2015 NFL Mock Draft

Mock Drafts are ridiculous, time-consuming, and usually inaccurate, but it one of the most fun things to do in preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft. When I was young, there were probably fewer than 10 mock drafts available before the draft. Now, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, who cares about the NFL has a mock draft. After reading everyone else's mocks, a few years ago I figured I would jump into the mix, and I love doing it every year. Without further ado, here is my 2015 NFL Mock Draft.


Round 1

#1 Tampa Bay selects Jameis Winston-QB (Florida State)
-The Bucs have to take Winston here. He is the best QB in the draft, and Lovie Smith knows he needs a potential franchise QB-even with Winston's off the field concerns.

#2 TRADE: Tennessee trades #2 overall pick to the NY Jets for their 1st round pick (#6 overall), 2nd round pick (#37 overall), 4th round pick (#104 overall) and 2016 1st round pick

New York Jets select Marcus Mariota-QB (Oregon)
-The Jets desperately need a QB, and they have to do anything they can to move up and get Mariota. They have the ammunition to do it and they get it done.

#3 Jacksonville selects Leonard Williams-DE (USC)
-The Jags get the benefit of two QBs going in the top two, so they clean up and add possibly the best overall player in the draft in the very talented Williams.

#4 TRADE: Oakland trades #4 overall pick to Atlanta for their 1st round pick (#8 overall), 2nd round pick (#42 overall) and a 4th round pick (#107 overall)

Atlanta selects Dante Fowler Jr. OLB (Florida)
-Atlanta trades up and goes defense with the selection of Fowler. It is a bold move, but Atlanta desperately needs help on defense.

#5 TRADE Washington trades #5 overall pick to Cleveland for their first round pick (#12 overall) and a 2nd round pick (#41 overall), and a 5th round pick (#147 overall)
 Cleveland selects Kevin White-WR (West Virginia)
- A big trade with the Redskins gives the Browns a chance to trade up and get a playmaker in White.

#6 Tennessee selects Vic Beasley-OLB (Clemson)
-With a plethora of early picks in the first two rounds due to the trade with the Jets, the Titans go pass rush with the selection of Beasley. They can address other needs at QB and WR in the second round.

#7 Chicago selects Bud Dupree-OLB (Kentucky)
-New head coach John Fox will begin the task of rebuilding the Bears defense by going with another stud pass rusher in Dupree.

#8 Oakland selects Amari Cooper-WR (Alabama)
-The Raiders trade down and select Cooper to help Derek Carr and that offense.

#9 New York Giants select Brandon Scherff-OT (Iowa)
-The Giants get the best offensive lineman in the draft fall to them at #9, and they make the smart choice to rebuild their offensive line.

#10 St. Louis selects Andrus Peat-OT (Stanford)
-The Rams defense is solid, so now it is time to work on the offensive line. Peat is one of the best offensive lineman in the draft, so this makes a ton of sense.

#11 TRADE: Minnesota trades their first round pick with Pittsburgh's first round pick (#22 overall),  their 2nd round pick (#56 overall), and their 5th round pick (#160 overall)
Pittsburgh selects Trae Waynes-CB (Michigan State)
-The Vikings are in an interesting spot, and I could see them trading down, but I think they stand pat and go with Waynes to fill the need at cornerback.

#12 Washington selects Randy Gregory-OLB (Nebraska)
-Jay Gruden gets to trade down and grab a big-time pass rusher in Gregory, who drops because of character concerns.

#13 New Orleans selects Danny Shelton-DT (Washington)
-The Saints have to upgrade their defense somehow in this draft, and Shelton is a good start.

#14 TRADE Miami trades with Philadelphia. Miami swaps 1st round picks with Philly (#20 overall) and Miami gets Philly's 3rd round pick (#84 overall)

Philadelphia selects DeVante Parker-WR (Louisville)
-Chip Kelly's wild offseason continues on draft night with a trade up for top-flight WR Parker.

