Draft Recap: AFC North

Continuing with my recap of the 2015 NFL Draft, I take a look into the AFC North. For a good chunk of the 2014 season, every team in the division was very competitive; Based on the impressive draft classes for each of the teams, it seems like it may shape out the same way in 2015. On paper, it might seem that Cleveland and Baltimore won the draft in the North, but with impressive late picks, the Steelers and Bengals surely came away with improved rosters.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland came into the draft with a lot of questions surrounding their first round. Rumors started circulating about potential trades to land them a quarterback. When the dust settled on Day 1 they didn't make the blockbuster moves people thought they would, but chose to beef up both the offensive and defensive lines. This draft was a success for the Browns, although I would have thought they would take a receiver earlier than they did.


Best Pick- Danny Shelton (DT, Washington)

Shelton will be an immediate impact player in Cleveland. I considered him to be the second best defensive prospect in the 2015 class behind Leonard Williams. Shelton's huge body and strength will bode well in the NFL. He can throw people around and stuff running lanes, which will lead to negative or no yards gained. He will generate a lot of double teams which will free up other defenders to come into the backfield unscathed. He could be a three-down player and eventually a Pro Bowl type player.


Underrated Pick- Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB, Oregon)


Don't sleep on this guy. He was a 7th round pick due to an ACL injury late in the season at Oregon. When he was healthy, Olomu was considered one of the top cornerback prospects coming out of college. Once he gets healthy he could compete for time playing in nickel packages, and eventually even a starting spot on the outside. He doesn't necessarily have the "NFL size" but his coverage and ball skills are impeccable. The Browns got arguably one of the biggest steals in the draft taking him in the 7th round, and he should reward them with his play.


Final Thoughts


Cleveland wants the NFL to know their identity, and showed it with this class. They want to be a smash-mouth team on offense and a hard nosed run stuffing defense. Adding Shelton and offensive lineman Cameron Erving in the first round shows they want beef on both sides of the ball. Erving is a smart and versatile player who might play right tackle early in his career and move inside to guard or center. Nate Orchard and Xavier Cooper should develop into good players and make an impact on the defense as well. Receiver Vince Mayle will be a developmental player, but is very raw and could turn out to be a solid starter for Cleveland.

Cincinnati Bengals

Offensive Tackle Andrew Whitworth dared the Bengals brass to draft a tackle and they did.....TWICE. It is unclear to me what the Bengals were thinking, but they got two solid players with their first two picks.


Best Pick- Jake Fisher (OL, Oregon)

Fisher was the second round pick by the Bengals, and although they took another offensive lineman earlier, Fisher might be in the starting lineup before Cedric Ogbuehi. Fisher will probably play interior line for the Bengals, but can play tackle as well. He is an athletic player that uses his body well and moves quickly to stay in front of defenders.


Underrated Pick- Paul Dawson (LB, TCU)

Dawson might be the most pro-ready linebacker in the class. He lacks some physical skill, but is very instinctive and gets to the ball by any means necessary. He dropped a few rounds because of off-field character issues. Cincy doesn't have any issue with taking problem players. Pairing him inside with Vontaze Burfict will give them one of the better duos in the NFL.


Final Thoughts-

The Bengals were looking further into the future with the picks made in the 2015 NFL Draft. They already have a talented roster and addressed some of the depth issues they may have had. Third round pick Tyler Kroft could be a nice player, and pairing him with Tyler Eifert may be a lethal combo. Josh Shaw had his off-field problem, (lying about how he broke both of his ankles) but might be a steal for Cincinnati. Adding young depth seemed to be something the Bengals needed to do, and while it may not make sense now, they're better prepped for the future than they were before the draft.

Baltimore Ravens

Per usual, the Baltimore Ravens assembled one of the best classes in the NFL Draft. GM Ozzie Newsome always has a strategy that he sticks to, and this year wasn't any different. Newsome likes to let the board fall to him and tends to select the best player available. By doing so, the picks he makes are usually not only the best player available, but also a targeted position that they'd like to improve. The Ravens staff is very rigorous is scouting, which shows on the field, as most guys they draft end up making an immediate impact in one way or another.

