NFL Mock Draft v. 4.0 – southcarolina.247sports.com
With months of speculation, intel gathering and research finally behind us, the 247Sports NFL team took a final crack at the first round of the 2015 Draft.
The fourth and final installation reflected the rise of Marcus Mariota, a vote of confidence in this year’s wide receiver class and a belief that Randy Gregory’s draft stock may have taken a hit. Spoiler: Jameis Winston still went first overall.
You can see the draft as it unfolded live, here. While version 3.0, version 2.0, and version 1.0 are also available to view.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Stop the drama. There is no mystery here and has not been for weeks. Winston is the guy, and for good reason. Tampa Bay has been held back by mediocre play at the quarterback position for the last four seasons, and on the field, Winston is widely considered to be one of the most talented passers in the last decade, with many putting him second only to Andrew Luck. Unless Tampa Bay considers the immaturity off the field to be too large a risk, they need to roll the dice on what Winston can do on the field, as his talent gives the franchise the best chance to compete in the NFC South for the foreseeable future. Now go find this guy some help on the right side of the offensive line!
2. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
In our previous mock drafts, we had the Titans selecting Southern Cal defensive lineman Leonard Williams, and the pick makes sense for a lot of reasons, especially given that Dick LeBeau is taking over the defense in Tennessee. But with a potential franchise quarterback on the board with the second pick in Mariota, expect the Titans to grab a QB with a first-round pick, hoping that the third time is a charm. The Titans whiffed with Vince Young in 2006 at No. 3 and then missed again with Jake Locker at No. 8 in 2011. Mariota will need some time to get accustomed to a pro-style offense, as even simple things like taking the snap from center and calling the play in the huddle are foreign to Oregon’s spread offense. But the projections by draft experts for Mariota have ranged from Alex Smith on the low side to Aaron Rodgers on the high side. If he can fall somewhere close to the high side of those assessments, then the Titans have made the right call. If not, you can expect the Titans to be QB shopping again in ac couple of years with a new coach and GM doing the shopping.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Leonard Williams, DT, Southern California
In our previous mocks, the Jaguars have been all about the outside linebacker position in their quest to secure a dominant pass rusher. But with the Titans bypassing Williams in our final mock, the Jaguars find this pick too good to pass up. Williams could fit right in on a Jacksonville defensive line that, when healthy, is already pretty decent with players like Sen’Derrick Marks, Roy Miller and recently signed free agent Jared Odrick. Of course, Gus Bradley, with his Seahawk roots, has been trying to recreate a version of Seattle’s defense in the Southeast without much luck over his first couple of seasons, which is why many people forecast the Jaguars taking an outside linebacker with this pick. But as most people realize part of what eally makes the “Legion of Boom” so good is the outstanding front four pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run up front. Williams should be a nice piece of that puzzle for the Jags.
4. Oakland Raiders – Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Even with the addition of Michael Crabtree, the Raiders need help at receiver, and Cooper is ready to make an impact immediately. The best receiver in college football last season, Cooper caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, and although he’s not the burner that is Kevin White, Cooper has good speed (4.42 40-yard dash) to go with great hands. Plus, Cooper is considered more NFL-ready than White, who played just 24 games in college compared to 40 for Cooper. White could end up being a great receiver, but Cooper should be a reliable option all over the field for quarterback Derek Carr right away.
5. Washington Redskins – Vic Beasley, Rush End/OLB, Clemson
Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan is looking to bolster the pass rush and Beasley is a player that can do it in a hurry. Although Dante Fowler was still on the board and his size matches up better with what McCloughan has done in the past, Beasley is an explosive and skilled pass-rusher that the Redskins are looking for to play opposite of Ryan Kerrigan, who finished last season with 13.5 sacks. It was very close between Beasley and Fowler at this spot, but in the end, Beasley showed more explosive and game-changing plays. Yes, offensive line is a need for the Redskins, but the slot value was too high to take an offensive lineman at No. 5.
The Redskins would love to trade down and accumulate picks, but there wasn’t a dance partner by the time the clock hit for the ‘Skins. With Marcus Mariota off the board and Leonard Williams off the board behind him, no teams were willing to make the jump. Had either of those two been available, the outcome would have been different. Cleveland inquired about the No. 5 pick if Mariota would have slid. Several teams expressed interest in the pick had Williams made it to five. That said, it would have needed to be a strong offer to stop the Redskins from keeping the pick and drafting the USC defensive lineman.
