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With the 2015 NFL Draft inching closer, here is my first-round mock draft and analysis for all 32 picks:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston - QB - Florida State
Mike Glennon could become an NFL starting QB, but Winston is too good to pass up. He's the second best player in this draft behind Leonard Williams, but Tampa needs to find their first franchise QB, which is crazy to say they've never had (Vinny Testaverde and Trent Dilfer are their top two all-time leading passers).
I don't think there's any consideration here in terms of Winston vs. Marcus Mariota. Winston is easily the more pro-ready of the two, and after a 2-14 season in 2014, Lovie Smith and co. need wins now.
- Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams - DE - Southern Cal
The Titans seem set with keeping Zach Mettenberger on as their starting QB. Williams is the best player in this draft, and with Dick LeBeau and Ray Horton leading the defense, Williams will be put into a great position to thrive as a rookie.
Marcus Mariota has gotten a lot of hype to go here, but if Tennesse keeps the pick, I think they go with Williams. Ken Whisenhunt is in win-now mode, which is hard to be in with a rookie QB.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler, Jr. - DE/OLB - Florida
Gus Bradley is a defensive mind who is tired of seeing his D gashed routinely. Fowler is a beast in the run game and as a pass-rusher, and he gives the Jags a prolific pass-rusher to put the heat on Andrew Luck in the AFC South.
Fowler may end up being the best player to come out of this draft. He's a relentless pass-rusher that will put feat into even the best NFL signal-callers, Luck included. Fowler could be the missing piece that makes Jacksonville a respectable defense.
- Oakland Raiders TRADE with Cleveland Browns, who take Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The Browns haven't had a franchise QB since Bernie Kosar, and they make a deal to move up with Oakland in exchange for their two first-round picks and other late-round selections. That's a costly move for the Browns to move up this far, but owner Jimmy Haslam wants results now, and GM Ray Farmer knows he has to find a QB with Johnny Manziel looking like a flop.
Mariota comes in and breathes life into this fallen franchise, starting Day 1 after a long camp battle with veteran Josh McCown. With two capable backs in Terence West and Isaiah Crowell behind Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio and Alex MAck makes this a scary rushing offense with Mariota at the helm.
- Washington: Amari Cooper - WR - Alabama
Washington looks to add a big-play receiver for Robert Griffin III, and Cooper is the best WR in this draft. Kevin White also gets consideration here, but Cooper ultimately wins out thanks to three solid years of production, whereas White was a one-year wonder.
I think one or both of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson will be gone in 2016, leaving Cooper to take on bigger role, even though he'll catch plenty of passes as a rookie.
- New York Jets: Kevin White - WR - West Virginia
The Jets need to add another big-play receiver for Geno Smith, and White is arguably the best WR in this draft. They're happy to see White fall to them, and what was a horrendous offense in 2014 suddenly looks very dangerous.
The combination of White, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker is a force to be reckoned with. Even if Geno isn't the answer at QB, he's never had one consistent receiver in New York, let along three if Decker can stay healthy in 2015.
- Chicago Bears: Andrus Peat - OT - Stanford
The Bears try and get Mariota, but ultimately lose out to Cleveland on moving up, leaving them to settle with Peat. Chicago is a mess in a lot of areas, but especially so on offense, and Peat is the best player on the board here. He'll eventually take over at one of the two tackle spots, but could kick inside to guard as a rookie.
- Atlanta Falcons: Randy Gregory - DE/OLB - Nebraska
Dan Quinn's defense in Seattle ranked No. 1 in pass defense in large part because his unit notched 81 sacks over the past two seasons. Atlanta was one of the worst at rushing the passer, but Gregory immediately helps that cause.
Gregory is falling a little bit after his weight (218 lbs. during offseason) and failed drug test, but Atlanta is happy to end his slide and get a guy who should become their best pass-rusher as a rookie. Dan Quinn has a history of working with players with substance abuse issues, so he's not afraid to work with a guy like Gregory.
- New York Giants: Brandon Scherff - OT - Iowa
When New York's offense was clicking in 2014, they were darn near unstoppable. Unfortunately the offensive line prevented that from happening enough to even reach .500. That's why the G-Men upgrade their line with the best guard prospect in this draft.