Best Pick- Carl Davis (DT, Iowa)

I thought Davis could have been selected in the late first, early second depending on a run of defensive tackles coming off the board. Davis slipped into the third round and wound up in Baltimore. Davis is a huge guy who can immediately play for the Ravens on early downs as a run-stuffer. He is good at holding his own in double teams which can help his linebackers. He has a full arsenal of moves which will make him hard to block. The Ravens needed a replacement for Haloti Ngata and may have found one in Davis.


Underrated Pick- Darren Waller (WR, Georgia Tech)

Waller is going to be a developmental project. The intangibles are all there (he comes in at 6'6" 240lbs) but he lacks any signs of being pro-ready. He doesn't posses much of a route tree and can lose speed when the ball is in the air. He does show some promise is other areas. He is a promising red-zone threat who has size and jumping ability to go up and grab balls. Waller uses his size and body well when getting up for jump ball type plays. Baltimore hasn't had a receiver like Waller in a long time, and if developed the right way, could be similar to Plaxico Burress.


Final Thoughts-

From beginning to end the Ravens aced the Draft process. Breshad Perriman should be the immediate  replacement for Torrey Smith, and second-round tight end Maxx Williams should surpass all tight ends on the roster as the starter. Javorious Allen is a dual threat back, and while he doesn't have eye popping speed or tackle breaking ability, he finds ways to get into the open field. Allen will likely compete with Lorenzo Talieferro for the change of pace role. Adding pieces that can produce right away was important for the Ravens and they landed 4-5 guys that will do just that. If I gave grades to the teams for their drafts, Baltimore would be very high on the list.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers came into the draft knowing they had very specific holes to fill. They've been missing a dominant pass-rusher for a long time. They had to find an heir to the Polamalu throne, and get better at corner. It seems that the picks they made will definitely help fill some of those voids, although we won't REALLY know until these rookies get onto the field.

Best Pick- Doran Grant (CB, Ohio State)

When reading up on Grant, I noticed that a number of scouts were very intrigued with him. One scout said that he was at Ohio State the previous year to look at Bradley Roby, and that in every facet, Grant out-played him. Roby does everything very well, wether it be zone coverage, man coverage or pressing a receiver. He is a smart player that won't be beaten mentally. Grant might inevitably play over second round pick Senquez Golson just based on body size.


Underrated Pick- Gerod Holliman (S, Louisville)

If you glance back at my defensive position breakdown you'll noticed I had Holliman as a potential bust. The reasoning for this is that many projections earlier in the year had him as a late first, early second round pick. I think Pittsburgh got amazing value for Holliman. His amazing on-field year at Louisville may have hyped him up a bit, but his style of play is perfect for Pittsburgh. I believe that if Holliman isn't forced onto the field early in his career he could be a suitable enough replacement for Troy Polamalu.


Final Thought

The Steelers added players to fill holes in their roster. Wether or not these players pan out to be viable starters lis still to be seen. Bud Dupree should play from day one, and was seen as one of the best pass-rushers in the 2015 class. Golson and Grant should both see the field early, although I'm not too sure wether either will fare well in the NFL. Adding Sammie Coates was surprising to me, since the Steelers have an impressive core of guys. He does have good size and speed, and will probably be the fourth receiver unless he out-preforms Markus Wheaton. I don't think the Steelers did enough in this draft to be considered serious contenders, even with Ben Roethlisberger and his array or offensive weapons.

Draft Recap: AFC East

The NFL Draft has come and go, and now we can break down the biggest winners and losers from each division. Some may not be as clear cut, and may take two to three years before we can make a true judgement, but it is never too early to analyze anything. Here is my takeaway from the AFC East.

New York Jets

The Jets are the biggest winners in the division, and maybe the whole draft. They allowed the Draft to come to them and didn't panic. Doing this allowed them to add some of the best prospects while addressing the teams needs for most of their picks. The Jets not only solidified the best defensive line one the NFL, they added a speedy receiver, a developmental quarterback, and an edge rusher as well.

