New York Jets
2015 NFL Draft Grades: AFC
One of the best sports weekends ever has come and went, and with it, the NFL Draft has been completed. The NFL Draft has become a spectacle in recent years, and while some fans may not know every player their favorite team selected, every fan has the same question after the draft ends. “How did my team do?” Well, here are my 2015 NFL Draft Grades for the AFC teams.
AFC EAST
New York Jets (A-)
Picks: DE Leonard Williams (6th), WR Devin Smith (37th), OLB Lorenzo Mauldin (82nd), QB Bryce Petty (103rd), OG Jarvis Harrison (152nd), NT Deon Simon (223rd)- The Jets hit a home run with their first pick in the draft when they selected Leonard Williams. Any time you get the best player in the draft outside of the top five, you basically can snooze for the next six rounds. While I would’ve rather seen the Jets take Jaelen Strong at the 37, they needed a guy that could stretch the field, and Devin Smith is that. Mauldin and Petty were good value picks (I had Brett Hundley over Petty), and you can’t forget that the Jets turned a fifth and seventh round pick in a horrifically weak draft class into Brandon Marshall and Zac Stacy. This was a great first draft for Mike Maccagnan.
New England Patriots (B-)
Picks: DT Malcom Brown (32nd), SS Jordan Richards (64th), DL Geneo Grissom (97th), DE Trey Flowers (101st), OG Tre Jackson (111th), OG/C Shaq Mason (131st), LS Joe Cardona (166th), LB Matthew Wells (178th), TE A.J Derby (202nd), CB Darryl Roberts (247th), LB Xzavier Dickson (253rd)- This draft was a tale of the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good was Malcom Brown. Belichick stole someone who many, including myself, was a top 20 player in this draft. Brown will be a force in the middle of the Pats defensive line. The bad were the Patriots later round picks. Now in New England’s defense, there was not a lot of back end talent in this draft. However, any time you take a long snapper, you’ve got some explaining to do. Many felt that Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason were good value, but I never felt either team would be a key contributor at the next level. Then there were the Patriots day two selections, aka the ugly. Jordan Richards and Geneo Grissom were extreme reach picks, and both will probably be special teams players. Overall, Malcom Brown and Trey Flowers keep this draft afloat, but it was average at best.
Buffalo Bills (F)
Picks: CB Ronald Darby (50th), OG John Miller (81st), RB Karlos Williams (155th), LB Tony Steward (188th), TE Nick O’Leary (194th), WR Dezmin Lewis (234th)- The Bills easily had the worst draft in the AFC. Ronald Darby is a good player, and he will be a solid addition to the Bills secondary. Outside of that, the Bills did not address a need, nor did they take anyone that was a good value pick. Not a good first draft for Rex Ryan and company. However, there’s no reason to panic in Buffalo. Rex is great at maximizing talent, and his teams are typically not built through the draft anyway.
Miami Dolphins (A-)
Picks: WR DeVante Parker (14th), DT/NT Jordan Phillips (52nd), OL Jamil Douglas (114th), CB Bobby McCain (145th), RB Jay Ajayi (149th), S Cedric Thompson (150th), CB/WR Tony Lippett (156th)- The Dolphins had a great draft. They got a wide receiver with true number one potential in Parker. They nabbed one of my favorite players in the in Jordan Phillips, who will bolster their defensive line even further. Phillips will help gap the run and free up Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake. Jay Ajayi in the fourth round was incredible value. He will help take pressure off Lamar Miller, and, in my opinion, replace him one day. The final piece was Tony Lippett, who is a terrific football player. He may not be great at one particular thing, but he will contribute from day one.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens (A-)
Picks: WR Breshad Perriman (26th), TE Maxx Williams (55th), NT Carl Davis (90th), OLB Za’Darius Smith (122nd), RB Buck Allen (125th), CB Tray Walker (136th), TE Nick Boyle (171st), OL Robert Myers (176th), WR Darren Waller (204th)- Ozzie Newsome addressed offense early in the draft, a rarity in the Ozzie Newsome regime. Perriman has a lot of upside, but he’s raw. Just like the Jets earlier, I think Jaelen Strong should’ve been the pick. However, just like Devin Smith, I had Perriman with a top 40 grade, so I don’t mind the selection. Maxx Williams makes a lot of sense as well. While I would’ve rather seen the Ravens go with an impact defensive player, Williams can help the Ravens offense from day one. Of course, in classic Ozzie Newsome fashion, he got his impact defensive player in round three. Carl Davis was an absolute steal. Buck Allen was an underrated pick as well. He will be an impact player on third down. Overall, Ozzie Newsome got a lot of weapons for Joe Flacco in this draft, and helped sure up the middle of the Ravens defense.