6. New York Jets — Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
Fowler may be the best pass-rusher in this entire draft. If he slides to the Jets at No. 6 and Marcus Mariota is off the board, this would make a lot of sense. New York needs a player to pair with Quinton Coples, who just had his fifth-year option picked up. Calvin Pace turns 35 this season and is in the final year of his contract. Jason Babin will also be 35 in a month and his contract expires at season’s end. Fowler seems like the perfect man to replace those two at outside linebacker.
As a senior at Florida, he had 91 total tackles, including 15 for a loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Over his three-year career with the Gators, he had 14.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for a loss. That’s the production you should expect from a top-tier pass-rushing prospect. He has an explosive first step that allows him to make it into opposing backfields quickly. Fowler is only 20 years old, so his best years are ahead of him. Even though he’s raw, he could step in and make an impact for New York right away. The Jets would get one of the best players in this draft outside of the top five.
7. Chicago Bears – Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Who the popular selection is for the Bears has jumped all over the place this offseason. First it was the human-missile safety Landon Collins from Alabama, but as he slipped, other candidates emerged. It was then that Danny Shelton began to be the name on everybody’s mock draft. The massive nose tackle could plug holes perfectly in Chicago’s new 3-4 defensive scheme and was receiving comparisons to Haloti Ngata. Now it’s switched to the other side of the ball.
With White, the Bears are getting a the most athletically freakish receiver in the class. He’d fill the void Brandon Marshall left behind and would slide perfectly across from Alshon Jeffery on the outside with Eddie Royal in the slot. White blew up the NFL Combine with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and put up 23 reps in the bench press. His sample size is small, but it’s explosive and head-turning. He won 50/50 balls in the air and was impossible to stop after the catch on shorter routes. Here, the Bears regain their massive receiver tandem with White.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
With Beasley and Fowler off the board, Dupree is the next-best pass rusher available, clearly the Falcons’ biggest need at the moment. The buzz has been building up Dupree ever since the combine, with teams being impressed with his positional versatility in college. This was predicted by yours truly (read: pat on back) in the first 247Sports Mock Draft:
“Once the NFL Combine comes and goes, Dupree will likely vault up draft boards due to his length and athleticism.”
Dupree is bigger, faster, and more explosive than Randy Gregory, and lacks the question marks that come with a failed drug test. This is the pass rusher Dan Quinn can mold into an elite playmaker on his new-look Falcons defense.
9. New York Giants — Brandon Scherff, T/G, Iowa
It’s not a sexy pick, but this is simply too strong of a fit for the Giants to pass up. Their offensive line is solid, and Scherff could complete the unit. If right tackle Justin Pugh slides over to right guard, this All-American could step in at that spot immediately. Should Pugh stay on the edge, Scherff can start at guard opposite Geoff Schwartz. There’s a reason this name has been linked to Big Blue for several months. He could serve as the cornerstone of this unit for years to come.
The Outland Trophy winner is proven and experienced — this is not a pick based on potential. He is exceptionally strong and moves well for a man who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 319 pounds. Scouts consider Scherff’s abilities as a run-blocker one of his best traits, which is exactly where the Giants need help. Their pass protection was above-average in 2014, but their run game ranked 23rd in the NFL. Over the long-term, Scherff could develop into a replacement for left tackle Will Beatty whenever the Giants decide to move on from him.
10. St. Louis Rams – DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Rams could use some more help along the offensive line, and return all of their top talent at wide receiver. But they lack a true No. 1 wideout, and Parker has the potential to be one of the elite pass catchers in the league. At 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, he has the size and concentration to be a big help in the red zone, and catches just about anything thrown his way. Giving Nick Foles another formidable talent to throw to should also help open up more running lanes for Tre Mason.
With a star-studded defense on paper, Parker, Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Jared Cook should be enough firepower to help the Rams contend for the playoffs in 2015, as long as they address right guard and right tackle with their next selections.
11. Minnesota Vikings – Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The Vikings were long to be thought of to be grabbing Louisville’s DeVante Parker, who would fit like a glove (yep) with Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings at No. 11, reconnecting the pair of old teammates. With the addition of Mike Wallace, it threw a wrench into the spokes and gave the Vikings a deep-threat receiver to help take the top off defenses, shifting the focus of their potential top pick.