Best Pick- Leonard Williams (DL, USC)

Nobody thought Williams would be on the board for the Jets. Surely a team with one of the best defensive lines in the NFL wouldn't draft another lineman. They did. And, by doing so, allowed themselves to get the best prospect in the draft. It also gave the team flexibility and a bargaining chip when they start to negotiate with DL Mohammad Wilkerson. Drafting Williams could potentially mean Wilkerson walks, or that when they do re-negoatiate that one of the other lineman won't return. The Jets sat back in the draft, didn't sell their farm to move up and select a quarterback, and it wound up paying off in a big way.

Underrated Pick- Lorenzo Mauldin (OLB, Louisville)

The Jets were in need of an outside pass rusher and got one in Mauldin. It was a bargain to get a player that should have an immediate impact for them in the third round. Even if Mauldin doesn't produce double-didget sacks, he would still be a considerable upgrade compared to the linebackers they've had in recent years.

Final Thoughts-

Aside from adding Williams and Mauldin, the Jets added some nice pieces. The offense got a boost with the additions of Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State) and Bryce Petty (QB, Baylor). Petty should be watching from the sidelines for a year or two until his coaches feel like his game is NFL ready. Smith should instantly inject some sparks into the offense. He is a burner that tracks the ball very well in the air. All in all, the Jets came out of the 2015 Draft as huge winners.

Miami Dolphins

Miami needed to add some parts in the Draft to help them compete in the always tough AFC East, and did just that. They got a true number one receiver, and a very good nose tackle to pair with Ndamukong Suh. They added a body to take some of the load off of Lamar Miller, and got tougher along the offensive line as well.

Best Pick- Jordan Phillips (NT, Oklahoma)

Miami wanted to add a big body to pair with Suh, and Phillips is exactly that. Phillips will excel in run stopping, and should be able to create enough of a problem to give Suh some help. He has the desired body size for a run-stuffing defensive tackle, and given his situation he should flourish in Miami.

Underrated Pick- Tony Lippett (CB/WR, Michigan State)

Lippett is a unique player, with the determination and heart to be a pro. He doesn't do anything that makes him jump out to you on film, but was very consistent at MSU. The fact that he played both sides of the ball shows how physical and tough of a player he is, and also shows his willingness to want to play. Lippett is the kind of guy a coach loves, and if he keeps up the hard work ethic, he will find himself on the field for Maimi.

Final Thoughts-

Miami addressed the holes in the roster and added some depth. They didn't do anything too flashy which is sometimes the best way to have a successful draft. Parker has been over-shadowed by Kevin White and Amari Cooper, but is definitely a top prospect, and may be the most pro-ready. The addition of Jay Ajayi gives the 'Fins another hard working running back, and was a steal for Miami in the fifth round. There may only be a player or two from this draft that don't immediately impact the team.

New England Patriots

The defending Super Bowl champions came into the Draft with very few holes to fill. It's worth noting that DT Vince Wilfork, Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner are definitely huge losses, but the Pats did a great job filling those holes either through free-agency or the draft. Like the Dolphins, there wasn't anything flashy about their draft, but they surely made some good picks.

Best Pick- Tre Jackson (OL, Florida State)

The Patriots are very good at finding undervalued players in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. Jackson was a three-year starter for Florida State and comes with a port of experience under his belt. He is a good run and pass blocker that uses his leverage well. His football intelligence is probably what caught the eye of the Pats' scouts. If given a year to develop and learn the scheme, Jackson could be an impact starter in New England.

Underrated Pick- Xzavier Dickson (LB/DE, Alabama)

Dickson looks like he'll primarily be a passing situation linebacker. He has pretty good edge rushing skills, but lacks most of the tools that he'll need to produce in the run game. He should get some reps early on third down, while the Pats work on the other facets of his game. Think of him as the type of player Bruce Irvin was earlier in his career with Seattle, but with less polish to his all-around skill set.