Scherff may eventually move to tackle, but for now, he's a Pro bowl-caliber guard that gives the Giants a young and talented Ol, something they don't have right now.
- St. Louis Rams: La'el Collins - OL - LSU
This is a bit of a reach, but the Rams have to upgrade their offensive line, and Collins is the best lineman on the board. They need help at multiple spots on the offensive line, and Collins could move to guard or stay at tackle his rookie year.
Either way, Collins is a road-grader that should help St. Louis become more of a run-heavy offense, which they should be with Tre Mason and Zac Stacy on the roster.
- Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes - CB - Michigan State
The Vikings need another cornerback to pair with Xavier Rhodes and upgrade their pass defense, and Waynes comes in to start Day 1. Mike Zimmer loves having good corners to leave on an island when he brings the house on blitzes, and Waynes was as good of a CB as you'll find in this draft.
- Oakland Raiders (via Cleveland): DeVante Parker - WR - Louisville
The Raiders need a to find a franchise WR for their young QB, and Parker comes in and becomes the No. 1 pass-catcher as a rookie. He also gives Derek Carr the red-zone target he didn't have as a rookie. Parker is the third best WR in this class, but the line between him, Cooper and White is a thin one.
- New Orleans Saints: Shane Ray - OLB - Mizzou
The Saints upgrade their anemic pass rush with one of the draft's best pass-rushers in Shane Ray. Pairing him with Junior Galette has Rob Ryan drooling at the mouth. Ray can come in and start immediately, and at the very least, he'll be a situational pass-rusher as rookie that gets 10+ sacks.
- Miami Dolphins: Landon Collins - S - Alabama
The Dolphins are thrilled to see arguably the best safety prospect in this year's draft fall to them. Pairing him with Resha Jones forms one of the deadliest safety combos in the NFL. This defense is just a piece or two away from being elite, and Collins could be the missing key.
With a front four of Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Ndamukong Suh, having a guy like Collins defending the back end makes this defense one capable of stopping Tom Brady and the Patriots' reign atop the AFC East.
- San Francisco 49ers: Danny Shelton - DT - Washington
Shelton helps solidify the middle of a suddenly-thin 49ers defense following the losses of Ray Mcdonald, Justin Smith and Shelton is a best who can come in and play a heavy amount of snaps as a rookie, something young DTs often struggle with.
- Houston Texans: Bud Dupree - DE/OLB - Kentucky
Dupree has been hyped up as a possible top-10 selection, and though he put on a freakish show at the scouting combine, the workout warrior falls to the middle of the first round. That's where Houston scoops him up and pair him with Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt to form a fierce trio of pass-rushers.
- San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon - RB - Wisconsin
Realistically, no one knows what San Diego will do here. At this point, they could go several ways, but Gordon helps solidify a suspect running game with only Brandon Oliver and Danny Woodhead currently there. Gordon is an electrifying runner who will be the favorite for NFL Rookie of the Year in San Diego's offense.
Even though Gordon is a the best RB prospect, this is still a reach picking a back in the top 20. However, with rumblings Phillip Rivers could be gone in 2016, San Diego needs to make a run for a title now, and Gordon gives them the best chance of doing so.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong - WR - Arizona State
The Chiefs finally get a wide receiver after they didn't have one catch a touchdown in 2014. Strong immediately becomes the best WR on the roster and a favorite target of Alex Smith. Strong and Jeremy Maclin will form one of the best WR duos in the AFC.
- Oakland Raiders (via Buffalo and Cleveland): Malcolm Brown - DT - Texas
The Raiders have a gaping hole on the defensive line, and Brown is the best DT on the board here. He can play nose or three technique, so even with the Dan Williams signing this offseason, Brown comes in and gets a heavy dose of playing time as a rookie.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor- WR- USC
After losing Jeremy Maclin this offseason, the Eagles desperately need to find another WR to pair with Jordan Matthews. Agholor left USC with a school record for punt return touchdowns and is among the top eight on the program's career receiving list while hauling in eight TDs last year.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Ereck Flowers - OT- Miami
The Bengals get the run-blocking mauler of a lineman who they'll covet to eventually become a starter. Though he might not play as a rookie, three starting lineman become free agents next year, and the odds of Andre Smith, Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler all being back is slim.
