2015 NFL Mock Drafts

The ATippett56 Early Bird Special

2015 New England Patriots Preliminary Mock Draft - 11/24/14

1st Round - T.J. Clemmings, OT - Pittsburgh or A.J. Cann, OG - South Carolina
2nd Round - Ereck Flowers, OT - Miami (Florida)
3rd Round - Jeremy Langford, RB - Michigan State or David Cobb, RB - Minnesota
3rd Round Compensatory - Jaquiski Tartt, SS - Samford or Kurtis Drummond, FS - Michigan State
4th Round - Preston Smith, DE - Mississippi State or Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE - UCLA
4th Round - Jeff Heuerman, TE - Ohio State or E.J. Bibbs, TE - Iowa State
6th Round - Adam Shead, OG - Oklahoma
7th Round - Stephone Anthony, ILB - Clemson

2015 Top NFL Draft Prospects Rankings (updated 11/18/2014) by NFLDraftScout.com

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/all

Priority UDFAs
Mark Weisman, FB - Iowa
Corey Grant, RB - Auburn
Shane McDermott, OC - Miami (Florida)
Kaleb Johnson, OG - Rutgers
Ben Beckwith, OG - Mississippi State
Tayo Fabuluje, OT - Texas Christian
Gabe Holmes, TE - Purdue
Ray Hamilton, TE - Iowa
Cam Worthy, WR - East Carolina
Andre Davis, WR - South Florida
Devin Smith, WR - Ohio State
Jarrod West, WR - Syracuse
Cory Morrissey, DE - Iowa State
Marcus Hardison, DT - Arizona State
Taiwan Jones, ILB - Michigan State
Mark Nzeocha, OLB - Wyoming
Tra'Mayne Bondurant, FS - Arizona
Corey Cooper, SS - Nebraska
JaCorey Shepherd, CB - Kansas
Joe Cardona, LS - Navy

I like the players Tipp. But, if you're taking Clemmings in the first to play guard. He's also able to play RT. We have Fleming as a back-up T who looks good. Both of our starting tackles can play LT and aren't going anywhere. Kind of over-kill to take a tackle in the second ain't it?

Matt Miller of nflscout.com has a Top 64 and Top 10 at each position.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...big-board-matt-millers-latest-rankings/page/2

Based on his rankings and CBSSports that Tippett linked. Here's my stab. Brief explanation. I want to upgrade G. But, it's an easier position to fill than DL. Therefore, I'm going DL first.

1 Malcolm Brown - DT - Texas - Not really an anchor type but is 320. Could be talked into Phillips because he's one of those planet guys. There ain't that many guys on the planet that big who can play football.

2. Zach Hodges - OLB/DE - Harvard - Grooming him to replace Ninkovich. Won't contribute as a rookie. But, I think in a couple of years he's going to be the type of player BB likes.

3. Jarvis Harrison - G - Texas A&M - Started out the season as LG. Ogbuehi struggled and they moved him to LT. So, you know he has the feet to get down field in our screen game.

3. Supplemental Pick - Laken Tomlinson - G - Duke - Big, mauling type guard with decent feet. Gonna be our RG eventually. Solder-Harrison-Stork-Tomlinson-Vollmer = A happy TB12

4a. Adrian Amos - S - PSU - Started out his career at cb. He was a good blitzer off the corner. PSU likes to blitz their corners off the short side. He's a good tackler. Moved to safety this year and has played well. Not a knockout safety. Who cares? They call penalties on big hits whether they are legal or not. Can tackle and cover.

I'm ok with our rb's now. And, i think Heuerman from OSU is off the board at TE.

4B Tony Lippett - WR - Michigan St - Curious at his combine workouts. 40 time and 3 cone.

6 Blake Bell - TE - Oklahoma - Dad was a stud. He's 6'5"250 and looks like room to get bigger. A lot of good te's started out as qb's. Bit of a project.

7. Mike Hull - LB - PSU - Leading the top ranked rush defense in the country. That's right. Top ranked run D in the country. They shut down Tevin Coleman and Ohio State. He won't be a starter. He'll run a 4.6 and benches close to 500 pounds. I think he'll be better than a guy like Dane Fletcher. Back-up and good special teamer.

patsfaninpa said:

Matt Miller of nflscout.com has a Top 64 and Top 10 at each position.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...big-board-matt-millers-latest-rankings/page/2

Based on his rankings and CBSSports that Tippett linked. Here's my stab. Brief explanation. I want to upgrade G. But, it's an easier position to fill than DL. Therefore, I'm going DL first.

1 Malcolm Brown - DT - Texas - Not really an anchor type but is 320. Could be talked into Phillips because he's one of those planet guys. There ain't that many guys on the planet that big who can play football.

2. Zach Hodges - OLB/DE - Harvard - Grooming him to replace Ninkovich. Won't contribute as a rookie. But, I think in a couple of years he's going to be the type of player BB likes.

3. Jarvis Harrison - G - Texas A&M - Started out the season as LG. Ogbuehi struggled and they moved him to LT. So, you know he has the feet to get down field in our screen game.

