could still nab a CB in the 1st Round of the draft. WR is another need, where starters Torrey Smith and the ageless Steve Smith Sr. combined for 128 receptions, but there wasn't a difference maker behind them. Torrey Smith is now with the 49ers and Steve Smith Sr., fresh off another 1,000-yard season, will be 36 at the start of 2015. I don't see the Ravens reaching for a WR if Breshad Perriman and Jaelen Strong are off the board. If you're evaluating strictly based on talent, Marcus Peters could very well be the top CB in this year's draft. He has the size, speed and ball skills to be a shut-down corner at the next level. Newsome will have to do their homework on Peters though, after being dismissed from the team after violating team rules and allegedly not getting along with a coach. I think what may be most telling is the fact that Peters will be participating in Washington's pro day. That may be a sign that the off-field issues are no longer a major concern. If that's the case, Peters would be a steal at No. 20. Peters has good size and speed and is a very confident CB. He does a good job getting his hands on the WR off the ball to throw the WR off the route. On slant routes, Peters will often jump the route and get inside of the WR to make a play on the ball. Sometimes that aggressive play will come back to haunt him as he can get beaten on double moves. Peters also has excellent ball skills with a knack for timing his break to get a hand in. He also does a good job tracking the ball down the field and can high-point the football to knock the pass away. He often played on an island and only allowed a 38% completion rate for passes thrown his way. Peters impressed in his showdown against WR Jaelen Strong. Despite Strong's size advantage, Peters more than held his own, showing quick hips to turn and run with Strong and the speed to stay on his hip, not allowing any separation. He drove quickly on the ball to make up for the cushion and got a hand in to knock the ball away. Peters was always matched up against the opposition's top receiver, so he knew the ball would be coming his way, but he consistently made plays throughout his career, finishing with 11 Int. and 22 pass breakups. His athleticism, ability to cover and ball skills transition well to the next level.

27. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, 6'0", 188lbs, CB, Wake Forest
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
03/23/15 - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

The Cowboys have been busy this offseason with several free agent signings to address glaring needs. DeMarco Murray was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the league in rushing, but the Cowboys were not willing to pay him his asking price, so he'll be playing for rival Philadelphia in 2015. Dallas brought in Darren McFadden, who is expected to start ahead of Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar. Expect another RB to be added in this year's draft, but I think Jerry Jones and Co. will pass on Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon even if tehy are available here. It's clear Dallas needs to improve an anemic pass rush that registered only 28 sacks in 2014. With Anthony Spencer and George Selvie leaving in free agency, the Cowboys were so desperate for a pass rusher that they signed Greg Hardy before his 10-game suspension was handed down for domestic violence. UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa would make some sense here. CB could be a position the Cowboys will target early in the draft. Brandon Carr has refused to take a pay cut, making him an overpriced player that hasn't lived up to what he's been paid. There are also questions about how much Morris Claiborne will be available in 2015 after rupturing his patellar tendon a season ago. I think this pick could come down to Marcus Peters or Kevin Johnson. If Peters is off the board, Johnson will be the pick. Johnson is a smooth athlete with excellent ball skills, having recorded 7 Int. and knocking away another 33 passes in his career with the Demon Deacons. Johnson is low in his backpedal, plays tight coverage and has quick hips to turn and run stride for stride with the WR. He does a good job playing close on the line, can mirror routes with the WR and will get physical with the WR. Johnson has 4.5 speed, displays good change of direction skills and drives well on the ball without any wasted movement. When the ball is in the air, Johnson knows what to do. He has good body positioning and uses his 41 1/2-inch vertical leap to highpoint the pass and get his hand on the football. The biggest concern for Johnson has been his lack of size, as his playing weight was a mere 175 pounds. As a result, he struggled making tackles due to his slight frame. However, he weighed in at 188 pounds at the Combine, a clear indication he's worked hard to prepare for the draft.

28. Denver Broncos - Cameron Erving, 6'5", 313lbs, C, Florida State
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Paul Dawson, ILB, TCU
03/23/15 - D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Jordan Phillips, NT, Oklahoma

