2015 State of the U NFL Mock Draft

The NFL Combine has been over for weeks, and all of the Pro Days are complete.

All that's left now for the top collegiate prospects is to sit back on their respective couches (or the one's in the green room at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre)  and wait for that phone call that changes their lives.

Their will be excitement, disappointment, trades, and high drama (perhaps not as much as below).

With out further delay here is my 2015 1st Round Mock Draft Version 1.0 (there will be no version 2.0):

With the 1st overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select Jameis Winston. Winson will no longer need the "hook ups" of local Publix Supermarkets as he will have plenty of his own loot for crab legs after this selection.  All kidding aside, this is a high risk, high reward pick as Winston comes with a lot of baggage off the field.  On the field his penchant for taking chances led to 18 INTs last season in Tallahassee.  That is an alarming number for a potential 1st overall pick.  But Winston clearly missed Kelvin Benjamin during his sophomore season. The Bucs have a similar talent already on the roster in Mike Evans.  There's almost no chance TB picks anyone but Winston with this pick.

At #2 overall, I look for San Diego to move up in a trade with the Tennessee Titans and take Marcus Mariotta.  The price will be steep, and it likely means the end of Phillip Rivers' run with the Chargers. Rivers is a proven commodity, but  the San Diego franchise may be on the move in the coming year and Rivers has already openly expressed reservations about moving away from San Diego. He will no longer have a choice. This would obviously be a blockbuster deal, but one of these happens in every draft.   Kellen Clemens (or whoever else SD has left on the roster as signal callers) will provide little competition for the Heisman Winner, who will immediately get to work on proving he is more than just a system QB.

With the 3rd pick in the first round, the Jacksonville Jaguars will select Dante Fowler Jr. from Florida.  Fowler sort of reminds me of former Jets/Falcons star John Abraham.  Like Abraham he is explosive off the edge and an above average if not great run defender as well. Word is, he also displays high character and impressed teams in the meeting room.  The Jags go for the sure fire thing in Fowler and get set to unleash him on AFC South opponents.

At #4 overall the Oakland Raiders take a swing for the fences and pick USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Williams, who compares himself to Houston Texans star J.J. Watt because of his versatility, is an explosive force. Of all the players in this draft, Williams seems the least likely to bust in my opinion.

At #5, I look for the Washington Redskins to take Andrus Peat of Stanford.  This may seem a bit high for Peat, but the Skins went out and hired Bill Callahan as their offensive line coach this winter, so clearly this the O Line is a unit they are concerned with. Sure they have a stud LT in Trent Williams, but they need another bookend, and Peat is the best one available.  He'll start his career at RT, and this pick will be highly scrutinized and criticized in the Nation's capital.

With the 6th overall pick I look for the New York Jets to select Blintenkoff Award winner Amari Cooper from Alabama. The Jets will do their best to move up and pick Mariotta, but when that fails and Fowler is off the board, Cooper becomes too good to pass up. Sure NY already has Brandon Marshall (though he is only guaranteed through next year), and their QB situation is murky at best, but when I watch Cooper play I think Andre Johnson 2.0.   And like Johnson, Amari possesses a quiet and hard working nature that along with his incredible talents, makes him a safe bet to succeed at the next level.

With the 7th pick, the Chicago Bears will add a big time weapon of their own with WR Kevin White of West Virginia. White has size at 6'3, can flat out fly (4.35 40) and fills the void left when the Bears sent aforementioned Marshall to the Jets. Jay Cutler is going to love this kid.

At #8, expect the defense starved Atlanta Falcons to jump for joy that Vic Beasley of Clemson is still on the table. Beasley is explosive off the edge (33 career sacks with the Tigers), and will love playing on the fast turf of the Georgia Dome.

With the 9th pick, I look for New York Giants to select Ereck Flowers of the University of Miami.  Flowers is the best athlete of any offensive lineman in the draft.  He's also a tough (came back from meniscus tear in two weeks) and strong (NFL Combine best 37 bench press reps) prospect who could turn into a Pro Bowl player with a little work on his technique.

At #10, The St. Louis Rams will make it back to back OL selected by picking up Brandon Scherff of Iowa.  Scherff is versatile enough to playing G or T at the next level, and is just the kind of tough player/leader Jeff Fischer covets.

When Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target from college is still around at pick #11, the Minnesota Vikings will waist no time in snagging Devante Parker of Louisville.  Parker has the size, hands, and explosive play making ability to be a legit #1 WR in the NFL.  Having ready made camaraderie with your QB to be also does not hurt his chances for success.

With the 12th pick,  I think the Cleveland Browns will also take a speedy wide out in Brashad Perriman of UCF.  Perriman and his 4.24 speed will help out whomever starts at QB next season for the Browns, be it Johnny Manziel or Josh McCown.

At #13,  Look for the New Orleans Saints to take a chance on Nebraska's Randy Gregory. Gregory's explanation of his failed drug test at the NFL Combine probably helped his case as little as the failure itself. Nonetheless this is a kid with pure pass rush ability, and a knack making plays in the opposition's back field.  The Saints need a player like Gregory in the worst way, and will overlook his past indiscretions in hopes of landing a big time defensive force.