3. Supplemental Pick - Laken Tomlinson - G - Duke - Big, mauling type guard with decent feet. Gonna be our RG eventually. Solder-Harrison-Stork-Tomlinson-Vollmer = A happy TB12

4a. Adrian Amos - S - PSU - Started out his career at cb. He was a good blitzer off the corner. PSU likes to blitz their corners off the short side. He's a good tackler. Moved to safety this year and has played well. Not a knockout safety. Who cares? They call penalties on big hits whether they are legal or not. Can tackle and cover.

I'm ok with our rb's now. And, i think Heuerman from OSU is off the board at TE.

4B Tony Lippett - WR - Michigan St - Curious at his combine workouts. 40 time and 3 cone.

6 Blake Bell - TE - Oklahoma - Dad was a stud. He's 6'5"250 and looks like room to get bigger. A lot of good te's started out as qb's. Bit of a project.

7. Mike Hull - LB - PSU - Leading the top ranked rush defense in the country. That's right. Top ranked run D in the country. They shut down Tevin Coleman and Ohio State. He won't be a starter. He'll run a 4.6 and benches close to 500 pounds. I think he'll be better than a guy like Dane Fletcher. Back-up and good special teamer.

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That's a terrific mock. I'm a huge fan of Zach Hodges although I question whether he's big enough for our system and love Malcolm Brown as you know. Adrian Amos and Blake Bell have been regulars in my mocks and whilst I haven't seen either Harrison or Tomlinson, both get good write ups.

Good job.

manxman2601 said:

That's a terrific mock. I'm a huge fan of Zach Hodges although I question whether he's big enough for our system and love Malcolm Brown as you know. Adrian Amos and Blake Bell have been regulars in my mocks and whilst I haven't seen either Harrison or Tomlinson, both get good write ups.

Good job.

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Belichick mentioned in his radio interview on Monday that there were plays where only 1 defensive player was over 260lb on the field. Ninko and Ayers were coming off the edge. One DT. LB's were Hightower, Collins and Casillas(21 snaps) when we did it I think. I don't see Hodges or Brown seeing the field much next year. Projecting a smart, athletic player into a position I think he can handle once he gets a little bigger and stronger.

patsfaninpa said:

Belichick mentioned in his radio interview on Monday that there were plays where only 1 defensive player was over 260lb on the field. Ninko and Ayers were coming off the edge. One DT. LB's were Hightower, Collins and Casillas(21 snaps) when we did it I think. I don't see Hodges or Brown seeing the field much next year. Projecting a smart, athletic player into a position I think he can handle once he gets a little bigger and stronger.

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That's where I think someone like Dupree, Hunter, Fowler or Calhoun has a big edge up over Hodges, who is a fine player, but a bit on the light side (Hunter definitely has much more room to bulk up on his 6'6" frame).

mayoclinic said:

That's where I think someone like Dupree, Hunter, Fowler or Calhoun has a big edge up over Hodges, who is a fine player, but a bit on the light side (Hunter definitely has much more room to bulk up on his 6'6" frame).

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The guys you mentioned are better prospects. But, I doubt any of them will be there at 64. I did like that idea in your last mock of going DT in Round 1. Trade up in Round 2. Markus Golden looked pretty good at Tennessee on Saturday Night. We'll get to see how he handles the point of attack against Arkansas this week.

patsfaninpa said:

Belichick mentioned in his radio interview on Monday that there were plays where only 1 defensive player was over 260lb on the field. Ninko and Ayers were coming off the edge. One DT. LB's were Hightower, Collins and Casillas(21 snaps) when we did it I think. I don't see Hodges or Brown seeing the field much next year. Projecting a smart, athletic player into a position I think he can handle once he gets a little bigger and stronger.

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235lb is still pretty light for a Patriot front 7 player, particularly an edge one. But Hodges was my first real binkies so I have no objection to BB finding a place for him.

Your Tony Lippett pick just got a little more interesting:

Michigan State's 1,000-yard receiver, Tony Lippett, will start at cornerback Saturday against Penn State. The senior is listed No. 1 on the Spartans' depth chart at cornerback this week, according to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press, who reported Lippett will become the school's first two-way starter since 1968.

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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...t-will-start-at-cornerback-for-michigan-state

Zach Hodges's ability to turn speed to power really reminded me of Kevin Pierre-Louis who I really liked last year and who has been good for the Seahawks. Hodges does almost no dropping into coverage for Harvard but I see him as a Jamie Collins type prospect in our system, perhaps one that plays on the edge a little more than Collins. I think he'll also be a terrific special teamed so there's be an early spot for him.

Interesting article on Hodges.

http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2013/11/22/zach-hodges-harvard-football

And a useful video

manxman2601 said:

Zach Hodges's ability to turn speed to power really reminded me of Kevin Pierre-Louis who I really liked last year and who has been good for the Seahawks. Hodges does almost no dropping into coverage for Harvard but I see him as a Jamie Collins type prospect in our system, perhaps one that plays on the edge a little more than Collins. I think he'll also be a terrific special teamed so there's be an early spot for him.