#15 San Francisco selects Arik Armstead-DT (Oregon)
-The 49ers need to start to rebuild their defense, and they start with a very intriguing player in Armstead.

#16 Houston selects Nelson Agholor-WR (USC)
-Agholor has been another name that has skyrocketed up the draft boards, and the Texans need another young wideout to replace the departed Andre Johnson.

#17 San Diego selects Todd Gurley-RB (Georgia)
-The Chargers need a replacement for Ryan Matthews, and they get a superb player to fall to them at #17. Gurley is a difference maker and a great addition to the SD offense.

#18 Kansas City selects Kevin Johnson-CB (Wake Forest)
-The Chiefs have a need at corner and fill that need with Johnson.
 
#19 Cleveland selects Breshad Perryman-WR (Central Florida)
-Not a household name before draft season began, but Perryman is very interesting player. The Browns needs playmakers on offense.

#20 Miami selects Melvin Gordon-RB (Wisconsin)
-Dolphins can't wait to grab Gordon in this spot. He is a dynamic player, and he deserves to go in Round 1.

#21 TRADE Cincinnati trades with Denver. Cincy swaps 1st round picks with Denver (#28 overall). Cincy also receives Denver's 3rd round selection(#92 overall) and Denver's 5th round selection (#164 overall)

Denver selects La'el Collins-G/OT (LSU)
-Broncos need an offensive lineman to help remake their offensive line after Orlando Franklin left for San Diego. They have never traded up in the first round for a player in the John Elway era, and this time they go up to get Collins.

#22 Minnesota selects Marcus Peters-CB (Washington)
-The Vikings have a need in the secondary, and go after one of the best corners in the draft in Peters.

#23 Detroit selects D.J. Humphries-OT (Florida)
-Detroit needs to improve their offensive line, then they will try to replenish their defensive line in Round 2.

#24 Arizona selects Malcolm Brown-DT (Texas)
-Cardinals need to improve defensive line, so Brown fits the bill here.

#25 Carolina selects Ereck Flowers-OT (Miami)
-Panthers need to get some help on the offensive line, and Flowers can help them do that.

#26 Baltimore selects Shane Ray-DE/OLB (Missouri)
-The Ravens always seem to get a guy to fall to them in the first round. Although he has some huge off the field concerns, the Ravens snag a stud pass rusher in Ray.

#27 Dallas selects Byron Jones-CB (UCONN)
-At this point, the Cowboys will end up settling for a running back in Rounds 2 or 3, so they go with Jones to improve their secondary.

#28 Cincinnati selects Eddie Goldman-DT (Florida State)
-The Bengals trade down and still end up with a solid player in Goldman to help anchor their defensive line.

#29 Indianapolis selects Landon Collins-S (Alabama)
-The Colts improved their offense via free agency, so they address their secondary in the draft with the selection of Collins.

#30 Green Bay selects Jalen Collins-CB (LSU)
-There are not a lot of holes on the Packers roster, but you can never have enough corners in this league, so GB grabs Collins near the end of Round 1.

#31 New Orleans selects Phillip Dorsett-WR (Miami)
-Sean Payton adds another speedster to go with Brandin Cooks. This will make Drew Brees smile a bit.

#32 New England selects Jordan Phillips-DT (Oklahoma)
-The defending champs need to find a replacement for Vince Wilfork, so they go after Phillips to close out Round 1.

NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Defensive Rankings

Here is the second part of the NFL Draft Cheat Sheet. Here are the defensive rankings.....

