Dunkin’ With Duncan: NFL Mock Draft

Duncan Forbes, Reporter
April 30, 2015

Basketball season has past and now there’s not much left except for the NFL Draft. This years draft is full of interesting players and it is sure to be an exciting first round in Chicago. Here are the teams with this years Top 10 picks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Oakland Raiders
Washington Redskins
New York Jets
Chicago Bears
Atlanta Falcons
New York Giants
St. Louis Rams

Other than the first pick it should be a wild ride for picks two through ten, here are my picks for who will go where and how they will (hopefully) improve their teams.

1. Tampa Bay: Jameis Winston QB (Florida State)

Winston is clearly the number one pick talent wise but he is still a work in progress especially with some of his off the field issues at Florida State and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jameis Winston turns into the next JaMarcus Russell, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.

Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota QB (Oregon)

The second pick of this years draft could easily determine who picks who for the rest of the first round. All of the teams with top 10 picks will pick for the positions they need, so if the Titans don’t pick Mariota and instead try to build on their defense by picking DE Leonard Williams out of USC or Dante Fowler, Jr. out of Florida, look for teams to try and trade up for Mariota or for him to go to the Jets with the sixth pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams DE (USC)

Leonard Williams is the prototypical Defensive End with good speed and agility and is a powerful D-Lineman. There is no doubt that the Jags will continue their rebuilding taking the best defensive player in the draft after taking QB Blake Bortles last year.

Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper WR (Alabama)

With the edition of Michael Crabtree in the offseason the Raiders need another big threat and Amari Cooper is that player. Despite how bad the Raiders were last season they could get into the playoffs if everyone plays their role right.

Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff OG (Iowa)

The Redskins have a lot to work on after last season and it shouldn’t have to do with the QB position, it should do with protecting the QB. Brandon Scherff is a dominant presence in the run game and with him out on the field it would be like having a third tackle out on the field. Scherff could be a great addition for the Redskins but only if they take him here as the Redskins could also pick Dante Fowler Jr. from Florida.

New York Jets: Dante Fowler Jr. OLB (Florida)

With the additions of Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on the defensive side for the Jets, there is no reason that they shouldn’t continue to build on the defense out in New York and possibly get into the playoffs with their defense rather than their offense.

Chicago Bears: Kevin White WR (West Virginia)

Losing Brandon Marshall leaves only one option for QB Jay Cutler in Alshon Jeffery which should make the Bears even more one-dimensional unless they draft a replacement for Marshall, and Kevin White is the perfect player for that. Unless Amari Cooper is still on the board this should be the best pick for Chicago.

Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray DE (Missouri)

Shane Ray is exactly what the Falcons need on defense. After a somewhat surprisingly bad season and the firing of their Head Coach, Atlanta needs a rejuvenating pick and building up the defense is a great way to start. With Ray’s quickness and physicality the Falcons could soar up to the top of the NFC South

New York Giants: Vic Beasley OLB (Clemson)

Vic Beasley should have the same effect that Shane Ray could have with Atlanta in an effort to attract attention to the Giants defense rather than offense. The Giants could also use this pick for an Offensive Lineman by taking Andrus Peat out of Stanford.

St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes CB (Michigan State)

Trae Waynes is one of the best Cornerbacks in this years draft class and has been one of the best DBs over the past couple of years in college, leading Michigan States “No Fly Zone” and being a leader of one of the best defenses in the nation. Waynes will be a safe pick for a strong Rams defense that will build on their offense in the second and third rounds.

Those are my predicted top 10 picks with analysis of the players, here are my guesses for the rest of the first round. Don’t forget to tune in to the first round of the NFL Draft, April 30th on ESPN at 8:00 EST.