Cincinnati Bengals (A-)
Picks: OT Cedric Ogbuehi (21st), OT/OG Jake Fisher (53rd), TE Tyler Kroft (85th), LB Paul Dawson (99th), CB/S Josh Shaw (120th), DE Marcus Hardison (153rd), TE C.J Uzomah (157th), FS Derron Smith (197th), WR Mario Alford (238th)- The Bengals had a great draft, because they preemptively addressed their needs for next year. Ogbuehi and Fisher are great insurance for Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, both of whom are expiring contracts and neither of whom appear to be high on the Bengals priority list. Ogbuehi can sit the year and fully recover from his injury. Fisher can move to guard for the time being and replace Clint Boling. Tyler Kroft is a good blocking tight end, and while he may have been a reach, the Bengals needed a blocking tight end after losing Jermaine Gresham. Paul Dawson can play anywhere on the Bengals linebacking core, and Derron Smith or Josh Shaw is bound to be productive enough to replace Reggie Nelson. This was a great draft for Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh Steelers (C+)
Picks: OLB Bud Dupree (22nd), CB Senquez Golson (56th), WR Sammie Coates (87th), CB Doran Grant (121st), TE Jesse James (160th), DT Leterrius Walton (199th), DE Anthony Chickillo (212th), FS Gerod Holliman (239th)- This is a polarizing draft for me. On the one hand, they nabbed Bud Dupree about ten picks later than he should’ve gone. On the other hand, every single other pick was either a reach or a risk. Golson is undersized, and there were plenty of other corners I would’ve rather have seen them selected. Sammie Coates has a bad case of the drops and I’m not sure it’ll be corrected during his NFL career. Last but certainly not least, Doran Grant wasn’t worth drafting. The Steelers got good value in Dupree and Gerod Holliman, but other than that the draft was below average.
Cleveland Browns (B)
Picks: NT Danny Shelton (12th), C/OG Cameron Erving (19th), OLB Nate Orchard (51st), RB Duke Johnson (77th), DE/DT Xavier Cooper (96th), S Ibraheim Campbell (115th), WR Vince Mayle (123rd), CB Charles Gaines (189th), TE Malcolm Johnson (195th), TE Randall Telfer (198th), ILB Hayes Pullard (219th), CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (241st)- The Browns drafted a ton of players that I really like, yet I’m not a huge fan of this draft. Shelton is a big body to put in the middle of an improving defense, but I would’ve rather have seen them take the versatility of Eddie Goldman or Jordan Phillips. Cameron Erving is best suited at center, but unless Alex Mack opts out of his contract after this season, Erving will be playing guard for the Browns, and I’m not a huge fan of him there. Nate Orchard was better served as a 4-3 defensive end, Duke Johnson was unnecessary because of Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, and Xavier Cooper will have to convert to a 3-4 defensive end. Having said all of that, I can’t get on the Browns too much, because they took a lot of talent in this draft, and addressed needs in the process (minus wide receiver).
AFC South
Tennessee Titans (B)
Picks: QB Marcus Mariota (2nd), WR Dorial Green-Beckham (40th), OL Jeremiah Poutasi (66th), DE/DT Angelo Blackson (100th), FB Jalston Fowler (108th), RB David Cobb (138th), LB Delontrez Mount (177th), C Andy Galilk (208th), WR Tre McBride (245th)- The Titans made the difficult, yet correct decision in taking Marcus Mariota. I believe he can be a franchise quarterback, and Ken Whisenhunt should be able to work with him to get the best out of him. DGB is a great risk/reward pick because he can learn to grow on a team that is still a few years away. Also, I fully expect David Cobb to compete for the majority of touches in the Titans backfield as early as next season. Outside of those three, there wasn’t much value. Yet, the Titans did what they had to do.
Jacksonville Jaguars (A-)
Picks: DE Dante Fowler (3rd), RB T.J Yeldon (36th), OG A.J Cann (67th), S James Sample (104th), WR Rashad Greene (139th), DT Michael Bennett (180th), WR Neal Sterling (220th), TE Ben Koyack (229th)- The Jags draft would’ve been the best of all the 32 teams if it weren’t for unnecessarily reaching on T.J Yeldon, who I full on expect to be a waste of a pick. Fowler, Cann, Sample, Greene and Bennett can all contribute from day one, and Greene and Bennett were absolute steals. The Jags are on the rise.
Houston Texans (C)
Picks: CB Kevin Johnson (16th), ILB Benardrick McKinney (43rd), WR Jaelen Strong (70th), WR Keith Mumphery (175th), LB Reshard Cliett (211th), DT Christian Covington (216th), RB Kenny Hilliard (235th)- The Texans draft didn’t start off great. I felt Kevin Johnson was a major reach, even though they needed a corner. Benardrick McKinney is just very overrated, and I’ve made my opinions on him well known. However, their draft took a turn when they grabbed Jaelen Strong in round three. I think Strong might just be their number one receiver by the end of this year. Unfortunately, there were no day three value picks at all. Overall, the draft was sub par, despite addressing needs. Despite that, draft Strong late in your fantasy football leagues this year, especially in keeper leagues.
Indianapolis Colts (C-)
Picks: Phillip Dorsett (29th), CB D’Joun Smith (65th), DE Henry Anderson (95th), S Clayton Geathers (109th), NT David Parry (151st), RB Josh Robinson (205th), LB Amarlo Herrera (207th), OL Denzell Goode (255th)- I was baffled when the Colts selected Phillip Dorsett with their first pick. Dorsett is a good player, but he won’t play much his first year and wide receiver wasn’t a need. The first pick needed to be an impact defensive player. I like Smith and Anderson in the second and third rounds. Both are needs on defense, and both have a lot of upside. However, there was no late round value picks and they missed on their first selection.
AFC West
Denver Broncos (C-)
Picks: DE Shane Ray (23rd), OG Ty Sambrailo (59th), TE Jeff Heuerman (92nd), C Max Garcia (133rd), CB Lorenzo Doss (164th), DT Darius Kilgo (203rd), QB Trevor Siemian (250th), CB Taurean Nixon (251st), S Josh Furman (252nd): Shane Ray was a good value pick if you talked to most, however I had him as a second round grade. I like the fit because he can learn from Demarcus Ware and Von Miller, but I still say Ray shouldn’t have been a first round pick. Now, Sambrailo was a good selection because he adds versatility to the Broncos offensive line. Other than that though, this was a very weak draft. There’s no value in the picks in the later rounds, and just not enough contributors to their team for the upcoming season.
