Official 2015 Draft Discussion

[QSmokey]

I just saw White play. I was not impressed by him at all. (Sorry, Q.)

I saw him right after I saw Devante Parker and liked Parker's overall game better--better hands, better body control. White is rated higher, but seems overrated to me. I would not want us to take White or Parker in round 1. Most big boards that I have seen have White as a round 1 guy and Parker as a round 2-3 guy.

Cooper seems solid, but none of them have Green-Beckham's potential.

None taken.

I just watched him because he plays for WVU. He seems to have good hands, but that's all I noticed. He catches everything thrown his way. Of course, he was snuffed in the loss to TCU, so maybe against tougher competition he wouldn't look so good. Who knows? I just threw his name in this thread - a thread I almost never post in, by the way, - because of WVU.

[Formula 21]

Here's a couple of guys that might fit well here. There's lots of O linemen available which is a plus. Pass rush and wr look to have some guys too, but not too many 5 tech DEs.

2015 NFL Mock Draft: Pass rushers, offensive line dominate first round
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
November 3, 2014 1:31 am ET

USC defensive tackle is a difference-maker, something the Raiders need on defense. (USATSI) USC defensive tackle is a difference-maker, something the Raiders need on defense. (USATSI)

There is no debate about the most important position in football -- that's the quarterback. But the pecking order after that is debatable and a strong argument could be made for two positions that greatly affect the quarterback -- offensive line and pass rusher. So it's no surprise that those two positions could dominate next year's first round. A newcomer to this mock draft is Pittsburgh right tackle T.J. Clemmings, who made the move from defensive end to offensive tackle and has played outstanding as a senior in 2014. He has earned first round consideration and is a name that will continue to rise over the next six months.

Below is a look at how the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft could play out:

*The selection order for this mock draft is based on the current records of teams with point differential breaking all ties. The Cleveland Browns own the rights to the Buffalo Bills' selection due to the Sammy Watkins trade.

1. Oakland Raiders -- DT Leonard Williams, USC: Assuming the Raiders decide to stick with 2014 second rounder Derek Carr as the quarterback of the future, the best case scenario for the franchise is for a quarterback-desperate team to blow them away with a trade offer and multiple draft picks. But if that doesn't happen and Oakland is stuck in this spot, the goal should be to come away with a difference-maker and Williams is exactly that.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars -- DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska: The Jaguars' defense ranks among the league leaders in sacks halfway through the 2014 season, but Jacksonville is missing a true impact edge rusher in their front-seven. Gregory needs time to continue his development, but his tools are intriguing and his potential will be tough for teams to pass up if he declares early for next year's draft.

3. New York Jets -- QB Jameis Winston, Florida State: There are a lot of unknowns right now with the Jets organization, including the future of the quarterback position, head coach and front office. But regardless, New York will likely be in position next spring to draft one of the top quarterbacks in the 2015 class. Winston certainly has his baggage, but his talent on the field and ability to block out the off-field distractions are exactly what the Jets need.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: The Buccaneers have struggled to consistently push the ball on offense in 2014 and will likely be in the market for a quarterback next spring unless Mike Glennon takes a stranglehold on the starting job. From a physical and mental standpoint, Mariota checks almost every box for NFL scouts and projects as a more refined version of Colin Kaepernick.

5. Tennessee Titans -- WR Amari Cooper, Alabama: Quarterback will be a popular option for the Titans in the 2015 class with Jake Locker likely not returning to Nashville next season. But in this scenario, Cooper might be the top player on the board for Tennessee and would give the offense a consistent outside threat, replacing Nate Washington and giving whoever is at quarterback a reliable weapon that Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright haven't been.

6. Atlanta Falcons -- DE Shawn Oakman, Baylor: The Falcons address the offensive line in the first round last year and need to get younger on the defensive line in the 2015 first round. Oakman is a physical marvel for his size and is just scratching the surface of what he can do on the football field.

7. Washington Redskins -- FS Landon Collins, Alabama: In the 2004 NFL Draft, Washington drafted one of the best safety prospects of the last 20 years fifth overall (Sean Taylor). And they might have a chance to draft a similar ballhawk with Collins, who is as well-rounded as they come with his ability to play both the run and the pass. With this likely being Ryan Clark's last season with the Redskins, Collins would fit as the starting free safety from day one.