We already know Zimmer loves Waynes after he personally attended his Pro Day. He offers the prototypical size (6-foot with 31-inch arms) of a cornerback and would slide right across from Xavier Rhodes on the outside, giving Mike Zimmer a pair of talented cornerbacks locked up for the future. Waynes ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, showing he can stick with the fastest receivers in the league while his size and body of work proved he can battle the big receivers in today’s NFL that Josh Robinson couldn’t handle in 2014.
12. Cleveland Browns – Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
In a recent interview, Danny Shelton said that he felt the Cleveland Browns were the most likely fit for him in the 2015 NFL Draft. After passing on Haloti Ngata for Kamerion Wimbley several years ago, Cleveland gets their PAC-12 nose tackle.
In 2014, Shelton accounted for 92 tackles and 9 sacks while leading Washington a record of 8-5. Shelton will join a rotation of John Hughes and Ishma’ily Kitchen. The Browns defense was a strength during the second half of the 2014 season and it only gets stronger with the addition of Shelton.
13. New Orleans Saints- Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
If not for some off-field concerns, including a failed drug test at the NFL Combine (a red flag for being foolish as much as a red flag for character, knowing that the test is coming), Randy Gregory would have probably been long gone from the draft board before the Saints’ pick at No. 13. As it is, if New Orleans is willing to roll the dice that Gregory won’t party too hard down in the French Quarter, the Saints could go a long way toward solving some of their many defensive woes from 2014 – problems that played as much of a factor as any in derailing their postseason chances. In fact, the Saints defense was so bad that many expected Sean Payton to show defensive coordinator Rob Ryan the door after the season. Instead, Ryan gets one more chance to fix things with the Saints, and having a guy like Gregory as a building block on the edge certainly should help mask a few other deficiencies.
14. Miami Dolphins — Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Gurley has been called the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson came out in 2007, which is extremely high praise. He would likely be a top-five pick had he not torn his ACL last November, cutting his junior season short. He’s extremely fast, with big-play potential whenever he touches the ball. In only 30 games with the Bulldogs, he rushed for 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns. He added 615 yards and six touchdowns on 65 receptions, so he brings something to the passing game as well. Despite concerns about whether he will be the same player following knee surgery, many rank him ahead of Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon because he is that special of a talent.
Lamar Miller is coming off the first 1,000-yard season of his career for the Dolphins. However, the former fourth-round pick does not seem like the answer as Miami’s No. 1 tailback. Additionally, Miller will be a free agent following the 2015 season. Gurley would be an immediate improvement over anyone in the Fins’ backfield. He’s a home-run hitter who would add a new dimension to an offense that already has a capable quarterback in Ryan Tannehill and two outstanding young wide receivers in Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Armstead is a raw, but powerful prospect who could jump into the perfect learning situation in San Francisco. He’s a project who has rare athleticism and could fill the need. The status for Justin Smith is still up in the air, but even if he does return, general manager Trent Baalke said it wouldn’t affect the draft strategy they’ll be going with. Ray McDonald also has headed to Chicago, leaving a big need along the line.
Armstead and San Francisco would be a perfect match. He’s relied on his athleticism in all of college while the 49ers have coached up some of the best defensive linemen in recent years. Darnell Dockett joins the fold to help things and if Smith does return, it’ll be a big positive for Armstead, who will be looking at coming in and learning to be professional and how to play the position. If his ceiling is as high as some are projecting, at No. 15 he could be exactly what the 49ers need.
16. Houston Texans – WR, Breshad Perriman
A few weeks ago wide receiver Breshaud Perriman was hardly on the radar of a group of wide receivers considered one of the strengths of the 2015 draft. But then he ran an electrifying 4.26 time in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.
Suddenly, the former Central Florida standout is a trendy pick in a lot of mocks, forcing his way into the middle of the first round.
The Houston Texans parted ways with Andre Johnson in the off-season, ending a 12-year run for the guy who is arguably the greatest Texan to date (OK. J.J. Watt wears the crown currently, but he has only been playing for four years, compared to a dozen for Johnson). But with Johnson’s departure comes a need for some help at wide receiver. The Texans need a complement to emerging DeAndre Hopkins, and it is questionable as to how much stop-gaps like Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts will contribute over the long haul. So, why not go for a burner to stretch the field and run under the passes that could be thrown by strong-armed QB Ryan Mallett.
