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NFL Mock Draft 2015 Edition 1

1. Oakland Raiders Leonard Williams, DL
While the additions of Khalil Mack and Justin Tuck have greatly improved the porous Oakland front seven, more help is still needed. The agile Williams is perhaps the best player in this draft when healthy and can consistently get to the QB, something nobody else can do on the Raiders' D-Line can do, with the exception of Tuck.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marcus Mariota, QB
Randy Gregory to Jacksonville
Even with injuries to both his offensive line and receiving corps, redshirt junior Mariota continues to shine at Oregon and he is the favorite to be the first quarterback taken off the board in the 2015 Draft. Tampa's QB situation has been so disastrous for so long, this seems like the only logical choice here.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars Randy Gregory, DE
While the Jag's pass rush has been surprisingly decent this year (27 sacks on the year) they have still lacked a franchise pass rusher for years after passing on a number (Mack at No. 3) last season. Gregory, a crazy athlete with an incredibly high motor, could be the big piece the Jaguars front seven has been lacking.
4. New York Jets Jameis Winston, QB
It really hasn't taken too long in New York to realize Geno Smith certainly is not the franchise guy for the Jets. They will once more be searching for a solution at QB, and if Mariota is taken, no solution has better upside than Winston. Although off the field issues continue to discourage, there is no denying what Winston can do on the field and he will bring immediate excitement to a dull Jets offense.
5. Tennessee Titans Amari Cooper, WR
The Titans have problems everywhere on offense, at nearly every skill position. They will need to start somewhere and why not start with one of the nation's best players, Alabama wide out Amari Cooper. Cooper is a strong, powerful athlete who has the durability to be Tennessee's go-to option in the passing game for years to come.
6. Washington Redskins Brandon Scherff, OT
If Robert Griffin is ever going to fulfill his destiny as the franchise cornerstone in Washington, he needs to stay healthy. Part of it is him learning to slide and protect himself, the other part is the offensive line protecting him. Scherff is a brick wall of an offensive tackle who seems like the anchor this O-Line needs.
7. Atlanta Falcons Shane Ray, DE/LB
It is pretty embarrassing how weak Atlanta's pass rush has been over the course of the 2014-2015 season. The Falcons are dead last in the NFL in sacks and they need a difference maker off the edge to come in and make an impact right away. Enter Missouri product Shane Ray, an explosive presence who can play DE or outside 'backer who has been absolutely dominant this year, even against huge SEC linemen.
8. Chicago Bears Landon Collins, S
In case you missed this past Sunday night performance against Green Bay, or the whole season in fact, you need to learn something about Chicago's defense: it is absolutely terrible, no other way to put it. The problems begin in the back where Chicago desperately misses Charles Tillman. The Bears need the lengthy Landon Collins, a smart, disciplined Alabama product.
9. St. Louis Rams Andrus Peat, OT
While St. Louis clearly has holes in their secondary and at quarterback, their offensive line continues to be a problem, despite the drafting of Greg Robinson last spring. The Rams allowed 24 sacks in the team's first eight games which is why drafting Peat could really help. With Peat and Robinson, St. Louis has a superb offensive line with tremendous upside for years.
10. New York Giants Shaq Thompson, LB
Despite being just 20 years old and still inexperienced, Shaq Thompson has shown all the signs of becoming an elite outside linebacker for the Washington Huskies. Gifted with tremendous instincts and quickness, he has been a tackling machine while also even seeing time at running back. The Giants need some help in run support, so Thompson makes obvious sense.
11. Carolina Panthers Cedric Ogbuehi, OT
Cam Newton has had very little help from his offensive line this season, which was ripped apart this past Monday by Philadelphia. Ogbuehi is the next in a long line of franchise caliber pass blockers coming out of Texas A&M, who will be able to play either tackle positions.
12. Minnesota Vikings La'El Collins, OL
Left tackle has been a real problem for Minnesota this year, as former No.3 pick Matt Kalil has evidently struggled. Why not select the talented Collins out of LSU (a versatile player who can play tackle or guard) and then look later in the draft for a RB or DE?
13. Houston Texans Trae Waynes, CB
The secondary has been a real cause for concern for Bill O'Brien and Houston but luckily there is a nice solution down near the mid part of the first round in Michigan State's Trae Waynes. A ball hawking corner who is strong to cover much bigger receivers, Waynes will immediately upgrade the Texans' defensive backfield.
14. New Orleans Saints Vic Beasley, DE/LB
New Orleans is another NFC South team struggling to find any sort of pass rush, and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will be seeking help immediately. Although scheme fit is a relative question mark, Beasley has been a proven pass rusher for Clemson and will find ways to contribute for the Saints right away.
15. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) Kevin White, WR
Outside of Amari Cooper, no receiver has dominated the collegiate ranks quite like White, who is putting up monster numbers at West Virginia. Although Cleveland's offense has shown signs of becoming explosive, they still need to find some ways so stretch the field. White could be a scary No. 2 option alongside Josh Gordon, if he ever figures things out off the field.