Oakland Raiders (B)
Picks: WR Amari Cooper (4th) DE/DT Mario Edwards Jr. (35th) TE Clive Walford (68th) OG Jon Feliciano (128th) LB Ben Heeney (140th) LB Neiron Ball (161st) LB Max Valles (179th) OL Anthony Morris (218th) WR Andre Debose (221st) CB Dexter McDonald (242nd): Mike and I said throughout the whole draft process that scouts would make their money in the second, third and fourth round. The Raiders had a very solid draft in the first four rounds. I’ll move past the Amari Cooper selection because it’s self-explanatory. Mario Edwards isn’t a 4-3 fit as a defensive end, so he’ll probably move inside as a defensive tackle. I’m not opposed to that, but I felt there were a number of better players on the board for the Raiders to take. Clive Walford will provide a good safety blanket for Derek Carr on third down, assuming Walford can keep his head on straight. Lastly, Feliciano has good upside and could become a starting guard. It wasn’t a particularly “sexy,” draft, but the Raiders drafted players of need and a true number one wide receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs (B+)
Picks: CB Marcus Peters (18th), C Mitch Morse (49th), WR Chris Conley (76th), CB Steven “Mighty Mouse” Nelson (98th), ILB Ramik Wilson (118th), LB D.J Alexander (172nd), TE James O’Shaughnessy (173rd), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (217th), WR Da’Ron Brown (233rd): I was surprised the Chiefs didn’t address offensive tackle in this draft, but other than that this was another solid draft from Andy Reid and company. Peters has a ton of upside, and Reid has done well with guys with character issues in the past. Morse and Conley both elevated their stocks during the NFL Combine, and both have very good upside themselves. I loved the selections of Nelson and Wilson. Nelson should develop into a very solid nickel corner and Ramik Wilson could become their second ILB in the Chiefs 3-4 set. This was a really good draft for Kansas City.
San Diego Chargers (B-)
Picks: RB Melvin Gordon (15th), ILB Denzel Perryman (48th), CB Craig Mager (83rd), OLB Kyle Emanuel (153rd), DE/DT Darius Philon (192nd): The Chargers went into this draft with the intention of getting a number one running back, and they did that with Melvin Gordon. Even though I think it was a little too high for Gordon, after Gurley went tenth, can you really blame San Diego for being cautious and trading up? Perryman was a solid choice because his biggest asset is stopping the run, and the Chargers needed help in the middle of their defense. The Chargers draft will hinge upon Craig Mager. He’s raw, but his upside is immense. If they get a productive corner out of Mager, and Perryman pans out, this could prove to be a very good draft. For now, it’s an average one with potential.
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 4.0- Final Mock Draft (3 Rounds)
The NFL Draft is upon us, which means it’s time for one final mock draft from yours truly. Unlike most mock draft analysts, I’m not going to overreact to things teams are reporting to try to “be right.” This mock draft is more about my opinion of what teams should do based on the way the draft fell in front of them. It’s also based on team needs as well as my own evaluation of player.
To sum up, this is not your average mock draft around this time of year. I am giving you the selections and trades I would make if I were running the draft for all 32 teams. Also, I provided a little less analysis in this mock draft, because most of my analysis of players is well documented by now.
Round One
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State- Eat. Sleep. Draft Jameis Winston. Repeat.
2) Tennessee Titans- Leonard Williams, DT Southern California- I don’t think the Titans will get anyone to trade with them, because I don’t think they genuinely want Marcus Mariota. Teams can dare Tennessee to take Mariota, rather than “giving the farm,” to move up.
3) New York Jets via Jacksonville Jaguars- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon- Tennessee not trading down puts Jacksonville in a perfect position to do so. In terms of the Jets moving up, I still believe the Jets will win the Mariota sweepstakes.
4) Oakland Raiders- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama- After four months of evaluations, Cooper over Kevin White is my final answer.
5) Cleveland Browns via Washington Redskins- Kevin White, WR West Virginia- Washington wants to trade down, and Cleveland needs a number one wide receiver. This seems like a perfect match.
6) Jacksonville Jaguars via New York Jets- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida- Where does Jacksonville sign for this draft outcome? The Jags manage to land Fowler, despite trading down.
7) New Orleans Saints via Chicago Bears- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson- I think this is an out of the box trade that could happen on Thursday. New Orleans has an extra first rounder, so they can afford to give a couple of later picks to move up and get an impact defensive player.
8) Atlanta Falcons- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB Kentucky- Bud Dupree is a great fit, but I would imagine it would be difficult for Thomas Dimitroff and company to watch their NFC South rival trade up past them and take Beasley.
9) New York Giants- Brandon Scherff, OG Iowa- The Giants drafting a first round offensive lineman with versatility and high character? Oh, unknowable universe.
10) St. Louis Rams- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville- The Rams desperately need a top tier wide receiver for newly acquired quarterback Nick Foles.
11) Minnesota Vikings- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State- The Vikings could go a number of different directions on draft day, but based on the way this draft played out (Scherff and Parker off the board), Waynes seems like the obvious pick.
12) Washington Redskins via Cleveland Browns- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia- The Redskins could have gone edge rusher at the five, but I think they recognize the need to get more picks in the early portions of this draft.