8. St. Louis Rams -- CB Marcus Peters, Washington: The Rams have a lot of questions at the quarterback position but with Mariota and Winston off the board and Michigan State's Connor Cook unlikely to declare early, St. Louis will likely have to go in a different direction here. The Rams' secondary is full of young, talented cornerbacks, but they've also been inconsistent and Peters can step right in as a starter from day one.

9. Chicago Bears -- OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington: The Bears need to get faster and more talented on defense, specifically at the linebacker and defensive backs levels. Thompson is a hybrid linebacker and safety with speed to burn and developing instincts that make his potential very intriguing.

10. Carolina Panthers -- OT Andrus Peat, Stanford: Carolina has a strong need at left tackle, starting undrafted rookie David Foucault at the position last week. Peat needs to fix some discipline issues, but his natural athletic tools for his size gives him a high ceiling as a possible top-10 draft pick.

11. New York Giants -- OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M: There have been some whispers around the league that Giants starting left tackle could be released after the season due to injuries and inconsistencies. And if that's the case, the Giants will be in the market for offensive tackle talent and Ogbuehi falls in their lap here. While the upper body technique needs coached up, the Aggies' tackle has the lower body athleticism that the NFL covets.

12. Minnesota Vikings -- OL Brandon Scherff, Iowa: The Vikings have been plagued by injuries and inconsistencies all over the roster, but especially on the offensive line. With Teddy Bridgewater entrenched as the starter moving forward, Minnesota needs to protect him and drafting a player with Scherff's versatility will help as he can line up at tackle or guard.

13. Houston Texans -- CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State: In two years at Penn State, Bill O'Brien never faced Michigan State, but you can bet he will be well familiar with the Spartans' talented cornerback by next spring. While he does get in trouble free lancing at times, Waynes has the height, length and athleticism that NFL teams value at the position to best match-up with the tall trees at wide receiver at the pro level.

14. San Francisco 49ers -- WR Devin Funchess, Michigan: With Michael Crabtree set to hit free agency and Anquan Boldin regressing with age, San Francisco could be in a position to target a receiver in the first round. Funchess has impressive athleticism and natural tools for his size and projects as an Alshon Jeffery type of player in the NFL.

15. New Orleans Saints -- DE/OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson: The Saints locked up Junior Galette to a long-term deal, but need another athletic pass rusher who can give opposing offenses trouble. Beasley is an athletic rusher who can drop in space and be an aggressive chess piece for a 3-4 scheme.


17. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) -- DE/OLB Dante Fowler, Florida: The Browns have invested early round picks in pass rushers in recent years, but haven't been able to consistently put pressure on the opposing backfield. With Jabaal Sheard set to hit free agency and Barkevious Mingo struggling to establish himself as a reliable rush threat, the need is there for Cleveland to address the position again and Fowler is a great fit with his relentless energy off the edge.

18. Cleveland Browns -- WR Kevin White, West Virginia: The Browns are lacking dynamic talent on the outside with Josh Gordon suspended and will likely consider a wide receiver in the first round next year. Cleveland is one of several teams that has shown interest in White, who has been immensely impressive so far in 2014 and would help open up the offense for the Browns.

19. Seattle Seahawks -- WR DeVante Parker, Louisville: The Seahawks addressed the wide receiver position twice with their top four draft picks last year, but could look to add another wideout in the first round next year if an impact prospect is available. Parker has an outstanding combination of height, length and athleticism to help open up the Seattle offense.

20. Green Bay Packers -- DE/OLB Alvin Dupree, Kentucky: Green Bay needs to add more playmakers on defense, whether in the front-seven or the secondary. Dupree is a former tight end who moved to defense and has really grown in several areas, but his specialty is getting after the passer with above average first step burst and closing speed.

21. Miami Dolphins -- RB Todd Gurley, Georgia: Miami has received decent production from Lamar Miller this season and he might go over 1,000 rushing yards. But if the Dolphins have an opportunity to draft a talent like Gurley, they might not be able to resist.

22. Kansas City Chiefs -- CB Ifo Ekpre Olomu, Oregon: Kansas City's pass defense has been better than expected, but cornerback is still a need area for the organization next off-season. Although he might not have the ideal size that General Manager John Dorsey wants at the position, Ekpre-Olomu has the body fluidity, instincts and toughness as a run defender to step in from day one and make an impact, lining up inside or outside.

