1. Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
A lot can change between now and the NFL Draft but right now it seems likely the Bucs will select a quarterback with the number one pick. With all the negative commentary surrounding Mariota and Todd McShay’s recent endorsement for Winston, I have to assume the FSU quarterback will be the top pick. A running quarterback like Mariota doesn’t really fit with Head Coach Lovie Smith’s style and although attitude issues have hurt Winston’s draft stock recently, the Bucs front office may be willing to take a risk on him as Smith has proven to be nothing but professional and supportive as a Head Coach
2. Randy Gregory (Tennessee Titans)
Without a reliable franchise quarterback on the roster, the Titans could certainly take the plunge on either Winston or Mariota. However, the team just selected quarterback Jake Locker in the first round two seasons ago and it may be more likely that the Titans will try to acquire a quarterback via free agency or a trade instead. No defender on Tennessee finished with more than 6.5 sacks in 2014 as the (2-14) Titans will need elite pass rushers if they ever hope to compete in Andrew Luck’s AFC South.
3. Brandon Scherff (Jacksonville Jaguars):
For the third straight season the Jaguars will be picking in the top three in the NFL Draft (2013- Luke Joechkel, 2014- Blake Brotles) and after two straight years of picking offensive players they may want to look for defense in 2015. However, after giving up a league-high 71 sacks in 2014, the team may be forced to take an offensive linemen again in the first round in 2015. Look from Jacksonville to trade down if available.
4. Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders)
To me, this seems to be the most obvious selection in the top 10. The Raiders struck gold in Derek Carr last season and finding a young weapon to pair him with will be the team’s number one priority.
5. Leonard Williams (Washington Redskins)
It’s unclear whether or not Brandon Orakpo will be in Washington for the long-term. Whether he is or not, Leonard Williams will be a nice addition for the team to complement with Ryan Kerrigan (13.5 sacks in 2014) and possibly Orakpo.
6. Marcus Mariota (New York Jets):
Out of all the prospects in this year’s draft none is more difficult to project than Mariota. While his talent is beyond doubt, his ability to adapt to the NFL remains unclear as he’s not a pocket passer and is a bit undersized to play quarterback. The Jets have never been afraid to take a shot on a controversial quarterback (Mark Sanchez- 2009, Geno Smith-2013) and Mariota at six would be good value for the team.
7. Shane Ray (Chicago Bears):
While it’s not yet clear what defense the Bears coaching staff will primarily use in 2015, you can be sure the team will make a push for more versatile defenders. Look for Chicago to draft an all-purpose pass rusher that can play both linebacker in a 3-4 and defensive end in a 4-3. With the NFL Combine still not for another couple of weeks the team’s possible preference remains a complete mystery. Shane Ray seems a safe selection for the team after winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, but don’t be surprised if a different pass rusher catches their eye with three months still to go until the draft.
Other Possible Selections: Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler Jr., Vic Beasley
8. Dante Fowler Jr. (Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons are in desperate need for quality defenders after finishing with just 22 sacks in 2014 (tied for 30th in the NFL). The team lacks outside pass rushers and will need to fill the void in the draft if they hope to improve their base 3-4 Defense.
9. Danny Shelton (New York Giants)
After selecting the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 the Giants will have an even higher pick in 2015. While the offense made significant improvements in 2014 with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., the team was still held back by the 30th ranked defense in the NFL. Though the team could certainly use linebackers and secondary, the top prospects in this year’s draft are defensive linemen and pass rushers.
10. Landon Collins (St. Louis Rams)
Although the Rams have spent quite a few top picks on defense already, Collins may be the final piece to what is already a very talented defense.