17. San Diego Chargers – RB, Melvin Gordon
Philip Rivers hasn’t had a reliable running back since LaDainian Tomlinson, and now the injury prone Ryan Matthews is gone completely to free agency. That makes running back the Chargers’ biggest need, and with Gurley off the board, Gordon isn’t a bad consolation. A durable player in college, Gordon had an incredible final season at Wisconsin, rushing for 2,587 yards, the second most in FBS history, and 29 touchdowns on 7.5 yards per carry. He has the ability to evade defenders with the balance to turn missed tackles into big runs. Gordon isn’t perfect. He has little experience as a pass catcher, and he doesn’t excel in protection. However, those are areas where he can improve while still contributing early in his career.
Give Rivers an every-down back to take some pressure off, and maybe a potential move to Los Angeles won’t seem like such a big deal.
18. Kansas City Chiefs – Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Strong makes plenty of sense for the Chiefs, especially now that they have Jeremy Maclin on the roster. Strong is 6-foot-2, 217 pounds and has the ability to be a great NFL possession receiver. He’s the type of player you can count on to pick up first downs and move the chains, but he’ll also be a great option in the red zone where he can use his good hands and great leaping ability to make big plays against smaller defenders.
With Maclin projecting to be Kansas City’s “home run” deep threat, Strong looks like he can be a great complementary player on shorter routes and near the sticks. Throw in budding star tight end Travis Kelce up the middle and a great running back in Jamaal Charles; and the Chiefs’ offense will have very few excuses not to find the end zone many times in 2015.
19.Cleveland Browns – Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
Will he or won’t he require surgery? That is the question for star linebacker. As a talent, Ray is top ten in the draft. He fell due to injury concerns and the Browns were happy to add him to the mix.
After losing Jabaal Sheard in free agency, Cleveland quickly revamps their linebacking core with Ray. As a junior, Ray recorded 65 tackles and 14.5 sacks for the 10-3 Missouri Tigers. He will provide a much needed pass rushing threat that only Paul Kruger had last season.
20. Philadelphia Eagles — Landon Collins, S, Alabama
With madman Chip Kelly running the show, it’s impossible to rule out the Eagles trading up to snag quarterback Marcus Mariota. That would require them to give up this pick. I still think there’s a better chance they hang tight at No. 20. Much like Brandon Scherff with the Giants, Collins has been a popular choice for the Eagles in mock drafts. Why? Because Philadelphia has a glaring hole to fill at safety alongside Malcolm Jenkins. Collins, a unanimous All-American, may not be a perfect scheme fit in defensive coordinator Bill Davis’ system because he is not at his best in coverage. However, he’s a physical, aggressive player who would bring an edge to the secondary that it lacked last year.
In his final season with the Crimson Tide, Collins finished with 103 tackles (4.5 for a loss), three interceptions, seven passes defended and a forced fumble. He started the final 23 games of his career and played in 41 games for one of the country’s top programs and coaches, grooming him to make an immediate impact as a pro. Earl Wolff is not the answer at safety, so why not scoop up a tremendous talent late in the first round?
21. Cincinnati Bengals – OL La’El Collins, LSU
The Bengals are expected to draft largely for the future in this draft as their lineup for this season is pretty much set and the list of players slated for free agency after the season is monstrous. So, whoever the Bengals pick in this draft may not play too much this season and instead will play a bigger part in the scheme of things down the road. Enter La’El Collins, who is a good fit for the Bengals in many ways. Both Bengals starting tackles — LT Andrew Whitworth and RT Andre Smith — are among that group of free agents, and Whitworth is starting to get up there in age. Collins would be a tackle of the future for the Bengals, plus has the versatility to move inside if need be. Collins also has two former LSU teammates on the team in RB Jeremy Hill and WR James Wright and can be mentored by another former LSU Tiger in Whitworth.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Marcus Peters, Washington
The gut feeling here is that come draft day the Steelers may go OLB/pass rush instead of cornerback at 22, given the belief that the draft is deeper in corners than in pass rushers. However, in our mock draft, the top five pass rushers are off the board. That still may not stop the Steelers from grabbing someone like Eli Harold of Virginia here, but since the top pass rushers are gone, we’ll go with a corner here. Which corner it would be is a good question. Concerns about Peters’ character are an issue, but he has the ability to come in and play a big role right away, if not start. That’s something the cornerback-needy Steelers could really use coming out of this draft. If the top pass rushers are off the board at 22 on draft day and the Steelers go with a corner here, Peters, Kevin Johnson of Wake Forest and Jalen Collins of LSU seem like the candidates.