With the 14th overall pick I like Miami Dolphins to take Todd Gurley of Georgia.  While Miami has other needs (see CB, O line) Gurley is just too good to pass up when Mike Tannenbaum and Co. get on the clock. Gurley has the upside of an Adrian Peterson type with his rare speed and 6'1 222 pound frame.

The San Francisco 49ers had a rash of retirements and free agency departures this off season, leaving them needing an impact player on the D in the worst way.  At #15 I like San Fran to pick up DE Shane Ray of Missouri and the start the process of rebuilding their once vaunted defense.

With pick #16,  the Houston Texans will look for the best offensive skill player available and snag Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin.  Sure they still have Arian Foster on the roster, but he can't last forever and they could always look to trade him for extra picks after making this move. Gordon reminds me so much of the Chiefs Jamal Charles it is scary.

At #17 the Tennessee Titans (from San Diego) pick up Arik Armstead of Oregon. The Titans are content to see what Zach Mettenberger can do as a starting QB (assuming Rivers isn't part of this deal). In the meantime they pick up a quick twitch athlete to help out on the defensive line.

The Kansas City Chiefs need offensive lineman in the worst way.  But with Peat, Flowers, and Sherff already off the table, I look for them to take the best CB available in Michigan State's Trae Waynes at #18.  His toughness and 4.31 speed make him impossible to pass on, despite a few good O Lineman still being available at this spot.

With the 19th overall selection, The Cleveland Browns fill a "huge" need and take FSU's Eddie Goldman to plug the middle of their defensive line. The powerfully built Goldman is ideal as a two gap player,  and if his motor catches up with his talent he could be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

If nothing else, the Philadelphia Eagles and their Head Coach/GM Chip Kelly have proven they are not afraid to take a risk or three.  Assuming they do not trade up before this pick, I think they go for the home run pick in home run threat Phillip Dorsett of the Miami Hurricanes at slot #20. Dorsett has been compared to former Eagle DeSean Jackson because of speed and abilities as a vertical threat. Kelly adds a player here who actually may be more than that when all is said and done.

Dorsett's abilities as a complete WR have earned lots of praise in recent weeks.

At #21, I like the Bengals to pick the most complete S in this year's draft in Landon Collins of Alabama. Collins is a beast against the run, and if he ever catches the balls he gets his hands on, he could be near the top of the league in INTs as well.

Everyone in the world knows that the Pittsburgh Steelers need a corner in the worst way. This is why I expect them to pick up Byron Jones of Connecticut with the 22nd overall pick.  His rare athleticism and instincts should lead to a successful transition in the NFL.

With the 23rd pick in the first round, the Detroit Lions would be smart to grab Cameron Erving of FSU.  Erving is listed as a C, but let's not forget he was also an ALL-ACC tackle before making the switch midway through the season this past year. To be that good at both spots is rare.  Wherever Detroit decides to play him, he is an immediate upgrade for their ailing offensive line.

At #24, I like the Arizona Cardinals to think defense and snag OLB Bud Dupree of Kentucky.  While Dupree isn't quite as good as Beasley, or Fowler Jr.  this kid is underrated and a freakish athlete.  Is really good at the point of attack, and has the ability to develop into a very good NFL pass rusher.

The Carolina Panthers really need to do a better job protecting Cam Newton. Look for Carolina to pick the best O lineman available at pick #25 and take a flyer on La'el Collins of LSU. Collins strength is more in the running game, but he has the raw ability to be solid in pass protection too, especially if he is moved inside at the next level.

With the 26th pick in the first round, the Baltimore Ravens look for an offensive weapon and did one in Dorial Green-Beckham.  Green-Beckham comes with a lot of off the field issues, but Baltimore has a steady enough franchise to keep him in line. The kid has top 10 talent if he can keep his act together outside the lines.

At #27, the Dallas Cowboys add some toughness to their D with Shaq Thompson of Washington.  Thompson was a two way player for the Huskies, seeing time at RB as well as LB/S.  In the NFL he will likely be a S, but one who wreaks havoc in the box against the run.

The Denver Broncos really need some help on the offensive line.  In the interest of Peyton Manning's health I like them to take the best OT left on the board and pick up D.J. Humphries of Florida at #28.  Humphries is a late riser who plays with a mean streak, but needs to clean up his technique. Denver will be elated if he falls this far.

Indianapolis made a lot of moves this off season to bolster their roster, but they still need some help with their pass rush.  For this reason I like the Colts to grab Eli Harold of Virginia with pick #29.  Harold is an underrated prospect who is strong enough to play the run, and uses his hands very well as a pass rusher.

At #30 I like the Green Bay Packers to fill a need and select ILB Eric Kendricks of UCLA. Kendricks is an instinctive player, with the speed to play sideline to sideline.

At #31 The Saints will look to add a receiver to help make up for the loss of TE (sometimes WR) Jimmy Graham.  I think they go Nelson Agholor of USC.  Agholor is a slot type, and while he can not replace the size and freakish abilities of Graham, he ability inside will help Drew Brees and the Saints' passing game.

Last but certainly not least, the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots will pick up WR Devin Smith of Ohio State at #32.  Tom Brady needs another weapon, and all this guys does is catch TD passes.

Well there you have it folks.  The complete SOTU 1st Round NFL MocK Draft.  Stay tuned for Round 2 in the coming days.

Be sure to leave your thoughts and comments below.