Top 10 Mock Draft with no trades:
1. Tampa Bay: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB Nebraska. This is assuming that Lovie Smith isn’t in love with any of the top QBs. They could go Gregory here, Leonard Williams or an OT if they decide to dump Tony Collins.
2. Tennessee: Kevin White, WR WVU. A scout this author deeply respects told him this week that “Kevin White doesn’t make it out of the top 3.” Believe it.
3. Jacksonville: Andrus Peat, OT Stanford. Bradley wants to recreate what he had in Seattle, so this is either the best defensive front seven guy or a powerful OT. Peat fills the second category, Bradley also remembers how little Seattle invested to find their defensive front seven guys also.
4. Oakland: Leonard Williams, DL Southern Cal. Best player available. Williams won’t significantly improve them, but he is a big name from California.
5. Washington. Shane Ray, DE/OLB Missouri. Who the heck knows what McCloughan will prioritize in the draft since he’s going to hamstring Gruden into costing himself his job. Ray has amazing natural pass rush skills and allows Trent Murphy to move to DE or ILB.
6. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB FSU. Honestly, Crazy Crab Legs needs a redshirt season in the NFL, but the Jets are dumb enough to force him out on the field to quell an angry fan base.
7. Chicago: Danny Shelton, DT Washington. If they’re switching to a Fangio’s three front defense, they’ll need new defensive linemen. Shelton has some red flags, but as a nose tackle he could be good value.
8. Atlanta: Ereck Flowers, OT Miami. They will want a pass rusher for Quinn, but he knows you can find those guys later in the draft. Flowers allows Matthews to move to the right side.
9. New York Giants: Dante Fowler Jr, DL Florida. They were really hoping that Flowers would be here so that they could dump Will Beatty like a bad habit. They’ll need Fowler whether or not they keep Jason Pierre-Paul.
10. St. Louis: Brandon Scherff, OL Iowa. This is assuming that they don’t deal for Nick Foles or RG3 and decide that Mariota isn’t an improvement on Bradford’s potential. Jake Long is done and Greg Robinson will move outside to create a hole at LG for Scherff.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of prospects for the 2015 NFL draft. This is more a look into the draft and which prospects are making a name for themselves organized into several categories. The names will move up and down the categories and perhaps even off the lists if the prospects sully their draft stock.
This week, let’s look at the one question that every top prospect has to answer at the combine. This question can be a physical tools question or one that the scouts/GM/coaches will ask him during the private interviews.
The Blue Chip Prospects. There are as close to “can’t miss” as you get.
Leonard Williams, DL Southern Cal. His question: Is there anything bad you want to confess to us?
Ereck Flowers, OT Miami. His question: Does his knee check out medically?
Brandon Scherff, OL Iowa. His question: What’s your position in the NFL? Are you a LG or a RT?
Shane Ray, DE/OLB Missouri. His question: Are you a superstar or a product of the Missouri pass rusher factory?
Kevin White, WR WVU. His question: How come TCU’s Kevin White shut you down?
Randy Gregory, DE/OLB Nebraska. His question: Like Williams, is there anything bad you want to confess to us?
Andrus Peat, OT Stanford. His question: How fast and quick do your feet move?
Green Chip Prospects. These are prospects who have roughly the same level of talent as the blue chip ones, but have a red flag or question mark about them.
Todd Gurley RB UGA. His question: How’s your rehab coming? AKA When could be expect a return on our draft pick on you?
Amari Cooper, WR Alabama. His question: Why do you struggle against the press?
Benardrick McKinney LB, Mississippi State. His question: Are you a middle LB or a weak side LB?
Eric Kendricks, LB UCLA. His question: Lateral speed (sideline to sideline).
Shaq Thompson, LB Washington. His question: Are his physical tools so great that he’s worth waiting two to three seasons to develop on?
DeVante Parker, WR Louisville. His question: Any lingering problems with the broken foot?
Arik Armstead, DL Oregon. His question: Are his physical tools so great that you put up with his raw technique?
Red Chip Prospects. Talented prospects but with multiple red flags or serious questions about their ability to transition to the NFL.
Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon. His question: Tell me why I should draft you high considering that read-option QBs struggle in the NFL?
Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson (Moving down). His question: How big and strong are you really?
Danny Shelton, DT Washington (moving down). His question: Who was the real star of your defense last year?
Jameis Winston, QB Florida State. His question: Why did you have five games in 2014 with multiple INTs?
Landon Collins, S Alabama. His question: Coverage skills.
Cedric Ogbuehi, OL Texas A&M. His question: How is your knee rehab going and can you explain why you were switched back to RT during the 2014 season?
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon. His question: How is your knee rehab going?
Marcus Peters, DB Washington. His question: Why do your teammates and coaches all tell us that you’re a jerk?
Duke Johnson, RB Miami. His question: How many carries in the NFL do you have in you?
Solid First round prospects. These are guys who don’t have blue chip levels of talent, but are clearly talented enough to merit strong consideration in the top 25 picks.
Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State. His question: Are you a system player?
Dante Fowler, Jr, DL Florida. His question: Are you a product of a great Florida front seven?
Markus Golden, DE/OLB Missouri. His question: Are you a product of playing with Shane Ray?
La’El Collins, OL LSU. His question: Effort and motivation.
Jalen Mills, DB LSU. His question: Speed in coverage.
Mario Edwards Jr, DL FSU. His question: Show me another pass rush move other than the bull rush.
Devin Funchess, TE Michigan. His question: Are you a flanker or a split out TE?
Jalen Strong, WR ASU. His question: Are you another Jonathan Baldwin (big, good hands but can't separate from a DB)?
Cam Erving, OL FSU. His question: Which position do you want to play at in the NFL?
Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB Louisville. His question: Show me you can cover again.
Nate Orchard, DE Utah (moving up). His question: Quickness.
25-60 prospects. Prospects with talent but you feel better about your favorite team drafting them in the second round.
Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB Kentucky. His question: Strength and power.
Quinten Rollins, DB Miami (OH). His question: Show me the tape of the best WR you shut down.
Jordan Phillips, DT Oklahoma (moving up). His question: Why did you disappear so much during the season?
Clive Walford, TE Miami. His question: Hands.
Donovan Smith, OL Penn State. His question: Leg kick.
Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota. His question: Hands.
Brett Hundley, QB UCLA. His question: Why weren’t you a Heisman contender?
Malcolm Brown, DT Texas. His question: Why can’t you handle a double team?
Sammie Coates, WR Auburn. His question: Why didn’t you become Amari Cooper?
Anthony Harris, S Virginia. His question: Why do you tackle so poorly for a strong safety?
Larry Warfords. Talented players who have dropped to the 3rd round for whatever reason (usually because they play a secondary position like Strong Safety or Offensive guard).
Max Garcia OL, Florida. His question: Short space quickness.
Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke. His question: Can he get to the second level fast enough?
Gerod Holliman, DB Louisville. His question: Covering in space.
Cody Prewitt, DB Ole Miss. His question: Hip fluidity.
Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State. His question: His ability to beat a press (strength and power).
Kevin White, CB TCU. His question: Quickness.
Grady Jarrett, DT Clemson. His question: Why did you disappear so much in the 4th quarter?
Mike Davis, RB South Carolina. His question: Why did Spurrier bench you and plan to start David Williams over you?
Reese Dismukes, OC Auburn. His question: Why do you struggle so much against an NT?
AJ Cann, OG South Carolina. His question: Blocking in space.
Tyler Sambrailo, OL CSU. His question: Strength and power.
Nick Boyle, TE Delaware. His question: Show me your receiving skills.
Ronald Darby, DB FSU. His question: Straight line speed.
Denzel Perryman, LB Miami. His question: Straight line speed.
Hroniss Grasu, OL Oregon. His question: Why do you try to take on two defenders instead of just focusing on one?
Jake Fisher, OT Oregon. His question: One year wonder?
Nick O’Leary, TE/H-Back FSU. His question: Are you a TE or an H-back?
Arie Kouandjio, OL Alabama. His question: Footwork.
