NFL Mock Draft 2015: Josh Wilson's Mock Draft 2.0

We're just two and a half weeks away from the NFL Draft, and so here's the second edition of my mock draft.  A number of the picks stayed the same, but there were a number of them that changed as well - including the Indianapolis Colts' pick.  So without further ado, here it is:

1.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Thanks to Mike Mayock there has been a lot of discussion recently about the quarterback position, and while I do like Marcus Mariota and would consider him if I were the Buccaneers, I think Tampa Bay will take Jameis Winston with the first overall pick.  Nothing has changed here.

2.  Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

I think that Leonard Williams might really be the best overall player in this draft class, and the Titans need all the help they can get.  I think we'll see the team shopping this pick looking to see what other teams will give up for Mariota, but since I haven't mocked any trades I have the Titans taking Williams to help their defensive line.

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida

Like with the Titans, we might see the Jaguars field some calls about the third overall pick from teams interested in Marcus Mariota, but in this mock draft I have them sticking with Dante Fowler to give their pass rush a significant boost.  Slowly but surely, the Jaguars are moving in the right direction.

4.  Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Raiders stick with Amari Cooper here, giving Derek Carr a new weapon in the receiver who I still think is the best in this draft class.  They don't need to over think this pick; they simply just need to grab the wide receiver that makes a lot of sense for them and add a key piece to their offense.

5.  Washington Redskins: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

The Redskins could really use some pass rush help, and so for the second mock draft in a row I have them addressing that position in the first round.  This time, however, I have them grabbing Vic Beasley out of Clemson.  He's one of the best pass rushers available and would be an immediate boost to the Redskins' defense.

6.  New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

I'll just be up front about it: I think Marcus Mariota will go before number six.  I anticipate a team trading up to grab him if he doesn't go anyway, but in this mock draft with no trades, I don't have him falling past the New York Jets.  They seem to still like Geno Smith, but I think Mariota would be a significant upgrade and would be worth taking for the Jets.

7.  Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

The Bears are moving to a 3-4 defense under John Fox, and a true nose tackle is very hard to find in today's NFL (just ask the Colts).  As such, I think it makes a lot of sense for the Bears to grab Danny Shelton here.

8.  Atlanta Falcons: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska

Last week I had the Falcons selecting Vic Beasley, but he's gone already and instead the Falcons take Randy Gregory - another pass rusher with talent who would immediately help their defense.  There are plenty of off-the-field questions with Gregory, but I think his talent makes him go higher than many might assume.

9.  New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OG, Iowa

The Giants' offensive line could use some help, and they need to keep Eli Manning standing.  Brandon Scherff is the best offensive lineman in this class, so this pick makes a ton of sense.

10.  St. Louis Rams: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

The Rams have Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin as their receivers and that's a solid group, but Kevin White is a very good wide receiver who would really help out the team's offense.  The team would be wise to surround Nick Foles (or whoever ends up starting at quarterback) with as many weapons as possible, and grabbing White would be a significant addition.

11.  Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

Teddy Bridgewater had a very promising rookie season for the Vikings, and they traded for Mike Wallace this offseason to try to give him another weapon.  But giving a young quarterback like Bridgewater as many good receivers as possible is a very smart move, and by adding DeVante Parker the Vikings could do just that.

12.  Cleveland Browns: La'El Collins, OT, LSU

In the last mock draft I had the Browns taking a wide receiver, and I think that they'd still be interested in the position - but with Cooper, White, and Parker all off the board already, along with defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton, I think the Browns could turn to the offensive line and add La'El Collins to add competition and depth up front for whoever does end up starting at quarterback.

13.  New Orleans Saints: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

Adding defense needs to be the first priority for the Saints, and adding a pass rusher like Shane Ray would really help the unit out.

14.  Miami Dolphins: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

A fourth wide receiver taken in the top 14 picks, the Dolphins look to add to their offense by giving Ryan Tannehill another weapon to throw to.  Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills are already in Miami, and Jaelen Strong would complete the trio of young, promising wideouts for the young, promising quarterback to throw to.

15.  San Francisco 49ers: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas

I had the 49ers adding an inside linebacker in the first edition of my mock draft, but this time they add a different defensive player at a different position of need.  Malcolm Brown is a good defensive tackle who would give them a talented player on the interior of the defensive line - where Ian Williams will currently be counted on to play a huge role.

16.  Houston Texans: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Clearly the best cornerback in this draft, Trae Waynes slides a little bit and the Texans are the beneficiaries.  They add to their secondary by selecting Waynes - and hope that perhaps they can finally slow down the Colts' passing offense and, in particular, T.Y. Hilton.

17.  San Diego Chargers: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

The Chargers need to upgrade at the running back position, and Todd Gurley is the best player in the draft at the spot even with the torn ACL he suffered last year.  This pick makes a lot of sense and stays the same as the last edition of this mock draft.

