NFL Mock Draft Post Combine
TUSCALOOSA– Over the past several months, readers could find their way onto this page and see where their favorite player might in this years upcoming draft. While that’s fine and dandy, now fans have a clear and precise perception and some of the NCCA’s best talent and where they will end up come mid-april.
This past week, the 2015 NFL combine was under way. Some players shined while other made GM’s and scouts question their abitlity to produce in the NFL. One thing is for certain, team will have a hard time choosing in some positions more then others.
Every mock draft I made before this; consider it garbage. While this one might have some players landing in the same spot, more then likely it will be completely different then all my others. So, who rose up? who fell? Let’s dive in as Tampa Bay is now on the clock.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Sorry Marcus Mariota, you may have had an impressive combine, but Jameis Winston had a pretty fantastic one as well. His arm strength is superb and when it comes to making decisions in the pocket, he is arguably the best quarterback in the country this season. Teams also have to like his resume of 26-1 as a starter in college plus a Heisman trophy to his name is another checkmark. At the combine, Winston ran a 4.97 40, but was able to complete over 90% of his throws from the pocket. Head Coach Lovie Smith was sold on this kid before the combine even started, now probably everyone in Tampa is.
2. Tennessee Titans- Leonard Williams, DT, USC
While the Titans may have issues at quarterback, it seems more and more likely that they’re going to stick with Zach Mettenberger at least one more season. On the upside of that, the entire board is open and possibly the best player fans saw Saturday will go here. Leonard Williams had a decent combine, posting up a 4.97 40 time and a 30 inch vertical, but teams were sold on this kid before Indy. His size and ability to get off the ball will make him a star in the NFL if he gets coached properly. To top it off, he’s versatile as a DE or DT so he’s clay for Ray Horton to mold into whatever he wants in a very weak defense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dante Fowler Jr., Edge Rusher, Florida
In my first draft I wasn’t sold on Fowler just yet, but after the combine, he is without a doubt the top pass rusher in the 2015 class. While Randy Gregory may be a better selection here, his size might worry GM’s so Fowler sizes moves him up. Gus Bradley was able to turn Micheal Bennet and Bruce Irvin into two of the best pass rushers in the NFC, he could easily help Fowler out there. Folwer’s combine numbers were impressive, posting a 4.6 40 time and 19 reps on the bench press. If Williams goes to Tennessee, Fowler won’t last much longer.
4. Oakland Raiders- Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Sorry Amari Cooper fans, while Coop had good combine, Kevin White had an amazing one. At 6’3, 215 lbs, White ran one of the fastest wide receiver 40’s at 4.43 and led the wide receivers in bench reps with 23. His route running was perfect and his ability to read and react to the ball was impeccable. While Cooper still could go hear, White’s numbers and size make him a little friendlier of a target for Derrick Carr. No matter who Reggie McKenzie drafts here, the Raiders need a major upgrade at wide receiver and Kevin White fits in with Oakland silver just a lithe better.
5. Washington Redskins- Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
While Gregory may be a bit undersized, GM’s really shouldn’t worry about that after the season he had. While is combine was below average, Gregory led the Big 10 in sacks last year with 17.5. Add in the fact that Brian Orakpo has one foot out the door heading to free agency and boom, match made in heaven. He could easily make a difference in coach Gruden’s defense and could be the guy that Ryan Kerrigan could mold into an excellent 1-2 pass rush team.
6. New York Jets- Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Sorry Geno Smith, you had your chance and you blew it. With a new revamp in the front office for the Jets, they also are going to need a new face for their franchise. While Winston in New York seems like a dream come true for fans, another Heisman trophy winner from the west coast isn’t a bad constellation prize. His combine time was close to parallel to that of Jameis Winston and his record is clean enough to allow Todd Bowles to trust him from day 1. With every team before them either just drafting a quarterback or trust in their guy, Mariota will fall but not by much.