Final Thoughts-

The Patriots rarely ever put themselves in a bad position heading into a new season. They replaced Vince Wilfork with first round pick Malcolm Brown. Brown was a steal at pick 32, and should be an immediate starter. Defensive Lineman Geno Grissom and Trey Flowers could develop into nice pieces for the defense, along with strong safety Jordan Richards. I would have imagined that the Pats would have drafted a cornerback a little higher; But then again, it always seems like Bill Belichick and the staff in New England always seem to know something that we don't.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills headed into the 2015 NFL offseason with a new Head Coach in Rex Ryan and for the most part, a new front office. They made a lot of noise in free-agency. In more recent years, they've always been active during the draft, but lacked a first round pick (They traded their 2015 first round pick to obtain Sammy Watkins) to really make any moves this year. With that said, I did like the Bills' approach this year. They facilitated exactly how they wanted things to happen, and didn't waste any picks.

Best Pick- Nick O'Leary (TE, Florida State)

The Bills lost Scott Chandler in free-agency, and added Charles Clay. Clay is the type of player that could potentially line up all over the offense, and is a great pass catcher. O'Leary has very similar traits, and could potentially be a developmental project if Clay doesn't pan out for Buffalo. I could see O'Leary being more of an H-Back earlier in his career and eventually shape his game to include being used as an off-line tight end.

Underrated Pick- Karlos Williams (RB, Florida State)

Williams didn't play up to his full potential last season at FSU, but still has a huge upside. He has a smash-mouth style of running and can punish defenses with his physical play. If he puts in the effort during the teams mini-camp, he could find himself as the third running back on the depth chart.

Final Thoughts-

Without holding a first-round pick, the Bills found a way to get some value out of their draft. Adding Ronald Darby was a good move in the second round. They needed help in their secondary and Darby could be a good value pick. Offensive lineman Nick Miller should fit well with Rex Ryan's system and could find his way as a starter in the NFL. I would say the Draft was a small part to a much bigger picture in the Bills' offseason.

Day 1 Analysis: Draft Thoughts

Although it didn't seem like an eventful draft, there was a lot of moving pieces. There was only two trades, but a lot of surprise picks.

Washington selected OL Brandon Scherff with the 5th pick, which not many people saw coming. I was almost certain that they would go with an edge rusher, but elected to take arguably the best offensive lineman in the class. The Skins should look to add a rusher in the second.

St. Louis watched as the players higher on their board got taken. Instead of trading back, they took RB Todd Gurley. The Rams know their identity needs to be a ground-and-pound attack, and adding Gurley gives the Rams a two-headed monster. Although i was surprised at the pick, I believe it was the right move.

The Jets didn't waste a pick, and didn't sell their farm to move up and take someone. By doing so, they saw the best player in the draft (Leonard Williams) fall to them at 6. This absolutely solidifies the best defensive line in the league, although it sounds like they're still listening to offers for Muhammad Wilkerson.

Cleveland made the right moves, beefing up both their offensive and defensive lines. Danny Shelton is a gigantic human and pushes people around allowing backers to make tackles, and shutting gaps before running backs can hit them. Cameron Erving is a smart player and will likely play guard for the Browns. Instead of giving up any of their picks for a quarterback they added beef, and both players will be immediate starters.

I really liked Miami drafting DaVante Parker. The decision to move on from Mike Wallace was smart, and bringing Parker in gives them a true number one receiver. Parker may have been overlooked since a lot of hype was surrounding Kevin White and Amari Cooper, but Parker's name belongs next to those two.

Kevin Johnson (Houston) and Marcus Peters (Kansas City) both landed in spots will they'll likely be the successors to the starting corner spot. Both teams have corners who will be free-agents next year, and bringing in younger players gives them insurance if they don't re-sign.

Denver got the steal of the draft, trading up to draft Shane Ray. His off-field issues are documented, but purely from a talent standpoint he is one of the best players in the draft. Denver didn't have to give up much to jump up, giving Detroit their 5th round pick this year, a 5th next year and Center Manny Ramirez.

