2015 NFL Draft: 1st Round Mock 2.0
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
25.) Carolina Panthers – OT Erick Flowers, Miami
The Panthers had the worst two starting tackles in the league last year and need an upgrade at both positions. Despite Flowers bad kick-slide drill at the combine he has more upside than almost any tackle in the draft. He could be a mauling run blocker on the right side and could probably hold his own on the left though may struggle with speed rushers.
26.) Baltimore Ravens – CB Marcus Peters, Washington
GM Ozzie Newsome seems to always pick the best player available regardless of need, but in this case the best player left on the board happens to fill the Ravens biggest need. Peters has some off-field red flags but he’s more talented than any corner currently on the Ravens roster besides Jimmy Smith.
27.) Dallas Cowboys – DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
The combination of Odighizuwa and Demarcus Laurence could give the Cowboys one of the best pass rushing combos in the league by 2016.
28.) Denver Broncos – ILB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi St
The Broncos have had a hole at MLB since they let Wesley Woodyard leave town. McKinney has the athleticism and potential to be an elite MLB.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
29.) Indianapolis Colts – RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Gordon has the potential to be elite and is a massive upgrade over T-Rich, Boom Herron, and any other RB on the Colts roster. Colts GM Ryan Grigson can make up for his T-Rich mistake by selecting the best RB in the draft.
30.) Green Bay Packers – NT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
The Packers got sub-par play from their nose tackles last year which resulted in a bottom 10 rush defense. The Packers rush defense hasn’t been good since B.J Raji was healthy in 2012, but Phillips could provide similar value to what Raji did in his prime. It’s a rare draft that has three quality nose tackles and the Packers will be lucky to get one of them with the 30th pick.
31.) Seattle Seahawks – OT/OG T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
The Seahawks will need a guard to replace free agent James Carpenter in the short-term and Clemmings can handle that job as rookie until his technique improves enough to move outside to right or even left tackle.
32.) New England Patriots – WR Devin Smith, Ohio St
Tom Brady hasn’t had a legitimate deep threat since Randy Moss, but gets possibly the best one in the draft in Smith. The Pats could go O-line here, but Smith’s unique skill-set would give the Pats offense a new dimension.