7. Chicago Bears- Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
For the last three drafts, Landon Collins is one of the only guys who haven’t moved from the Bears. Unfortunately, the Bears defensive line is aging and John Fox needs a clean start. The need for Safety has gone in the first round but defensive line in at an all time high. Danny Shelton proved he’s the best overall Nose Tackle in this draft, running a 5.6 40 and posting 35 reps on the bench press. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangino will work as much power he has to draft defense the first several rounds. Shelton could take over in the new 3-4 defense and make Will Sutton move to the edge. Shelton could easily be the future of the “Midtown Monsters”
8. Atlanta Falcons- Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
With Shane Ray not running in the combine and with Vic Beasley’s stellar day, he might fall out of the top 10. Still, he’s numbers all season equal Kony Ealy’s last year and he should have been a first round pick. Ray’s ability to get off the ball in uncanny and his strength is something teams won’t be able to overlook. With Dan Quinn taking over in Atlanta, he will want to find his Cliff Avril in this years pass rushing class. If Ray can stay healthy and have a pretty excellent pro day, Quinn might not be able to overlook him here at number 8
9. New York Giants- Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
I said there were going to be surprises in this draft and here’s the first one. Amari Cooper could go to to really only four teams in the top 10 but with him being the best player on the board, the Giants will not pass up on a talent like this. Cooper’s combine numbers went through the roof but his size worried teams to draft him. The Giants don’t have a major need at wide receiver but they could upgrade at the position and draft a lineman in the second round. If GM Jerry Reese wants to bring more people into the stands, the trio of Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and Cooper could be the answer.
10. St. Louis Rams- La’el Collins, OT, LSU
The Rams always seem to be a team one pick away from being a playoff contender. While they could draft a safety or wide receiver here, they should however draft for offensive linemen. La’el Collins would be a blessing for the Rams if he doesn’t go higher. He was possibly the best Tackle in the SEC and helped save LSU’s mediocre season. Collins’ combine was phenomenal posting up 21 on the bench press and a 5.1 40 time. Collins only allowed 11 sacks on the season which could benefit Sam Bradford who is coming off another ACL injury. With him, Greg Robinson and Jake Long on the front line, Bradford will have some of the best protection in all the NFL.
11. Minnesota Vikings- DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
While the reunion most Vikings fans would love to see won’t happen, the other reunion might be almost a for sure deal. DeVante Parker was a top 5 receiver before the combine and thanks to his impressive numbers, he has found his way into the big 3 (add in White and Cooper.) His 6’3 stance with a 4.5 40 time automatically makes him a deep threat to truly replace Percy Harvin. Add in an aging Greg Jennings and huge play makers in Kyle Rudolph and Corradale Patterson and the Vikings could completely different next years.
12. Cleveland Browns- Dorial Green Beckham, WR, Missouri/Oklahoma
This would be the biggest surprise in the first round but honestly, this is just what the Browns would do. DGB was a top 3 receiver before all of his off the field antics caught up with him. His combine was the only thing keeping him outside the top half of the receivers but he proved everyone wrong. His 4.48 40 time and over 11 foot broad jump makes him a vital target for teams. On top of everything else, the Browns are desperate for a wide receiver and while they could wait till pick 19, DGB could be the future top receiver. While his off the field antic might still be an issue, the Browns are used to drafting basket cases and probably won’t learn. With comparisons to Calvin Johnson, the Browns would be foolish not to consider DGB with the 12th pick.
13. New Orleans Saints- Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
The Saints have been missing a pass rush since they released Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith last year and defiantly should be looking to pick up a new one in the draft. With Fowler off the board and his near perfect combine, the smartest pickup is Vic Beasley from Clemson. He was easily one of the best pass rushers in college football the past 2 seasons and has been possibly one of the bigger names in the draft class. His combine results pushed him at least in the top 10 but with other teams looking for different position, Beasley won’t fall past the Saints.His 4.53 40 and 35 reps on the bench prove that he a legit contender to be the best outside linebacker in the league. He is a perfect fit for the the Big Easy.
14. Miami Dolphins- Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan St.
While the Dolphins have Brett Grimes, they could could use an upgrade at the cornerback position still. Trae Waynes was the top press corner before the combine and his numbers didn’t disappoint. Leading the corners in 40 times with 4.31 and 19 reps on the bench, he’s a double threat with strength and speed. While Mike Wallace is pretty much out the door, Justin Hardy would be a great second round pick up at wide receiver. Waynes is too good to pass up on as he could possibly be the best cornerback in the last 3 drafts.
15. San Fransisco 49er’s- Jalen Strong, WR, Arizona St.
The receiver position as a whole was weak for the 49er’s this season and may not get much better with age. Michael Crabtree is on the way to free agency and Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis and Stevie Johnson aren’t the same players they used to be. Finding a new, fresh face for Kaepernik might be the smart solution. Strong has been compared to Dwayne Bowe who at one point was a top receiver in the NFL. With his 43 vertical, he’ll be an easy target for Kapernik to find down field while his quick footwork will help him adjust to the ball. Strong may not be a top recover, but he has all the qualities to be a first round pick.
