2015 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Mariota taken 1st overall; Winston falls to Jets
With the 2014 season in the books, now comes the time to take a look ahead. The always eventful NFL offseason is, of course, highlighted by April's draft, where teams across the league look to build the foundation of their respective rosters.
Highlighted by what is certain to be a complex quarterback debate and an early run on some of the top available pass rushers, here's an initial look at first-round projections for the 2015 NFL Draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The debate on this year's best quarterback will carry on right up until draft day, but it would be a major upset if the Buccaneers didn't pick one of the two in the top spot. Though Mariota may need more time to adjust to the NFL game, he's a safer pick and the Bucs can't afford to miss.
2. Tennessee Titans - Leonard Williams, DT, USC
While there are a number of different positions the Titans could choose to address on the defensive front, the tiebreaker goes to Williams, who just may be the best overall player in the draft. Williams and Jurrell Casey on the defensive interior would give the Titans a solid foundation to build around on that side of the ball.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Having addressed the quarterback spot in last year's draft, the Jaguars are in position to take the best player on the board to help their defensive front. Gregory is the ideal fit coming off the edge in Gus Bradley's defensive scheme, and it'd be tough to envision the Jaguars passing on him.
4. Oakland Raiders - Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
The Raiders took an edge rusher at the top of last year's draft in Khalil Mack, but that shouldn't stop them from doing so once again this time around with Fowler. Bookend players at the position could set the defense up for success long-term, and especially so if the Raiders can address the interior front in free agency.
5. Washington Redskins - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
With Brian Orakpo likely headed for free agency, the Redskins will need to fill his spot right away. Ray is a good fit as an edge rusher in the Redskins' defensive scheme and should be disruptive early on, becoming the fourth front-seven player to come off the board in the top five.
6. New York Jets - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Winston will have a significant amount of off-field questions to answer leading up to the draft, but there's no denying that his talent is worthy of this spot. The Jets' new regime ends the Geno Smith experiment and gets their own quarterback to build around, likely putting him on the field right away and having him learn with game action.
7. Chicago Bears - Landon Collins, S, Alabama
There are a number of directions the Bears could go with this pick, but their best value is taking the draft's top safety and addressing a weak defensive backfield. Collins would be a day-one starter and would quickly become one of the team's best players on that side of the ball.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The most glaring need on the Falcons' roster is an edge rusher, and they're finally in a good position to select one here. Dupree is capable of playing the edge in whichever scheme new head coach Dan Quinn employs going forward, and he should be a difference maker fairly early on.
9. New York Giants - La'el Collins, OT, LSU
If the Giants are going to go on another Super Bowl run with Eli Manning under center, they must find a way to protect him in the pocket. Collins is the most powerful lineman at the top of this class and projects as a right tackle at the NFL level, though he could make the transition to the left side fairly quickly.
10. St. Louis Rams - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Jeff Fisher's defenses prefer physical corners capable of pressing receivers at the line of scrimmage, and the Rams get just that in Waynes. With a strong defensive front already in place, addressing the secondary could help the defense to become one of the league's best units against the pass.