18.  Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

Cameron Erving could replace Rodney Hudson, who the Chiefs lost in free agency, as the starting center, and he also provides versatility at the other positions on the offensive line.  This would be a smart pickup for Kansas City.

19.  Cleveland Browns (from Buffallo Bills): Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

With their first pick the Browns added an offensive lineman, and with their second pick they add help to the defensive side of the football.  Bud Dupree is a talented pass rusher and would help the Browns out in a big way.

20.  Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

I debated between two players with the last name of Collins at this pick, as it was between Alabama safety Landon Collins and LSU corner Jalen Collins.  Both are good players and would help Philly's secondary (an area that really could use the help), but I have the Eagles taking Jalen Collins here.  I think he's a better fit for the Eagles than Landon Collins and therefore the corner is the pick instead of the safety.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

I don't really have a great feel for what the Bengals will or should do at this pick, but I think that Andrus Peat is one of the best players available at pick number 21 and that adding him would, at worst, give the offensive line great depth and competition, and at best, provide the team with a starting lineman.

22.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

Troy Polamalu announced his retirement this week, and I thought the Steelers were going to address their secondary anyway in the draft.  With Landon Collins - the only safety who will go in the first round - still being available here and the top two cornerbacks already off the board, I think this pick could make sense for Pittsburgh.

23.  Detroit Lions: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

The Lions need help and consistency along their offensive line, and they have their pick of a number of good offensive lineman at this pick.  In the end, I have them taking Ereck Flowers from Miami, which would address a key need for the Lions and give them a good player up front.

24.  Arizona Cardinals: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

The Cardinals lost Antonio Cromartie in free agency and Bruce Arians has said that he'd like to add a young corner in the draft to provide competition.  Marcus Peters is a very talented corner who, though he has some baggage, would be a big boost to the Cardinals' secondary.

25.  Carolina Panthers: D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida

I think it's pretty clear that the Panthers need an offensive lineman.  This pick stays the same as they grab D.J. Humphries to shore up the unit up front.

26.  Baltimore Ravens: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida

The Ravens stick with a wide receiver here, though instead of Dorial Green-Beckham they select Breshad Perriman out of Central Florida.  I think that Green-Beckham and Perriman are about even, but Perriman's upside is very good and his stock is rising rapidly.  The Ravens, meanwhile, get a good receiver who can help their offense after losing Torrey Smith in free agency.

27.  Dallas Cowboys: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

The Cowboys lost DeMarco Murray, the defending rushing champion, in free agency, and as such adding a running back would be a smart move.  Melvin Gordon is clearly the second-best back in this draft and it would be good value to grab him here for Dallas.

28.  Denver Broncos: Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon

Arik Armstead is a defensive lineman with terrific upside and potential, as he possesses many of the abilities that you look for in a defensive lineman.  The Broncos could use help along the defensive line and adding a player with upside like Armstead would give them a player they could work with and develop.

29.  Indianapolis Colts: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

As I alluded to earlier, the Colts have had trouble finding a true nose tackle since transitioning to the 3-4 defense under head coach Chuck Pagano in 2012, and while Josh Chapman has shown promise at times, he hasn't put it together consistently on the field yet to give much confidence moving forward.  With Eddie Goldman dropping to pick number 29, it would make a lot of sense for the Colts to grab him.

Goldman is a player who excels against the run and can really be a dominant force in the middle of the defensive line.  The Colts are obviously very focused on improving their run defense (Chuck Pagano called it the team's "Achilles heel"), so again this would make sense here.  Adding a defensive lineman would be a significant move for the Colts, as it would help out the entire defense - allowing the linebackers to make plays and also taking up some of the offensive lineman to help the pass rush and, in turn, help the secondary.  Goldman's job would be to take on blockers, and he can really dominate in that area and provide stout defense against the run.  If he's still available at 29, it would make a ton of sense for the Colts to grab him.

30.  Green Bay Packers: Erik Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

The Packers could really use an inside linebacker and I think that's their biggest remaining need, so the position of this pick hasn't changed since the last mock draft.  The player, however, has since Erik Kendricks has dropped to 30.  Quite simply, with the 49ers passing on him Kendricks falls quite a bit, but the Packers could be looking for an inside linebacker and would certainly be grateful that Kendricks fell as far as he did.

31.  New Orleans Saints (from Seattle Seahawks): Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

The Saints continue their defensive emphasis in the first round, adding a defensive tackle with their second first round pick after adding pass rusher Shane Ray earlier.  Phillips would be a big addition inside for New Orleans and would also help to improve the defense as a whole.

32.  New England Patriots: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

After losing Darrelle Revis in free agency, the Patriots could use a cornerback here and Kevin Johnson is a good player and a value pick at number 32 overall.  Johnson could have an impact this year both on defense and on special teams for the Patriots and would be a nice add for the defending Super Bowl champions.