NFL Draft Defensive Player Rankings

 

DE

1)      Leonard Williams- USC

2)      Dante Fowler Jr- Florida

3)      Shane Ray-Missouri

4)      Randy Gregory-Nebraska

5)      Alvin Dupree-Kentucky

6)      Eli Harold-Virginia

7)      Owa Odighizuwa-UCLA

8)      Preston Smith- Miss State

9)      Nate Orchard-Utah

10)  Markus Golden-Missouri

 

DT

1)      Danny Shelton-Washington

2)      Malcolm Brown-Texas

3)      Eddie Goldman-FSU

4)      Jordan Phillips-Oklahoma

5)      Arik Armstead-Oregon

6)      Michael Bennett-Ohio State

7)      Carl Davis-Iowa

8)      Mario Edwards Jr-FSU

9)      Henry Anderson-Stanford

10)  Gabe Wright-Auburn

 

OLB

1)      Vic Beasley-Clemson

2)      Eric Kendricks-UCLA

3)      Benardrick McKinney-Miss State

4)      Shaq Thompson-Washington

5)      Lorenzo Mauldin-Louisville

6)      Hau’Oli Kikaha-Washington

7)      Kwon Alexander-LSU

8)      Jordan Hicks-Texas

9)      Mike Hull-Penn State

10)  Jake Ryan-Michigan

 

ILB

1)       Denzel Perryman-Miami

2)      Stephone Anthony-Clemson

3)      Paul Dawson-TCU

4)      Hayes Pullard-USC

5)      Taiwan Jones-Michigan State

6)      Ramik Wilson-Georgia

7)      Amarlo Herrera-Georgia

8)      James Vaughters-Stanford

9)      Terrance Plummer- UCF

10)  Reshard Cliett-South Florida

 

CB

1)      Trae Waynes-Michigan State

2)      Kevin Johnson-Wake Forest

3)      Jalen Collins-LSU

4)      Ronald Darby-FSU

5)      Byron Jones-UCONN

6)      Marcus Peters-Washington

7)      Alex Carter-Stanford

8)      Quinten Rollins-Miami(Ohio)

9)      P.J. Williams- FSU

10)  Ifo Ekpre-Olomu-Oregon

11)  D’Joun Smith-Florida Atlantic

12)  Eric Rowe-Utah

13)  Steven Nelson-Oregon State

14)  Doran Grant-Ohio State

15)  Kevin White-TCU

 

S

1)      Landon Collins-Alabama

2)      Damarious Randall-Arizona State

3)      Quinten Rollins-Miami (Ohio)

4)      Anthony Harris-Virginia

5)      Jaquiski Tartt-Samford

6)      Doran Grant-Ohio State

7)      Jesse Sample-Louisville

8)      Kurtis Drummond-Michigan State

9)      Durell Eskridge-Syracuse

10)  Josh Shaw-USC

NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Offensive Rankings

Here is the first part of the NFL Draft Cheat Sheet. Here are the offensive rankings....

NFL Draft Positional Rankings-Cheat Sheet

 

QB

1)      Jameis Winston-Florida State

2)      Marcus Mariota-Oregon

3)      Garrett Grayson- Colorado State

4)      Brett Hundley-UCLA

5)      Bryce Petty-Baylor

6)      Sean Mannion-Oregon State

 

 

RB

1)      Todd Gurley-Georgia

2)      Melvin Gordon-Wisconsin

3)      Jay Ajayi-Boise State

4)      Tevin Coleman-Indiana

5)      T.J. Yeldon- Alabama

6)      Ameer Abdullah-Nebraska

7)      Duke Johnson-Miami

8)      David Johnson-  Northern Iowa

9)      Mike Davis- South Carolina

10)  Javorius Allen- USC

11)  David Cobb-Minnesota

12)  Jeremy Langford-Michigan State

13)  Cameron Artis-Payne-Arizona

14)  Josh Robinson- Miss State

15)  Terrence MaGee-LSU

 

WR

1)      Amari Cooper- Alabama

2)      Kevin White- West Virginia

3)      DeVante Parker- Louisville

4)      Jaelen Strong- Arizona St

5)      Phillip Dorsett- Miami

6)      Breshad Perriman- UCF

7)      Devin Smith-Ohio St

8)      Dorial Green-Beckham- Oklahoma

9)      Nelson Agholor- USC

10)  Sammie Coates- Auburn

11)  Devin Funchess-Michigan

12)  Tyler Lockett- Kansas St

13)  Justin Hardy- East Carolina

14)  Rashad Greene- FSU

15)  Ty Montgomery-Stanford

16)  Chris Conley-Georgia

17)  Jamison Crowder-Duke

18)  Tony Lippett-Michigan State

19)  Tre McBride-William and Mary

20)  Stefon Diggs-Maryland

 