Tre Jackson, OG Florida State. His question: Raw power.
Stefon Diggs, WR/RB UMD. His question: Are you 100% healthy?
PJ Williams, CB FSU. His question: Why do you gamble badly in coverage?
Owamgabe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA. His question: Quickness and speed.
Tyrus Thompson, OT Oklahoma. His question: Why do you struggle with your power when you’re 340 lbs?
Daryl Williams, OT Oklahoma. His question: Technique.
D.J. Humphries, OT Florida. His question: Can he pass a medical check?
Rob Havenstein, OT Wisconsin. His question: Balance.
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB Auburn. His question: Were you a product of that offense?
Alex Carter, CB Stanford. His question: Why did you draw so many flags?
David Cobb, RB Minnesota. His question: Acceleration into the hole.
Hau’oli Kikaha, LB Washington. His question: Why did you struggle tackling guys?
Danielle Hunter, DE LSU (moving up). His question: Why do you look so great in workouts, but struggle on the field?
Lottery tickets. High talent but high risk if they’re still around here. They also could be a player with one good tool (like Martavis Bryant and Pittsburgh) that could get them playing time.
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma. His question: Maturity and does he admit he’s made mistakes.
David Andrews, OC Georgia. His question: Does he have an NFL frame?
Sean Mannion, QB Oregon State. His question: Why did you have 84 INTs and fumbles in your career?
Garrett Grayson, QB Colorado State. His question: Can you look a safety off of a WR?
Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska. His question: Is he a two or three down RB?
Corey Robinson, OT South Carolina. His question: Lateral footwork.
Michael Bennett, DL Ohio State. His question: Are you anything more than a battering ram to blow up play for others to clean up?
Eddie Goldman, DL FSU. His question: Are your physical tools so good that they help you overcome your total lack of technique?
Trey Flowers, DE Arkansas. His question: Speed and quickness off the line.
Tony Lippett, WR/CB Michigan State. His question: Is he technically ready to play WR in the NFL?
Devin Smith, WR Ohio State. His question: Why did the Buckeyes keep benching you on the sub package?
David Parry, DL Stanford. His question: Arm length.
Mark Glowinski, OL WVU. His question: Can he use his hands properly?
Devin Gardner, WR Michigan. His question: How close are you to contributing as a returner/sub package WR?
Carl Davis, DL Iowa. His question: Why did someone with your physical tools do so little on the field?
Jeremy Langford, RB Michigan State. His question: How many carries does he have left in him?
Amarlo Herrera, LB UGA. His question: What’s your role in the NFL?
Blake Bell, TE Oklahoma. His question: Can you do more than just be a red zone target?
Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana. His question: Straight line speed.
TJ Yeldon, RB Alabama. His question: Show me an NFL level skill.
Rashad Greene, WR FSU. His question: Can he be physical enough in the NFL?
Justin Hardy, WR ECU. His question: Were you just a product of the ECU offense?
Ramik Wilson, LB UGA. His question: Why do you give up so much ground against ball carriers?
Tj Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh. His question: How raw of a blocker is he?
Geneo Grissom, OLB Oklahoma. His question: Do you have anything more than a quick first step?
Henry Anderson, DE Stanford. His question: Aren’t you just Trent Murphy without the talent?
Matt Jones, RB Florida. His question: Are you anything more than a short yardage back?
JT Surratt, DL South Carolina. His question: Show me an NFL level physical tool or two.
Karlos Williams, RB FSU. His question: Do you have any NFL-level RB skills?
Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State. His question: Why do you fumble so much?
Michael Dyer, RB Louisville. His question: Why should we trust you on your own?
Jarvis Harrison, OG Texas A&M. His question: Work ethic and desire.
Jalen Collins, CB LSU. His question: Why aren’t you a safety considered how bad you can be trying to backpedal into space?
Brison Williams, S, South Carolina. His question: Can you make it as a special teamer and wait?
D'Joun Smith, CB Florida Atlantic. His question: Can you defend a bigger WR?
Ty Montgomery, WR Stanford. His question: Hands and focus.
Josue Matias, OG Florida State. His question: Waist bending.