Playoffs
Hall of Fame
Kiper 1.0
1. Jameis Winston Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)COLLEGE: Florida StateClass: SophHT: 6-4WT: 235POS: QB
Analysis: The bottom line is Winston is the most advanced on-field quarterback in the draft, and while the Buccaneers have a nice set of weapons for an emerging quarterback to utilize there's little evidence they have a future franchise quarterback on the current roster. Questions about Winston's maturity and off-field decision-making are more than fair and could have him written off some draft boards if he can't convince teams he can be a franchise leader. But on the field you get a big, durable, mobile, strong-armed talent with a high football IQ and an ability to read, anticipate and process at a very high level what defenses are trying to do. I would not draft with him with the goal of starting him in Week 1 -- his 2014 season proved there's work to be done -- but if Winston realizes his potential, he's a possible superstar.
2. Marcus Mariota Tennessee Titans (2-14)COLLEGE: OregonClass: JrHT: 6-4WT: 211POS: QB
Analysis: The Titans have said all the right things about Zach Mettenberger, but based on what we saw from him in 2014, there are considerable questions about his NFL ceiling. Offensive fit and the ability to adapt are big questions around Mariota, but he's an elite talent and has the chance to be special if a team is patient with him. Mariota has a great work ethic, exceptional athletic tools, enough arm to drive the ball down the field and on intermediate throws and he did improve in his ability to get through progressions, anticipate and deliver with good placement this season. The question is whether he can look as special outside the confines of the Oregon offense. If Tennessee doesn't like either of the top two quarterbacks, this is a pretty obvious trade-up position.
3. Leonard Williams Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)COLLEGE: USCClass: JrHT: 6-5WT: 290POS: DE
Analysis: If you drop need and go on "best player available"...
4. Amari Cooper Oakland Raiders (3-13)COLLEGE: AlabamaClass: JrHT: 6-1WT: 205POS: WR
Analysis: I can see the Raiders also targeting...
5. Randy Gregory Washington Redskins (4-12)COLLEGE: NebraskaClass: JrHT: 6-6WT: 245POS: DE
Analysis: Gregory is the type of pass-rushing talent that can...
6. Shane Ray New York Jets (4-12)COLLEGE: MissouriClass: JrHT: 6-2WT: 240POS: DE
Analysis: The Jets could go in another...
7. Landon Collins Chicago Bears (5-11)COLLEGE: AlabamaClass: JrHT: 6-0WT: 212POS: S
Analysis: Safety play has been, without exaggerating, a borderline disaster for the Bears, extending beyond this season. Collins does a lot of his best work near the line of scrimmage, but he can certainly be effective playing off the line as a guy who anticipates well, makes good reads and takes proper angles. He comes in with a lot of experience, and for a defense that was such a mess, I like taking a player who offers a lot of versatility and won't need to come off the field much. I know cornerback is a need even after they used a first-round pick there last year, but I'm not sold on the value this high, and, given Chicago's litany of needs on D, they should go for the best player who can help them soon. Collins fits.
8. Dante Fowler Jr. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)COLLEGE: FloridaClass: JrHT: 6-2WT: 271POS: DE
Analysis: A known commodity since he arrived on campus...
9. Brandon Scherff New York Giants (6-10)COLLEGE: IowaClass: SrHT: 6-4WT: 320POS: OT
Analysis: While he's a left tackle at Iowa, I think Scherff...
10. T J Clemmings St. Louis Rams (6-10)COLLEGE: PittsburghClass: SrHT: 6-4WT: 313POS: OT
Analysis: The Rams made more strides on defense this year after adding Aaron Donald as a clear "best player available" pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and the defense benefited greatly. But while their No. 2 overall pick, Greg Robinson, goes into 2015 as the starter at left tackle after looking better there for the most part over the last five weeks this season, the O-line still graded out poorly for me overall, and the Rams need to bring in more talent. Clemmings is a player who has come a long way since converting from defense, but he has arguably as high a ceiling as any tackle in this class and won't need to start his career at left tackle. Quarterback questions persist, but there's no fix to be found here after the top two guys are off the board. More help up front is needed.
11. Devante Parker Minnesota Vikings (7-9)COLLEGE: LouisvilleClass: SrHT: 6-2WT: 207POS: WR
Analysis: Teddy Bridgewater showed he can be the long-term answer at quarterback if his development continues, and while there are also questions along the offensive line, Parker is a tantalizing talent at this point, as I think some teams will have him graded as the best receiver in this draft class once they've wrapped up evaluations. This is A.J. Green lite, and heâ??s not that lite. Parker doesn't just have the leaping ability and length to go up and get it and beat even longer defensive backs at the catch point, he can create space with his short-area explosiveness underneath. Teddy needs another weapon. Here he is.