 

TE

1)      Maxx Williams-Minnesota

2)      Clive Walford-Miami

3)      Nick O’Leary-FSU

4)      Blake Bell-Oklahoma

5)      Wes Saxton-South Alabama

6)      Jeff Heuerman-Ohio State

7)      Tyler Kroft-Rutgers

8)      Ben Koyack-Notre Dame

9)      Rory Anderson-South Carolina

10)  E.J. Bibbs-Iowa State

 

OT

1)      Ereck Flowers- Miami

2)      Andrus Peat-Stanford

3)      La’el Collins-LSU

4)      D.J. Humphries- Florida

5)      T.J. Clemmings- Pitt

6)      Cedric Ogbeuhi- Texas A&M

7)      Donovan Smith- Penn State

8)      Jake Fisher-Oregon

9)      Daryl Williams-Oklahoma

10)  Tyrus Thompson-Oklahoma

 

OG

1)      Brandon Scherff- Iowa

2)      Laken Tomlinson-Duke

3)      Arie Kouandjio-Alabama

4)      Josue Matias-FSU

5)      A.J. Cann- South Carolina

6)      Tre Jackson- FSU

7)      Jarvis Harrison-Texas A&M

8)      Jeremiah Poutasi- Utah

9)      John Miller-Louisville

10)  Mark Glowinski-West Virginia

 

C

1)      Cameron Erving-FSU

2)      Hroniss Grasu-Oregon

3)      Reese Dismukes-Auburn

4)      Ali Marpet-Hobart

5)      B.J. Finney- Kansas State

6)      Andy Gallik-Boston College

7)      Max Garcia- Florida

8)      Jake Smith-Louisville

9)      Brandon Vitabile-Northwestern

10)  David Andrews- Georgia

 

FB

1)      Jalston Fowler-Alabama

2)      Connor Neighbors-LSU

3)      Zach Zenner-North Dakota State

4)      Tyler Varga- Yale

5)      Zach Zwinak-Penn State

2015 Broncos Schedule

Here is the 2015 Broncos schedule with an analysis at end…..

All times Eastern Standard Time
Week 1: 9/13- Baltimore at Denver (4:25pm) CBS

Week 2: 9/17- Denver at Kansas City (8:25pm) CBS Thursday Night Football

Week 3: 9/27- Denver at Detroit (8:30pm) NBC Sunday Night Football

Week 4: 10/4-Minnesota at Denver (4:25pm) FOX

Week 5: 10/11- Denver at Oakland (4:25pm) CBS

Week 6: 10/18- Denver at Cleveland (1:00pm) CBS

Week 7: 10/25- BYE WEEK

Week 8: 11/1- Green Bay at Denver (8:30pm) NBC Sunday Night Football

Week 9: 11/8- Denver at Indianapolis (4:25pm) CBS

Week 10: 11/15- Kansas City at Denver (4:25pm) CBS

Week 11: 11/22- Denver at Chicago (1:00pm) CBS

Week 12: 11/29- New England at Denver (8:30pm) NBC Sunday Night Football

Week 13: 12/6- Denver at San Diego (4:05pm) CBS

Week 14: 12/13- Oakland at Denver (4:05pm) CBS

Week 15: 12/20- Denver at Pittsburgh (4:25pm) CBS

Week 16: 12/28- Cincinnati at Denver (8:30pm) ESPN Monday Night Football

Week 17: 1/3- San Diego at Denver (4:25pm) CBS



-I like that Denver is at home in Week 1 and in the late window on CBS as opposed to opening in a primetime game like they did the past four seasons.

