NFL Mock Draft 2015: Gary Myers breaks down the first round – New York Daily News
Harry How/Getty ImagesQuarterback Jameis Winston.
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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
USC’s Leonard Williams.
Jameis Winston (l.) should be the No. 1 overall pick and don’t be surprised to see USC’s Leonard Williams (r.) go shortly after.
Our Gary Myers looks into his crystal ball and gives you all 32 picks in the first round:
1. Bucs: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
It’s hug-free early on for Roger Goodell as Winston and Marcus Mariota skipped going to Chicago. Winston is scary: He has NFL skills, but throws too many picks and gets into too much trouble off the field. Franchise-defining pick for Lovie Smith.
2. Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Browns reportedly offered 12th and 19th picks in first round for Mariota. Titans should hang up phone unless they really want Zach Mettenberger to start. Mariota, who played in a shotgun, no-huddle spread offense, will be a work in progress.
3. Jaguars: Dante Fowler, LB, Florida
He’s the best edge rusher in the draft, and that’s why I like him in this spot over Leonard Williams. GM David Caldwell and Gus Bradley have won seven games in two years. That pair would be in trouble anywhere but in Jacksonville and London.
4. Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, Southern Cal
He’s the best player in the draft, and new coach Jack Del Rio is a defensive coach. Williams is a disruptive force and has a built-in mentor in Justin Tuck. Raiders could also go for Amari Cooper or Kevin White to provide firepower for Derek Carr.
5. Washington: Vic Beasley, LB, Clemson
If RG III is a bust, then Daniel Snyder set the program back another five years. He finally has a GM in Scot McCloughan who knows what he’s doing. Could swap spots with Falcons if they get offered enough, but need pass rusher with Brian Orakpo gone to Titans.
6. Jets: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie solved the CB problem. Brandon Marshall did not solve WR problem. Cooper’s stats last year: 124 catches, 1,727 yards, 16 TDs. Jets in range to move up for Mariota. Let’s see how creative GM Mike Maccagnan gets.
7. Bears: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
They are stuck with Jay Cutler after previous regime gave him suffocating $126 million contract. Nice move. So it makes sense to do all they can to help him. White is a speed receiver who will replace Brandon Marshall opposite Alshon Jeffery.
8. Falcons: Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky
New coach Dan Quinn comes from Seattle, where Seahawks were No. 1 on D last year. Falcons were No. 32. They want to move up for Beasley. After two miserable seasons, Falcons want quick turnaround before moving into new digs in ’17.
9. Giants: Brandon Scherff, T, Iowa
OK, so taking tackle in first round in two of the last three years is not all that exciting. But, hey, Jerry Reese got you Odell Beckham last year. Scherff is the right pick. The Giants must build a wall around Eli Manning.
10. Rams: Andrus Peat, T, Stanford
Nick Foles, who broke his collarbone last year, takes over for Sam Bradford, who tore his ACL in each of the last two years. Rams have foot out the door for return to Los Angeles in 2016. If Foles is back to way he played in 2013, Rams could be wild-card team.
11. Vikings: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
They get a bonus No. 1 pick with return of child beater Adrian Peterson. If they were going to trade AP — they insist they won’t — they would take Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. Instead they grab CB to deal with Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford.
12. Browns: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Offering both their No. 1s, they want to move up for Mariota. The Browns have a big QB problem: Johnny Manziel is a train wreck and Josh McCown is a journeyman. They tried to trade for Sam Bradford before he was sent to Eagles in March.
13. Saints: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Rob Ryan, tied with Rex as best defensive coach in the league, according to Rex, was a hero when he had the No. 4 defense in his first year in 2013. Last season, he had the No. 31 defense. Sean Payton needs to get him some players.
14. Dolphins: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Mike Tannenbaum is in Miami, Rex Ryan is in Buffalo and they are both still chasing Bill Belichick. Gurley is a terrific player, but he’s coming off an ACL injury. No RBs have been taken in the first round the last two years. Tannenbaum already made impact with Ndamukong Suh signing.
15. 49ers: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Colin Kaepernick has regressed and could take another step back without Jim Harbaugh. They have Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, the Ravens wideouts who helped beat them in the Super Bowl, but they didn’t re-sign Michael Crabtree.