13) Chicago Bears via New Orleans Saints- Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma- This is great value for the Bears. They trade down, grab an extra pick, and get an impactful nose tackle.
14) Miami Dolphins- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington- This may be a bit of a luxury pick, but it’s a perfect fit. Thompson’s coverage ability will take pressure off the rest of the linebacking core.
15) San Francisco 49ers- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA- The 49ers have a lot of needs, but after losing Pat Willis and Chris Borland, inside linebacker is a must early in this draft.
16) Houston Texans- Marcus Peters, CB Washington- Jonathan Joseph is looking more and more like a cap casualty cut next year, which means the Texans need his replacement now.
17) San Diego Chargers- Danny Shelton, NT Washington- The Chargers need a nose tackle above everything else. With Shelton on the board, I suspect they’ll race to the podium in this scenario.
18) Kansas City Chiefs- T.J. Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh- Eric Fisher doesn’t have the support of management in Kansas City, which means they could draft the best tackle on the board at the 18. In this scenario, that’s Clemmings.
19) Washington Redskins via Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills- Stephone Anthony, ILB Clemson- Stephone Anthony is one of my favorite players in the draft. He’s a well-rounded inside linebacker, something the Redskins definitely need. Anthony will improve the middle of the Redskins front seven.
20) Philadelphia Eagles- Landon Collins, SS Alabama- The Eagles need any kind of secondary help they can get.
21) Cincinnati Bengals- Eddie Goldman, DT/NT Florida State- Domata Peko struggled last season. Adding an impact player next to Geno Atkins could make this the best front four in the league.
22) Pittsburgh Steelers- Byron Jones, CB Connecticut- The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t selected a first round cornerback since 1997. It’s time to change that.
23) Detroit Lions- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA- With this pick, the Lions would have Odighizuwa opposite Ziggy Ansah and next to Haloti Ngata. That’s one heck of a front four.
24) Arizona Cardinals- Malcom Brown, NT Texas- Malcom Brown has the versatility to play a 3-4 defensive end and a 3-4 nose tackle. His ability to play multiple techniques in different schemes will make him an attractive pick on draft day.
25) Carolina Panthers- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford- I think many are overthinking this pick for the Panthers. Yes, they signed Michael Oher. However, they still need a left tackle.
26) Baltimore Ravens- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State- Despite Joe Flacco’s reported trust in his receivers, I doubt a great football mind like Ozzie Newsome is going to feel the same way.
27) Dallas Cowboys- Todd Gurley, RB Georgia- Even though I have a sneaky suspicion Gurley goes higher than this, I can’t put a running back higher than the 20th overall in the modern NFL.
28) Oakland Raiders via Denver Broncos- Preston Smith, DE Mississippi State- Preston Smith has great versatility, something Oakland has lacked in their front four for a long time.
29) Indianapolis Colts- Carl Davis, NT Iowa- By virtue of a glaring need I have Carl Davis here. I personally have Davis at a second round grade, but he has a lot of upside.
30) Green Bay Packers- Arik Armstead, DE Oregon- Armstead is arguably the biggest risk/reward pick in the draft. Green Bay can afford to take the risk.
31) New Orleans Saints via Seattle Seahawks- Jake Fisher, OT/OG Oregon– After losing Ben Grubbs, guard is a must in this draft for the Saints. While I think Fisher is a fine tackle, he could be a terrific left guard in the Saints offense.
32) Minnesota Vikings via New England Patriots- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma- New England may shock people on draft day and try to move up, but the one thing I think is certain is that they don’t select at the 32nd overall.
In terms of the trade from the Vikings perspective, I don’t think Mike Zimmer will fear DGB’s character issues. He’s a no nonsense coach, and sometimes that’s exactly what a guy with “character issues,” needs.
Trades
– New York Jets trade the #6 and the #37 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #3
– Cleveland Browns trade the #12 and the #19 to the Washington Redskins for the #5 and the #69
– New Orleans Saints trade the #13 and the #44 to the Chicago Bears for the #7
– Oakland Raiders trade the #35 and the #99 to the Denver Broncos for the #28.
– Minnesota Vikings trade the #45 and the #76 to the New England Patriots for the #32 and the #131
Round Two
33) Tennessee Titans- D.J Humphries, OT Florida
34) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Nate Orchard, DE Utah
35) Denver Broncos via Oakland Raiders- Ty Sambrailo, OG Colorado State
36) Jacksonville Jaguars- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M
37) Jacksonville Jaguars via New York Jets- Duke Johnson, RB Miami Florida
38) Washington Redskins- Ali Marpet, OG Hobart
39) Chicago Bears- Nelson Agholor, WR Southern California
40) New York Giants- Cameron Erving, C Florida State
41) St. Louis Rams- La’El Collins, OT/OG LSU
42) Atlanta Falcons- Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
43) Cleveland Browns- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
44) Chicago Bears via New Orleans Saints- Ereck Flowers, OT Miami Florida
45) New England Patriots via Minnesota Vikings- Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest
46) San Francisco 49ers- Ronald Darby, CB Florida State
47) Miami Dolphins- Quentin Rollins, CB Miami (Ohio)
48) San Diego Chargers- Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana
49) Kansas City Chiefs- Rashad Greene, WR Florida State
50) Buffalo Bills- Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State
51) New England Patriots via Houston Texans- Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke
52) Philadelphia Eagles- Breshad Perriman, WR UCF
53) Carolina Panthers via Cincinnati Bengals- Devin Smith, WR Ohio State
54) Detroit Lions- Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State
55) Arizona Cardinals- Danielle Hunter, OLB LSU
56) Pittsburgh Steelers- Randy Gregory, OLB Nebraska
57) Cincinnati Bengals via Carolina Panthers- A.J Cann, OG South Carolina
58) Baltimore Ravens- Mario Edwards Jr., DE Florida State
59) Denver Broncos- Xavier Cooper, DT Washington State
60) Jacksonville Jaguars via Dallas Cowboys- Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami Florida
61) Indianapolis Colts- Damarious Randall, FS Arizona State
62) New York Giants via Green Bay Packers- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State
63) Seattle Seahawks- Michael Bennett, DT Ohio State
64) Houston Texans via New England Patriots- Cody Prewitt, FS Ole Miss
Trades in Round Two
– New England Patriots trade the #64 and the #96 to the Houston Texans for the #51
– Carolina Panthers trade the #57 and a 2016 5th round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the #53.
– Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #67, #139 and a 2016 7th round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the #60.
– New York Giants trade the #74 and the #108 to the Green Bay Packers for the #62 and the #166
Round Three
65) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Anthony Harris, SS Virginia
66) Tennessee Titans- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri
67) Dallas Cowboys via Jacksonville Jaguars- Gabe Wright, DT/NT Auburn
68) Oakland Raiders- David Cobb, RB Minnesota
69) Cleveland Browns via Washington Redskins- Grady Jarrett, DT/NT Clemson
70) New York Jets- Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State
71) Chicago Bears- Gerod Holliman, FS Louisville
72) St. Louis Rams- Rob Havenstein, OT Wisconsin
73) Atlanta Falcons- Clive Walford, TE Miami Florida
74) Green Bay Packers via New York Giants- Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington
75) New Orleans Saints- Garrett Grayson, QB Colorado State
76) New England Patriots via Minnesota Vikings- Justin Hardy, WR East Carolina
77) Cleveland Browns- Donovan Smith, OG Penn State
78) New Orleans Saints via Miami Dolphins- Josh Harper, WR Fresno State
79) San Francisco 49ers- Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB Lousiville
80) Kansas City Chiefs- Hroniss Grassu, C Oregon
81) Buffalo Bills- Brett Hundley, QB UCLA
82) Houston Texans- Paul Dawson, ILB TCU
83) San Diego Chargers- Trey Flowers, DE/OLB Arkansas
84) Philadelphia Eagles- Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon
85) Cincinnati Bengals- Jake Ryan, OLB Michigan
86) Arizona Cardinals- David Johnson, RB Northern Iowa
87) Pittsburgh Steelers- Jaquiski Tartt, SS Samford
88) Detroit Lions- Kevin White, CB TCU
89) Carolina Panthers- Za’Darius Smith, DE Kentucky
90) Baltimore Ravens- Steven Nelson, CB Oregon State
91) Dallas Cowboys- Chris Hackett, S TCU
92) Denver Broncos- Eric Rowe, CB/S Utah
93) Indianapolis Colts- Charles Gaines, CB Louisville
94) Green Bay Packers- Kwon Alexander, ILB LSU
95) Seattle Seahawks- Tre Jackson, OG Florida State
96) Houston Texans via New England Patriots- B.J Finney, C Kansas State
97) New England Patriots (compensatory)- Denzel Perryman, ILB Miami Florida
98) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory)- Henry Anderson, DE Stanford
99) Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory)- Devin Funchess, WR/TE Michigan
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 2.0
After a very eventful combine, it’s time for Mock Draft 2.0. Some things have changed since my first mock draft, including my individual grades on players and where I have certain players going.
Another thing that will be different in this mock draft is that I’ve predicted a couple of first round trades. Unlike some other mock drafts, Mike and I believe in putting trades in our mocks. It not only depicts who we think could trade up or trade down, but it’s more realistic, since there are always trades throughout the draft. It’s hard to predict past round one, but in that first round, we like to put trades in.
Now not every team that could trade down did, and my trades may differ from one mock draft to another. The trades in this mock draft, and future mock drafts, are based on team needs and what happened up until that team’s pick. So if your favorite team is trading up or trading down, it doesn’t mean that they are leaning that way necessarily. It means that I believe there is a trade that benefits them based on the way my mock draft happened.
One thing remained the same though. Shane Ray and Randy Gregory are still not in my first round.
Round 1
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State- This pick probably won’t change… ever.
2) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Leonard Williams, DT Southern California- Tennessee is going to tempt any team that wants Marcus Mariota to move up here, particularly the New York Jets. If they don’t get a team to move up, then this is Leonard Williams for two reasons. One, he’s the best player in the draft. More importantly, I don’t see the Titans moving on from Zach Mettenberger that quickly.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson- Vic Beasley went absolutely bananas at this year’s NFL Combine. Normally I don’t weigh the combine that heavily, but when a player bulks up and still runs incredibly fast times, showing that even at his new weight he can be as fast as he was on his college game tape, he has to get recognition.
I said on Twitter that after his combine, Vic Beasley became my top edge rusher in the draft. While he’s not a 4-3 defensive end, he can be a LEO linebacker like Von Miller, or a strong side edge-rushing linebacker like Anthony Barr.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Kevin White, WR West Virginia- I wrote in my great debate article that if Kevin White ran a great 40-yard dash, based on his tape and his upside he would overtake Amari Cooper as this year’s top wide receiver. Well, 4.35 seconds later, and Cooper’s time is up. White’s time is now.
5) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia- Harold was another member of the edge rushing class that tested off the charts in Indianapolis. Since Vic Beasley moved up, and Dante Fowler is best served as a 4-3 defensive end, Eli Harold jumps all the way to number five for me.
6) New York Jets (4-12)- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon- I personally believe that the Jets will draft Marcus Mariota on draft day. Whether that’s by trading up, or Mariota falling to them at the sixth overall selection, I believe Mariota will be the Jets starting quarterback in 2015.
7) Cleveland Browns from Chicago Bears (5-11)- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama- Here’s the first trade of this mock draft. I think that Chicago is in a luxury position here. They could use a number of different things, and by Cooper being here, they could use that to their advantage and tempt a team that needs a wide receiver to move up.
Enter the Cleveland Browns. They need a number one target with the Josh Gordon suspension looming and the increased likelihood of Jordan Cameron not returning. They also have a first round draft pick to “play with,” because of the Sammy Watkins trade in last year’s draft. Cleveland moves up to take their top tier wide receiver, and the Bears get a few more picks.
8) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida- The most NFL ready pass rusher “falls,” to the Falcons because of the rise of Beasley and Harold. I doubt Falcons fans will be complaining.
9) New York Giants (6-10)- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA- Here’s another player on the rise. Digi is probably my favorite player in the draft because of his upside, and because I have had him pegged as a top tier player in this draft for a while.
The Giants need linebackers, but we all know they won’t go there. They do need offensive line as well. However, they also need a defensive end, as either a replacement for Jason Pierre-Paul or along side him.
Digi does it all, and his combine will have his stock rising.
10) St. Louis Rams (6-10)- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville- While I wish the Vikings could land Parker to have the Louisville connection between him and Teddy Bridgewater, this pick makes too much sense for the Rams. They need a number one target and Parker is that guy.
11) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- T.J Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh- I still believe Clemmings is a right tackle immediately, but after further studying him on tape, I think he can one day become a big time left tackle. Fortunately for Minnesota, they need a big time right tackle, and Clemmings is already that.
12) Chicago Bears from Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma- Here’s why I felt that Chicago would move down. If they want to address defensive tackle, defensive backs, or even interior offensive line, they can afford to move back and do so. That makes them a good trade partner for another team.
Phillips would be a terrific fit in John Fox’s defense as a zero technique 4-3 defensive tackle, much like Kris Jenkins from Fox’s Carolina Panthers defense in the early 2000’s.
13) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Danny Shelton, NT Washington- Shelton ran a slow 40-time, but that doesn’t bother me. He eats blockers and stops the run as well as any defensive tackle in this draft. Rob Ryan and company will love having him in the middle of their defense.
14) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Eddie Goldman, DT Florida State- This pick stays as is. Goldman and Miami are still a perfect match.
15) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State- Jaelen Strong had a great 40-time and vertical leap at the combine, furthering my opinion that he’s easily the number four wide out in this draft class.
16) Houston Texans (9-7)- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State- Waynes may wind up going higher than this on draft day, but I still don’t believe that there is a top 15 corner, talent wise, in this draft.
17) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Brandon Scherff, OG Iowa- While I have Scherff as my best offensive lineman in the draft, Clemmings upside and his ability to play tackle puts him higher on my list than a guard.
Having said that, Scherff still deserves to go top 20, just like Zack Martin did last year, and the Chargers could use interior lineman.
18) Arizona Cardinals from Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, OLB Kentucky- Trade number two. Kansas City is another team in a luxury situation. There are a number of teams that need an edge rusher below them, and Bud Dupree showed his freakish athleticism at the combine, to go along with an impressive college tape. I think they can get one of Pittsburgh, Detroit or Arizona to move up a couple of spots for a big time edge rusher.
19) Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills (9-7)- Malcom Brown, DT/NT Texas- The Browns grabbed their wide out, they now need a nose tackle. I like Malcom Brown a lot. He’s a great pass rusher from the interior, and I think he can eat blockers as a nose tackle as well.
20) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Landon Collins, SS Alabama- Collins is a hard hitting, in the box safety. Like I said in my first mock draft, that makes him actually fall a bit in the draft.
However, there is no way he makes it past a team desperate for a safety.
21) Cincinnati Bengals* (10-5-1)- Nate Orchard, DE Utah- Orchard fell a bit for me because of his 40-time. It wasn’t bad, it just locked him in to a 4-3 defensive end.
The Bengals need an edge rusher opposite Carlos Dunlap, and Nate Orchard’s tape still speaks volumes for him, in my opinion. I think this is a very good fit.
22) Pittsburgh Steelers* (11-5)- Marcus Peters, CB Washington- This is probably my least confident pick in this mock draft. It’s not because the Steelers don’t need a cornerback, they absolutely do. It’s because of the player.
Yes, Peters has the talent to go even higher than this, but he has a lot of off-the-field issues. I don’t doubt that Mike Tomlin will draft Peters, despite his character issues. I doubt that the Steelers organization will be on board.
Nevertheless, the Steelers need a corner and this is a good scheme fit.
23) Detroit Lions* (11-5)- Preston Smith, DE Mississippi State- I remember when Mike first watched Preston Smith and immediately told me how much I would like him. Low and behold, he was right.
Smith is a good athlete for a 4-3 defensive end, but his strength is in his technique. He has a bevy of pass rushing moves and a motor that doesn’t turn off during games. Preston Smith and Ziggy Ansah will reek havoc in the post Ndamukong Suh era in Detroit.
