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1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston QB, Florida State
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Adrian Clayborn, Da'Quan Bowers, Mason Foster, Mike Jenkins, Oniel Cousins
Update: Read our 2015 NFL Draft scouting reports for the top prospects.
Teams Needs: QB/DE/ILB/OG
It's hard to believe that the Bucs will take anyone but a QB here, so the real question is whether it will be Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston? Winston may be more pro ready but he comes with a lot of off-the-field baggage. There are rumors flying around that the Tampa Bay front office prefers Winston, and that as long as he interviews well and stays out of trouble between now and the draft that he will be the pick.
2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota QB, Oregon
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Michael Roos, Nate Washington, Jake Locker, Colin McCarthy, Karl Klug
Teams Needs: CB/QB/OLB/S/WR
Zach Mettenberger hasn't inspired a lot of confidence but will the Titans, who are rumored to be infatuated with Marcus Mariota, draft a QB here? If they don't upgrade at QB maybe they could improve the weapons around the QB position? Nate Washington is a free agent and Kendall Wright has been an underwhelming first round pick. They also have high hopes for Justin Hunter but so far he has been unable to live up to them. Otherwise this pick will be used on a pass-rusher like Randy Gregory or Shane Ray.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Randy Gregory DE/OLB, Nebraska
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Roy Miller, Geno Hayes, Cecil Shorts, Austin Pasztor, Alan Ball
Teams Needs: DE/OLB/S/CB/RB/OG
Now that the Jags have their QB, LT, and WR corps of the future, it's time for Gus Bradley to start working his magic on the defense. They passed on Khalil Mack in favor of Blake Bortles, but Randy Gregory could play the LEO position in Bradley's defensive scheme. With Roy Miller and Sen'Derrick Marks locked up long-term in addition to Ziggy Hood at DT, Randy Gregory or Shane Ray make more sense than Leonard Williams.
4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams DT/DE, USC
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Charles Woodson, Tarell Brown, Darren McFadden, Stefen Wisniewski, Denarius Moore
Teams Needs: LT/S/DE/DT/RB/ILB/WR
Donald Penn isn't the future at LT. Maybe Menelik Watson will pan out, but the Raiders should seriously consider an OT here. They also need an upgrade at WR and could take Amari Cooper. On defense they signed a lot of short-term solutions in free agency but in the long run they need more young talent to pair with Khalil Mack and Justin Ellis.
Leonard Williams, who could be considered the top player in the draft class, has publicly stated that he would love to play for the Raiders.
5. Washington Redskins - Landon Collins S, Alabama
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Brian Orakpo, Tyler Polumbus, Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Meriweather
Teams Needs: DE/S/RT/CB
Regardless of whoever is the starting QB in 2015 the Redskins need to get some better protection for him, especially if they do not re-sign Tyler Polumbus. Defensively they've already drafted a replacement for Brian Orakpo but they have serious issues at safety.
The talent available doesn't quite match up with the Redskins biggest needs so it wouldn't be surprising to see them trade back, especially if Marcus Mariota is still available, to acquire more picks and get better value for Landon Collins or the best available OT.
6. New York Jets - Amari Cooper WR, Alabama
Notable 2015 Free Agents: David Harris, Mike Vick, Kyle Wilson, Willie Colon, Dawan Landry
Teams Needs: QB/WR/RT/CB/RB
If Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota were to fall here either would be the likely choice. Elsewhere the Jets need wide receivers and cornerbacks. Stephen Hill was a bust, Eric Decker was a reach free agent signing, and the trade for Percy Harvin is a waste of time. Defensively they would likely draft a successor to Calvin Pace.
7. Chicago Bears - Shane Ray DE/OLB, Missouri
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Chris Conte, Roberto Garza, Stephen Paea
Teams Needs: CB/OC/RT/S/SLB
With new HC John Fox running the show who knows what direction the Bears will go in with this pick. Their defense has been terrible. Chicago will be looking at prospects at all three levels of the defense. They need to upgrade/replace Jared Allen, must replace free agent Lance Briggs, and continue to upgrade the secondary.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dante Fowler jr. DE, Florida
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Osi Umenyiora, Sean Weatherspoon, Kroy Biermann, Corey Peters, Mike Johnson
Teams Needs: RT/OLB/OC/TE
With Seattle DC Dan Quinn likely to replace former HC Mike Smith in Atlanta, we should see wholesale changes on the defense. Offensively they need to upgrade their protection of Matt Ryan. It's too early to draft a RT but they could spend a second or third round pick on one.
With Quinn installing the Seattle-style 4-3 defense, and many of the Falcons pass-rushers being free agents, it's likely that they will draft either a traditional 4-3 end, or a pass-rushing OLB to play the "Leo" position. Interestingly enough, it was Dan Quinn who recruited Dante Flower to Florida while he was serving as Florida's defensive coordinator.
9. New York Giants - Andrus Peat OT, Stanford
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jason Pierre-Paul, Antrel Rolle, Walter Thurmond, Stevie Brown
Teams Needs: OT/OG/DE/TE/OLB/S
The Giants offensive line has been atrocious but may just need time to gel. They've spent early picks on Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh, signed J.D. Walton, and William Beatty is signed through 2018 although there are rumors that he could be released this offseason.
Defensively they only have Damontre Moore should they not re-sign JPP. As usual the Giants could use some upgrades at LB but they don't value the position.