23. Indianapolis Colts -- DE/OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville: The Colts gave a lot of money to Erik Walden and drafted Bjoern Werner in the first round two years ago, but the team has struggled to consistently rush the passer with Robert Mathis suspended and hurt. Mauldin has played defensive end and linebacker over his time at Louisville, showing the ability to effectively play both positions and be a threat collapsing the pocket and stopping the run.

24. Baltimore Ravens -- WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State: Torrey Smith is a dangerous deep threat, but 35-year old Steve Smith has proven to be the only consistent receiver on the Ravens roster. It wouldn't be surprising to see Baltimore target a possession target with size next spring and Strong is a nice fit in that offense.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers -- OL La'el Collins, LSU: Current starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum is a good player, but his best position likely isn't at left tackle. It doesn't always look pretty, but Collins consistently gets the job done and has the skill-set that fits at tackle or guard, giving the Steelers versatility and depth in the trenches.

26. Dallas Cowboys -- CB P.J. Williams, Florida State: Although the Cowboys' defense has exceeded expectations thus far in 2014, several positions could use an upgrade or at least talented depth, including cornerback. Williams has shown the versatility to play off-man and zone with the awareness and feel for coverage that allows him to make plays on the ball.

27. Cincinnati Bengals -- DT Danny Shelton, Washington: Some will argue that Domata Peko hasn't played up to his recent contract extension, but regardless, the Bengals could use interior depth. Shelton is an active player with range to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.

28. Detroit Lions -- DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State: With Ndamukong Suh expected to hit free agency, the Lions will be in the market for interior defensive line depth next off-season. Goldman has been dinged up, but when he's on the field, his combination of power and quickness has had a substantial effect on opposing offenses.

29. Philadelphia Eagles -- ILB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State: Unfortunate news from week nine, Demeco Ryans tore his Achilles' tendon and faces an extended rehab process as he enters the final year of his deal in 2015. The Eagles could find his future replacement in the first round next year with McKinney who brings physicality and size to the position.

30. Denver Broncos -- OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh: The Broncos have alternated between Chris Clark and Paul Cornick at right tackle and could be searching for the long-term option there this off-season. A former defensive end, Clemmings is still adjusting to the offensive line, but his mobility and upper body strength are impressive and he deserves first round consideration.

31. New England Patriots -- OG A.J. Cann, South Carolina: With Logan Mankins no longer in New England, the Patriots interior offensive line has struggled with consistency. Cann has been very impressive as both a run and pass blocker for the Gamecocks and projects as a long-term starter in the NFL.

32. Arizona Cardinals -- DL Arik Armstead, Oregon: With 33-year old Darnell Dockett out for the season with a serious knee injury, the Cardinals could potentially address that position in the draft next season. Armstead is still very learn for the position and looks more like a basketball power forward, but his natural skill-set and potential are off the charts.

[blueman]

Blue chip interior OL would be great, also a top DE (needed one last year, never too late).

[Fleet]

I wanted a WR last year. Still bummed we didnt go Moncrief in the 3rd. My type of WR. His teammate might even be better in a year or 2. Treadwell. Similar type player. Big deep threat guy i like is Strong out of ASU. Needs work but so do most WRs. Im probably leaning trenches in the 1st round. But a lot depends on what we do in free agency. Another guy who isnt used much on a run first Auburn team is Sammy Coates. He would have huge numbers if he played on a pass heavy team. Extremely physical wr.

[blahblahblah]

I've been very impressed with Coates when I've watched him. I can't speak to WR technique and route running, but he reminds me a bit of Boldin but smaller and faster.

[Fleet]

He'll run a 4.3 And at that size with his strength he could be a poor mans Sammie Watkins. Again Auburn is a run heavy team so hes simply not getting the ball. Which makes him a potential steal. Hes got a lot of talent.

[Boltjolt]

I wanted a WR last year. Still bummed we didnt go Moncrief in the 3rd. My type of WR. His teammate might even be better in a year or 2. Treadwell. Similar type player. Big deep threat guy i like is Strong out of ASU. Needs work but so do most WRs. Im probably leaning trenches in the 1st round. But a lot depends on what we do in free agency. Another guy who isnt used much on a run first Auburn team is Sammy Coates. He would have huge numbers if he played on a pass heavy team. Extremely physical wr.

