The 2015 NFL draft is a month away and with Jameis Winston looking like the only sure thing, mock drafts are starting to take shape for experts like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay at ESPN and names like Winston, Marcus Mariota, Amari Cooper, Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler, Randy Gregory and Kevin White are coming off the board early in the 1st round.
Winston and Marcus Mariota are considered to be the top quarterbacks in the draft and many see them as the top overall prospects in the draft. Kiper predicts the players will go high, with Winston going number one, while McShay agrees and in his latest draft, he has Winston and then Mariota at number two. McShay has the top five with the quarterbacks followed by Amari Cooper to the Jaguars, Leonard Williams to the Oakland Raiders and Dante Fowler to the Redskins.
The Raiders and Jaguars both have young quarterbacks and likely would pass on Mariota even if he falls to them. The Raiders have been linked to both Amari Cooper and Kevin White and they could consider either of those players if they are on the board at four. Williams could go anywhere from two to five depending on how the first few picks develop and the Redskins could be in the mix for Mariota if he falls to them.
The Raiders are in a position to take the best player on their board, as they likely will have Cooper, Williams and Dante Fowler ranked high. McShay has Randy Gregory going to the NY Jets even after his failed drug test, while Kevin White is the pick for the Bears. Chicago is expected to go offense at number seven and both White and Cooper are prime targets according to Michael C. Wright at ESPN Chicago. The team traded Brandon Marshall this offseason and they could look at adding another receiver after signing Eddie Royal in free agency.
One NFL GM spoke with ESPN and said that he predicts that Mariota will go at the number two pick, but the team that takes him is up in the air. The Titans currently have the pick and could take Mariota, but the general manager said a trade could happen and teams like the Browns, Jets, Chargers and Redskins could look at moving up to get Mariota. The Titans may shop the pick and some have predicted that they will bypass the QB position and go with Williams, who is considered to be the best pass rusher in the draft.
McShay has Shane Ray going to the Atlanta Falcons, Brandon Scherff to the Giants at nine and DeVante Parker to the Rams at number 10. The falcons desperately need a pass rusher and they could also be a target for Gregory if he falls due to his failed test. The Giants have been linked to Scherff and numerous mock drafts have them taking the Iowa lineman. Parker is considered to be the best WR past Amari Cooper and Kevin White.
Winston is expected to be the number one overall pick and he had a solid performance at his pro day this week for Florida State. The Buccaneers have said that they have no issues with Winston's character and that they have done their homework on the QB.