10. St. Louis Rams - Vic Beasley OLB, Clemson
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Shaun Hill, Kenny Britt, Joe Barksdale, Davin Joseph
Teams Needs: OG/RT/WR/SLB/QB
The Rams got a king's ransom from the Redskins for the right to draft RG3, now will they give one up for Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston? With another ACL tear ending his season, we may have seen the last of Sam Bradford in St. Louis. He's not a free agent until 2016, but Jeff Fisher might just start planning for the future of the position.
There were rumors in during the 2014 draft that the Rams were seriously considering taking Khalil Mack over Greg Robinson, with the thought that Jeff Fisher wants to add a pass-rushing SLB to replace Jo-Lonn Dunbar and finish off rebuilding the linebacker corps.
11. Minnesota Vikings - DeVante Parker WR, Louisville
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Christian Ponder, Jasper Brinkley, Corey Wootton, Matt Asiata, Vladimir Ducasse
Teams Needs: CB/LB/OG/RB/WR
Given AP's suspension, plus his comments about possibly retiring, the Vikings could draft a successor in Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata have been a pleasant surprises but neither is a three-down back. The Vikings also need another receiving threat and simply have to do something about their inability to protect Teddy Bridgewater.
During his time in Cincy, Mike Zimmer showed that he loves to collect CB's. They drafted Xavier Rhodes and signed Captain Munnerlyn in free agency but he fits better in the nickel role. They could also use a few upgrades at LB and another safety to pair with Harrison Smith.
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton NT, Washington
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jordan Cameron, Jabaal Sheard, Ahtyba Rubin, Buster Skrine, Brian Hoyer
Teams Needs: WR/FS/OLB/DE/RT
Cleveland could go with a WR here to replace Josh Gordon, who is likely to be suspended for the entire 2015 season after his recent failed drug test, or look to improve their pass-rush and run defense.
The Browns will most likely lose Ahtyba Rubin and Jabaal Sheard in free agency. At OLB, in addition to losing Sheard, Paul Kruger has been a bust free agent signing and Barkevious Mingo, who wasn't drafted by HC Mike Pettine, has been pretty inconsistent.
13. New Orleans Saints - Alvin "Bud" Dupree DE/OLB, Kentucky
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Patrick Robinson, Mark Ingram, Parys Haralson, Jon Goodwin, Robert Meachem
Teams Needs: OC/ILB/OLB/CB/RB
The Saints will almost certainly use this pick on the defense. They need a reliable pass-rusher to pair with Junior Galette. First round bust Patrick Robinson is a free agent, although they did spend a 2014 second round pick on Stanley Jean-Baptiste.
If they elect to go offense here they could draft a replacement for Mark Ingram, or tall WR who can replace a declining Marques Colston.
14. Miami Dolphins - Todd Gurley RB, Georgia
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno, Jared Odrick, Matt Moore, Samson Satele
Teams Needs: RB/LB/S/WR/DT
Miami should continue to build the offense around Ryan Tannehill. At RB Knowshon Moreno is a free agent and they don't appear to have much faith in Lamar Miller. Plus, it sounds like the front office may have had enough of Mike Wallace. Defensively they may need a DT to replace Jared Odrick and a safety to replace Louis Delmas.
Todd Gurley is often compared to Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. He combines track-star speed with the power of a mack truck. He's going to fall because of the torn ACL he suffered in his first game back from a four game suspension for selling autographs, but the ACL tear isn't thought to be serious and Gurley might be on schedule to work out for teams before the draft.
15. San Fransisco 49ers - Kevin White WR, West Virginia
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox
Teams Needs: CB/WR/DE
The biggest issues the 49ers are likely to face are at wide receiver and cornerback. Michael Crabtree will be an oft-injured free agent and Anquan Boldin will turn 35 years old at the start of the 2015 season, although the team does have young depth in Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton. In the secondary Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, and Chris Cook are all free agents. If they go in another other direction it will likely be for a defensive lineman. The 49ers released Ray McDonald and Justin Smith may retire.
16. Houston Texans - Trae Waynes CB, Michigan State
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Kareem Jackson, Brooks Reed, Derek Newton, Ryan Mallett, Kendrick Lewis
Teams Needs: QB/RT/CB/WR/S/RB/ILB
Houston needs to worry about their future at QB. Bill O'Brien drafted Tom Savage in the later rounds but with a defense and a running game that can contend now do they have the time to wait? They also need a replacement at WR for Andre Johnson, who will be 34 years old next summer and is looking to skip town, who doesn't want to wait through a rebuilding phase on offense. Also a free agent, Derek Newton has been terrible this season and Houston will likely replace him at some point.
Defensively the Texans biggest issue could be in the secondary if they don't re-sign Kareem Jackson so they could spend an early round pick on his replacement. At NT both Jerrell Powe and Ryan Pickett are free agents.
17. San Diego Chargers - La'el Collins OG/OT, LSU
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Nick Hardwick, Eddie Royal, King Dunlap, Ryan Mathews, Brandon Flowers
Teams Needs: CB/OL/WR/TE/RB/OLB
The Chargers will have a lot of important free agent decisions to make. With the talent available it's likely they would take a WR to replace Eddie Royal, a CB to pair with Jason Verrett, a RB to replace Ryan Mathews, or an offensive lineman even if they do manage to re-sign King Dunlap.
La'el Collins is in the similar mold of King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker. He definitely needs some refinement on his technique but he has an ideal body type for an OT and plays with maximum effort on every snap.
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Jalen Strong WR, Arizona State
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Justin Houston, Rodney Hudson, Jeff Linkenbach, Chris Owens, Kurt Coleman
Teams Needs: OT/OG/WR/S/ILB
The Chiefs main issues appear to be on the offensive line and at WR. Eric Fisher has been a total bust, and they let their best interior players leave in free agency. The Chiefs WR corps just went an entire season without catching a single TD, so there should be some changes coming at the position.