I think this pick may very well be used to focus on the offensive line. OG Orlando Franklin and C Will Montgomery both left in free agency to San Diego and Chicago, respectively. Louis Vasquez played out of position at RT last year and is likely moving back inside. It's also clear Chris Clark isn't a long-term answer at RT. If La'el Collins falls, I think he's the pick because of his versatility to play multiple positions. This pick could come down to T.J. Clemmings and D.J. Humphries. Clemmings is still new to the offensive side of the ball, having just played two years at RT for the Panthers. He's athletic, light on his feet and shows he can be a physical run blocker. D.J. Humphries has seen his draft stock skyrocket after there were questions about whether he should have entered the draft. Humphries showed off some athleticism at the Combine, running a 5.12 40 time after checking in 22 pounds heavier than his playing weight. Humphries is one of the better athletes on the outside, but durability is a definite concern as injuries in each of the last two seasons led him to play in only 19 games in his career. Clemmings and Humphries are both very athletic, but are still very raw and likely won't make an immediate impact as a result. I'd put them in the 2nd Round. Florida State's Cameron Erving is a realistic pick here because of his versatility to play multiple positions. He started the 2014 season at LT, but after an injury to starting center Ryan Hoefeld forced him inside. If Denver decides to go elsewhere, it could be at NT now that Terrance Knighton left for Washington in free agency. If the Broncos aren't convinced Sylvester Williams can man the middle of their defense, Eddie Goldman and Oklahoma's Jordan Phillips could wind up here. I'm going in a different direction here. Danny Trevathan is a playmaker inside, but he's coming off a dislocated kneecap that needed surgery. If he can get back to full strength, he'll be playing next to the likes of Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis and more likely a LB by committee. Benardrick McKinney, Denzel Perryman and Eric Kendricks could all come off the board here. But what happens if Shane Ray or Randy Gregory were to fall this far? Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware are a dynamic duo on the outside, but Ware will be 33 before he reaches training camp and will be in the final year of his contract in 2016. Denver could look for his heir apparent. However, Elway would need to do his homework on both Ray and Gregory. I think following the year-long suspension of Dion Jordan, once the 3rd overall pick of Miami in 2013, due to a failed drug test will be enough to keep Denver away. Erving was the LT for Florida State for the majority of his career, but when he transitioned to center midway his senior season, the offensive line instantly became more formidable. Erving struggled with speed at times off the edge at OT, but he's still very athletic, bends well and has good lateral quickness inside. He always seemed to be a step ahead of the interior lineman and was agile enough to pick up the blitz up the middle. He got out of his stance quickly following the snap and does a good job with his hand placement, quickly getting his hands under the defender's pad level. Erving is also very active in the run game and does an excellent job climbing to the second level or pulling around the end and acting as a lead blocker for the RB. Erving is expected to start right away at Center, which would move Manny Ramirez back to OG opposite Louis Vasquez. If the Broncos can find a RT to bookend with Ryan Clady, their offensive line could become a strength.

29. Indianapolis Colts - T.J. Clemmings, 6'6", 315lbs, OT, Pittsburgh, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
03/23/15 - Shaq Thompson, OLB/SS, Washington
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia

Colts GM Ryan Grigson has been active this offseason and was given high praise for addressing clear need areas. Pep Hamilton wants to instill a physical running attack in Indy and signing Frank Gore would go a long way toward accomplishing that. Future Hall of Famer Reggie Wayne was let go, but the Colts found his replacement in Andre Johnson, Gore's teammate while at Miami. The O-line was riddled with injuries in 2014 and some added toughness was needed along the interior, so he signed OG Todd Herremans. The pass rush also needed help, especially considering Robert Mathis is 34 years of age and there's little depth behind him. Adding Trent Cole gives them another pass rusher off the edge. Even the addition of Kendall Langford for added DL depth made a lot of sense. Grigson already released Trent Richardson and Gosder Cherilus may be next, especially considering he finished the 2014 season on injured reserve and is set to have a $6.9 million cap hit in 2015. Clemmings is widely considered a 1st Round pick, but his inexperience could slide him into the 2nd Round. I could see Indy trading back with a team trying to vault back into the 1st Round and still landing Clemmings on Day Two. It's still not out of the realm of possibility that Clemmings would come off the board here at No. 29. It truly is remarkable how far Clemmings has come at RT since moving to the offensive side of the ball two years ago. Clemmings has great size and length and a combination of power and foot speed that have him shooting up draft boards. He is surprisingly quick on his feet and moves well laterally with short, choppy steps to stay under control. Clemmings is a natural knee bender and plays with good leverage in the running game, getting his hands under the pad level of the DE to drive his man off the ball. He also has the agility to get out as a lead blocker, climbing to the 2nd level to seal off the LB. Clemmings also shows power as a run blocker, sustaining his blocks until the whistle. However, Clemmings is very raw and there were times this past season where it showed. He had a tendency to get out of his stance late, which meant he'd have to turn and run to pick up the DE off the edge. Maybe the biggest example of that was in this year's Armed Forces Bowl against Houston. On the last play of the game with Pittsburgh down to the Cougars, the Blitzer off the edge was already into the backfield before Clemmings even got out of his stance; he was beaten badly and it forced an errant throw to end the game. He struggled with speed rushers off the edge at times, including during the one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl.