16. Houston Texans- Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
The Texans were close to making the playoff this past year and if they could of had a healthy quarterback, they probably would have made it. The reason four quarterbacks played this season were due to sacks given up by the offensive line. With cornerback being a big issue s well as wide receiver, the Texans need to protect their quarterback next year. Andrus Peat may not have had a great combine but he still is a top talent on the offensive line. His size makes him a perfect right tackle to be paired up next to Xavier Su’a-Filo for the next several years. Peat is too good to pass up with an aging offensive line.
17. San Diego Chargers- Brandon Scherrf- OT/G, Iowa
Brandon Scherrf had a decent combine but probably will fall due to other needs. The Chargers need a running back to replace some upcoming free agents but offensive line is a more immediate need. Scherff is versatile which makes him an asset for the Chargers. With DJ Fluker possibly moving to guard, Scherrf could take over for Fluker and could become the most dynamic right side of the line in the AFC West. If the Giants and Vikings pass on a lineman, Schreff won’t fall past the city of San Diego.
18. Kansas City Chiefs- Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Yes everyone has heard the the Chiefs want to replace Eric Berry who is battling Lymphoma with Landon Collins, but the wide recover position is a must. After the top 5 receivers, there’s a huge drop off in receivers. His 4.43 40 time and 11 foot broad jump really saved his draft stock. Coates will automatically be a number 1 receiver here due to the fall of Dwayne Bowe. While he could still be an asset, it’s time for the Chiefs to give Alex Smith an number 1 target. While safety is a need, receiver is a day 1 need and Coates, while not a top target fits the bill.
19. Cleveland Browns (via. Bills)- Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
Some have Malcolm Brown going at 12, but honestly he’ll fall 19 and the Browns will still get him. Brown has the opportunity to shine in a really terrible front line for Cleveland. Phil Taylor is over the hump and hitting his down years while Barkievious Mingo and Karlos Dansby haven’t panned out the way Cleveland wanted. Brown had a stellar combine and fits the bill with Cleveland. With a dying pass rush, the Browns need all the help up front.
20 . Philadelphia Eagles- Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
This is steal for the Eagles here at 20. Landon Collins is a top 10 talent when it comes to potential on the field but the fact there’s only two teams in the top 20 with safety needs, Collins will rather go to Chicago or fall to right around here. Collins will need a year to develop into a stud but with Malcolm Jenkins playing next to him, he could be the mentor Collins needs. With a need in the defensive backfield, Collins would be great here. There’s no way the Eagles go offense with this pick, so being the best player on the board being Collins, Eagles just need to be smart here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
It seems like every year that the Bengals just keep taking a corner back and yet they never seem to have enough. With all the excitement surrounding Vic Beasley, Bud Dupree was lost in all the excitement. Another player with top 15 talent, Dupree would fit the issues at linebacker Cincinnati had this past year. Ray Maualuga and Vincey Rey could officially take over at “Mike” and “Sam” while Vontaze Burfict could play weak side backer. With his performance at the combine, it’s impossible for Dupree to be passed up here.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers- Shaq Thompson, OLB/SS, Washington
While cornerback is a huge need, personally I believe that the Steelers will get a great corner in free agency as well as a good linebacker if they let Jason Worilds walk. With a need still in pass rush and an aging secondary, Shaq Thompson would be a nice fit in Kevin Butler’s defense. For the start of his career he could play linebacker and learn from Troy Polamalu to be his successor. His speed is right up there with Dupree and Beasley with a 4.6 40 time. He’s very versatile which makes him a huge assets at pick 22.
23. Detroit Lions- Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida St.
The Lions more then likely will let one of their two defensive tackles walk this offseason. With Suh wanting to head to Seattle, the Lions could sign Nick Fairley to a long rearm deal and draft Eddie Goldman as a replacement. Goldman did not compete in the combine but his numbers with the Seminoles still make him first round talent. With over 40 tackles and 5 sacks, he could grow into a Suh type replacement. He’s got the talent and if he can impress at the Seminoles pro day, he should be hearing his name called right around here.
24, Arizona Cardinals- Eli Harold- Edge Rusher, Virginia
Another man who impressed scouts at the combine was Eli Harold, the excellent pass rusher from Virginia. His strength is his arm length at 33 inches, while his 40 time (4.60) isn’t that bad of an upside either. The Cardinals desperately need a pass rush as that was proven against Cam Newton in the divisional playoffs. While Harold isn’t the best pass rusher, he could learn from great John Abraham in what will more then limey be his final year in the NFL. Bruce Arians would be a fool not to draft on the defense, but an even bigger fool to pass on a guy like Harold.