24) Kansas City Chiefs from Arizona Cardinals * (11-5)- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma- Despite trading down, the Chiefs still get their game changing wide receiver. Make no mistake about it, despite his character issues, DGB is a game changing wide out. There weren’t teams behind them that were going to take a wide out. This is why I felt they could move down in the first place.
25) Carolina Panthers* (7-8-1)- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford- Peat basically swapped spots with T.J Clemmings from my last mock draft. After further evaluation, I think Clemmings has more upside.
That doesn’t mean that Peat won’t be a good tackle at the next level, and if there’s a team that can use his one-on-one blocking well, it’s the Panthers.
26) Baltimore Ravens* (10-6)- Arik Armstead, DE Oregon- This pick might as well be labeled “The Ozzie Newsome Special.” The Ravens draft a guy with top ten potential that falls in the draft because of his lack of college production statistically.
27) Dallas Cowboys* (12-4)- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington- Thompson is like Vontae Mack from the movie “Draft Day.” If he doesn’t go to the Giants at nine, he’s going to fall hard, just like Mack said if the Browns didn’t take him at seven, he was projected to fall.
Once again, that doesn’t mean that my personal evaluation of Thompson changes. I still think he’s a game changing cover linebacker, and I think he would thrive in Dallas.
28) St. Louis Rams via Denver Broncos* (12-4)- Brett Hundley, QB UCLA- Final trade of round one here. I think one team will move back into the first round for one of Brett Hundley, Garrett Grayson or Bryce Petty. Denver could use to trade out of round one, because I believe they have a few more needs than people may realize.
I think the Rams do want to take a quarterback in the first two rounds, even though they may seem loyal to Sam Bradford. Jeff Fisher has succeeded with mobile quarterbacks in the past, and maybe he’ll find that success with Brett Hundley down the road.
For right now, Hundley’s inability to go to a second read and inconsistent accuracy make him just like every other quarterback in this draft not named Winston or Mariota: a project.
29) Indianapolis Colts* (11-5)- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA- Just like the last mock draft, the Colts still take a game changing linebacker in Eric Kendricks.
30) Green Bay Packers* (12-4)- Stephone Anthony, ILB Clemson- Stephone Anthony has elevated to a top ten player on my personal board. The reason why he’s here and not higher is because of the teams that are drafting linebackers above, and how they fit schematically. Thompson is a cover linebacker, a good fit for Dallas. Kendricks is an all-around linebacker, something Indy desperately needs. Anthony is more of a 3-4 thumper, if you will. His ability to play the run will be welcomed in Green Bay.
31) Seattle Seahawks* (12-4)- Nelson Agholor, WR Southern California- Agholor is a playmaking wide receiver. He is a terrific route runner and high points the ball very well. He will be a great target for Russell Wilson.
32) New England Patriots* (12-4)- Ty Sambrailo, OT/OG Colorado State- Ty Sambrailo has really good footwork, and with his athletic ability to pull, I think he could be a terrific guard at the next level. That means he has versatility as an offensive lineman (listed as a tackle on some board), which makes him a prototypical New England Patriot.
TRADES:
1) Cleveland Browns trade the #12, #76 and a 2016 3rd to the Chicago Bears for the #7 and a 2016 5th.
2) Arizona Cardinals trade the #24, #86 and a 2016 5th to the Kansas City Chiefs for the #18.
3) Cleveland From Buffalo: Sammy Watkins Trade
4) St. Louis Rams trade the #41, #72 and the #202 to the Denver Broncos for the #28, #124 and the #156
Round 2
33) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Devin Smith, WR Ohio State
34) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jake Fisher, OT Oregon
35) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Randy Gregory, DE Nebraska
36) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Rashad Greene, WR Florida State
37) New York Jets (4-12)- Breshad Perriman, WR UCF
38) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Carl Davis, DT/NT Iowa
39) Chicago Bears (5-11)- D.J Humphries, OT Florida
40) New York Giants (6-10)- La’el Collins, OT LSU
41) Denver Broncos via St. Louis Rams (6-10)- Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke
42) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
43) Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
44) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri
45) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami
46) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Quinten Rollins, CB Miami (OH)
47) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Ronald Darby, CB Florida State
48) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- A.J Cann, OG South Carolina
49) Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Mario Edwards Jr., DE Florida State
50) Buffalo Bills (9-7)- Garrett Grayson, QB Colorado State
51) Houston Texans (9-7)- Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington
52) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest
53) Cincinnati Bengals* (10-5-1)- Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State
54) Detroit Lions* (11-5)- Duke Johnson, RB Miami
55) Arizona Cardinals* (11-5)- Clive Walford, TE Miami
56) Pittsburgh Steelers* (11-5)- Danielle Hunter, OLB LSU
57) Carolina Panthers* (7-8-1)- Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State
58) Baltimore Ravens* (10-6)- Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
59) Denver Broncos* (12-4)- Hroniss Grassu, C Oregon
60) Dallas Cowboys* (12-4)- Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana
61) Indianapolis Colts* (11-5)- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State
62) Green Bay Packers* (12-4)- Ellis McCarthy, NT UCLA
63) Seattle Seahawks* (12-4)- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M
64) New England Patriots* (12-4)- Devin Funchess, WR/TE Michigan
The Great Debates of the 2015 NFL Draft
By: Jordan Katz
My favorite part of the draft process is the debates that lead up to draft day. They may be a debate between two players, and which one a team should draft. They may be a debate whether to trade down, trade up, or stay put, or sometimes they are as simple as who is the next best player in a crowd of mediocrity. So in this article, I’ll shed some light on what I feel are some of the bigger “debates,” that surround the first two rounds of the draft.