30. Green Bay Packers - Shaq Thompson, 6'0", 228lbs, LB, Washington, Jr.
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
03/23/15​ - Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Eddie Goldman, NT, Florida State

The Packers struggled at inside backer in 2014, which forced Clay Matthews to move inside. Now that A.J. Hawk has been let go, I would expect Green Bay to shore up the position through free agency and the draft so Matthews can be moved back outside where would be more effective. A thumper like Miami's Denzel Perryman would make sense in Green Bay, but he'll take a 2nd Round grade with him on draft day. What about Shaq Thompson? GM Ted Thompson is going to look for the best player available and Thompson has the versatility to play all over the Green Bay defense. He actually lined up at four different positions during his three seasons with the Huskies - OLB, ILB, S and RB. Thompson's versatility and speed allowed him to make plays all over the field. In his three-year career at UW, Thompson finished with 233 tackles, 15.0 stops behind the line, 3.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and 5 Int. When you talk about him, you can't forget the four defensive TD's he recorded in 2014 alone. Thompson is absolutely a playmaker with excellent quickness, range and ball skills. He can chase down backs, pursue the QB and drop back into coverage. He doesn't have tremendous instincts, but his range would still allow him to make plays on the inside for the Packer defense. If Green Bay does look elsewhere, it could be at CB. Let's not forget that Tramon Williams is now in Cleveland, which means last year's nickel back Casey Hayward will be moving into the starting spot opposite Sam Shields. If Green Bay wants to maintain the league's No.2 pass defense, I would imaging GM Ted Thompson will be looking for another corner early in this year's draft and Kevin Johnson has the feel of a Ted Thompson guy should he be available here.

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) - Stephone Anthony, 6'3", 243lbs, ILB, Clemson
Last Pick 04/21/15​ - Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
03/23/15 - Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
03/01/15 Post-Combine (Seattle) - Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

One of the bigger surprises of the free agency frenzy on March 10 was the trade of Jimmy Graham by the Saints to Seattle. In return, the Saints obtain Pro Bowl C Max Unger and the 31st overall pick. It's clear New Orleans is looking to employ a power running game to protect a defense that continues to finish 31st in the league. Once the offensive line is solidified, the next step is to find a complete TE that can block in the running game and can be a receiving threat for Drew Brees and Maxx Williams can do both, having played a similar role for the Golden Gophers. Williams isn't a surefire 1st Round pick though because he lacks polish in his route running and is still inconsistent as a blocker. I could see the Saints either trading back from this spot or trading up in Round 2 to take Williams.  I like Anthony because it's his speed and instincts that set him apart in the middle of a defense. His performance at the Combine forced teams to go back and watch his game film. He ran a 4.56 40 and showed off a 37-inch vertical leap. Put on game tape of the Clemson Tigers and Anthony's speed is evident. He has the range to cover the field sideline to sideline and flashes into the hole very quickly to take on RB's. He finished his career with 315 tackles, 34.5 of those behind the line. He has a nose for the football and uses the speed to shoot into the backfield and chase down the ball carrier. Anthony can also drop in coverage, where he showed he can patrol the middle and has the ball skills to make a play on the ball, having registered 11 pass breakups in his career with the Tigers. I think Anthony can make an immediate impact on Special Teams and should push Perry Riley to start right away.

32. New England Patriots - Byron Jones, 6'1", 199lbs, CB, Connecticut
Last Pick 04/21/15 - Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
03/23/15 - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
03/01/15 Post-Combine - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

The Super Bowl Champs were comfortable with their secondary with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner at CB and Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung at safety. They re-signed their FS in McCourty, but suddenly created a major need at CB when Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis left in free agency to New Orleans and the New York Jets, respectively. That leaves Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard and Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler at corner. I believe HC Bill Belichick will take the best CB available, whether it's Marcus Peters, Kevin Johnson or Jalen Collins. A lot of projections have the Pats taking Eddie Goldman here to replace the departed Vince Wilfork. However, New England is running a 4-3 defense now and they just took Dominique Easley a season ago, so I'd imagine this pick would be used on the team's biggest need. Byron Jones is an intriguing prospect. He's a tall CB with some versatility, having spent three years at safety before moving to CB for his senior season. Jones set the Combine on fire after setting a world record in the standing broad jump (12'3") and registering a 44.5-inch vertical leap. He has length, good ball skills and his lower body explosiveness will allow him to battle WR's on those 50-50 balls. Jones' athleticism allow him to make plays on the football, having hauled in 8 career Int. and knocking away another 18 passes. He seems to be a similar prospect to Devin McCourty and Belichick has shown he likes versatility, so Jones could be the guy.