2015 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
25. Carolina Panthers - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Fla.)
The Panthers wanted an OT in the first round of last years draft, but after none of 1st round value fell to them they settled for Kelvin Benjamin. It ended up being one of the best things that could’ve happened to Cam Newton because he and Benjamin showed an immediate chemistry. Although the Panthers have signed Michael Oher, another OT is still needed.
Ereck Flowers is 6’6″ 330 lbs. and has the strength (37 bench press reps at the NFL Combine) and athleticism you look for in a left tackle. His pass protection needs some work and he could be eased into NFL on the right side while refining his technique and footwork.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
Shaq Thompson is the type of player that Ozzie Newsome would trade up a few picks from here to draft. Thompson is going to change positions in the NFL and end up as one of the best linebackers of the next decade. When it’s all said and done, it only takes one team to see the vision of Thompson at linebacker (ex. 9th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, Safety Brian Urlacher) and select him in the top-15.
While the Ravens have needs other than LB, the pass rushers are gone, the offensive line crop depleted, and Justin Forsett showed that drafting a running back in the 1st round isn’t necessary, leaving Newsome to draft the best player available.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Until DeMarco Murray re-signs with the Cowboys, running back is their biggest need. It appears that Murray and the Cowboys will have an open-relationship during free agency and he will return the Jerry Jones with the best offer he finds and expects the Cowboys to match it; as if he is an unofficial restricted free agent.
Melvin Gordon was the best running back in college football last year and broke the single game rushing record by LaDainian Tomlinson, only to have it broken again the very next week. He has legitimate NFL speed and size at the running back position and fits a similar running style to the Cowboys zone blocking scheme. The Cowboys have invested 3 first round picks on the offensive line, so they need to secure a running back to grow behind them.
28. Denver Broncos - Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
Julius Thomas is not going to be a Denver Bronco in 2015. Peyton Manning loves having a reliable TE and Maxx Williams is the best one in the draft. The crop of defensive lineman has been depleted, so John Elway grabs the BPA for the Broncos needs.
29. Indianapolis Colts - Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri/Oklahoma
The Colts locker room is one of the strongest in the NFL. They are not bringing Reggie Wayne back in 2015 and T.Y. Hilton can’t be the Colts only option at WR.
Dorial Green-Beckham needs the Colts more than the Colts need DGB; he needs to surround himself in some Andrew Luck. DGB needs to be in a situation where he’s held to a high expectation and it doesn’t get much more blue collar than Indianapolis. He has Calvin Johnson-traits with Josh Gordon decision making. If he can mature quickly, DGB is the steal of the draft.
30. Green Bay Packers - Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
The Packers were so desperate for inside linebacker help last year that they took their best pass rusher, Clay Matthews, and moved him inside. Matthews had a few impact plays, but after the excitement of playing in a new position wore off, teams started to take advantage of his deficiencies at the position.
Eric Kendricks is the brother of Eagles ILB Mychal Kendricks, who has developed into one of the better linebackers in the league. Eric doesn’t have the size of a typical 3-4 ILB, but he’s one of those overachievers that just produces at a high level.
31. Seattle Seahawks - Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
The Seahawks have the luxury of using this pick on a player with a high ceiling to provide them some impact in the passing game (since they obviously want to get away from running the ball on 2nd & goal).
With playmakers needed at WR and TE, Devin Funchess is a prime candidate for the Seahawks to draft late in the first round. Funchess didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine as well as some hoped (4.70), but he is one of those guys with good football speed and he carries his 6’4″ 232 pound frame well when the pads are on. Funchess was the victim of inconsistent passing attack at Michigan and could benefit from catching passes from Russell Wilson.
32. New England Patriots - Cameron Erving, C/OT, Florida State
The Patriots won the Super Bowl after trading away their best offensive lineman at the beginning of the season. With some Belichick magic, the O-Line pulled it together around Week 8 and made a run to the Super Bowl. Some of the gaps in the offensive line still need to be shored up and Cameron Erving is a Belichick kind of guy with his versatility.
Vic Beasley exposed Erving at OT in their early season matchup and forced the Seminoles to do an OL shift of their own. Erving flourished at center and has shown the ability to play multiple positions with efficiency, a perfect fit for the Patriots mixed bag OL.
