The NFL draft for 2015 order is all set in the top half of the league and teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, NY Jets, Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears are in the top 10 and some of those teams could be targets for Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper and Melvin Gordon.
The Buccaneers clinched the first overall pick with their loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 and they are likely to pick a quarterback with that selection. The team finished the season 2-14 along with the Tennessee Titans, but the team won out due to strength of schedule. The Buccaneers have Josh McCown and Mike Glennon, but after the way this season went, there is a good chance they will go for either Mariota or Winston. The Titans also are in need of a quarterback and could look at those names as well. The Jaguars are set at QB and the Raiders appear set as well after taking Derek Carr and playing him this year.
Cooper, Gordon and Todd Gurley are also likely first round picks this year and those teams in the top 10 will be looking at those players. The Redskins appear willing to bring back RG3 and that likely keeps them out of the QB conversation. The Jets have Geno Smith and they will be bringing in a new head coach and GM and that could lead to a trade deal to move up to get one of the top quarterbacks.
Winston and Mariota appear to be the top two players coming out and Tampa Bay reportedly is very interested in Mariota, who threw for 38 touchdowns this past season while winning the Heisman. The Falcons, Giants and Rams all have top 10 picks and those teams feel that they are one solid draft away from being a playoff team. The Buccaneers said that they did not tank to get the number one pick and that despite having a 13 point lead against the Saints, they did not lay down.
Mariota now will be picked apart and so will Winston and either of those names could be taken number one overall. Lovie Smith is safe with the Buccaneers and he will get the chance to get things done and Mariota or Winston could be the pick. The team also could change their minds and trade the pick, but right now it looks like they will be keeping it.
Most mock drafts have Mariota and Winston going one and two and that appears to be what the Bucs and Titans are thinking now. Cooper likely will not get past the Raiders, while the Jets could look at making a splash with their pick. The Giants took Odell Beckham in the first round this past year and they are hoping to land a pick like that once again. Vic Beasley and Shane Ray are two names that have come up quite a bit and many expect those players to be first round picks as well.