16. Texans: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
It’s a battle of the former Brady backups at QB — Brian Hoyer vs. Ryan Mallett — so Bill O’Brien must win on defense. J.J. Watt, the league’s best player, will be even better if Jadeveon Clowney returns from a knee injury. Collins tightens up the secondary.
17. Chargers: Ereck Flowers, T, Miami
Until Mariota goes off the board, the Philip Rivers rumors persist. Rivers wants no part of playing in L.A. but he has one year left on deal and can then be franchised, so it’s not time for SD to panic. In fact, Bolts are talking with Rivers about an extension.
18. Chiefs: La’el Collins, T-G, LSU
The murder of a pregnant woman police believe is Collins’ former girlfriend —they say he is not a suspect — could affect his draft status if his name is not cleared before Thursday night. He left draft in Chicago to return to Baton Rouge to speak to authorities.
19. Browns: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
This pick came from the Bills in the Sammy Watkins trade last year. Of course, the Browns should have taken Watkins instead of trading down for CB Justin Gilbert. Josh Gordon’s suspension makes this a need pick.
20. Eagles: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
Chip Kelly got rid of DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. At least he has Sanchez and Tebow. In Kelly’s world, he trades Sam Bradford to the Browns for the No. 12 pick then sends that pick and this one to the Titans for Mariota.
21. Bengals: Jake Fisher, T, Oregon
Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton have been to the playoffs four straight years. They are 0-4. They will throw a parade in Cincy if Lewis ever wins a playoff game. He’s 0-6. Well, all they can do is just keep trying. Fisher continues run on OTs.
22. Steelers: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Safety Troy Polamalu retired. So did cornerback Ike Taylor. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was shoved out the door and is now in Tennessee. It’s time to rebuild the defense, starting in the secondary.
23. Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
They lost Ndamakong Suh to the Dolphins, and Nick Fairley signed with the Rams. They recouped by signing Haloti Ngata from the Ravens, but Suh is irreplaceable and unblockable. Brown is a need pick, but Detroit could surprise and take Gordon.
24. Cardinals: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Cards would be all-in on Adrian Peterson if the Vikes change their mind and trade him. Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards last year, second most in NCAA history behind Barry Sanders, and had ridiculous 408 yards against Nebraska. This is a perfect fit.
25. Panthers: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
They hit it big late in first-round last year with wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (1,008 yards, 9 TDs), who at 6-5, 243, is a big target for Cam Newton. Agholor is more a slot receiver at 6-foot, but he runs good routes and finds the holes in the defense.
26. Ravens: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
After the Ray Rice crisis, Ravens have to be sure about their picks. Peters was dismissed from the team last year after run-in with coaching staff. Is a first-round talent and Ravens need a corner opposite Jimmy Smith.
27. Cowboys: Shane Ray, LB, Missouri
He’s a top 10 talent whose stock dropped after he was pulled over for speeding earlier this week and was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. What does it say about Ray’s intelligence that he let this happen during draft week? Why Dallas? Jerry Jones needs defense.
28. Broncos: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
Peyton Manning says that, at 39 years old, he doesn’t look at this season as a farewell tour. So hold the parting gifts and chicken parm. Manning wants another ring and would be oldest QB to get one. Erving can step in and start snapping right away.
29. Colts: Randy Gregory, LB, Nebraska
Issues with marijuana, including positive test at the Combine, almost drop him right out of the first round. But Colts are starved for defense so Andrew Luck doesn’t need to score 40 points to win.
30. Packers: Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Clay Matthews moved inside during last season and played great, but getting Kendricks would allow Mike McCarthy to return Matthews outside, where he is most effective. Packers are retiring Brett Favre’s No. 4 on Thanksgiving. Jets are keeping their options open.
31. Saints: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
They acquired this pick from Seattle in the Jimmy Graham trade. Drew Brees loses his biggest target, but Sean Payton needs to convert this into another defensive player. Payton has won one playoff game in last five years.
32. Patriots: D.J. Humphries, T, Florida
What will Bill Belichick do? It always a safe guess to say he will trade down to pick up extra choices or inflated footballs. Humphries gives them protection in case they don’t re-sign Nate Solder, who is going into the last year of his contract.
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