Breshad Perriman to the Ravens is a good match. He has a very similar game to Torrey Smith who left to sign with the 49ers. Perriman needs to work on his hands if he wants to stay on the field, but you can't deny his speed.

New Orleans essentially wasted their second first-round pick, taking Stephone Anthony. I didn't see him coming off the board until the late second round at the earliest. There were more talented players they could've drafted and still gotten Anthony later in the draft.

New England actually stayed in the first round. By doing so they found a good player in Malcolm Brown, who is a dominant defensive tackle. They needed a replacement for Vince Wilfork and Brown could wind up filling those shoes well.

NFL Draft Rapid Reaction LIVE

Follow me live on this thread for up to the minute news, reactions and commentary:


THATS ALL FOR TONIGHT THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG GUYS. ILL HAVE A SEPARATE THREAD FOR THE REST OF MY FIRST ROUND BREAKDOWN TOMORROW



Pick 15- San Diego trades up and nabs Melvin Gordon. They knew they needed a running back and weren't afraid to get him. Good job moving up and not selling the farm.


Pick 14- Miami takes DaVante Parker. Needed to add a true number one receiver and got one.

Niners and Chargers swapped picks. SD is on the clock. SD gets the Niners 4th this year and additional pick next year.


9:36pm- If DaVante Parker is not the pick here then Miami is doing this all wrong.


Pick 13- New Orleans selects Andrus Peat. A shocker here since i thought he would be off the board. I don't see Peat developing into a solid tackle, but maybe a guard for the Saints.


Pick 12- Cleveland takes Danny Shelton. A little earlier than i projected but he's an immediate starter for the Browns.


Pick 11- Minnesota adds to a young secondary and takes Trae Waynes. Solid pick and a great scheme fit.


Pick 10- St. Louis take Todd Gurley. Value pick, doesn't need to rush onto the field and can work his way into the lineup.


Pick 9- Giants take Ereck Flowers. Great player with run and pass blocking capability. Huge upside.


Pick 8- Atlanta takes Vic Beasley. Huge upgrade. Small body but he is a monster pass rusher. Kiss my mock draft goodbye.


Pick 7- Chicago selects Kevin White. After seeing Cooper taken they grab White. They needed a replacement for Marshall. Good pick here, ruining my mock draft.


Pick 6- New York Jets take Leonard Williams. WOW! Sit back at six and get the best player in the class. Might get traded, if not Id be scared to play the Jets.


Pick 5- Biggest surprise so far. Scherff is a good player but how can you pass on Williams here? Look for the Giants to start getting active.


Pick 4- Oakland selects Amari Cooper. 3-4 on picks but he fills a huge hole.


Pick 3- J'Ville takes Fowler Jr. so far I'm 3-3 with my mock draft. Fowler is an immediate starter.


8:23pm- Jags OTC should be Fowler but won't be surprised if Amari Cooper is taken here. Heard a lot about Jacksonville loving the kid.


Pick 2- Tennessee takes Mariota. A trade is still in play, with Philly still front-runners

Pick 1- Tampa Bay takes Jameis Winston. We already knew this. Now onto the madness at #2


8:03pm- The Chargers have informed QB Phillip Rivers they are not going to trade him during the draft.


7:59pm- Philly in trying to move to 1 or 2, willing to give up two 1's a 3rd Kendricks Boykin and Cox.


7:50pm- ESPN reporting the Buccaneers are fielding offers for the first pick. They'd only take a trade with a team that could guarantee they would still get Winston.


7:35pm- Chicago is willing to deal QB Jay Cutler to Tennessee, but the Titans are not interested per multiple sources.


7:27pm- Chicago is calling Tennessee about potentially trading up for the second pick.



We're less than an hour away from the first pick and rumors are picking up about potential trades. Cleveland and Philly are still trying to move to number 2, and St. Louis is fielding offers for number 10, having received phone calls from a handful of teams interested.