16. Miami Dolphins P.J. Williams, CB
While the Dolphins' pass rush has been strong all year the front seven of Miami's defense clearly needs some retooling. Williams is an incredibly athletic talent who has the hands of a receiver. He will be a great complement in the Dolphins' secondary, next to Brent Grimes.
17. San Francisco 49ers DeVante Parker, WR
Michael Crabtree continues to struggle and could leave in free agency this season. Luckily for San Francisco, they will have a perfect backup plan in the form of Parker, a sturdy, physical receiver out of Louisville. Parker's versatility and proven playmaking ability will fit in very nicely in a struggling Niners' offense.
18. San Diego Chargers Shawn Oakman, DE
With the aging Dwight Freeney set to retire soon, along with the need for a franchise pass rusher, San Diego should go with Oakman, a massive 6'9" pass rusher out of Baylor. Oakman is an absolute monster and he has all the tools to grow into a dominant pass rusher for the Chargers.
19. Cleveland Browns Dante Fowler, DE
This is one of the strongest and deepest defensive line drafts in recent memory, and the Browns should dip into the D-Line ranks here. Fowler is a beast when healthy and the Browns' rush defense and pass rush could use a major lift. Although he is still rough around the edges, Fowler has the potential to make himself a steal here at 19.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB
Despite first round projections last season, Ekpre-Olomu decided to stay at Oregon another year, possibly helping his stock. While he has struggled at times this year, the ball hawk has the speed, versatility and smarts to be a very productive player in the aging Pittsburgh secondary.
21. Baltimore Ravens Todd Gurley, RB
The Ray Rice situation has left the Ravens without a long term running back, although Justin Forsett has filled in admirably for Baltimore. Gurley is an absolute steal down here at 21, and he has all the gifts to run all over defenders for years to come, if he can stay out of trouble and healthy.
22. Kansas City Chiefs Jaelen Strong, WR
Kansas City has clearly lacked a big play wide receiver for a long time, and Dwayne Bowe is far from a solution of any kind. Strong is a speedy weapon with tremendous hands who will stretch defenses vertically and open up running lanes for Jamaal Charles, while also greatly utilizing Alex Smith's underrated arm.
23. Cincinnati Bengals Danny Shelton, DT
The Bengals have been completely exposed up the middle this year in run support and while Geno Atkins will eventually get healthy again, they need an answer next to him. Shelton has been dominant at Washington this season and he is the gritty, hard-nosed tackle that would perfectly complement the speedy and athletic Atkins.
24. Green Bay Packers Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE
Green Bay's rush defense has been a liability in big games for them these last couple years and they need immediate help. While Dupree is more of a pass rusher than run stopper, he can grow into a more complete defensive weapon and he is the beast defensive linemen available here.
25. Seattle Seahawks Devin Funchess, WR/TE
While Seattle's ground attack has carried them for years, they will need to find a more potent passing game to grow offensively. With Percy Harvin and Golden Tate now gone, Michigan's Devin Funchess could be the answer. A natural tight end whose hands are so good he has been playing receiver, Funchess has the explosiveness and talent to be a proven option for Russell Wilson for years to come.
26. Detroit Lions Eddie Goldman, DT
Already equipped with absolute beasts Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Detroit's front seven could be even more dominant with another strong tackle. Goldman has been superb for FSU this year and joining him with Suh and Fairley would be absolutely terrifying for opposing offensive lines.
27. Dallas Cowboys Shilique Calhoun, DE/DT/LB
The versatile Calhoun would be the perfect fit for a Dallas front that desperately needs another pass rusher. A monster whose length and quickness will propel him to new heights in the NFL, Calhoun has the chance to become Dallas' next Demarcus Ware.
28. Indianapolis Colts Lorenzo Mauldin, DE
Age is starting to become a major factor on the Colts' defensive line, which has also missed aging DE Robert Mathis. A long term option is needed, which is where the hard-working Mauldin comes into play. An energetic end with an NFL body, Mauldin will be ready to perform right away in Indianapolis.
29. Philadelphia Eagles Benardrick McKinney, LB
The Eagles are surprisingly winning with defense this season, but even so they could always need some more help. Resisting McKinney, out of Mississippi State, would be extremely tough for Philadelphia. The athletic McKinney could help in run support or help improve a pass defense that has been inconsistent this season.
30. Arizona Cardinals Mario Edwards, DE
The aggressive Cardinals' defense could always use another pass rusher and Edwards could be a great solution. Although he has not proven he is an every down defensive end, Edwards has the size and strength to grow into one. Until then, he will see some snaps in a lot of different blitz schemes.
31. Denver Broncos Denzel Perryman, LB
A hard-hitting stud from Miami, Perryman could be the perfect addition to a Denver defense that has lacked a franchise middle linebacker for some time. Gifted with incredible instincts as well, Perryman could turn into a tackling machine in no time for the Broncos.
32. New England Patriots Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
He hasn't played in nearly a year, but few receivers in the nation can be as dominant as Green-Beckham, who is now with Oklahoma. The young talent is gifted with blazing speed and the frame needed to make plays on jump balls. Adding Green-Beckham could give Tom Brady another weapon to work with as his career slows to a close.

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