The NFL Scouting Combine is over and another piece to the puzzle known as the NFL Draft looms. General Managers, coaches and even some owners talked in Indianapolis and the ground work for future deals in the draft were discussed. Clubs have some sense of the quality depth in the free agent pool as well as the draft pool at each position and a sense of urgency will start to exist about satisfying needs for the 2015 season and beyond. With all of those dynamics in mind it is time for my first mock draft after the combine.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Florida State QB Jameis Winston: Winston didn't run or jump well at the combine but he is a pocket passer and he threw well which trumps the movement skills. Some believe it isn't a lock for the Bucs to take Winston, but at this point I'm not one of those non-believers. I interviewed Jameis at the combine and I could see how he could win over a team like Tampa.
2. Tennessee Titans -- USC DT Leonard Williams: Williams will probably be the consensus top player on most draft boards. I labeled him DL, not DT, because he has the skills to play anywhere in the front and in any front. In the Titans' scheme he would be a 5-technique on the run downs and move inside over the guard in the pass rush situations.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory: So what if he weighed in at 235 pounds? I sat down with him at the combine and he told me he has played at 255. He scored extra points for his interview skills and Gus Bradley will see all the things he saw in Bruce Irvin and more.
4. Philadelphia Eagles -- Oregon QB Marcus Mariota: The Eagles come up for Marcus Mariota and send their first-round pick this year and next year plus RB LeSean McCoy to the Raiders. McCoy has three years left on his contract and the Raiders have plenty of cap space to absorb the contract. If the Eagles have to throw in another player or later round pick to close the deal they should do it. Maybe they recoup some of the compensation by trading Nick Foles. Cleveland and the Jets should be interested in Foles.
5. Washington Redskins -- Florida DE Dante Fowler: The Brian Orakpo experiment is over and the Redskins need a pass rusher opposite Ryan Kerrigan. Fowler is a 260-pound pass rusher that can play from any stance and he is big enough to play all three downs.
6. New York Jets -- Alabama WR Amari Cooper: Kevin White stole the show at the combine with his size and speed but Cooper has been productive for four years. He reminds me of Reggie Wayne with his smooth route-running skills and hands. His career production is second to none in this draft.
7. Chicago Bears -- Washington DT Danny Shelton: I spent time with Shelton at the Senior Bowl and the combine and I walked away both times convinced the big man has Vince Wilfork qualities. He welcomes hard work, understands the job of a 0-technique, and would be the foundation piece to the Bears new 3-4 defense. If Chicago acquires Terrance Knighton in free agency, this pick would change.
8. Atlanta Falcons -- Clemson OLB Vic Beasley: Beasley put on 10 pounds to get up to 246 and still blew out every test at the combine. He lived in opposing backfields, especially over the last two years with over 70 plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Falcons have not had an athlete like this since John Abraham.
9. New York Giants -- LSU OT La'el Collins: The Giants have had great success tapping into LSU talent and look no further than last year's pick, Odell Beckham. Collins is just what the Giants need because of his versatility. He can play any of the offensive line spots and would provide the Giants the opportunity to re-arrange up front.
10. St. Louis Rams -- Stanford OT Andrus Peat: The Rams need to protect Sam Bradford if they plan on having a winning season and Jake Long is often injured and a big salary.
11. Minnesota Vikings -- West Virginia WR Kevin White: After White's performance at the combine the Vikings will be lucky if he is still on the board when they pick. White is big, fast and productive and is a perfect fit in Norv Turner's offense. Teddy Bridgewater could have AP behind him and White and Patterson out wide which puts this team on the map.
12. Cleveland Browns -- Iowa OT Brandon Scherff: The Browns have two first round picks and Scherff is a higher-rated player than the next receiver on the board. He plus in at right tackle right away and the run game is instantly better.
13. New Orleans Saints -- Kentucky DE Alvin 'Bud' Dupree: Most of the pass rushers in this draft are one-trick ponies with outside speed rush as their game. Dupree is a 270-pound athlete with 4.56 speed that has the versatility for Rob Ryan's defense.
14. Miami Dolphins -- Michigan State CB Trae Waynes: Waynes left no doubt at the combine about who is the best athlete with cover corner skills. I interviewed him and he is a very impressive, humble person that is focused on being great. This is an easy pick for a team trying to catch the Tom Brady-led Patriots.
15. San Francisco 49ers -- Louisville WR DeVante Parker: I'm not so sure the 49ers don't go after a defensive lineman in this spot. Malcolm Brown (Texas) and Arik Armstead (Oregon) could be in the discussion, but for now I will leave Parker in the spot.