On the defensive side their biggest concern must be the pending free agency of Justin Houston. Given what they already pay Tamba Hali, and the fact that they used a first round pick on Dee Ford, it's likely that the Chiefs may not be able to re-sign him, or they will have to cut or trade Hali to make room for Houston's contract.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills) - Brandon Scherff OT/OG, Iowa
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jordan Cameron, Jabaal Sheard, Ahtyba Rubin, Buster Skrine, Brian Hoyer
Teams Needs: WR/FS/OLB/DE/RT
Offensively the Browns are pretty much locked into every position except for WR, although they could look for a RT to move Mitchell Schwartz to RG. It's likely that they will upgrade the defense, possibly taking a NT to replace Ahtyba Rubin or an OLB to replace Jabaal Sheard.
Like Reilly Reiff and Brian Bulaga before him, Brandon Scherff is another in a long line of Kirk Ferentz products who plays with solid technique but will get dinged by his average-at-best athleticism and short arms.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Brett Hundley QB, UCLA
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jeremy Maclin, Bradley Fletcher, Nate Allen, Mark Sanchez, Brandon Graham
Teams Needs: CB/ILB/WR/S
If the Eagles lose Jeremy Maclin they could spend another early pick on a WR. Defensively they must address the issues at CB and S. They have needed an upgrade at safety ever since they released Brian Dawkins and could spend multiple early picks in the secondary.
There are rumors that the Eagles would love to trade up and reunite Chip Kelly and Marcus Mariota but that isn't going to happen as it is very cost prohibitive. A second rumor is that the eagles also really like Brett Hundley, who would be a good fit for Kelly's offense as well. This is early for him but it's unlikely that Hundley would make it to Philly's second round pick, so expect the Eagles to trade back to get better value for him.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Arik Armstead DE/DT, Oregon
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Rey Maualuga, Jermaine Gresham, Terence Newman, Clint Boling
Teams Needs: OC/DE/ILB/SLB/DT
Cincy has done a great job over the last few years of taking the best available player instead of reaching for need. Defensively they need someone other than Carlos Dunlap who can pressure the QB, and need upgrades at middle and strong side linebacker.
As they have shown in the past with players like Michael Johnson and Margus Hunt, the Bengals have a preference towards athletic freaks. Arik Armstead is 6'8", 280-pounds and built like an NBA power forward. His career at Oregon has been somewhat marred but injury, but he started to turn the corner towards the end of his final season.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Eddie Goldman NT, FSU
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jason Worilds, Ike Taylor, Brice McCain, Arthur Moats, James Harrison, Matt Spaeth, Will Allen
Teams Needs: OLB/CB/OT/FS/TE/NT
This pick will be completely dependent on whether or not the Steelers re-sign Jason Worilds. If he leaves in free- agency the Steelers will almost assuredly use a first- or second-round pick on his replacement, otherwise they will go into the season will a largely unproven Jarvis Jones and possibly re-signed depth player Arthur Moats as the starters. For the purposes of this mock draft we will assume that he is re-signed.
Aside from OLB, the CB position is by far the greatest area of concern. Unfortunately, in the Kevin Colbert era the Steelers haven't put a lot of emphasis on using early picks on the position, instead preferring to focus mainly on front-seven defensive players and offensive linemen. This year that may change. The Steelers have finally gotten to a point where they have talent and/or youth and/or money tied up in every other position so they will have practically no choice but to invest an early pick on a CB, somewhere within the top three rounds.
Offensively, this team is pretty much set at every position. Heath Miller is 32 years old but is still playing at a high-enough level. While they could start searching for a successor, it's unlikely the Steelers would invest an early-round pick in a TE. Minnesota's Maxx Williams offers a lot of intrigue and is being compared to a slightly more athletic Jason Witten.
One area on the offense that could be a concern is at tackle. Overall, this offensive line unit has played much better under the tutelage of Mike Munchak but they still have games where Big Ben is under constant pressure from the opposing pass-rush. Kelvin Beachum has played beyond any of our wildest dreams for a former seventh-round pick but it may not be enough. On the other side, a rotation of Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams will probably have to do for another season at least.
At RB, as we saw in a depressing defeat at the hand of the Ravens, when Le'Veon Bell goes down this offense is in trouble. At some point the Steelers will need to address their lack of depth at the position, either in the draft or in free agency.
So who will the Steelers be looking to with this pick? The popular picks in most mock drafts seem to be Bud Dupree, Trae Waynes, or practically any CB or OLB. Here Dupree and Waynes aren't available, and it's too early for Kevin Johnson or P.J. Williams, especially given the depth of the CB position in this draft class.
One area of need that is gaining some steam is an upgrade at NT. Steve McLendon has shown some flashes but has suffered from injury and consistency issues. It would better serve the Steelers to have him in a complimentary rotational role similar to Chris Hoke. The "Shade Tree" offers tantalizing potential but at this stage of his career he can't be counted on as a future starter.
The two players who could fill the void at NT, not counting Danny Shelton because there is almost no chance he'll be available at this point, is Texas' Malcom Brown and FSU's Eddie Goldman. Well as much as I am a fan of Brown's, even mocking him to the Steelers in the second round of a previous version of my mock draft, the more I evaluate him the more I'm starting to believe he wouldn't be a great fit for our defense. While he has a solid base, a solid bull-rush, there is a lot more finesse to his game. He would be a much better fit as a NT in a 4-3 defense.
