It’s that time of year. The draftniks are all going insane, pouring over all kinds of bad-angle YouTube footage and scouting reports from guys who live in their parent’s trailers. To help some of you draft-lovers get your daily fix, I’ve decided to do a can-you-believe-it-hold-onto-your-hat-this-is-no-joke mock draft.
Here’s the lay of the land, with no trades allowed because that kind of speculation is plain silly. Oh, the irony.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
This is a no-brainer. Winston is the best quarterback to come out of college since Andrew Luck.
2. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Tennessee has other needs, but none more important than under center. Mariota can compete with Zach Mettenberger for the starting spot.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
The Jaguars are building a solid defense and add to it here with the best pass-rushing prospect available.
4. Oakland Raiders – Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Raiders could go with a receiver, but my suspicion is they sign Michael Crabtree. Oakland is smart here and take the best defensive player in the draft.
5. Washington Redskins – Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
Ray will replace Brian Orakpo, helping to provide pressure off the edge with Ryan Kerrigan. Washington has plenty of holes, so it is hard to go wrong.
6. New York Jets – Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
With Mariota and Winston off the board, Beasley makes a ton of sense. With a great secondary in place, Todd Bowles needs to find a pass rush.
7. Chicago Bears – Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
Defense starts from the middle. Shelton is a huge-bodied nose tackle who can provide an immediate boost to Chicago’s porous run defense.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
Few players are rising up the ranks faster than Dupree. With great athleticism and a knack for crushing the quarterback, Atlanta does well with this selection.
Oct 11, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks offensive lineman Chase Regian (71) and Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Alvin Dupree (2) during the game at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated Louisiana-Monroe 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
9. New York Giants – Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Giants need to bolster themselves in the trenches. New York could go offensive line, but creates a solid pairing between Brown and Jason Pierre-Paul.
10. St. Louis Rams – Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Cooper is the best receiver in the draft, and the Rams desperately need one. This is an obvious, perfect match.
11. Minnesota Vikings – DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Teddy Bridgewater and Parker made sweet music in college at Louisville. Now, they can do it with the Vikings.
12. Cleveland Browns – La’El Collins, OT, LSU
Cleveland could pick a receiver, but fortified that position with Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe. Expect the Browns to address the right side of the offensive line.
13. New Orleans Saints – Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Gregory will drop a bit because of his failed drug test, but he still goes in the top half of the first round. The Saints need plenty of help on defense, so this is a start.
14. Miami Dolphins – Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
After trading Mike Wallace and releasing Brandon Gibson and Hartline, Miami must help out Ryan Tannehill. Getting White here is a total steal.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Brandon Scherff, OG, Iowa
The 49ers are in full-blown rebuild mode after a disastrous offseason. Scherff represents a safe pick and a quick replacement for the departed Mike Iupati.
Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (68) gets ready to block Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Chris Weatherd (42) in the first quarter of the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
16. Houston Texans – Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Collins is the only safety worth talking about in the first two rounds, and Houston has a hole there after letting Kendrick Lewis walk. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will use Collins like he did Eric Berry in Kansas City.