His preferred spot is at right tackle if Andre Smith leaves in 2016, and he could spend 2015 at guard behind Clint Boling and Zeitler with no real depth behind them. There's also a small chance Flowers eventually plays left tackle and Whitworth moves inside to guard, which helped formed a devastating o-line combination when Whit moved to LG in 2013.
This is a very nice value pick for Cincinnati, as Flowers is projected in many mocks to be gone within the first 15 picks. The ideal scenario is everyone is re-signed, but Flowers takes over in 2-3 years when Whitworth (age 33) will likely have retired by. A line of Flowers, Boling, Bodine, Zeitler and Smith would possibly be the best run-blocking unit in football.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Vic Beasley - OLB - Clemson
The Steelers must add another pass-rusher with Jarvis Jones doing nothing and Jason Worilds hitting free agency. This is a great value pick for Pittsburgh, who has to get some kind of upgrade for their putrid defense. Beasley thrives in this defense and records 10+ sacks as a rookie.
- Detroit Lions: Arik Armstead - DT/DE - Oregon
Armstead is an intriguing prospect. He can step in immediately and help the Lions at multiple spots on the defensive line. Detroit has holes on the interior and at DE, so Armstead should see plenty of snaps as a rookie, even if he doesn't start.
- Arizona Cardinals: Eric Kendricks - ILB - UCLA
Arizona could get Daryl Washington back this year, but they still need to add another ILB to pair with him even if Washington stays on the straight and narrow after a season-long drug suspension. Kendricks is a great fit into this defense, and should ensure it stays in the top 10, even with the lose of DC Todd Bowles.
- Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings - OL - Pittsburgh
The Panthers grab the best offensive lineman on the board, and Clemmings is a perfect fit in Carolina. Regarded as a road-grading blocker, Clemmings could help anchor the Panthers' run-heavy offense and open up more holes for the RBs, which should help take some pressure of Cam Newton.
- Baltimore Ravens: Jalen Collins, CB - LSU
Collins has a nice combination of height, weight and speed which allows him to cover most types of wideouts. The Ravens badly need a CB, and while Collins recently underwent foot surgery, Baltimore takes him to fill one of their biggest needs.
- Dallas Cowboys: Eli Harold - DE/OLB - Virginia
Dallas' defense played surprisingly well in 2014, but the pass rush was still lacking. Harold is the best DE on the board, and he could be the missing piece that makes the Cowboys a Super-Bowl contender in 2015.
- Denver Broncos: Cameron Erving - OL - Florida State
The Broncos must shore up their offensive line, and Erving can play multiple spots along the offensive line. He can even kick inside to center and move Manny Ramirez back to his more natural guard spot.
- Indianapolis Colts: Marcus Peters - CB - Washington
Peters is arguably the best corner in this draft but character concerns cause him to fall towards the end of the first round. Ryan Grigson isn't afraid to take a gamble (see Trent Richardson), and Peters joins vontae Davis to from one of the AFC's best CB tandems.
- Green Bay Packers: Benardrick McKinney - MLB - Mississippi State
The Packers have struggled to find a true middle backer for their defense, and McKinney fills that void. After cutting AJ Hawk this offseason, Green Bay has yet to add another LB to replace the all-time franchise tackler. McKinney racked up 243 stops and 7.5 sacks in three years at MSU.
- New Orleans Saints (via Seattle): Maxx Williams - TE - Minnesota
The Saints desperately need a go-to pass-catcher after trading away Jimmy Graham, and Williams is the best one on the board. He's not much of a blocker, but Williams fits what New Orleans needs to try and make up for the loss of Graham, whose trade generated this pick.
- New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Missouri
The Patriots could cut still Danny Amendola this offseason. Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman are solid, but New England needs to add a more dynamic playmaker at WR, and Dorial Green-Beckham fits that bill. DGB brings a lot of baggage with him, but New England is one of the best teams for him to grow up with.
Amendola and LaFell has their moments during the Pats' Super Bowl run, but they need someone more consistent to pair with Edelman. DGB might not play much as a rookie after missing all of 2014 due to NCAA transfer rules, this is the best possible situation for him to mature and learn to be a professional.