Interesting article on Hodges.

http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2013/11/22/zach-hodges-harvard-football

And a useful video

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I would liken Hodges to a "poor man's Anthony Barr" - a player I really liked. I'm not worried about the player, just about his ability to bulk up enough to play in our scheme.

patsfaninpa said:

The guys you mentioned are better prospects. But, I doubt any of them will be there at 64. I did like that idea in your last mock of going DT in Round 1. Trade up in Round 2. Markus Golden looked pretty good at Tennessee on Saturday Night. We'll get to see how he handles the point of attack against Arkansas this week.

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Right now the 3 areas that are most interesting to me are edge rusher, DT, and interior OL. The 2015 draft looks to be pretty strong in all 3 areas, as always, depending on who declares:

- Edge rusher: I think that Randy Gregory, Shane Ray, Shawn Oakman and Vic Beasley will be the top 4 off the board. Other than Oakman I'm more interested in the next 4: Dante Fowler, Bud Dupree, Shilique Calhoun and Danielle Hunter. I think at least one of those will slip to within range, and possibly into the high 2nd round.

- DT: there could be 5 good big DT prospects - Danny Shelton, Malcolm Brown, Eddie Goldman, Jordan Phillips and Carl Davis. Plus Arik Armstead and Marcus Harrison as DE/DT types (and of course Leonard Williams). I think one or more could slip. If Brown and Phillips stay in school I'd lean towards 2016 for that position, unless someone BB really likes is available at the right spot.

- OL: Brandon Scherff, TJ Clemmings, La'el Collins, Spencer Drango, Ty Sambraillo, Cam Erving, Ereck Flowers. Again, I'm hoping one or more will slip a bit. I also like Jake Fisher out of Oregon. And that doesn't count college guards like AJ Cann, Josue Matias and Arie Koandjio. Laken Tomlinson and Jarvis Harrison could also rise.

Ideally, I'd love to get 1 guy from each of those groups with our 1st 3 picks, including moving around and potentially using TB's 4th as a trade up.

Pretty sure the DE the pats want is Odiggybe from UCLA, not sure how you spell his name. Little short but good. Has an injury history though. Maybe in the 2nd round.

kennyb said:

Pretty sure the DE the pats want is Odiggybe from UCLA, not sure how you spell his name. Little short but good. Has an injury history though. Maybe in the 2nd round.

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Omawagbe Odighizuwa. I'm a big fan.

Love me some Iggy

kennyb said:

Pretty sure the DE the pats want is Odiggybe from UCLA, not sure how you spell his name. Little short but good. Has an injury history though. Maybe in the 2nd round.

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Good player. Manx loves him. But why are you "pretty sure" he's "the DE the Pats want"?

Luxusdk said:

Manx do you know if hes age could remove him from Patriots board? I do know he "only" will be 23, but pattern doing the last draft says something, alteast for the first rounds.

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I don't know how BB feels about older prospects. I can see it being an issue for first rounders, less sure it's a major issue after that.

Removed the post because Collins had same age when they picked him.

mayoclinic said:

Good player. Manx loves him. But why are you "pretty sure" he's "the DE the Pats want"?

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With his strength and edge setting ability, he's an ideal LDE but while he doesn't have the traditional skill set of a 4-3 RDE, he's a decent fit for a BB one. Outstanding bullrush, has the long arms to disrupt a QBs throwing motion on a pass rush and good (although not elite) quickness and athleticism. Could easily see him backup Chandler Jones as well as start at LDE once Nink leaves. I would put him ahead of Buchanan and Moore on the roster if we drafted him.

kennyb said:

Pretty sure the DE the pats want is Odiggybe from UCLA, not sure how you spell his name. Little short but good. Has an injury history though. Maybe in the 2nd round.

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It's the DT mccarthy that makes the ucla d line work. He sucks up so much attention, gives the other guys single blocking. I just love his game and think he can two gap.

manxman2601 said:

With his strength and edge setting ability, he's an ideal LDE but while he doesn't have the traditional skill set of a 4-3 RDE, he's a decent fit for a BB one. Outstanding bullrush, has the long arms to disrupt a QBs throwing motion on a pass rush and good (although not elite) quickness and athleticism. Could easily see him backup Chandler Jones as well as start at LDE once Nink leaves. I would put him ahead of Buchanan and Moore on the roster if we drafted him.

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I have no doubt that Odighazuwa is a good prospect, and will be a good player. He reminds me of a poor man's Datone Jones, another UCLA prospect. But (1) I find it hard to be "pretty sure" what the Pats will do the day of the draft, much less 5 months before, and (2) I tend to evaluate prospects in terms of how they fit into a scheme. No doubt Odighizuwa can play 4-3 LDE in base, and probably back up RDE to some extent, but I'm not sure he's quick enough for a 4-3, or strong enough to be a great 3-4 DE or interior sub rusher. He falls into the category for me of "I'd be absolutely fine with it if that's what BB does, but I personally don't see him as an ideal fit". Same with Zach Hodges. Again, that's nothing against either player. I'm curious why someone would think that he stands out from all the other guys in a very strong DE draft as the one the Pats would choose.