Eddie Goldman on the other hand, while he and Malcom Brown are listed at similar builds, both listed at 320 pounds but Goldman is an inch shorter at 6-foot-3, Goldman is noticeably stouter. He may not be quite the pass-rusher that Brown is, but he'll do a much better job holding the point of attack and occupying multiple blockers while the linebackers flow to the ball. He's certainly not a sexy pick, certainly not as needed as a cornerback or an outside rusher, but the nose tackle position may be the most important cog in a 3-4 defense and inserting Goldman upfront will help the linebackers in the pass-rush, which in turn will help the cornerbacks in coverage.
23. Detroit Lions - Malcom Brown DT, Texas
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Rob Sims, Dominic Raiola, Rashean Mathis
Teams Needs: FS/DT/DE/CB/OG/OC
With Nick Fairly and Ndamukong Suh moving on it's likely that DC Teryl Austin will eventually start moving the defense into a variation of a 3-4 scheme. Kyle Van Noy's versatility will certainly help with that, but he will more than likely play ILB with DeAndre Levy, meaning that Detroit will need another outside rusher to pair with Ezekiel Ansah. As usual Detroit's biggest Achilles heel is the secondary. Darius Slay has played well this season but the Lions will need to replace Rashean Mathis, plus they could use another safety to pair with Glover Quin.
24. Arizona Cardinals - Melvin Gordon RB, Wisconsin
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Antonio Cromartie, John Abraham, Dan Williams, Sam Acho, Larry Foote
Teams Needs: OLB/ILB/DE/OG/CB
Offensive line and LB are the two clear-cut needs for the Cardinals. 36-year-old John Abraham's career is likely over. The Cards need to invest in more than Jared Veldheer to protect their QB. Also, Darnell Dockett will be 34 years old, coming off of an ACL tear, and will be a free agent in 2016. At RB the Cards don't have much besides a bunch of late round picks, with Andre Ellington unable to stay healthy.
There are rumors abound that the Cardinals will trade Larry Fitzgerald in the offseason. He is no longer the focal point of the offense and carries a 23 million dollar cap hit for 2015. Few teams could adsorb that kind of a cap hit, but if the Cardinals can unload him that would open up a need for another WR.
25. Carolina Panthers - Ereck Flowers OT, Miami
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Greg Hardy, Byron Bell, Chase Blackburn, Dwan Edwards
Teams Needs: OT/WR/CB/WLB
Left tackle will be the Panthers biggest need in 2015. Byron Bell, a free agent anyway, is not the long-term answer to replace Jordan Gross. Otherwise this pick should be devoted to CB or a WR to pair with Kelvin Benjamin in the long-term.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Marcus Peters CB, Washington
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Torrey Smith, Owen Daniels, Justin Forsett, Pernell McPhee, Jah Reid, Darian Stewart
Teams Needs: WR/RB/FS/CB
The Ravens rarely draft for need and typically take the best player available. Justin Forsett is a free agent and not a long-term solution at RB. Steve Smith is 35 years old and, even though he is likely to be re-signed, Torrey Smith is a free agent. Defensively they need a free safety to pair with Matt Elam and can definitely use more depth at CB.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Shaq Thompson LB, Washington
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Dez Bryant, Doug Free, DeMarco Murray, Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter, Justin Durant
Teams Needs: DE/DT/S/LB/RB/QB
This pick will almost certainly be used to upgrade the defense, although given that they have to re-sign Dez and DeMarco the Cowboys may have to find a cheaper option at RT than Doug Free. They still need another DE to pair with Demarcus Lawrence, some interior help, and Jerry Jones sounds like he's ready to give up on Morris Claiborne. They were close to drafting Ryan Shazier in 2014, Dallas was even on the phone with him as he was being drafted one pick before by the Steelers, so they will definitely be looking at linebackers, especially since their top three are free agents and Sean Lee his injury issues.
28. Denver Broncos - Bernardrick McKinney LB, Mississippi State
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Wes Welker, Orlando Franklin, Terrance Knighton
Teams Needs: ILB/DE/RT/TE
Denver boasts one of the most complete and talented rosters in the NFL but they still have a couple positions of need. If they do take an offensive player it will almost certainly be for a RT. They have alternated between Chris Clark and Paul Cornick, neither of whom have offered much protection for Manning. Defensively they have had talent and injury issues at linebacker. If they fail to re-sign Julius Thomas expect them to seriously consider Maxx Williams here.
29. Indianapolis Colts - Jordan Phillips DT/DE, Oklahoma
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Reggie Wayne, Cory Redding, Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, Mike Adams
Teams Needs: RB/CB/S/OLB/OC/WR
As when they had Peyton Manning, this Colts team runs though it's QB. Indy needs better protection for Andrew Luck, a better running game, and some WR's to replace Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks.
Defensively they are still a work in progress. It's too early to give up on Bjoern Werner but Erik Walden should be replaced. The secondary, aside from Vontae Davis, is a mess. Even if Cory Redding is re-signed he's still already 34 years old.
30. Green Bay Packers - Denzel Perryman ILB, Miami
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Tramon Williams, B.J. Raji, Bryan Bulaga, Randall Cobb, Letroy Guion
Teams Needs: ILB/OT/NT/TE/CB
Green Bay is looking to increase the speed of their defense. A.J. Hawk is in rapid decline and the Packers need a LB capable of covering TE's down the seam or effectively spying Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson, keeping them from breaking long runs as they have been known to do against a slow Green Bay defense. Otherwise this pick should be devoted to the offensive line. Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod are both injury-plagued free agents.