NFL Draft: Final Thoughts

The NFL Draft is finally here! Here are some of my final thoughts before the clock starts at 8pm.

1. Jameis Winston will be taken first overall, unless JJ Watt and and first round pick are put on the table. Tampa Bay has been overall satisfied with what they've seen and heard from Winston and want him to be the face of the franchise.

2. Tennessee should make the move and trade away number two. The asking price should be high, but Philly and Cleveland are still calling the Titans. If they don't make the deal, I'm told they're still comfortable taking Marcus Mariota.

3. Don't sleep on Jacksonville to be in play for a receiver. Word from the Jags' camp is that they're REALLY high on Amari Cooper.

4. Two players have had issues during the weeks leading up to the Draft with substance abuse (Randy Gregory and Shane Ray). While they have dropped out of the top-10, I can't see them falling out of the first round.

5. The Jets don't like the 5 slot. They've been phoning teams to gauge the value of their pick, as well as talking about both moving up or trading down. If they trade down, look for them to target Gregory or Ray.

6. Corner has been a hard position to judge. There are at least four players with first round ability, and I think four or five will be taken in the first round.

7. Landon Collins draft value is dropping. He should be a first round pick, but don't be surprised if he isn't the only safety taken in the first. Many analysts have Damarious Randall (Arizona State) as their best safety.

8. Outside of the top-10 players, there isn't a clear cut census as to what players are really the next level talent. Players like Jake Fisher, Cedric Ogbuehi, Devin Smith, Nelson Agholor and Eli Harold are all players that are on the fringe that could surprise people by getting drafted in the first round.

9. Miami REALLY REALLY likes DaVante Parker. If he is still on the board i wouldn't be shocked if he's the pick, but keep your eyes out for Todd Gurley to Miami as well.

10. I've heard the Rams are very high on OT Ereck Flowers. They could move back a few picks and still nab him. Look for the Dolphins to make a move to take Parker.

11. Baltimore needs offensive weapons. Running Back and Receiver should be areas to target, but if there isn't value when they go on the clock, look for them to take a corner and sure up their secondary. Baltimore does a great job of letting the draft fall to them and taking the best player available.

12. The New England Patriots will likely try to trade out of the first round, as they always do. They can demand a little more for their 32nd pick, since many teams would want to jump back into the first to get a 5th year option on the player they're drafting.

13. St. Louis, the New York Jets, and the Buccaneers should all be looking to jump back into the first round depending on the players available. I think the Rams would be ion play for a quarterback (Bryce Petty or Brett Hundley), while the Jets should be looking to add another receiver.

14. Since 2004, only four quarterbacks drafted in the first round have won a Super Bowl (Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco). I don't believe that Winston or Mariota are going to be the best pros from this class.

15. The Packers are very high on LB Erick Kendricks and CB Jalen Collins. Most analysts have both of these players as second round talent and should be available early in round 2. Look for Green Bay to field offers for their pick.

16. Todd Gurley might be taken as early as 5th overall, and may not make it out of the top-10.

Matt Geiger FINAL Final Mock Draft

I wasn't happy with the Mock Draft i released last night, and after all the player and prospect news I decided to release one more Mock Draft with no analysis. This is the mock I will be using as my official piece when the draft starts tomorrow.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State)


2. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon)


3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dante Fowler Jr.


4. Oakland Raiders- Leonard Williams (DL, USC)


5. Washington Redskins- Vic Beasley (EDGE, Clemson)


6. New York Jets- Bud Dupree (EDGE, Kentucky)


7. Chicago Bears- Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)


8. Atlanta Falcons- Andrus Peat (OL, Stanford)


9. New York Giants- Brandon Scherff (OL, Iowa)


10. St, Louis Rams- Kevin White (WR, West Virginia)


11. Minnesota Vikings- Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan State)


12. Cleveland Browns- DaVante Parker (WR, Louisville)


13. New Orleans Saints- Shane Ray (EDGE, Missouri)


14. Miami Dolphins- La'el Collins (OL, LSU)


15. San Fransisco 49ers- Arik Armstead (DL, Oregon)


16. Houston Texans- Breshad Perriman (WR, UCF)


17. San Diego Chargers- Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia)


18. Kansas City Chiefs- Marcus Peters (CB, Washington)


19. Cleveland Browns- Danny Shelton (DT, Washington)


20. Philadelphia Eagles- Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest)


21.Cincinnati Bengals- Randy Gregory (EDGE, Nebraska)