25. Carolina Panthers- Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Just to make it clear, Ron Rivera is going to be around for a while so he better get used to working with Cam Newton. Newton his without a doubt the super star of this franchise so the Panthers should draft around him. Although wide receiver is key for a quarterback to throw to, his protection is a little more important. With Cedric Ogbuhei tearing his ACL, his draft stock is going to drop dramatically. Ereck Flowers had a decent combine…at best, but he still has a lot to offer for the Panthers. His size enough will be a key target for teams to not pass on him. With his ability to play both right and left tackle, Flowers might find a nice home in Charlotte.
26. Baltimore Ravens- Ronald Darby, CB, Florida St.
While one cornerback from Florida St failed, the other succeeded in Ronald Darby. His 4.3 40 time and 42 inch vertical raised him from mid-second round pick to full time first round material. He fits the bill in John Harbaugh’s defense and is compared to Raven’s corner Jimmy Smith. While running back and receiver still is a need, in a division with star receivers like AJ Green, Antonio Brown and upcoming Martavis Bryant, getting a corner to cover those guys is a priority.
27. Dallas Cowboys- Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
Now my gut feeling is predicting that Minnesota and Dallas will swap running backs this offseason, a.k.a. Murray’s a Viking and Peterson’s a Cowboy. With that in mind, turn to the defensive side of the ball and have Arik Armstead pair up with Demarcus Lawrence. With a 5.00 40 time and and 24 reps on the bench, Armstead would be a great pass rusher for Jerry Jones’ team. With Goldman gone, Armstead is the next best defensive tackle on the board and pass rush might help Dallas win a Superbowl in years to come.
28. Denver Broncos- Cameron Erving, OT/OG/C, Florida State
The main question this offseason isn’t going to be who to draft but rather will Peyton Manning be coming back to the team. Last week, Manning allowed the world to know the played the final weeks of the regular season and all the playoffs with a torn quad. A torn quad is hard enough to come back from but Denver will need to protect him by upgraded their offensive line. Cameron Erving is a nice fit here. He’s already a champion after going 27-1 as a starter at Florida State so he’ll bring the winning mentality. More to the point, he’s a versatile player when out on the field. Erving has played all three roles on the line and could replace any Bronco if they become injured. Manning might not even come back, but if he does he’ll need help up front.
29. Indianapolis Colts – Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
There’s bound to be at least one running back taken in the first round, whether it be Gordon or Gurley, one will at least go. My bet is on a healthy Gordon then a debatable Gurley. Trent Richardson’s career may possibly be over and Daniel Herron, no matter how good his ending stretch was this year isn’t a three down back. Gordon has the ability to become the next Marshawn Lynch with proper coaching. Beast Mode 2.0 is First round talent and Indy would be foolish to pass him up.
30. Green Bay Packers- Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
While inside linebacker is a need, upgrading the cornerback position would be a nice upgrade too. Marcus Peters is a basket case of issues, but he is first round talent. His 4.5 40 time is a bit slow, but he vertical of 39 inches is something teams can’t ignore. He’s a perfect fit at the nickel corner in Dom Capers defense and could eventually build his was to the outside with training from Sam Sheilds. Plus, Mike McCarthy won’t put up with Peter’s attitude for long, so it’d be a great fit for both the Packers and Peters on the long run.
31. Seattle Seahawks- Owa Odgihizuwa, Edge Rusher, UCLA
Micheal Bennet is extremely talented but the rest of the line could us some help to be honest. His size alone(34′ arms) is something teams cannot pass up on when reaching against offensive lineman. Add on the fact that Cliff Avril is slowly deteriorating with his age and this pick makes a lot of sense. He could help the stellar defense and learn for a few years while the Seahawks still have a fighting chance to make it back to the Super Bowl. Odighizuwa was a key factor in UCLA’s successful defensive year, he could be successful in Seattle as well.
32. New England Patriots- Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
This is just a dirty tag team with the final pick in the first round. Todd Gurley is easily a top 20 talent, but after tearing your ACL, there is reason to worry about a player’s draft stock. The Patriots need help at running back however. Sure Steven Ridley went down but if you combine every running back on their bench, they quadurpled Marshawn Lynch’s rushing attempts and didn’t come close to matching him…combined. No matter how you look at it, rushing will be key for the Pats to draft, 1st, 2nd or 3rd round. If Gurley is here, he’s just like Teddy Bridgewater, a blessing who fell that far. Plus just imagine Todd Gurley running around in a New England uniform.