31. New England Patriots - Kevin Johnson CB, Wake Forest
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Darrelle Revis, Devin McCourty, Dan Connolly, Shane Vereen, Steven Ridley
Teams Needs: OG/WR/CB/NT/S/RB
The Patriots are a team built to win now but this roster has a lot of cracks in it regardless of them reaching the Super Bowl. The offensive line hasn't been able to protect Brady even before trading Logan Mankins to the Bucs. The WR corps have a bunch of question marks as well. Plus Steven Ridley and Shane Vereen are both free agents.
Defensively they need a long-term successor to Vince Wilfork and they need to rebuild their secondary given that they may not be able to afford to re-sign Darrelle Revis.
32. Seattle Seahawks - Devin Funchess WR/TE, Michigan
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Kevin Williams, James Carpenter, Byron Maxwell, Malcom Smith
Teams Needs: DT/OG/LB/TE/WR
After locking up Cliff Avril and K.J. Wright long-term, the Seahawks don't need to worry about reaching to fill a free agent hole on the defensive side of the ball. However, given that they lost Clinton McDonald this past offseason and will need to replace Kevin Williams this go around it wouldn't be surprising if Seattle bolstered their DT depth here, especially if local product Danny Shelton is available.
The Seahawks traded Percy Harvin to the Jets for a conditional late round pick but they tried to pry a starting TE from both the Browns and Broncos, so either they aren't happy with Zach Miller's production or they simply want a big-bodied receiving threat for Russell Wilson. As the NFC Championship showed, the Seahawks need to get more playmakers for Russell Wilson.
Round 2:
33. Tennessee Titans - Nate Orchard DE/OLB, Utah
The Titans coaching staff has gotten a very good look at Senior Bowl standout Nate Orchard.
34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - T.J. Clemmings OT, Pittsburgh
T.B.'s OG play has been atrocious, they could move Anthony Collins to OG.
35. Oakland Raiders - Sammy Coates WR, Auburn
Denarius Moore is a free agent and Oakland needs a #1 WR.
36. Jacksonville Jaguars - Tevin Coleman RB, Indiana
Toby Gerhart is not a franchise back.
37. New York Jets - P.J. Williams CB, Florida State
They converted Antonio Allen from S to CB out of necessity to disastrous results.
38. Washington Redskins - Carl Davis DT, Iowa
Jarvis Jenkins is a free agent.
39. Chicago Bears - Quinton Rollins CB, Miami of Ohio
Charles Tillman is a free agent.
40. New York Giants - Danielle Hunter DE, LSU
JPP is a free agent and Mathias Kiwanuka could be a cap casualty.
41. St. Louis Rams - Dorial Green-Beckham WR, Oklahoma
Jeff Fisher has been known to gamble on character risks who slide in the draft.
42. Atlanta Falcons - Maxx Williams TE, Minnesota
ATL needs a receiving threat at TE, they reached in Gopher territory before in the second round.
43. Cleveland Browns - Devin Smith WR, Ohio State
Josh Gordon recently failed is third drug test.
44. New Orleans Saints - Cameron Erving OT/OC, Florida State
36 year old Jonathan Goodwin is a free agent.
45. Minnesota Vikings - Eric Kendricks LB, UCLA
Jasper Brinkley is a free agent who needs to be replaced anyway.
46. San Francisco 49ers - Jalen Collins CB, LSU
Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, and Chris Cook are all free agents.
47. Miami Dolphins - Phillip Dorsett WR, Miami
Miami may be looking to dump Mike Wallace.
49. San Diego Chargers - Duke Johnson RB, Miami
Ryan Mathews is a free agent.
48. Kansas City Chiefs - Arie Kouandjio OG, Alabama
Jeff Linkenbach is a free agent.
50. Buffalo Bills - Mario Edwards DE/DT, Florida State
Notable 2015 Free Agents: Jerry Hughes, Erik Pears, Chris Hairston, Da'Norris Searcy, Brandon Spikes
Team needs: QB/TE/LB/RB
With Rex Ryan at the helm who knows what the Bills will do? Is E.J. Manuel the future at QB? They re-signed 33 year old Fred Jackson and are rumored to be looking to trade C.J. Spiller, so they could potentially be looking for another RB if Spiller is traded. Scott Chandler was also re-signed but it was only to a two-year deal for minimal pay and he could certainly be upgraded.
Defensively Rex Ryan fired Jim Schwartz over philosophical differences, which means that Ryan wants to convert the defense in a variation of a 3-4 scheme. Free agent Jerry Hughes was a poor fit in a 3-4 in Indy, and will likely sign with a team that plays a 4-3. Assuming Kevin Williams will play NT, and Marcell Dareus will play DE, they will need another DE. Ryan will likely sign free agent David Harris to pair with Kiko Alonzo at ILB but will need to another outside rusher to go with Mario Williams. With over $25 million in cap space and no first round pick it wouldn't be surprising to see Rex Ryan make a splash in free agency by signing Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul, or Ndamukong Suh.
51. Houston Texans - Gerrod Holliman FS, Louisville
Kendrick Lewis and Danieal Manning are both free agents.
52. Philadelphia Eagles - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu CB, Oregon
The Eagles could easily double-up at CB, especially if a Chip Kelly favorite like IEO is still available.
53. Cincinnati Bengals - Paul Dawson LB, TCU
Cincy needs upgrades at SLB, plus Rey Maualuga is a free agent.
54. Detroit Lions - Owamagbe Odighizuwa DE/OLB, UCLA
The Lions need another edge rusher to fit into DC Austin's eventual 3-4 defense.