23. Detroit Lions – Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
The Lions were on the verge of breaking into the next tier of team in 2014. They had one of the best defenses in the NFL and a solid offense with playmakers, but next could get over the hump. Part of that problem was along the offensive line. On a weekly basis the deck was shuffled, which made little room for consistency in pass protection and run blocking. With weapons like Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and the developing Eric Ebron, they could’ve been more efficient, but Stafford was always under pressure while Joique Bell and Reggie Bush didn’t get far before contact.
With Scherff and Collins off the board already, we’ve got the Lions turning to Flowers, who is an absolute road-grader. He stands 6-foot-6, 324 pounds and is versatile. He played tackle, but could have the ability to move to guard in his first season. Detroit could look at cornerback or defensive tackle here, but the offensive line is the more pressing need and Flowers could fit the bill.
24. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
With both running backs off the board, Arizona upgrades its talent and depth at linebacker with Kendricks. Sean Weatherspoon is coming off another injury, and with Larry Foote possibly retiring and Daryl Washington facing a potential suspension, there is no depth behind Weatherspoon and Kevin Minter.
This pick not only fills a need for the Cardinals, but is also gives them arguably the best player available on the board. As the reigning Butkus Award winner, Kendricks is a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine, has incredible, and his ability to pursue in space makes him a perfect fit for what Arizona likes to do on defense. He should also be able to help in coverage against tight ends, something the Cardinals lack on their current roster.
25. Carolina Panthers – D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
The Panthers have added a couple offensive tackles in free agency – Michael Oher and Jonathan Martin. What many would argue they have not done is actually upgrade their talent at offensive tackle., as both are liabilities in pass protection, and stopgaps at best.
Humphries has been tested against the best pass rushers in the SEC, and has the mean streak and physical traits NFL teams look for in a starting left tackle. Is Humphries a finished product? No. But his quick feet and ability to drive the defender with his lower body make him a potential franchise left tackle, something that Cam Newton needs to have if he is ever going to rise into the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the league.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
This was kind of a tough call. Baltimore needs receivers on paper, but there’s a vibe that they might pass up on one in Round 1. Owner Steve Bisciotti said himself during a teleconference a while back that he thought the two positions the team should target in Round 1 were cornerback and pass rush, not receiver. We’re not sure how much he will impact the final decision, but we’re not totally going to share his optimism for the state of the team’s receiving corps. Cornerback is a possibility here, especially with local product Kevin Johnson still on the board. But with Jimmy Smith recently signing an extension, might that push cornerback down the needs list a little? Maybe, maybe not, but if you look at this team on paper, it seems like the areas it needs to address the most for next year’s team might be wide receiver and tight end. A tight end can be had in Round 2, so we’re going to add receiver help here with the player who might be the best receiver still left on the board — at least the best receiver not named Dorial Green-Beckham, who would be a better pick in terms of talent but carries an off-the-field history that makes it hard to see the Ravens taking him. Phillip Dorsett and Devin Smith are also possibilities here
27. Dallas Cowboys – Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
One of the biggest needs the Cowboys can address by way of the draft this year is the cornerback position. Currently, starting CB Brandon Carr is in jeopardy of getting cut in the offseason (contract issues) and Morris Claiborne is recovering from a 2014 knee injury. Not to mention, Claiborne has been considered one of the biggest first-round draft busts for the Cowboys since 1990.
So let’s knock it out of the park with Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson.
The 6-0, 188-pound defensive back is physical and can pack a punch. He started three years for the Demon Deacons and was flagged plenty of times for his hard hits. Sure, that’s not ideal, but he plays with an edge that the Cowboys could use in the secondary.
Johnson also has excellent footwork that will help him keep up with the top wide receivers of the NFC East (Beckham Jr, DeSean Jackson). You can bet that Johnson will provide instant impact for the Cowboys when the season kicks off in September.
28. Denver Broncos – Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Broncos’ biggest need seems to be on the offensive line, but general manager John Elway said Thursday that while he and his staff enter the draft with a plan, things change based on what goes on in front of them. Plans changed when Brown was still available at No. 28. With Terrance Knighton gone, Brown would be the future at nose tackle for the Broncos, who are making the transition to a 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Brown has the size at 6-foot-2, 319 pounds with solid athleticism and instincts.
As far as college production, Brown played all 13 games as a freshman before starting the final 26 games of his career. In his final season, he tallied 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He’ll need to work on his consistency and strength at the next level, but he’s the best player available for Denver here.