-As I predicted, the Broncos and Peyton Manning get five primetime games. Three of them are Sunday Night games (GB, NE, and Detroit), one is a Thursday night game (KC), and one is a Monday night game (Cincy). You can't beat two of the Sunday night games with Green Bay and New England.

-Great job the NFL of scheduling New England at Denver for November 29th on SNF, which the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

-The Broncos have two sets of weeks when they are on the road back-to-back, but one of those sets is at Oakland and at Cleveland-which is not exactly murderer's row. Four out of their first six are on the road.

-Denver ends with two games at home, which is a huge advantage. Four of their last six are home.

-Their November portion of the schedule looks to be the toughest. Green Bay, at Indy, KC, at Chicago, and New England. The late December trip to Pittsburgh will be very tough as well.

-I like how they get road trips to KC and Oakland out of the way early, then host them later on.

-My favorite game on the schedule: Cincy at home on Monday Night Football on 12/28. The holidays are in full swing, and the Broncos are at home on a Monday night game that will have huge playoff implications.

2015 NFL Week 1 and Thanksgiving Game Predictions

One of my other favorite things to do in the offseason is try to predict the Week 1 primetime games and the Thanksgiving games. The NFL changed the Thanksgiving schedule because of cross-flexing, so now CBS can do either games in Detroit or in Dallas. With that in mind here are my schedule predictions for Week 1 and Thanksgiving…..

Week 1
9/10/2015: NBC Thursday Night Season Opener (8:20pm)
Pittsburgh at New England

9/13/2015: NBC Sunday Night Football (8:20pm)
Seattle at Dallas

9/14/2015: ESPN Monday Night Football
Game 1 (7:15pm)
Philadelphia at New York Giants
Game 2 (10:15pm)
Arizona at San Francisco

Thanksgiving Games
Game 1 (12:30pm) FOX
Green Bay at Detroit

Game 2 (4:00pm) CBS
New York Giants at Dallas

Game 3 (8:00pm) NBC
New England at Indianapolis

Broncos Mock Schedule

It is a little early for a mock schedule for the Broncos, and I might have to change it if any real schedule information leaks out, but I figured I would be ahead of the curve and try to come up with a schedule for the Broncos ahead of the 2015 season. With Peyton Manning coming back for another year, I went ahead a gave the Broncos 5 primetime games. I also went with the Broncos hosting a late game on CBS in Week 1, but I am still going with a FOX doubleheader for Week 1. CBS can have late games because they are no longer carrying the U.S. Open Tennis tournament. With that said, here we go with my 2015 Broncos Mock Schedule….

All times EST

Week 1- 9/13/15: Kansas City at Denver (4:05pm) CBS
Week 2- 9/20/15: Denver at Pittsburgh (4:25pm) CBS
Week 3- 9/27/15: Green Bay at Denver (8:20pm) NBC-Sunday Night Football
Week 4- 10/4/15: Denver at Cleveland (1:00pm) CBS
Week 5-10/11/15: Cincinnati at Denver (4:25pm) CBS
Week 6- 10/19/15: Denver at Indianapolis (8:30pm) ESPN-Monday Night Football
Week 7- 10/25/15: BYE WEEK
Week 8- 11/1/15: Baltimore at Denver (4:25pm) CBS
Week 9- 11/5/15: Denver at Oakland (8:00pm) CBS/NFLN-Thursday Night Football
Week 10-11/15/15: New England at Denver (8:20pm) NBC-Sunday Night Football
Week 11-11/22/15: Denver at Detroit (1:00pm) CBS
Week 12-11/29/15: Denver at San Diego (8:20pm) NBC-Sunday Night Football
Week 13-12/6/15: Oakland at Denver (4:25pm) CBS
Week 14-12/13/15: Minnesota at Denver (4:25pm) FOX
Week 15-12/20/15: Denver at Kansas City (1:00pm) CBS
Week 16-12/27/15: Denver at Chicago (4:25pm) CBS
Week 17-1/3/16: San Diego at Denver (4:25pm) CBS