55. Arizona Cardinals - Markus Golden DE/OLB, Missouri
Arizona needs to improve their pass-rush.
56. Pittsburgh Steelers - Alex Carter CB, Stanford
The Steelers are likely to use one of their first three picks on a CB. Alex Carter is a big, physical CB prospect at 6-foot, 200 pounds who is tailor-made for zone coverage. He is solid in run support and very physical with opposing WR's, sometimes a little too physical. He's been a starter since his true freshman season, and his dad Tom Carter is a former CB from Notre Dame who was also the 17th overall pick of the Washington Redskins in 1993.
57. Carolina Panthers - Ronald Darby CB, Florida State
Carolina's young CB's are decent but they could still use an upgrade.
58. Baltimore Ravens - T.J. Yeldon RB, Alabama
Justin Forsett is a free agent, and Bernard Pierce is more of a short yardage back.
61. Denver Broncos - Ty Sambrailo OT/OG, Colorado State
Denver could spend multiple picks upgrading the O-line.
60. Dallas Cowboys - Michael Bennett DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys should take the best defensive player available.
59. Indianapolis Colts - Ameer Abdullah RB, Nebraska
Trent Richardson is a bust and Ahmad Bradshaw is an injury-plagued free agent.
62. Green Bay Packers - Ellis McCarthy DT, UCLA
B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion are both free agents.
63. New England Patriots - Josh Harper WR, Fresno State
N.E. could use an upgrade at WR.
64. Seattle Seahawks - Tre Jackson OG, Florida State
James Carpenter is a free agent.
Round 3:
65. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Eli Harold OLB, Virginia
T.B. needs to upgrade at SLB.
66. Tennessee Titans - Josue Matias OG, Florida State
The Titans are rumored to be releasing Andy Levitre.
67. Jacksonville Jaguars - Clive Walford TE, Miami
Jacksonville may cut Mercedes Lewis, and are rumored to really like Clive Walford.
68. Oakland Raiders - D'Joun Smith CB, Florida Atlantic
Tarell Brown is a free agent and D.J. Hayden is looking like an injury-plagued first round bust.
69. Washington Redskins - Hau'oli Kikaha DE/OLB, Washington
Brian Orakpo is a free agent.
70. New York Jets - Trey Flowers DE/OLB, Arkansas
Calvin Pace is 34 and will be a free agent in 2016.
71. Chicago Bears - Reese Dismukes OC, Auburn
Roberto Garza and Brian De La Puente are both free agents.
72. St. Louis Rams - Cedric Ogbuehi OT/OG, Texas A&M
Davin Joseph and Joseph Barksdale are both free agents. Who knows how far Ogbuehi could fall with an ACL tear?
73. Atlanta Falcons - Jeremiah Poutasi OT, Utah
The Falcons have nothing at RT. Mike Johnson and Cameron Bradfield are both free agents.
74. New York Giants - Derron Smith FS, Fresno State
Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown, and Quintin Demps are all free agents.
75. New Orleans Saints - Garrett Grayson QB, Colorado state
The Saints are looking for a successor to Drew Brees.
76. Minnesota Vikings - A.J. Cann OG, South Carolina
Vladimir Ducasse is a free agent in 2015, Charles Johnson will be one in 2016. Both need to be replaced.
77. Cleveland Browns - Senquez Wilson CB, Ole Miss.
Buster Skrine is a free agent.
78. Miami Dolphins - Jaquiski Tartt SS, Samford
Louis Delmas and Jimmy Wilson are both free agents.
79. San Francisco 49ers - Jay Ajayi RB, Boise State
Frank Gore will be a 32 year old free agent and Marcus Lattimore retired.
80. Kansas City Chiefs - Anthony Harris S, Virginia
Eric Berry is out indefinitely, Ron Parker and Kurt Coleman are free agents, Husain Abdullah will be in 2016.
81. Buffalo Bills - Mike Davis RB, South Carolina
Fred Jackson is 33 years old and the Bills are shopping C.J. Spiller.
82. Houston Texans - Donovan Smith OT, Penn State
Derek Newton is a free agent.
83. San Diego Chargers - Hroniss Grasu OC, Oregon
Nick Hardwick is a 33 year old free agent and contemplating retirement.
84. Philadelphia Eagles - Jake Fisher OT/OG, Oregon
Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans have injury issues.
85. Cincinnati Bengals - Tyrus Thompson OT, Oklahoma
Clint Boling is a free agent and Andrew Whitworth could move to LG.
86. Arizona Cardinals - Jacoby Glenn CB, Central Florida
Antonio Cromartie is a 30 year old free agent.
87. Pittsburgh Steelers - Preston Smith DE/OLB, Mississippi State
With Keith Butler now in charge of the Steelers defense we could see the Steelers shop for an "Elephant" linebacker. What is an elephant linebacker, for those who aren't familiar with the term, well it's a term used for a multiple-position player along the defensive front. This player can be used in a variety of ways, aside from playing a traditional OLB role in a 3-4, he can be used as a 5 technique end and even shift inside and play 3 technique when the Steelers go to a nickel defense. The position is similar to the "Leo" position, popular in the Seattle-style 4-3 defense, with the slight difference being that a Leo linebacker is closer in size to a traditional 4-3 OLB while an Elephant linebacker is closer in size to a 4-3 defensive end. The closest comparison that should resonate with Steelers fans is how the Ravens use Pernell McPhee. Julius Peppers also plays the Elephant position for the Packers.
