2015 NFL MOCK DRAFT presented by NFL Draft Diamonds *UPDATED*
We like to do things a little different at NFL Draft Diamonds, but here is out first 2015 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14) – Jameis Winston – QB – Florida State University – This may shock some but I feel he is the best NFL ready quarterback in the NFL Draft. He might be a knucklehead but the Buccaneers need a gunslinger. Winston can do it all.
2. Tennessee (2-14) – Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska – The 22-year-old Cornhusker is just scratching the surface on his potential. Once he refines his game, he could be close to unstoppable.
3. Jacksonville (3-13) – Leonard Williams – DT – USC – Leonard Williams is a Florida kid that has a huge motor. The Jaguars love their front seven and adding Williams to the mix makes their team amazing up front for Gus Bradley.
4. Oakland (3-13) – Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama – The best wide receiver in the draft goes to the team that needs him the most. The Raiders finally find a player that can help the young Derek Carr out.
5. Washington (4-12) trade with Philly for 1st in 2015, 2nd in 2015 and 1st and 4th in 2016 – Eagles select Marcus Mariota – QB – Oregon – Chip Kelly loves him, so this move is easy. He was given the power and he will use his power, but it could end up biting him in the long run.
6. N.Y. Jets (4-12) – Dante Fowler – DE – Florida – Fowler has an explosive burst and strong hands and plays with fanatical effort. Fowler will be a steal for the Jets at 6.
7. Chicago (5-11) – Danny Shelton – DT – Washington – Guys who check in at 332 pounds should not be able to move as well as Shelton can. If he plugs in as a nose tackle he will be a steal for the Bears.
8. Atlanta (6-10) – Shane Ray – DE/LB – Missouri – Ray is a dynamic edge rusher, something the Falcons desperately need.
9. N.Y. Giants (6-10) –trade with the Cleveland Browns – Kevin White – WR – West Virginia – White is a very solid and complete wide out. I think he will have a huge season. Manziel needs targets and White added with Gordon is a huge steal.
10. St. Louis (6-10) – Vic Beasley – LB – Clemson – Beasley is coming off an 11 sack season and while the Rams do need a quarterback there is not one to take at this pick to really help them.
11. Minnesota (7-9) – DeVante Parker – WR – Louisville – Teddy Bridgewater will finally have a wide receiver he is comfortable. Parker and Bridgewater were teammates at Louisville and the two will have major success in the NFL.
12. Cleveland (7-9) – traded with New York Giants – Shaq Thompson – LB – Washington – Enter Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound talent with three-down potential, be it as a linebacker or safety. New York needs all the energy it can get on defense.
13. New Orleans (7-9) – La’el Collins – OT – LSU – The Saints stay with what they know. They need to land a solid lineman and the former LSU standout will come in and compete day one with Armstead at OT.
14. Miami (8-8) -Landon Collins – S – Alabama – While the Dolphins do need a linebacker Collins is a big play maker in the secondary. Not only can he cover, Collins flies downhill against the run.
15. San Francisco (8-8) – Brandon Scherff – OL – Iowa – The Niners are expected to lose Mike Iupati and the Iowa mauler might be best off at right tackle or guard, but he could provide help anywhere outside of center.
16. Houston (9-7) – Max Williams – TE – Minnesota – The Texans’ leading producer at tight end in 2014: Garrett Graham, at 18 catches for 197 yards. Williams could roll past those numbers by Week 3 if he’s utilized properly.
17 Kansas City (9-7) – Dorial Green Beckham – WR – Oklahoma – DGB is a very good wide out and Andy Reid is not afraid of a kid with a troubled past. This is a match made in heaven.
18. San Diego (9-7) – Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State – Last year the Chargers landed Jason Verrett and this year they find his counter part. Waynes has separated a bit from the CB class. He’s extremely aggressive vs. the pass and run, yet has the awareness to make plays on the ball without committing penalties.
19. Cleveland (from Buffalo 9-7) – Eddie Goldman – DT – Florida State – The Browns finished dead last against the run this season, putting the need for a sturdier front on their offseason wish list. Goldman will arrive in the NFL capable of upgrading almost any rush defense from Day 1.
20. Philadelphia (10-6) – traded to Washington Redskins – Bud Dupree – DE – Kentucky – Dupree should help lift the Redskins defense. He flies off the line, thereby setting up his moves back inside toward the pocket. The 24 career sacks he recorded were no fluke.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) – T.J. Clemmings – G – Pittsburgh – The Bengals are fortunate enough to be a team without many glaring holes. Clemmings would solve one of the few issues — offensive line depth
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) – Denzel Perryman – LB – Miami – Perryman will be this years biggest riser. The hard hitting linebacker will come in and help complete the Steelers front seven.
23. Detroit Lions (11-5) – Andrus Peat – OT – Stanford – Detroit could consider him at left tackle, with Riley Reiff moving to the right or a guard spot; at right tackle, where an injured LaAdrian Waddle left the Lions with colossal problems; or at guard.
24. Arizona Cardinals (11-5) – Bernardrick McKinney – LB – Mississippi State – McKinney has the size to bang inside with linemen and plenty of speed/athleticism to make plays in coverage.
25. Carolina Panthers – D.J. Humphries – OL – Florida – Humphries to me is one of the best offensive lineman in this draft. He is a steal at this pick for the Panthers. Some have him going as high as 14, and they need to protect Cam in Carolina.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Marcus Peters – CB – Washington – He is arguably the most skilled cornerback in the 2015 class; he also was kicked off Washington’s team midseason, reportedly on account of multiple dust-ups with his coaching staff.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Todd Gurley – RB – Georgia – DeMarco Murray is in a contract year and the Cowboys are limited on money. The team will Franchise DeMarco Murray and draft Gurley to be his replacement. This way they can lock up Dez Bryant to a long term deal.
28. Denver Broncos – Ereck Flowers – OT – Miami – The Broncos can use another offensive lineman to protect Peyton. Flowers is a Round 1 talent who could develop into a long-term starter on the line.
29. Indianapolis Colts – Melvin Gordon – RB – Wisconsin – The Colts need a running back badly and I feel Gordon is the best available back after Gurley was selected by the Cowboys.
30. Green Bay Packers – Eli Harold – DE/LB – Virginia – Harold lines up in both a two and three point stance on the edge for the Cavaliers. He is a very active player that grows on you the more you study him. As a pass rusher, he is at his best when he has a runway to generate power versus offensive tackles.
31. Seattle Seahawks – Devin Funchess – WR/TE – Michigan – The Seattle Seahawks lost Percy Harvin and never really replaced him and they also could use an upgrade at the tight end position. Funchess makes the Seahawks more versatile.
32. New England Patriots – Arik Armstead – DL – Oregon – The Patriots land a steal in Armstead at the 30th pick. Armstead is similar in size to Calais Campbell and is a better player out of college.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com