16. Houston Texans -- Alabama safety Landon Collins: It appears to be a weak year for safeties in the draft. Collins is the best of the group, but he's a bit like Houston's D.J. Swearinger, which means two strong safety types. This pick might be a lot different in the coming weeks, but for now Collins is the best on the board. A move down and picking TE Maxx Williams or trading for Nick Foles would be interesting.
17. San Diego Chargers -- Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon: Teams may not take running backs in the first round anymore but the Chargers need a bell cow back. With King Dunlap signing an extension it clears the way for a back.
18. Kansas City Chiefs -- Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong: The receivers in Kansas City didn't catch a TD pass last year. Strong is 6-foot-2, 217 pounds with 4.4 speed and a 42-inch vertical. He has 157 receptions and 17 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
19. Cleveland Browns -- Texas DT Malcom Brown:The Browns need receivers but there is quality depth in the second round. They need to stop the run after finishing last in the NFL. Injuries destroyed any hopes of a good run defense last year and Brown brings a combination of run defense and pass rush.
20. Oakland Raiders -- Missouri OLB/DE Shane Ray: Now the Oakland Raiders have this spot in the trade. Things work out well for the Raiders in their move down as Ray slips in the draft after not working at the combine.
21. Cincinnati Bengals -- Miami (FL) OT Ereck Flowers: The Bengals will look for a linebacker later in the draft but it is time to get an offensive tackle before they are all gone. Flowers is the fourth tackle off the board.
22. Pittsburgh teelers -- Minnesota TE Maxx Williams -- The Steelers need an outside linebacker but they will not reach for one at this point. Look for them to find someone in the second round like Nate Orchard or Markus Golden, but a TE like Williams could be a 60-catch player with Big Ben throwing the ball.
23. Detroit Lions -- Florida State DT Eddie Goldman: I doubt the Lions can afford Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley and that means a rookie DT in the draft. Big Eddie is 6'4, 336 and disruptive.
24. Arizona Cardinals -- Virginia OLB Eli Harold: Harold had 55 plays behind the line of scrimmage over the past two seasons and he was impressive at the combine. The Cardinals need versatile linebackers for all their pressure schemes.
25. Carolina Panthers -- Florida State OT Cameron Erving: Many believe TJ Clemmings (Pittsburgh) is a better prospect but the Senior Bowl practices told me something different. Erving has played defense, left tackle and center. He's an athlete and the Panthers need help up front. They will get a solid receiver with their next pick. At least one of the following should be there in the next round; Nelson Agholor (USC), Phillip Dorsett (Miami), Devin Smith (Ohio State), Rashad Greene (FSU), Tyler Lockett (K-State).
26. Baltimore Ravens -- Oregon DL Arik Armstead: The replacement for Chris Canty and an athlete with rare size. Baltimore loves big players on defense and Armstead is 6-foot-7, 292 pounds. I interviewed him and I was impressed with his 'team' attitude -- something I know John Harbaugh loves in his players.
27. Dallas Cowboys -- Iowa DT Carl Davis: At the Senior Bowl he demonstrated his motor runs hot. He is disruptive inside and also ran 5.06 at 320 lbs. Henry Melton has been released and the Cowboys need big, quick people inside on the defensive line.
28. Denver Broncos -- Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips: I based this pick on the Broncos losing Terrance Knighton to either Oakland or Chicago and the need for a big man inside. Phillips measured at 6'5, 329 at the combine.
29. Indianapolis Colts -- Washington S/LB Shaq Thompson: LaRon Landry was released, Mike Adams is a free agent and Thompson is a hybrid athlete that gives this defense tremendous flexibility. He could fit the same roll that LaVonte David has in Tampa as an every-down player at OLB or safety.
30. Green Bay Packers -- Mississippi State LB Benardrick McKinney:The Packers did move Clay Matthews inside and had good results but a rookie inside would let clay go back outside. At 6'4, 246 with 4.6 speed and pass rush skills, as well as being a run stuffer, he fits a big need.
31. Seattle Seahawks -- South Carolina OG AJ Cann: the Seahawks James Carpenter is a free agent and has issues staying healthy. Cann is a left guard with road grader skills.
32. New England Patriots -- Duke OG Laken Tomlinson: Trading out is a possibility, especially if someone wants to get a QB like Hundley before the first round ends. Last year Minnesota jumped into spot No. 32 for Teddy Bridgewater and Bill Belichick likes moving into the second round, especially if he has multiple players left on the board. Tomlinson is a classic Patriot type with 52 college starts, an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl and a four-time academic all American.