A perfect player to fill this role for the Steelers is Preston Smith. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, he has the size of a traditional 4-3 DE. He also checks in with 34 inch arms and 10 5/8 inch hands, with both measurements being really big/long. He has a strong punch and excellent arm extension, the negatives are that he lacks speed off of the edge. He also can't bend the edge like a traditional 3-4 OLB would, but his value isn't as a traditional 3-4 OLB.
Projecting Preston Smith's draft stock is a bit of a craps shoot until after the combine. As a tweener, he's not a great fit as a traditional 3-4 OLB or a DE in a 4-3. CBS Sports ranks him as 98th best prospect, Walterfootball has him at 49, and the guys over at Drafttek don't even have him in their top 100. He should go as early as the late 2nd to anywhere in the 3rd round. If the Steelers can get him here they should as I don't think he'll make it past the Ravens at 90 since they should be looking to replace the aforementioned Pernell McPhee.
88. Detroit Lions - Laken Tomlinson OG, Duke
Rob Sims is a 30 year old free agent.
89. Carolina Panthers - Justin Hardy WR, East Carolina
The Panthers need a long-term compliment to Kelvin Benjamin.
90. Baltimore Ravens - Lorenzo Mauldin OLB, Louisville
Pernell McPhee is a free agent.
92. Dallas Cowboys - Daryl Williams OT, Oklahoma
Doug Free is a free agent.
94. Denver Broncos - Ben Koyack TE, Notre Dame
Even though Julian Thomas is likely to be re-signed, Jacob Tamme and Virgil Green are also free agents.
91. Indianapolis Colts - Nelson Agholor WR, USC
Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks are both free agents.
93. Green Bay Packers - Ladarius Hunter CB, Miami
Tramon Williams, 31 years old, and Davon House are both free agents.
95. New England Patriots - D.J. Humphries OT/OG, Florida
N.E. needs depth upfront and Belechick has an affinity for Florida players.
96. Seattle Seahawks - Xavier Cooper DT, Washington State
Kevin Williams is a 34 year old free agent.
Round 4:
97. Tennessee Titans - Steve Nelson CB, Oregon State
Blidi Wreh-Wilson has not been an adequate replacement for Alterraun Verner.
98. New England Patriots (via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Cody Prewitt S, Ole Miss
Devin McCourty is a free agent.
99. Oakland Raiders - Javorius Allen RB, USC
Oakland will move on from Darren McFadden and MJD.
100. Jacksonville Jaguars - Chris Hackett S, TCU
Josh Evans needs to be replaced.
101. New York Jets - John Miller OG, Louisville
Willie Colon is a free agent.
102. Washington Redskins - Cam Thomas CB, Western Kentucky
DeAngelo Hall is coming back from an Achilles tear.
103. Chicago Bears - Rashad Greene WR, Florida State
Santonio Holmes and Josh Morgan are both free agents, Alshon Jefferey will be one in 2016.
104. Atlanta Falcons - Zach Hodges OLB, Harvard
Sean Weatherspoon is a free agent and Atlanta needs someone who can play the Leo position.
105. New York Giants - Gabe Wright DT, Auburn
The Giants need a DT to pair with Jonathan Hankins.
106. Tampa Bay buccaneer (via St. Louis Rams) - Durrell Eskridge S, Syracuse
T.B. traded Mark Barron and Major Wright is a free agent.
107. Minnesota Vikings - David Cobb RB, Minnesota
Matt Asiata is a free agent.
108. Cleveland Browns - Za'Darius Smith DE, Kentucky
Jabaal Sheard is a free agent.
109. New Orleans Saints - Lorenzo Doss CB, Tulane
Patrick Robinson is a free agent and a first round bust.
110. San Francisco 49ers - Quandre Diggs CB, Texas
Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, and Chris Cook are all free agents.
111. Miami Dolphins - Doran Grant CB, Ohio State
Cortland Finnegan should be replaced.
112. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills) - Kurtis Drummond S, Michigan State
Tashaun Gipson is a free agent.
113. Houston Texans - Tony Lippett WR/CB, Michigan State
34 year old Andre Johnson is looking to skip town.
114. San Diego Chargers - Kevin White CB, TCU
S.D. needs depth even if they re-sign Brandon Flowers.
115. Kansas City Chiefs - Tyler Lockett WR, Kansas State
K.C. could double-down at WR. Lockett is a Chiefs legacy.
116. Philadelphia Eagles -Ty Montgomery WR, Stanford
Jeremy Macklin is an injury-plagued free agent.
117. Cincinnati Bengals - Ramik Wilson ILB, Georgia
Rey Maualuga is a free agent.
118. Pittsburgh Steelers -Jeremy Langford RB, Michigan State
The Steelers no longer have to speculate about what happens to the offense when Le'Veon Bell is out of the lineup. They have nothing behind him besides the unproven and diminutive Dri Archer and the practically unknown Josh Harris. So who better to fill the void than by drafting someone who's used to playing in Bell's shadow?
Jeremy Langford is the north-south, physical bruiser-type of RB that could complement Bell very well. He also excels in the screen game and in pass protection. His speed may be a question mark but his conditioning is not as he checks in at a fairly rock-solid 6-foot, 211 pounds.
119. Detroit Lions - Andy Gallik OC, Boston College
Dominic Raiola is a 35 year old free agent.
120. Arizona Cardinals - Stephone Anthony ILB, Clemson
Larry Foote is a 34 year old free agent.
121. Carolina Panthers - Christian Covington DT, Rice
Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole are both free agents.
122. Baltimore Ravens - Corey Robinson OT, South Carolina
Jah Reid is a free agent.
