NFL Draft 2015: First Round Live Blog

The 2015 NFL Draft is here!  The event kicks off tonight from Chicago with the first round, continues on Friday night with rounds two and three, and then concludes on Saturday with rounds four through seven.  Tonight, the first 32 picks in the draft will take place, and this is always the most interesting and exciting time from a general football fan's point of view.

Teams will get ten minutes to make their selections, and it should be a pretty interesting draft.  Jameis Winston figures to go number one overall, and then it will be very intriguing to see what team ends up picking Marcus Mariota second overall (the pick is currently held by the Titans).  Add in other question marks such as how far guys like Randy Gregory and Shane Ray will fall, the bizarre situation of La'El Collins, and a host of other questions and trades and it should be a very entertaining first round.

Of course, the Colts don't pick until number 29 overall, which will make for a very long night.  Using my best estimates, I don't expect the Colts pick until sometime around 11:30 p.m. - midnight eastern time.  So, while we're waiting to see what the Colts do at number 29, we have this open thread for you to discuss the draft and, in particular, discuss what you want/expect the Colts to do with their pick.  Furthermore, we'll be updating this post as the picks come in with brief analysis from some of our writers, so keep checking back throughout the draft.

Here's the order of the 32 first round picks, as it currently stands.  Write-ups courtesy of Stampede Blue's Stephen Reed and Josh Wilson.

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

This isn't incredibly surprising. Jameis gives TB the franchise QB they've wanted. If he can just play within the offense and not have any more off field issues, he could do very well.

2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota - QB - Oregon

As a Colts fan, I'm excited for this pick because the other option was them trading out and getting a ton of picks and potentially a lot of players as well. Mariota has a higher floor than Winston so it should start to make the AFC South a bit more interesting. That is of course if Tennessee doesn't trade Mariota's rights later in the draft.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler, Jr. - DE - Florida

It was rumored that Fowler wouldn't get past Jacksonville. This is a solid pick for the Jaguars who need a pass rush.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper - WR - Alabama

Cooper is a perfect pick for the Raiders. They've needed a solid receiver to pair with Carr. Great option for them.

5. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff - OL - Iowa

Well this is a bit of a shock. It's not a reach by any means but it seemed like Leonard Williams was the obvious choice. Scherff can plug and play plus he immediately upgrades the offensive line.

6. New York Jets: Leonard Williams - DE - USC

This is by far the best available player but it's a bit surprising the Jets took him given their current defensive front. This is fantastic value.

7. Chicago Bears: Kevin White - WR - West Virginia

This is a solid pick by the Bears. After moving Brandon Marshall, it makes sense to add another weapon for the offense. They still need to greatly improve the defense later in the draft.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley - DE - Clemson

Atlanta desperately needed a pass rusher and got a potentially great one in Beasley.

9. New York Giants: Ereck Flowers - OT - Miami (FL)

Thank goodness the Giants saved Colts fans from the agony of getting Flowers.

10. St. Louis Rams: Todd Gurley - RB - Georgia

This isn't as much of a surprise as some played it up to be, as Gurley was one of the top players left on the board and a nice piece to the Rams' offense.  Once he gets healthy, he should be a good player.  The Rams are just hoping he doesn't turn out like the last top ten running back (Trent Richardson).

11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes - CB - Michigan State

Waynes was the draft's best cornerback and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has to love getting him with the eleventh pick to help that defense.

12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton - DT - Washington

A good value pick at this point, the Browns grab a tough defensive tackle in Danny Shelton to help their offensive line.  The Browns' run defense that was awful last year should be improved just by getting Shelton.

13. New Orleans Saints - Andrus Peat - OT - Stanford

A bit of a surprise just because of the Saints' need on the defensive side of the football, but they get a good offensive lineman to protect Drew Brees and give them some consistency, which is much needed.

14. Miami Dolphins - DeVante Parker - WR - Louisville

This pick makes all the sense in the world, as the Dolphins get a good wide receiver for Ryan Tannehill.  Perhaps the only surprise here is that Parker lasted to pick number 14.

15. San Francisco 49ers (TRADE) - San Diego Chargers - Melvin Gordon - RB - Wisconsin

We finally have a trade in the draft, and as soon as the Chargers moved up a few spots in the draft it made a lot of sense that it would be for Melvin Gordon.  They need a running back, and Gordon is a good choice here.  The trade, though?  Maybe not such a good move.

16. Houston Texans - Kevin Johnson - CB - Wake Forest

The Texans end the run on offense by taking Kevin Johnson, who is one of the best corners in the draft.  Hmm, I wonder whether having to play T.Y. Hilton twice a year had anything to do with this pick for Houston?

17. San Diego Chargers (TRADE) - San Francisco 49ers - Arik Armstead - DE - Oregon

The 49ers get the same player that they likely would have taken at number 15, only gaining a few extra picks in the process.  Armstead is a very talented defensive lineman with great potential who should help the 49ers.

18. Kansas City Chiefs - Marcus Peters - CB - Washington

This is an interesting choice for the Chiefs, but there's no doubt that Peters is a talented cornerback if he can stay away from off-the-field issues.

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) - Cameron Erving - C - Florida State

Another popular mock draft pick for the Colts, the Browns take the draft's best center.  With Alex Mack with the Browns, however, he'll likely play guard for Cleveland, which makes it a bit of a surprise.  They have now added a first round pick on both the offensive and defensive line, clearly try to improve in the trenches.

20. Philadelphia Eagles - Nelson Agholor - WR - USC

The Eagles were one of the top candidates to take Alabama safety Landon Collins, but instead they add a wide receiver who has been rising up draft boards in recent weeks.  Their passing on Collins is good news for the Colts.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Cedric Ogbuehi - OT - Texas A&M

The run on offensive linemen continues as the Bengals take Cedric Ogbuehi here with the 21st pick.  It's not a surprise that they took an offensive lineman, but it's good news for the Colts.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Bud Dupree - OLB - Kentucky

This is a great steal for the Steelers.  Dupree was the best value pick still available and should help them significantly.  It's a good pick for Pittsburgh.

23. Detroit Lions (TRADE) - Denver Broncos - Shane Ray - DE - Missouri

The Broncos traded up to get defensive help, and they do so by adding a talented defensive lineman in Shane Ray.  This seems like a pretty smart move for the Broncos.

24. Arizona Cardinals - D.J. Humphries - OT - Florida

25. Carolina Panthers - Shaq Thompson - OLB - Washington

26. Baltimore Ravens - Breshad Perriman - WR - Central Florida

27. Dallas Cowboys - Byron Jones - CB - Connecticut

28. Denver Broncos (TRADE) - Detroit Lions - Laken Tomlinson - G - Duke

29. Indianapolis Colts - Phillip Dorsett - WR - Miami

30. Green Bay Packers - Damarius Randall - S - Arizona State

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) - Stephone Anthony - LB - Clemson

32. New England Patriots - Malcom Brown - DT - Texas