22. Pittsburgh Steelers- Landon Collins (S, Alabama)


23. Detroit Lions- Malcolm Brown (DT, Texas)


24. Arizona Cardinals- Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin)


25. Carolina Panthers- Ereck Flowers (OL, Miami)


26. Baltimore Ravens- Dorial Green-Beckham (WR, Missouri)


27. Dallas Cowboys- Jordan Phillips (DT, Oklahoma)


28. Denver Broncos- Cameron Erving (OL, Florida State)


29. Indianapolis Colts- Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida State)


30. Green Bay Packers- Erick Kendricks (LB, UCLA)


31. New Orleans Saints- Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami)


32. New England Patriots- Laken Tomlinson (OL, Duke)

Matt Geiger Final NFL Mock Draft

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State)

It's no surprise that Tampa takes Winston here. Head Coach Lovie Smith has already said he feels very comfortable having Jameis as the face of the Buccaneers. Winston has the least amount of questions on the field, and it seems like he answered most of the issues off the field. He is used to playing in a pro-style offense and will be the opening day quarterback.

2. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon)

I have a strong feeling that Mariota is going 2nd overall. I think Tennessee trades the pick away and adds some more draft picks. Cleveland, and San Diego have been rumored to be interested, with Cleveland having more to offer and already willing to part ways with Johnny Manziel; But don't count out Philadelphia either. If you note my "Trade Mock Draft," I explored the idea that a three-way trade between Cleveland Tennessee and Philly could happen, and rumors of this are popping up more and more. St. Louis is also rumored to have some interest in the second pick as well.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dante Fowler Jr. (EDGE, Florida)

Jacksonville needs an outside pass-rusher regardless of who is available. Passing up on Leonard Williams will be hard but Fowler is a very good prospect.

4. Oakland Raiders- Leonard Williams (DL, USC)

If Williams is still on the board I cannot see Oakland passing up on him. Amari Cooper and Kevin White are very tempting picks, but Oakland could add a receiver later in the draft, with receiver being a loaded position in the class.

5. Washington Redskins- Vic Beasley (EDGE, Clemson)

Washington needs an outside pass-rusher badly. Beasley would be a great compliment to the Redskins' powerful defensive line.

6. New York Jets- Bud Dupree (EDGE, Kentucky)

It will be tempting for the Jets to take one of the receivers, and tempting for Jets fans to hate the front office when they pass on them, but the need for a pass-rush is a bigger priority since the addition of Brandon Marshall. Look for the Jets to add a receiver early in the second round while there is still first round talent available. Also be on the lookout for the Jets to pull the trigger on a trade considering one of the highly touted rushers (Shane Ray) failed a drug test. If they feel there isn't value taking Dupree or Gregory here, they'll listen to offers.

7. Chicago Bears- Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)

Chicago doesn't draft offensive skill players in the first round very much (4 in the last 15 years). Amari Cooper is too talented and comes in ready to play from day-one. The Bears will be happy to see him slide this far and could be replacing Brandon Marshall with a future All-Pro.

8. Atlanta Falcons- Randy Gregory (EDGE, Nebraska)

Atlanta has had no luck with any pass-rushing players in recent years, and haven't really drafted any in recent memory. Breaking the mold and drafting Gregory should at least give them a solid linebacker that can get to the quarterback, and also provide sufficient pass-coverage.

9. New York Giants- Brandon Scherff (OL, Iowa)

New York gets tougher along their line and helps keep Eli upright.

10. St. Louis Rams- Kevin White (WR, West Virginia)

St. Louis simply should not pass up the opportunity to add a player as talented as White to a position they've struggled with since the departures of Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce.