29. Indianapolis Colts, Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
It is no secret that the Indianapolis Colts offensive line had some issues and some holes in 2014. Other than left tackle Anthony Castonzo and left guard Jack Mewhort, no other spots on the line were stable, some in part due to injuries and some due to inconsistent play.
Nowhere was that more evident than at center where three different players started at various times for the Colts. Enter Erving, who made the switch from tackle to center at Florida State this past season and may have enhanced his draft stock tremendously in doing so. No matter if the Colts decide to plug him in at center or at right tackle, where veteran Gosder Cherilus is coming back from injury, Erving should be able to step in right away and help to stablize a vital unit that protects Andrew Luck.
30. Green Bay Packers, Byron Jones, CB, UConn
Without doubt, Jones possesses first-round athleticism. The owner of not only the NFL Combine record in the broad jump, it’s believed Jones also set the world record in that discipline, leaping an unfathomable 12’ 3”.
Jones also posted Top 5 measurements in the vertical jump (44.5 inches), three-cone drill (6.78 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (3.94 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (10.98 seconds) among cornerbacks at the Combine, in addition to running the 40-yard dash as fast as 4.4 seconds at his pro day, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
Don’t let the fact that Jones wasn’t an All-American or play at a blueblood program fool you. He’s a top-flight cornerback possessing ideal size, checking in at 6’ 1” and 199 lbs.
Unlike another first-round talent at cornerback like Marcus Peters, who got kicked out of the Washington football program, Jones would not appear to be a character risk, which is important when you’re investing millions of dollars into a first-round selection. Jones was a team captain at UConn known for his toughness by playing through injury.
Jones’ health would appear to be the biggest red flag after being shut down seven games into his senior season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Jones actually suffered the injury before the start of the season and played at a high level before his shoulder became dislocated twice in the same game, marking the end of his campaign.
Although he didn’t play as many snaps as his peers in 2014, Jones allowed the lowest NFL passer rating on throws in which he was targeted among this year’s draft class at the cornerback position, a mere 26.3, according to ProFootballFocus.com.
With Tramon Williams and Davon House departing in free agency, the Packers have a need for depth at the cornerback position at the very least and perhaps a starter, especially if Casey Hayward can’t hack it on the perimeter of the field.
Apart from his world-class athleticism, perhaps the best thing about Jones and his first-round status is his potential for growth. This is a player that’s only played cornerback for two years and primarily on the defensive side of the football for just the last four years.
Jones enrolled at Connecticut as a lightly recruited quarterback and wide receiver coming out of high school and originally played safety his first two years in college. As a highly experienced four-year starter and someone that made 88 tackles as a sophomore, Jones brings a safety mentality to the cornerback position.
In 43 career games, including 38 starts, Jones made eight career interceptions and broke up 26 passes. These are the types of numbers that should only get better the more experience he gets at cornerback and the more exposure he has to an NFL-caliber position coach and mentor like Joe Whitt.
31. New Orleans Saints, Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
With the 13th pick, we already outlined how the Saints need help on the defensive side of the ball. So at No. 31, the defense gets another issue addressed with Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. The Saints were merely adequate in the middle of their 3-4 defense a year ago, but Goldman arrives with the ability to jump right in and help bolster things along the defensive front. Goldman is quick for a man of 320 pounds and even though he might not be a natural pass rusher, he can help make things better for everyone along the Saints defensive line and could play a five-technique end if the Saints so desire.
32. New England Patriots – Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Bill Belichick, Nick Caserio and the Patriots have been prospect-specific more so than position-specific in recent memory. That’s allowed New England to plug rare talents into roles not restricted by scheme. Washington’s Shaq Thompson fits that mold. Winner of the 2014 Paul Hornung Award, honoring the college football’s most versatile player, the linebacker and running back scored four touchdowns on defense and two on offense last fall.
It is at the former that his value will best be put to use at the NFL level, however. The 6-foot, 228-pound Thompson has experience playing inside linebacker, outside linebacker and also safety. His ability to cover ground, and his instincts to find the football, seem to have set him in a category of his own in this class. And while the Patriots’ linebacking corps includes three headliners in Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower, there is often a long-term plan in place that few see coming. Thompson could step into a sub-package role early on, whether it is in the nickel or dime or essentially a three-safety look. And down the road, he could step in as a weak-side linebacker in the 4-3. It may not be a position of first-round need for New England, but the hybrid defender carries some qualities that could override that.
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