NFLsFuture.com

Preseason 2015 NFL Mock Draft

Posted by Brad On May – 21 – 2014
Prev1 of 2Next
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse
"Marcus Mariota"

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Let me start this off by putting out a disclaimer – the order of this mock was determined by the post-draft Super Bowl odds and in no way reflects my personal feelings on how teams will finish the 2014 season. Now that that’s out of the way, we present the first 2015 NFL Mock Draft for our avid draft nuts. Enjoy, not a single pick will be right come next April/May…whenever they decide to have the draft.

1. Oakland Raiders – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Derek Carr was taken in the second but new regimes = new quarterbacks. If the Raiders finish with the first pick it will assuredly spell doom for Reggie McKenzie and this coaching staff. Mariota gives the Raiders a cornerstone piece at the quarterback position.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Vic Beasley, Edge Rusher, Clemson

The Jags got their building block quarterback in Blake Bortles, now they look for a face of the defense. Vic Beasley dominated opponents for much of the 2013 season. If he continues his early 2013 pace, he’ll slide into the top five and appears a perfect fit for Gus Bradley’s LEO role.

3. Tennessee Titans – Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

I jinxed Devin Gardner last year after hyping him hard post-Spring practice. Gardner didn’t pan out, so I hope I’m not doing the same with Cook. Watching him during two spring practices, he appears to be the real deal. Jake Locker’s days in Tennessee will be numbered if they finish this low.

4. Cleveland Browns (f/BUF) – Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

Ogbuehi has played guard, right tackle, and will transition to left tackle this season. Ray Farmer proved this draft season he will stick to his board and Ogbuehi will be one of the top five prospects in this draft. Joe Thomas is a fixture at LT but will be 30-years old and the Browns don’t appear sold on Mitchell Schwartz on the right side.

5. New York Jets – Randy Gregory, Edge Rusher, Nebraska

Quinton Coples had a very solid 2013 season but Calvin Pace is on his last legs. Gregory gives the Jets incredible athleticism off the edge to pair with Coples for a long time.

6. Washington Redskins – Leonard Williams, DE, USC

The Redskins need an impact DL and Williams fits that bill. Jason Hatcher was brought in this season to add some punch but he’s not a long-term solution. Opposite Hatcher will be Jarvis Jenkins, who has struggled with injuries, a suspension, and general inconsistencies.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

The Bucs didn’t deal Mike Glennon on draft weekend but I’m still not convinced they are sold on him as a long-term fix at the QB position. If they are not, Winston would be an intriguing option in the first round.

8. Minnesota Vikings – Landon Collins, S, Alabama

This pick could come down to the secondary. With what looks to be needs at corner and safety, expect the Vikings to pull the trigger on the better of the two prospects. Collins emerged last season as one of the top safety prospects in the country.

9. St. Louis Rams – Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

"Bryce Petty"

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Petty checks a lot of boxes but how much will the Baylor offense scare away teams? He’s 6-foot-3, 230 pounds with above-average athleticism and arm. It’s going to be tough to keep him out of the mix of top QB’s in this draft.

10. Miami Dolphins – Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

Jared Odrick will be a free agent and Randy Starks isn’t getting any younger. Starks contract is set to expire in 2016, so DT should be a priority in this draft. Bennett is a special athlete that should have another spectacular season in Columbus.

11. Detroit Lions – Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

The Lions shocked many by not taking a corner until the fourth round. Chris Houston’s status is way up in the air and this season will be a make or break for Darius Slay and Bill Bentley. Olomu possesses everything but elite size, which could be the reason he’ll make it down to 11.

12. Cleveland Browns – Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Amari Cooper had a down season last year compared to his spectacular freshman season. I’m not sold on him this high but we’ll see how this season plays out before passing judgment.

13. San Diego Chargers – Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

D.J. Fluker was a pleasant surprise in year one and King Dunlap didn’t play bad. That said, Scherff is an upgrade over Dunlap at LT and the Chargers would be ecstatic if he made it down to 13.

14. New York Giants – Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Peat could be a dream scenario for the Giants. In all honesty, if he declares this season, he’ll probably be a top 10 pick and never make it down this far. He’s huge with the feet to be a franchise LT in the league for a long while. At the end of the day, he may challenge Ogbuehi for the rights to the top tackle spot in the draft.

15. Houston Texans – Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

If the Texans finish at No. 15, it means they got pretty good QB from someone on their roster. Hundley has all the physical tools to be a good one but his inconsistencies in terms of accuracy and decision-making make him a stretch for the first round.

16. Dallas Cowboys – Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

Dallas took Demarcus Lawrence in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft but still needs another DE to pair with him. Calhoun had a breakout season in 2013 and should continue that surge into the 2014 campaign.


