Advertisement

Sam Farmer’s final 2015 NFL mock draft

Florida State's Jameis Winston and USC's Leonard Williams were the first two picks in The Times' NFL beat writers' mock draft.
Florida State’s Jameis Winston and USC’s Leonard Williams were the first two picks in The Times’ NFL beat writers’ mock draft.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press / Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
Share

ROUND 1: Thursday in Chicago, 5 PDT. ROUNDS 2-3: Friday, 4 p.m. ROUNDS 4-7: Saturday, 9 a.m. TV: ESPN, NFL Network.

No. TEAM: PLAYER, POS., SCHOOL -- FARMER’S COMMENT

1. TAMPA BAY: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State -- The Buccaneers can live with Winston’s off-the-field baggage because they feel he’s by far the most talented quarterback in this draft class.

Advertisement

2. TENNESSEE: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon -- The Titans might stay in this spot, or they might trade down. Either way, Mariota isn’t likely to wait long to hear his name called.

3. JACKSONVILLE: Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida -- Jacksonville really likes Fowler, and so does Atlanta. Falcons could trade up here. Jaguars could also take Alabama wideout Amari Cooper here.

4. OAKLAND: Leonard Williams, DL, USC -- Williams grew up a Raiders fan; a rare talent who would be tough for them to resist. Need receivers, too, and they like Kevin White and Cooper.

5. WASHINGTON: Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa -- Have targeted Scherff but feel they can get him a bit later. If they can trade down and still get him, they will. Falcons could be trade partner.

6. N.Y. JETS: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky -- Need an edge rusher, and Dupree’s stock is on rise. Club would love to see Mariota slip to this spot as Geno Smith doesn’t have hearts racing.

7. CHICAGO: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama -- With Brandon Marshall gone, need a bookend for Alshon Jeffery. Cooper, White are both attractive options, although one could go in top five.

Advertisement

8. ATLANTA: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson -- The Falcons need an edge rusher who can put heat on quarterbacks. If the team doesn’t move up for Fowler, Beasley would be a good fit here.

9. N.Y. GIANTS: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami -- Need to protect Eli Manning, and the massive Flowers would be a solid addition. Club needs a pass rusher, too, but the elite ones are gone.

10. ST. LOUIS: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford -- Rams need help on the offensive line, and Peat fits their scheme. The team has other pressing needs, too, so trading down is a possibility here.

11. MINNESOTA: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State -- Erving’s the type of player who could step in at any position on line. Vikings need immediate help at left guard, and Erving would be a fit.

12. CLEVELAND: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington -- With two first-round picks, Browns turn attention to plugging a big hole on their defensive front. Trading up for Mariota is an outside possibility.

13. NEW ORLEANS: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia -- Saints drafted Brandin Cooks last year, but still need receiving help after trading Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills. White would be a steal here.

Advertisement

14. MIAMI: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia -- Dolphins ran the ball well last season except when they absolutely needed to. Gurley is the kind of back who can get the hard yards for them.

15. SAN FRANCISCO: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State -- The 49ers need help at corner, and Waynes could be a Day 1 starter. Marcus Peters is an option, too, but his character issues are a concern.

16. HOUSTON: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville -- Need to restock at receiver with Andre Johnson gone. If Dupree is around, likely to take a pass rusher with top pick for fourth time in five drafts.

17. SAN DIEGO: Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon -- If they don’t pull off stunner and trade up for Mariota, they’ll look to plug hole on defensive line, or maybe pick up running back Melvin Gordon.

18. KANSAS CITY Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest Chiefs’ only established corner is Sean Smith, who is in the last year of his contract. Safety and offensive line are options at this spot, too.

19. CLEVELAND-aL Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon -- Although the Browns could go for a receiver, someone who can step in for the suspended Josh Gordon, offensive line help is a big priority.

Advertisement

20. PHILADELPHIA: Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut -- Jones had outstanding performance at combine and could help Eagles take the next step in upgrading pass defense. Hard to read Chip Kelly.

21. CINCINNATI: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma -- The 6-foot-6 Green-Beckham is a physical specimen who has more than share of character red flags. That hasn’t scared Bengals in the past.

22. PITTSBURGH: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington -- Need pass rushers and help at corner. Peters has off-the-field baggage, but if Wake Forest’s Johnson is gone, Steelers could head this direction.

23. DETROIT T.J. Clemmings, OL, Pittsburgh If Erving is still on board, Lions would be hard pressed to pass on him. They need a left guard right away, but solid offensive linemen in general.

24. ARIZONA: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin -- Cardinals were 31st in yards per game in 2014 and at bottom in yards per carry. Gordon could be an effective complement to Andre Ellington.

25. CAROLINA: D.J. Humphries, OL, Florida -- Need protection for Cam Newton, and Humphries, who grew up in Charlotte, could provide it. Could be spot for Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray.

Advertisement

26. BALTIMORE: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida -- The Ravens could use a receiver capable of taking the top off a defense, especially with Torrey Smith gone. Perriman has the speed to do that.

27. DALLAS: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska -- Gregory has character issues that likely will cause him to drop in this draft, but Cowboys need to find a way to generate more of a pass rush.

28. DENVER: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M -- Need O-line help. Ogbuehi a bit of a gamble (coming off a torn ACL), but many scouts believe he would be a top 10 pick but for the knee issue.

29. INDIANAPOLIS: Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona St. -- Colts have just one established safety on roster, 34-year-old Mike Adams, and Randall is a better option here than Alabama’s Landon Collins.

30. GREEN BAY: Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA -- With A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones gone, need an inside linebacker who can step in and contribute. Kendricks is the top prospect at his position.

31. NEW ORLEANS-b Jalen Collins, CB, Louisiana State -- After going with a receiver at No. 13, Saints address need for a player on the other side of the passing game — and one from their own backyard.

Advertisement

32. NEW ENGLAND Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State: Patriots might try to trade down here to gather more picks. Otherwise, they will be looking to fill the considerable vacancy left by Vince Wilfork.

a-from Buffalo; b-from Seattle

Advertisement