2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st Round 3.0

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With the first two weeks of free agency in the books and about half of the pro days completed, it’s time for mock draft 3.0. Our Bears were relatively quiet considering their $30M plus in cap room. I’m not complaining I think the new regime needs to take some time to see what they have on the roster and how those players fit unto the Bears new schemes on both sides of the ball. The cap room is going to be there next year as well and by that time the Bears brass will have a better idea of where the roster holes are. I except the Bears to make a few more minor moves with maybe one more significant addition.

2015 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 – 1st Round

1.) Tampa Bay Bucs – QB Jameis Winston, Florida St

The Bucs already have the weapons in place to have an explosiveness offense with Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Louis Murphy, and young TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins but they need a QB. Winston is the most NFL ready QB in the draft and should be the Bucs week 1 starter. There are obviously off-field concerns, but Winston is a potential franchise QB.

2.) Tennessee Titans – QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon

It’s a tough choice for the Titans with serious needs on the defensive side of the ball and a young QB in Zach Mettenberger who showed flashes of talent but isn’t much closer to being an NFL ready starter than Mariota is. Teams need a good QB to win consistently and I don’t think the Titans will pass up a chance to select a potential franchise guy. The Titans added defensive help with OLBs Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo in free agency,which makes the choice to go with a QB a little easier. Best case both Mettenberger and Mariota develop into solid QBs and the Titans have a valuable trade asset. Odds are though that just one (or neither) of them develop, but drafting Mariota at least increases the chances that the Titans find a QB to build around. I wouldn’t be shocked if they traded the pick either as their are rumors that the Eagles, Chargers, and Browns are interested in the chance to draft Mariota.

3.) Jacksonville Jaguars – DL Leonard Williams, USC

The Jags catch a break with the top overall player in the draft falling to the 3rd pick. Williams is a scheme diverse player who has the athleticism to play anywhere on the D-line. When healthy and motivated, Williams is unblockable and uses his long arms well to disengage. He could make the Jags defensive line a force to be reckoned with.

4.) Oakland Raiders – WR Kevin White, West Virginia

The Raiders have a tough choice between White and Amari Cooper, but White’s upside may be too great to pass up. He’s bigger, more physical, and a more dominant red zone threat. I think they are both going to be Pro Bowl quality WRs in the league, but White’s ceiling is higher. He reminds me a bit of Terrell Owens in his prime but without the mental deficiencies.

5.) Washington Redskins – OLB Dante Fowler Jr, Florida

The Skins made a few surprisingly smart moves signing ex-Bear Stephen Paea and massive NT Terrance Knighton to beef up thier D-line and now they get a an edge rusher to replace departed free agent OLB Brian Orakpo. All Fowler has to do is stay healthy and he’d be an upgrade over Orakpo.

6.) New York Jets – OLB Randy Gregory, Nebraska

The run on edge rushers begins with the Jets taking a dynamic OLB who could be an impact player right away behind one of the best defensive lines in the league. Gregory is the most polished pass rusher in the draft with the most upside as well, but he’s light (235 pounds) and could have trouble setting the edge against the run. That won’t be much of a problem on the Jets who were one of the best run stopping teams in the league, but really need a dynamic pass rusher.

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