2015 NFL Mock Draft Round 3
Round 3:
Tampa Bay Bucs: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M: Lovie Smith needs to rebuild his offensive line to help protect Jameis Winston and Ogbuehi was a consensus top 10 pick until he tore his ACL late this past season. This said, I’m not as high on Ogbuehi as most people. He struggled against elite SEC lineman, not that that’s an unusual, but a big time NFL lineman is supposed to be at his best against the best. Furthermore, Ogbuehi really struggled when moved to left tackle this year, although he played better later when moved back to right tackle. To me that’s a bust warning.
Tennessee Titans: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami: No one doubts Perryman is the best middle linebacker in this draft as a run downhill run stuffer. What they doubt is his ability in pass coverage, particularly because he’s only 5-10, and not 5-11 as listed for four years in the Miami media guide.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Durrell Eskridge, FS, Syracuse: Everybody has treated the first two Jacksonville drafts under Dave Caldwell with deference and praise, but the truth is that none of the players drafted is the best at his position. That has to change and it could with Eskridge, who I believe is the best free safety in this draft. The Jaguars better hope so because their secondary, upon which they lavished 5 draft picks two years ago, is dreadful.
Oakland Raiders: (Controversy Alert) Dorial Green-Beckam, WR, Oklahoma: After not playing at all last year and being a chronic off the field juvenile delinquent, I think his upside potential is not enough to keep him from tumbling into the third round and maybe lower.
Washington (Censored): Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas: Flowers is not a household name but had a really solid season. He has ideal size for the position, 6-6, 265, and had 63 tackles and 5 sacks. His 4.85 40 speed is what keeps him from being considered higher.
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New York Jets: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford: Carter’s expertise is tacking big tight ends, an attribute that would make him a huge asset in the AFC East.
Chicago Bears: Anthony Harris, SS, Virginia: Harris is a solid as they come, day 1 starter. Another piece to a rebuilt Bears secondary added.
St. Louis Rams: Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State: Smith has been under the radar because nobody thought he would come out this year. He had a really good season and his 341 pound frame is gaining a lot of attention among NFL scouts, who are now concluding that taller, heavier, tackles with long arms are preferred over guys weighing around 300 or 305.
Atlanta Falcons: Jaquiski Tartt, SS, Stamford: Tartt could go into the second round or even late first round if he aces the Combine.
New York Football Giants: Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB, Louisville: Mauldin is a tweener at around 240, but has been productive first as an as outside linebacker in coverage and as a defensive end rushing the passer. The Giants need a complement to Devon Kennard in pass coverage among their linebackers.
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New Orleans Saints: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU: Collins has the desired height at over 6-2 and had a great Senior Bowl week. Yet he was less than the sum of his potential at LSU and that would concern me.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin White, CB, TCU: No corner back was better in coverage this year. The issue is his lack of height, which might be less than even the 5-10 listed.
Cleveland Browns: Arie Koundjio, OG, Alabama: There is an Alabama theme here: steady, reliable, ready to start, not spectacular. A lot of people think the Browns will go tackle first here but with most of the good ones gone, I think they take Koundjio who can start at guard right away.
Miami Dolphins: Shaquille Mason, OG, Georgia Tech: Excited coaches at the Senior Bowl when they saw he could pass block in addition to run block, which is mostly what he did in college. David Cobb of Minnesota is a possibility here as the Dolphins could use some running back depth to go with Lamar Miller.
San Francisco 49ers: Josh Harper, WR, Fresno State: Ah, the $64,000 question in San Francisco: where do they draft a receiver?
Kansas City Chiefs: (Controversy Alert) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon: After being considered a first round, Number 1 rated corner back for two years, Ekpre-Olomu tore up his ACL and missed the first playoffs. The corners who replaced him did not miss a beat and led to the suspicion that Ekpre-Olomu had been over rated all along. In any case, he will not be ready for the beginning of the season, pushing him further down in the draft universe.
Buffalo Bills: Ramik Wilson, ILB, Georgia: There is no logic to this pick other than that Rex Ryan likes tough, physical defensive players to employ for the fun of it and Wilson is that.