125. San Fransisco 49ers (via Denver Broncos) - Henry Anderson DE, Stanford
Justin Smith is a 35 year old free agent.
124. Dallas Cowboys - Charles Gaines CB, Louisville
Morris Claiborne has been a total bust.
123. Indianapolis Colts - Rob Havenstein OT, Wisconsin
Indy has issues at OC, RG, and RT.
126. Green Bay Packers - Cameron Artis-Payne RB, Auburn
Jonathan Franklin had to retire because of injury.
127. New England Patriots - Matt Jones RB, Florida
Steven Ridley and Shane Vereen are both free agents.
128. Seattle Seahawks - Tony Washington OLB, Oregon
Malcolm Smith and O'Brien Schofield are free agents.
Round 5:
129. Buffalo Bills (via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Jesse James TE, Penn State
Scott Chandler is a free agent in 2016.
130. Tennessee Titans - Jordan Richards S, Stanford
George Wilson is a 34 year old free agent.
131. Jacksonville Jaguars - B.J. Finney OC, Kansas State
Jacksonville never properly replaced Brad Meester.
132. Oakland Raiders - Cedric Reed DE, Texas
Justin Tuck is a short-term solution.
133. Washington Redskins - Jamon Brown OT, Louisville
Tyler Polumbus is a free agent.
134. New York Jets - Sean Mannion QB, Oregon State
The Jets need someone to develop behind Geno Smith.
135. Denver Broncos (via Chicago Bears) - Max Garcia OG/OC, Florida
Orlando Franklin is a free agent and Denver could use an upgrade at OC.
136. New York Giants - Ali Marpet OT/OG, Hobart
The Giants needs upgrades along the interior of their O-line.
137. St. Louis Rams - Josh Shaw CB/S, USC
Jeff fisher has been known to take gambles on character risks before.
138. Atlanta Falcons - Corey Crawford DE, Clemson
All of Atlanta's pass-rushers are free agents.
139. Cleveland Browns - Bryce Petty QB, Baylor
Brian Hoyer is a free agent.
140. New Orleans Saints - Robert Myers OG, Tennessee State
Ben Grubbs or Jahri Evans could be cap casualty.
141. Minnesota Vikings - Eric Rowe S/CB, Utah
Captain Munnerlyn would work better in the slot, plus the Vikings could use someone to pair with Harrison Smith.
142. Miami Dolphins - Tyler Kroft TE, Rutgers
Charles Clay is a free agent.
143. San Fransisco 49ers - Lynden Trail DE\OLB , Norfolk State
Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch have off-the-field issues.
144. Houston Texans - Jeff Luc, OLB, Cincinnati
Brooks Reed is a free agent.
145. San Diego Chargers - Antwan Goodley WR, Baylor
Eddie Royal is a free agent and S.D. needs another pass-catcher regardless.
146. Kansas City Chiefs - Shaquille Mason OG/OC, Georgia Tech
Rodney Hudson is a free agent
147. Buffalo Bills - Austin Shepard OT, Alabama
Erik Pears and Chris Hairston are both free agents.
148. Philadelphia Eagles - Anthony Jefferson S, UCLA
Nate Allen is a free agent who needs to be replaced.
149. Cincinnati Bengals - Ray Drew DE/DT, Georgia
Cincy needs D-line depth. They have an affinity for UGA players.
150. Detroit Lions - Shane Carden QB, East Carolina
Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore are both free agents.
151. Arizona Cardinals - Jamil Douglas OG, Arizona State
Jonathan Cooper is looking like a bust and both OG spots need to be upgraded.
152. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jeff Heuerman TE, Ohio State
Is it time to start looking for an eventual replacement for Heath Miller? Probably not, as he still has a couple of good years left in him, but that hasn't stopped the Steelers from using late-round picks at the position. Besides, Matt Spaeth is a 30-year-old free agent with only three receptions this past season.
So who should the Steelers select here if they opt for a TE as there are many intriguing options? Coming off of a solid Senior Bowl performance, Delaware's Nick Boyle's lack of acceleration may limit his ceiling in the NFL. OU's QB-turned-TE Blake Bell is a bruiser after the catch but is still very raw for the position. FSU's Nick O' Leary, who I think is going to fall far in the draft, doesn't have adequate size or speed to excel in the NFL and may be relegated to H-back duties.
The player who may make the most since for the Steelers is OSU's Jeff Heuerman. Unlike the "Joker" TE's, who are basically overgrown WR's, Heuerman is a kind of throwback to the classic, Heath Miller-type of TE. Although not a dynamic athlete, he has a well-rounded skill set. He's equally adapt in the passing game with soft hands and is a very reliable blocker.
153. Carolina Panthers - David Johnson RB, Northern Iowa
DeAngelo Williams may be released.
154. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Baltimore Ravens) - Breshad Perriman WR, Central Florida
The Bucs are rumored to be looking to trade Vincent Jackson.
156. Dallas Cowboys - Jordan Hicks LB, Texas
Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter, and Justin Durant are all free agents.
158. Denver Broncos - Joey Mbu DT, Houston
Terrance Knighton is a free agent.
155. Indianapolis Colts - Tre McBride WR, William & Mary
Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks are both free agents.
157.Green Bay Packers - Sean Hickey OT/OG, Syracuse
Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod are both injury-plagued free agents.
159. New England Patriots - Blake Bell TE, Oklahoma
Bill Belechick loves TE's and versatile players.
160. Seattle Seahawks - JaCorey Shepard CB, Kansas
Byron Maxwell is a free agent.