12. Danny Shelton Cleveland Browns (7-9)COLLEGE: WashingtonClass: SrHT: 6-1WT: 332POS: DT
Analysis: In Mike Pettine's system, you really can use powerful bodies up front who can hold blocks but also create some movement and occasionally penetrate, and the massive Shelton is a nice fit for a team that struggled to consistently stop the run. The Browns really missed an injured Phil Taylor, and Shelton comes in ready to play and give them more depth at a position in which every team could use it. This guy didn't just cause way more backfield havoc than his size would indicate is possible, but he has incredible awareness in the run game and actually led the Huskies in tackles for most of the season, which is pretty incredible for a guy at that position.
13. Vic Beasley New Orleans Saints (7-9)COLLEGE: ClemsonClass: SrHT: 6-2WT: 220POS: DE
Analysis: A year after they made great strides on defense, the Saints took a...
14. Shaq Thompson Miami Dolphins (8-8)COLLEGE: WashingtonClass: JrHT: 6-2WT: 224POS: OLB
Analysis: The great thing about Thompson is he's not just a...
15. Kevin White San Francisco 49ers (8-8)COLLEGE: West VirginiaClass: SrHT: 6-2WT: 211POS: WR
Analysis: The question marks at wide receiver persist for the 49ers, and Michael Crabtree could be signed somewhere else by the time the draft arrives. If the 49ers want to further aid Colin Kaepernick's development, they need to find another target, ideally a matchup threat and a guy who can win at the catch point and outmuscle defenders for contested catches. White had a monster year at West Virginia and has made himself more explosive in space as he's added strength. He can make plays down the field and give the 49ers the athlete they desperately need if Crabtree isn't around, and Anquan Boldin is arguably the best wide receiver they have.
16. Trae Waynes Houston Texans (9-7)COLLEGE: Michigan StateClass: JrHT: 6-1WT: 182POS: CB
Analysis: The Texans did a relatively good job defending the pass this year, but that started up front. They benefit so much from what J.J. Watt does to opposing QBs that it conceals the fact they could use help at cornerback. Waynes will grade out as the best cover corner in the draft for many teams, and he also offers something pretty much everybody covets at the position, which is length. Waynes is also a good zone defender, and while he's lean, he is above average in run support. He has good ball skills and really does a good job of tracking the ball. He's a player who can help turn what should be a really good defensive line's pressure into more turnovers.
17. Arik Armstead San Diego Chargers (9-7)COLLEGE: OregonClass: JrHT: 6-7WT: 285POS: DE
Analysis: While he's listed at defensive end, the long and strong Armstead is probably better described as "freakish defensive lineman." He has impressive quickness for a player who stands about 6-foot-8 and carries a lean 290 pounds, and the power is obvious, too, because when he plays with leverage and gets under the pads of blockers, he can simply take them backward. Armstead was at one time a potential star on the basketball court as well and still has plenty of raw elements to his game, but guys who are this big and this athletic can become really special with coaching.
18. Dorial Green-Beckham Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)COLLEGE: OklahomaClass: JrHT: 6-4WT: 225POS: WR
Analysis: We all know about the Chiefs' singular lack of ability to generate...
19. Ereck Flowers Cleveland Browns (7-9)COLLEGE: Miami (FL)Class: JrHT: 6-6WT: 325POS: OT
Analysis: I can obviously see the Browns looking at a pass-catcher here given the issues they faced in 2014, when Josh Gordon was off the field (and when he was on it, for that matter), but I also think they know that if they can build a dominant offensive line and make Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell arguably the league's best two-headed running back attack, they'll be able to help stabilize the passing game and allow any QB to succeed. Flowers offers insurance for Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz, and also at guard in a year after the injury to Alex Mack (and subsequent shuffling up front) was quietly devastating if you look at Cleveland's ability to run the ball. Anybody who assumes an O-line or D-line is in great shape without considering depth should watch what happen to the Browns when Mack went down.
