Post-Combine 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Which QB Goes First?
By Tyler Olson
Clemmings is the fourth offensive lineman off the board after the Bengals take him to solidify the right side of their line, opposite of Andrew Whitworth. The ceiling is high for Clemmings but raw so going to Cincinnati will give him plenty of time to continue growing as a pass protector before moving to the left side in the future.
If available, the Steelers would rather have a different Collins here (safety Landon Collins picked by Houston) but they’re still addressing their secondary by taking Jalen here to bring youth to their cornerback position. He’ll have a great opportunity to learn from a similar corner in Ike Taylor while competing for the CB2 with William Gay during training camp.
Although unlikely, both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley could be on the move this offseason. Regardless, one of them will be gone so they’ll need to bring in a tackle that can compete from day one and Brown is their guy. He fits the 4-3 mold so don’t expect the Lions to lose any sleep as far as their defensive line is concerned; saving money by bringing in a younger talent is a desirable scenerio for head coach Jim Caldwell.
Losing the “quarterback of the defense” in consecutive years is tough but that’s exactly what the Cardinals are going through right now. After Larry Foote was added to the coaching staff, there’s a hole just waiting to be filled by the former Mississippi State Bulldog. After a great combine, McKinney can come in right away and take over on one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Last year the Panthers hit the nail on the head by taking a shot on Kelvin Benjamin towards the tail end of the first round. They have an opportunity to do the same by giving their offensive line a boost with the addition of Collins. Cam Newton suffered a lot by having little time to throw and it resulted in sacks and injuries. They’ll have a great opportunity to hit on a receiver and running back in rounds two and three.
It’s amazing how the Ravens were able to come close to the AFC championship game this season with the injuries they sustained at the cornerback position throughout the 2014 season. Had they been healthy, we may have never seen the New England Patriots come back from two 14-point deficits in the divisional round. Adding Peters will give them the much-needed depth they’re currently lacking.
If you thought the Ravens’ secondary stepped up this season then there’s no words for how the Cowboys defense played this last season. After what we all thought may be the worst defense in history, the ‘boys came through and competed. One thing they extremely lacked, however, was a consistent pass rush. The 6-3, 267 lb product from UCLA can bring just that to Rod Marinelli’s defense.
It’s almost a guarantee that Julius Thomas won’t be back with Denver and we all know how much Peyton Manning loves throwing to his tight ends so Williams falls into a perfect opportunity here with the Bronco’s. He’ll step right in and be a favorite target for Manning in his rookie season.
In a running back class that runs extremely deep, the first one is taken here after the Colts select Gordon. He’s a perfect ground-and-pound back with break-away abilities, something the Colts are lacking in an offense ran by Andre Luck. By providing a balanced attack, this offense will be on the verge of being the best offense in the league in 2015.
Goldman falls to the 30th pick more so due to team needs opposed to talent. He’s a hoss that will excel at the nose tackle position in the NFL. He’ll fill the hole that’s been evident ever since B.J. Raji’s production has fallen off in recent years.
With Jermaine Kearse heading into free agency this offseason, the Seahawks will be in need of another wide receiver in their underrated receiving corps (you’re welcome Doug Baldwin). With how great Strongs’ hands are and his ability to fight for the ball in the air, it’ll be toughfor second-year player Paul Richardson to beat him out for the starting spot opposite Baldwin.
Trying to find an imminent need throughout the New England roster is tough. Sure, they could bring in another weapon for Tom Brady on the outside but I believe they’re in a perfect position to take a chance on Gurley here. There’s no need to rush him back from the ACL injury and if he comes back healthy, there may be no stopping this Patriots team for another three seasons.
Next: Tight end is an imminent need for Buffalo.
Want more Mock’s Check Out EatDrinkandSleepFootball.com