2015 NFL Draft Goals

Posted April 25, 2015.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

What does every team need to accomplish in the 2015 NFL Draft? We’ll look at each team’s goals on this page, as well as possible selections for each squad. Also see how the goals are being addressed in the 2015 NFL Mock Draft (will be updated tomorrow).
  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
    We all know by now that the Buccaneers plan on drafting Jameis Winston. With that in mind, their goal is simple: Build around by Winston by upgrading the offensive line and running back positions. Adding some better players on the defensive side of the ball, including a pass-rusher, is a must as well.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    1. Jameis Winston, QB
    34. Jake Fisher, OT
    65. Jeremiah Poutasi, G
    109. Anthony Chickillo, DE


    Follow @walterfootball for updates.

  2. Tennessee Titans:
    The Titans need to come out of this draft with an upgrade at quarterback, whether that’s selecting Marcus Mariota with the second-overall pick or trading for someone like Philip Rivers or Sam Bradford. This team simply cannot go into the 2015 season with Zach Mettenberger as its starting quarterback. Tennessee also needs to bolster the offensive line and secondary.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    17. La’el Colliins, OT (via trade with Chargers for Philip Rivers)
    33. Ronald Darby, CB
    66. Tre’ Jackson, G
    100. Ty Montgomery, WR


  3. Jacksonville Jaguars:
    Blake Bortles was the pick last year. The Jaguars now have to make sure he has all the tools he needs to develop. They have to obtain more upgrades on the offensive line as well as a better running back. Bolstering the defense (LEO, secondary) has to be done as well.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    3. Dante Fowler, DE/OLB
    36. Byron Jones, CB
    67. Ali Marpet, G/C
    103. Jaquiski Tartt, S




  4. Oakland Raiders:
    Like the Jaguars, the Raiders need to add help to give their young quarterback the best chance to succeed. A No. 1 receiver, an upgrade on the offensive line and perhaps a running back should all be obtained. Defensive assistance is required as well.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    4. Leonard Williams, DT
    35. Devin Smith, WR
    68. Arie Kouandjio, G
    102. Buck Allen, RB


  5. Washington Redskins:
    Washington’s priority is addressing its horrid secondary. Multiple upgrades are needed there. Beyond that, the team needs to bolster the offensive line and receiving corps, and also add some depth to the thin front seven.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    5. Vic Beasley, DE/OLB
    38. Byron Jones, CB
    69. Damarious Randall, S
    105. Tyler Lockett, WR


  6. New York Jets:
    The Jets should be targeting a trade up for Marcus Mariota because they desperately need a quarterback. If they fail to do so, adding play-makers and pass-rushers should be their priority.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    2. Marcus Mariota, QB (trade with Titans)
    37. (Traded to Titans)
    70. Duke Johnson, RB
    104. Lorenzo Mauldin, DE/OLB




  7. Chicago Bears:
    The Bears should also be desperate to move up for Marcus Mariota. However, their chances aren’t as likely because, well, why in the world would the Titans want a heartless bum quarterback? Chicago will finally replace Cutler next year – check out my 2016 NFL Mock Draft – but in the meantime, they’ll need to add pieces for their new 3-4, as well as a receiver to replace Brandon Marshall and offensive linemen to have in place for their next quarterback.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    7. Kevin White, WR
    39. Jordan Phillips, NT
    71. Quinten Rollins, CB
    106. Anthony Harris, S


  8. Atlanta Falcons:
    The Falcons will be hoping that one of the top pass-rushers will fall to them at No. 8. They desperately need to improve their ability to get to the quarterback. Beyond that, upgrades are needed at tight end, running back, guard and safety.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    8. Vic Beasley, DE/OLB
    42. Maxx Williams, TE
    73. David Johnson, RB
    107. Josh Shaw, S/CB


  9. New York Giants:
    The Giants need to bolster the trenches. They’re expected to target an offensive lineman at No. 9 if Amari Cooper doesn’t fall to them. They’ll also be looking to find help at both defensive end and defensive tackle. The safety position is an issue as well.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    9. Brandon Scherff, G/OT
    40. Malcom Brown, DT
    74. Nate Orchard, DE
    108. Durrell Eskridge, S






  10. St. Louis Rams:
    The Rams replaced their injury-prone quarterback with another one who gets hurt often (but not nearly as much). They absolutely need to make sure their offensive line is upgraded so that Nick Foles remains healthy. Various positions can be addressed as well, but the offensive line is key.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    10. Brandon Scherff, G/OT
    41. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
    72. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT
    119. Charles Gaines, CB


  11. Minnesota Vikings:
    Receiver and cornerback are the two positions of greatest need. They’ll both have to be addressed early. Elsewhere, the Vikings will have to consider a running back to replace Adrian Peterson, a left tackle for insurance, and a linebacker to improve the middle of the defense.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    11. DeVante Parker, WR
    45. Byron Jones, CB
    76. Jay Ajayi, RB
    110. Ramik Wilson, LB


  12. Cleveland Browns:
    It’ll be an absolute disaster if the Browns go into the 2015 season with Josh McCown and Johnny Rehab as their two quarterbacks. They need to make a move up for Marcus Mariota. They also have to find weapons and blocking for Mariota, as well as some help on the offensive line.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    2. Marcus Mariota, QB
    43. Jaelen Strong, WR
    77. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT
    111. Tyeler Davison, NT
    115. Henry Anderson, DE/DT




  13. New Orleans Saints:
    The Saints had a fire sale in free agency. They’ll need to plug the holes they created (tight end, guard, receiver, linebacker) and also address the positions that already were major liabilities (edge rusher, cornerback).