20. Marcus Peters Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)COLLEGE: WashingtonClass: JrHT: 5-11WT: 193POS: CB
Analysis: I wouldn't say the Eagles were a total mess at cornerback last season, but Brandon Boykin was arguably the best performer for them, though that was in a little more than 500 snaps. They really need to add talent at the position, and, in that regard, Peters is arguably the best cornerback in the entire draft. He's strong, can press, has outstanding awareness and has big-time ball skills. His footwork can be sloppy, but that's a symptom of a guy with the talent to make up for it. Peters has question marks when it comes to coachability, as he was dismissed from the team at Washington. The draft process will tell us whether that's construed as "competitive" or "hard to deal with," but thereâ??s no question the kid can play.
21. Bud Dupree Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)COLLEGE: KentuckyClass: SrHT: 6-3WT: 268POS: OLB
Analysis: The Bengals had only the appearance of a rotation at defensive end...
22. Kevin Johnson Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)COLLEGE: Wake ForestClass: SrHT: 6-0WT: 175POS: CB
Analysis: The Steelers are long in the tooth at cornerback...
23Malcom BrownDetroit Lions (11-5)COLLEGE: TexasClass: SrHT: 6-3WT: 317POS: DT
Analysis: Yes, there is some speculation that Detroit could franchise...
24. Melvin Gordon Arizona Cardinals (11-5)COLLEGE: WisconsinClass: JrHT: 6-0WT: 207POS: RB
Analysis: There have been exactly zero running backs selected in the first round over the past two drafts...
25. Andrus PeatCarolina Panthers (7-8-1)COLLEGE: StanfordClass: JrHT: 6-6WT: 315POS: OT
Analysis: It's not really overstating it to say the Panthers' pass protection was absolute garbage...
26. Devin Funchess Baltimore Ravens (10-6)COLLEGE: MichiganClass: JrHT: 6-4WT: 235POS: WR
Analysis: It's not really fair to call Funchess a tight end based on where he typically lines up, but at more than...
27. Jordan Phillips Dallas Cowboys (12-4)COLLEGE: OklahomaClass: SophHT: 6-5WT: 334POS: DT
Analysis: The Dallas defensive line held up reasonably well this season with merely OK talent, but a lot of that had to do with how much the efficient offense was able to keep it off the field and fresh. The unit isn't going to simply get better unless it adds more talent. Phillips is still pretty raw, but he's got tremendous upside. At 6-foot-6, when you see him run you can barely fathom that he's carrying more than 330 pounds. Put a kid like this under the tutelage of Rod Marinelli and you could end up with something truly special. Dallas needs to prioritize defense in this draft after getting the offense where it needs to be, and Phillips is a reasonable upside play.
28. Benardrick McKinney Denver Broncos (12-4)COLLEGE: Mississippi StateClass: JrHT: 6-4WT: 243POS: ILB
Analysis: I thought Denver was pretty thin at linebacker coming into the 2014 season...
29. Jaelen Strong Indianapolis Colts (11-5)COLLEGE: Arizona StateClass: JrHT: 6-3WT: 212POS: WR
Analysis: The Colts have some good young targets in the passing game with T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief as well as the emerging Coby Fleener, but those players have also had consistency issues, and in the case of the receivers, neither can dominate with size alone. Reggie Wayne's future is uncertain, and Hakeem Nicks was more flash than regular substance this season. If Indy really wants to maximize Andrew Luck, I think they should consider a guy such as Strong if he's on the board at this point. This is a big-time matchup threat, arguably the best player in college football in 2014 if you grade on the combination of size and dominant ability at the catch point. The defensive line and offensive line could each use help, but both have made strides and Strong is a steal this far down the board.
30. Eddie Goldman Green Bay Packers (12-4)COLLEGE: Florida StateClass: JrHT: 6-3WT: 315POS: DT
Analysis: While I think Goldman's potential still outpaces the tape, he has plenty of it and could be a versatile help for the defensive line on a team that has struggled defending the run in particular. Where Goldman can be special is as a gap eater who also flashes pretty impressive quickness. In other words, he's the guy who doesn't always stand out on tape because he's not getting into the backfield, though players around him probably are. If Goldman was a little more disruptive and able to penetrate a bit more, it would be hard to see him fall past No. 20. If he reaches his potential, he could be a steal here, not to mention a great fit.
31. Sammie Coates New England Patriots (12-4)COLLEGE: AuburnClass: JrHT: 6-2WT: 200POS: WR
Analysis: Arguably the best athlete in all of college football, Coates isn't huge at...
32. Devin Smith Seattle Seahawks (12-4)COLLEGE: Ohio StateClass: SrHT: 6-0WT: 199POS: WR
Analysis: I was between two players here -- Smith and cornerback Jalen Collins of LSU. The injury to...