1) The Case: Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota?
The Facts: This is obviously the biggest debate out there. Does a team chance Winston’s talent, despite his character issues? Does a team draft a system quarterback with off the radar intangibles? Which does a team (maybe Tampa Bay) take first, or does a team pass on them all together?
Personally, I think this debate is actually not as close as people make it out to be. Yes, I’m a believer that Marcus Mariota can succeed, despite the lack of an inventory of throws that come with a system quarterback. His accuracy and decision-making are proof that he can succeed at the next level. However, Jameis Winston is the better prospect. Let’s neglect the off the field issues for a second. Winston is better in the pocket, his arm is bigger, he can make every throw in the book, and he has the same intangibles that Mariota possesses. In fact, you could argue that between the lines of the gridiron, Winston is a better leader, having shown more poise under duress and better ability to play through adversity. Winston’s character flaws may prove to be too much for him to overcome, but in terms of a talent level, there’s not a lot of debate here.
The Verdict: Jameis Winston
2) The Case: What Should the Tennessee Titans Do with the Second Overall Pick?
The Facts: It doesn’t seem like Ken Whisenhunt is quick to move away from the quarterbacks he has, at least right now. That’s why many are not mocking one of the top two quarterbacks to the Titans. However, is that the right move? Should the Titans pass on the quarterback that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t take?
If I were in charge of the Titans draft, and I watched the Buccaneers take Jameis Winston first overall (because if they don’t, I’m drafting Winston), I would tempt the Jets and the Eagles to move up for Marcus Mariota. The Eagles connection is obvious, and if I could somehow swing Nick Foles and a second or third round pick for the number two selection, I’d take it and run. However, I doubt that Chip Kelly is doing nothing more than blowing smoke in this regard, and that he isn’t very serious on moving up for his former quarterback.
The Jets are much more likely to move up. If the Jets have the offseason they expect to have, based on the immense amount of cap room John Idzik left them, they could find themselves heading into draft day with only one glaring need, a franchise quarterback. While the Titans may not believe Mariota is that guy, the Jets may believe he is (and my gut tells me they do).
If no team bites, then I would draft Leonard Williams. Simply put, Williams is a “can’t miss,” prospect, and the Titans just need talent. Yes, this is a quarterback driven league, but since there are doubts about Marcus Mariota, I wouldn’t chance it. Rebuilding in the NFL is a marathon, not a sprint.
The Verdict: Trade Down, or Draft Leonard Williams
3) The Case: Amari Cooper or Kevin White?
The Facts: This debate may not be on a lot of people’s radar, but I think it’s a lot closer than people think. Cooper is a route running technician, he’s quick in and out of his cuts, he has great hands, and despite his size, he’s still a red zone threat.
However, Kevin White does things that Cooper doesn’t. White is a great jump ball receiver. He high points a throw very well, and can stretch the defense down the field with his speed. While Cooper is fast, he’s not a premier deep threat, nor is he a jump ball receiver. What makes this debate interesting is that White is also a very accomplished route runner for the collegiate level.
Personally, I graded Cooper just slightly better than White from watching them on tape. However, and this is a rarity for me, I think the combine will settle this debate. If both run good 40 times, Cooper will retain his slight edge. If White runs an explosive 40-yard dash, he may become the top wide receiver in the class, because he is better suited for the pro game, in my opinion.
The Verdict: Amari Cooper (for now)
4) The Case: Who’s the Next Best Quarterback after Winston and Mariota?
The Facts: I’ll go with Brett Hundley, with Garrett Grayson close behind. I don’t believe that any of these quarterbacks will wind up translating to the pros besides the top two, but I think Hundley has the best chance.
Hundley is tough to bring down, and when you compile that with his ability to scramble, he could change games with his legs. He has a good arm and shows the ability to step into his throws, when the pocket is protected well.
The problem is Hundley isn’t particularly accurate, and when he senses the slightest bit of pressure, he gets happy feet and is quick to run, rather than sliding in the pocket and buying himself time. He also has a tendency to fumble when he takes off, which is not a quality you want in a quarterback.
Despite the mixed bag, Hundley is so much further along than almost all of the “other,” quarterbacks in this draft, that he’s the clear-cut choice for being the third quarterback off the board.
The Verdict: Brett Hundley
5) The Case: When will the First Running Back be drafted, and who will it be?
The Facts: Running backs have become devalued in the NFL, which means they have become devalued in the draft process as well. The interesting thing about this draft is that the running back class is loaded. On my personal board of prospects I have four running backs in my top 35 players for this upcoming draft. There’s a big debate as to who the first running back should be, and where he should go, but, to me, there’s no debate. The first running back off the board should be Todd Gurley.
Gurley tore his ACL, which could steer teams away from him. However, there’s no doubt he’s the best running back in this class, in my opinion. He’s runs downhill and has lightning quick cutback ability. He has great vision and if you’ve seen any film on him or watched a Georgia game in the past few years, you know he’s an athlete.
Yes, Melvin Gordon was incredible at Wisconsin. However, Gordon played behind a better offensive line and in a weaker conference. Gurley put up massive production in the SEC, and I believe that he’s a more physical runner than Gordon, making him much better suited for the professional game. I still don’t see a team taking a running back in round one, but when the time comes, the name that should be called is Todd Gurley.
The Verdict: Todd Gurley, Round Two
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