11. Minnesota Vikings- Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan State)

Minnesota adds the best cover corner in the draft to pair along side with the underrated Xavier Rhodes.

12. Cleveland Browns- Danny Shelton (DT, Washington)

Wether it's Cleveland or Tennessee drafting here, Shelton is the pick. He's the best available and is a fit to both teams.

13. New Orleans Saints- Shane Ray (EDGE, Missouri)

Even after the recent arrest, New Orleans will take a shot on Ray, who will likely be suspended. New Orleans holds two first-round picks and can take a chance.

14. Miami Dolphins- DaVante Parker (WR, Louisville)

Miami continues to revamp its receiving corps adding Parker. This gives them a true "number one" receiver in Parker to pair along with Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry.

15. San Fransisco 49ers- Arik Armstead (DT, Oregon)

I still feel this is a bit of a reach, but Armstead is an athletic interior lineman that new Head Coach Jim Tomsula can mold to be HIS guy.

16. Houston Texans- Breshad Perriman (WR, UCF)

Houston will look to add a speedy receiver to pair with the emerging stud DeAndre Hopkins. A sight for sore eyes for whoever is throwing the ball in Houston next season.

17. San Diego Chargers- Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia)

Gurley is one of the best prospects in the class and San Diego would be able to ease him on the field while he gets back to 100% after an  ACL injury.

18. Kansas City Chiefs- La'el Collins (OL, LSU)

Kansas City beefs up the line to further expand their dominant running game. Collins can play both tackle positions and would be a great opposite Eric Fisher.

19. Cleveland Browns- Andrus Peat (OL, Stanford)

Cleveland knows they're going to have to run the ball this season so adding Peat gives them more talent across the line.

20. Philadelphia Eagles- Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest)

Philly adds some depth to the secondary.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Landon Collins (S, Alabama)

The Bengals can use a safety to go along with the impressive stock pile of corners they have.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers- Jalen Collins (CB, LSU)

Pittsburgh has a depleted secondary after the retirements of Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. Collins is the second best corner in the draft, and fits the scheme in Pitt well.

23. Detroit Lions- Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida State)

The Lions could use a running back, but finding a replacement for Suh and Fairley to pair with Haloti Ngata should be a higher priority.

24. Arizona Cardinals- Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin)

Arizona should realize by now that Andre Ellington can't be trusted as a reliable three-down back. Gordon is a pure runner and would give the offense insurance in case Ellington goes down, or if Palmer gets injured.

25. Carolina Panthers- DJ Humphries (OL, Florida)

Carolina needs to protect Cam Newton plain and simple.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Marcus Peters (CB, Washington)

Baltimore can add a reliable corner. He comes with off-field luggage but that shouldn't be an issue with the Ravens.

27. Dallas Cowboys- Malcolm Brown (DT, Texas)

After watching Gurley and Gordon come off the board, the Cowboys address another hole in their roster by adding Brown. Dallas needs a presence on the interior line and Brown is one of the underrated players at the position.

28. Denver Broncos- Cameron Erving (OL, Florida State)

Perfect scheme fit for Denver. Erving can pass-block, run-block and is a smart player.

29. Indianapolis Colts- Jordan Phillips (DT, Oklahoma)

Indy adds a defensive tackle that can play three downs. Phillips is the prototype 3-4 defensive tackle, and gives some attitude to the Colts' front seven.

30. Green Bay Packers- Erick Kendricks (LB, UCLA)

Green Bay adds the most underrated player in the draft, and fills a huge gap in their roster. Kendricks excels at all facets of defense and should be a huge upgrade for the Packers.

31. New Orleans Saints- Phillip Dorsett

New Orleans continues the offensive overhaul by adding another burner. Dorsett is high on the Saints' draft board and they'll pounce all over him if he is still available.

32. New England Patriots- Carl Davis (DT, Iowa)

New England get their replacement for Vince Wilfork. Carl Davis is a mammoth and can plug the running lanes for linebackers.