Continue reading our mock

Prev1 of 2Next
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse

Blog
  • Reggie

    If this did happen as a Lion fan I would like Ifo Ekpre Olumu…you are not doing rankings your self but if we picked 11th Caldwell would be in some heat. As a Spartan fan I would be happy/sad that so many left early but that would be a sign we are going to Elite status. Calhoun is a beast and will be a top 20 selection. Waynes and Cook have 1st Round ability so we shall see. I like both players a lot and even think Langford has top 4 Round ability at RB and Kurts Drummond as well in Round 2/3

    • bradc11

      I can’t see the Lions picking this early next year…good news for you Reg. I see them as a borderline playoff team. I’d have to think they’ll look for a top flight CB in 2015. So Ifo makes a ton of sense this early. I spent a day at MSU this spring…Cooks looks great and Drummond was a guy that I loved walking away. I didn’t spend a lot of time on either line, so I can’t give much on Calhoun and Langford wasn’t practicing the day I was there. Overall, they are going to be really strong and wouldn’t be surprised if they were on top when it’s all said and done in the Big 10. That said, my Buckeyes looked damn good…that defense is sorting things out and looked really fast.

      • Reggie

        MSU and Ohio State will be down to the wire…Ohio State might have the initial edge since it seems they are returning more. MSU lost a lot of Seniors and though their talent wasn’t as elite as the ones replacing them there is no substitution for experience. Guys like Allen, Bullough, Hoover, Lewis, and Dennard were winners who went through good and bad. I think the offense will be better but the defense will take a small step back. Drummond is the best safety Dantonio has had. I also love the intangibles of Connor Cook. Guy is calm and has the ability to keep eyes down field under pressure which is a very under rated ability.

        Go Lions!! Go Browns!!

  • Bex_r1986

    I’m very underwhelmed with a number of the “bigger names” already this year, and I think I’m getting slightly better these days as taking players as I see them. Of course there is a full season of potential improvement to be potentially had at this way too early stage but none-the less:

    Andrus Peat – Don’t rate him at all at this stage. Ends up on the ground way too much, not impressed with body control and balance. When faced with speed rushers he loses co-ordination badly, and technique goes out the window. At this stage he has size, but not much else. I’m reminded with Kouandjio at this point – high reputation, but doesn’t back it up, and unless he improves he’s a second round guy.

    Bryce Petty – Yes, plenty numbers, but I don’t think he has the intangibles and leadership qualities. The Stanford game last year is an example of where he worked himself up too much and lost his game big time, and it showed. Same again in that he has time to improve, but I only see a 3rd round guy at this stage.

    Brett Hundley – Reminds me of Tajh Boyd in some ways. I’m not buying his overall game and ability to decipher and exploit defences. Great athlete in college and big playmaker at this level but not sold that his game translates. Boyd was to a lot of people a consensus top 10 pick at this time last year who ended up in the 6th round. I don’t see quite that level of drop with Hundley, but I’m not sold on his all round game and IQ to give him more than a 2nd round grade at this point.

    Just some early thoughts of course, we all agree that these are early days! But still, I need some convincing on a lot of these top guys in the coming season…

    • bradc11

      Bex,

      I haven’t focused at all on any of the 2015 guys. Just now getting around to checking out a handful of these guys. I did head to 9 spring practices this year and will have a report up soon on some of my takes. I will say the times I watched Stanford, I liked what I saw from Peat. Opposite for Hundley…all the physical tools but his accuracy and decision making were abysmal at times. Again these are all my perspectives as a fan as I haven’t looked at these guys in detail. I do have some good stuff from my spring trips. It should be out in June at some point.

    • JudgeMaggie

      Bryce Petty doesn’t have the leadership or intangibles? Based upon the Stanford game? Really? The last time Baylor played Stanford was … NEVER. You’ve probably seen the guy play one game, and YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO HE PLAYED. Or worse, you’ve got him confused with someone who plays in the Pac-12. So I’m thinking that Brett Hundley isn’t sold on your IQ either, nimrod.

  • Bex_r1986

    Totally with you on Ty Montgomery and Josh Shaw though, especially Shaw. I thought he has a superb all round game, think he has some comparisons to Kyle Fuller in his all round game and versatility. With a good year I see him going high as well :)

  • Duncan

    If you have the Bills 1st round pick at 4 one of two things happened: EJ turned out to be a bust and the Bills are screwed for another two years until they get another shot at a QB, or EJ is injury prone and the Bills are screwed for another two years until they get another shot at a QB. Either way, the outcome is not in favor of the Bills long time prospects.

    I personally don’t think that EJ is the guy for Buffalo, (can’t fix accuracy unfortunately) but I’m PRAYING that he proves me wrong and becomes the franchise guy. Hopefully Watkins can help Manuel in his endeavor

  • Phi Nguyen

    You got to be kidding with Conner Cook.So far, no way he is a 1st rounder. 2-3 round is ideal.You should look at Oregon State QB Sean Mannion, he has a lot of potential.And if Bryce Petty is getting criticized due to his offense, then so should Marcus Mariota (not bashing them at all, they are sure 1st rounders, Mariota more).I hope Hundley will mature and improve. I would love for the Texans to get any of these Qbs(mostly Qb Marcus Mariota) .Though, Sean Mannion is would need to be traded back to get him, he’s a late 1st rounder (22-32)

  • michael lindsay

    This draft order is seriously screwed up Bengals drafting way later than 17 Who Dey!!!