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    13. Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB
    31. Phillip Dorsett, WR
    44. Stephone Anthony, ILB
    75. Clive Walford, TE
    78. Xavier Cooper, DE/DT


  14. Miami Dolphins:
    The Vikings and Dolphins have very similar goals. They both need a receiver and a cornerback, but instead of a left tackle and a running back, Miami has to find a guard and a safety.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    14. DeVante Parker, WR
    47. Benardrick McKinney, LB
    114. Doran Grant, CB


  15. San Francisco 49ers:
    The 49ers have had a disastrous offseason, losing players left and right because of free agency and retirement. They have so many holes on their roster that they basically have to select the best player available at every juncture.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    15. DeVante Parker, WR
    46. Ronald Darby, CB
    79. Paul Dawson, ILB
    126. Lynden Trail, DE/DT
    132. Ben Koyak, TE


  16. Houston Texans:
    I’ve slotted Todd Gurley in my 2015 NFL Mock Draft for a while now. Some haven’t understood it, but Gurley will probably be the pick if he’s available at No. 16. The Texans have no quarterback, so they need to make sure they run the ball as well as possible. Arian Foster is injury-prone, so Gurley would give Houston great insurance. Elsewhere, the team needs to add to the receiving and linebacking corps, as well as the secondary.

    Ideal 2015 NFL Draft (First Four Rounds):
    16. Todd Gurley, RB
    51. Denzel Perryman, LB
    82. Tre McBride, WR
    116. Marcus Hardison, DE/DT



    Go to 2015 NFL Draft Goals: Picks 17-32

    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.

2015 NFL Mock Draft | 2016 NFL Mock Draft






2024 NFL Mock Draft - March 19


NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22


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NFL Picks - Feb. 12






NFL Draft Links:

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Other 2012 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/26) /Pick History (4/23) /Emmitt Mock (4/19) /Not Mock (4/19) /Backward Mock (4/17) /Celebrity (4/15) /Goals (4/10) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Greg Cox (9/9)
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Other 2013 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /GM Mock (4/21) /Charlie's Trade Mock (4/20) /Goals (4/19) /Rapid Reader Mock (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/14) /Not Mock (4/13) /Pick History (4/5) /Backward Mock (4/4) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/7) /Archived 2013 NFL Mock Drafts
2014 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATE 5/8): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2014 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/10): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2014 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/8) /Goals (5/3) /Not Mock (4/27) /Emmitt Mock (4/20) /Trades Mock (4/13) /Celebrity Mock (4/11) /Backward Mock (4/4) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Overreaction Mock (12/30)
2015 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2015 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/2): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2015 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/30) /Goals (4/25) /Not Mock (4/19) /Emmitt Mock (4/17) /Trades Mock (4/12) /Celebrity Mock (4/10) /Backward Mock (4/3) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/5) /Overreaction Mock (12/29)
2016 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2016 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2016 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/28) /Combo (5/8) /Goals (4/23) /Not Mock (4/22) /Emmitt Mock (4/17) /Trades Mock (4/16) /Celebrity Mock (4/10) /Backward Mock (4/7) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Overreaction Mock (1/4)
2017 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2017 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2017 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/27) /Combo (5/7) /Goals (4/22) /Not Mock (4/21) /Emmitt Mock (4/16) /Backward Mock (4/9) /Celebrity Mock (4/7) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/7) /Overreaction Mock (1/2)
2018 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/26): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2018 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2018 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/26) /Combo (5/6) /Goals (4/21) /Not Mock (4/20) /Emmitt Mock (4/15) /Trades Mock (4/13) /Backward Mock (4/8) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/11) /Senior Bowl (1/27)
2019 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2019 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2019 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /Combo (5/5) /Goals (4/20) /Not Mock (4/18) /Witten Mock (4/14) /Trades Mock (4/12) /Emmitt Mock (4/7) /Backward Mock (4/5) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/10) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/26) /Video Mock (1/8) /Overreaction Mock (12/31)
2020 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/23): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2020 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2020 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/23) /Combo (5/3) /Goals (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/12) /Trades Mock (4/8) /Backward Mock (4/5) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/16) /Corey Long (3/13) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/27) /Overreaction Mock (12/30)
2021 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2021 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/1): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2021 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/17) /Goals (4/23) /Backward Mock (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/11) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/30) /Overreaction Mock (1/4)
2022 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2022 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2022 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/28) /Goals (4/22) /Backward Mock (4/20) /Emmitt Mock (4/15) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (2/5) /Overreaction Mock (1/10)
2023 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2023 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2023 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/27) /Backward Mock (4/19) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (2/4) /Overreaction Mock (1/9)
2024 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 3/19): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4
Other 2024 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (3/18)
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (2/24)
2018 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2017 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2016 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2015 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2014 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2013 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2011 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2010 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2009 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2008 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2006 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2005 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2004 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2003 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2002 NFL Draft Re-Mock