Yep,what a class this will be. Moncrief isnt playing much yet but i liked him a lot. My favorite was was maybe Jarvis Landry and he is doing very well and doing a great job returning kicks which we also needed. Martavis Bryant is doing great in Pitt while Latimer sits in Denver. I think he was a little over hyped but in time he should be a good one.

[Formula 21]

It looks like a good WR class this year too.

[Steve]

We have a chance to address some spots via FA and then go after some more immediate help from the draft. Plus, our real need is for interior OL and DL, so good one at those spots can be found in the 2nd and 3rd, so the top pick can still be a BPA type with our 1st.

[Steve]

I've been very impressed with Coates when I've watched him. I can't speak to WR technique and route running, but he reminds me a bit of Boldin but smaller and faster.

Coates is not much of a route runner, but some of that may be the offense. They throw a lot of quick stuff, and a lot of play action, but not much else. But that is true of most college offenses, who are really into all this spread stuff, and not really into pro style route combinations. But just because they never got asked to do it doesn't mean they cannot. 2 very famous RB where both downgraded by a lot of teams because they didn't catch a lot of passes in college. But both Roger Craig and LT went on to have prolific careers as receivers, despite neither having any background in it while in college.

Coates and Green-Beckham are just kinda raw guys. It doesn't mean you don't draft them, it just mean you don't take them really high, and you have to have a plan and be patient. You can't stick guys like that on the field and expect them to do anything until they learn to play.

[Boltjolt]

Coates is not much of a route runner, but some of that may be the offense. They throw a lot of quick stuff, and a lot of play action, but not much else. But that is true of most college offenses, who are really into all this spread stuff, and not really into pro style route combinations. But just because they never got asked to do it doesn't mean they cannot. 2 very famous RB where both downgraded by a lot of teams because they didn't catch a lot of passes in college. But both Roger Craig and LT went on to have prolific careers as receivers, despite neither having any background in it while in college.

Coates and Green-Beckham are just kinda raw guys. It doesn't mean you don't draft them, it just mean you don't take them really high, and you have to have a plan and be patient. You can't stick guys like that on the field and expect them to do anything until they learn to play.

Thats the same things they did with Demarius Thomas and he turned out ok. I saw him at least two times...maybe three his last year at Georgia Tech they threw him quick hitters when he was out wide and he slipped the CB and he was gone for long TDs. His YPC that year was 25.1. He has great speed for his size. I dont think Coates is a worse route runner than Thomas was and Thomas was a first rounder. Thomas today drops a lot of passes though.

[Steve]

No, but the thing to remember is what else is a team doing to get a guy open. So many of the Auburn deep passes are coming off of play action. You get the CB to bite, which may only get them to take 1 false step, but that is enough to let any NFL speed receiver blow past him. But keep in mind, we don't do much play action, and almost none this season, since our running game sucks. So is he going to enjoy the same succcess, doing similar things to what he did in college, if those are not part of what we do? Or do you decide he is worth it and scheme the entire O around him, despite the fact that it is not what the rest of the players do well?

The other thing is at the period Thomas was taken so high by Denver, they were gambling on a lot of guys with supreme potential, but not as much developed skills. Prior to Thomas, they really hadn't panned out very well. So, was Thomas a guy they got lucky on or was he an example of what you can do if you are patient. Remember there were a lot in Denver ready to give up on Thomas because of his initial injuries and lack of production early. Thomas really didn't blossum until he was in the 2nd half of his 3rd season, so are we ready to give him 2 and a half years to develop (and that is for a LATE 1st rounder)?

The other thing with WR, despite the way the draft if shaking out, it might be better to actually target Thomas as a FA. It would make Denver worse, and give us the type of well rounded WR who can contribute now that really would fit our offense. Royal is in the last year of his contract, and since both Thomas and Allen can play in the slot, we can move those two guys back and forth, plus in a couple years when FLoyd is gone, he can play outside there too. Then we could use the draft to target interior OL and DL, and it is no so unreasonable to think a highish pick can start inside, while a WR is more likely a couple year (min) project.