With just four teams lefty vying for a Super Bowl championship, the offseason is in full swing for most the league. That means mock drafts will be cluttering your Facebook feeds and Twitter timelines for months to come. We've already seen ESPN's NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay's first mock draft. Now fellow draft expert Mel Kiper has released his Mock Draft 1.0 and there are some differences at the top.
Here are Kiper's first five picks.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, FSU
That's right, we have a new No. 1 pick to debate. You see, McShay has Oregon's Marcus Mariota going to the Bucs first overall. Kiper does not agree, and I can see why. Winston comes from a pro-style offense where he operated from the pocket. While he may not be quite the dynamic athlete Mariota is, he is more NFL-ready with a better understanding of what will be asked of him at the next level.
"The bottom line is Winston is the most advanced on-field quarterback in the draft, and while the Buccaneers have a nice set of weapons for an emerging quarterback to utilize there's little evidence they have a future franchise quarterback on the current roster," Kiper wrote. "Questions about Winston's maturity and off-field decision-making are more than fair and could have him written off some draft boards if he can't convince teams he can be a franchise leader. But on the field you get a big, durable, mobile, strong-armed talent with a high football IQ and an ability to read, anticipate and process at a very high level what defenses are trying to do. I would not draft him with the goal of starting him in Week 1 - his 2014 season proved there's work to be done - but if Winston realizes his potential, he's a possible superstar."
Kiper has whiffed on his quarterback projections before. I distinctly remember him defending Jimmy Clausen until he was red in the face. But he also doesn't throw around the "superstar" moniker quite often. Anyone who has watched Winston knows just based on the eye test that he has a chance to be special. Can he put all of his off-field concerns behind him and get to that level?
2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Mariota's incredible Heisman Trophy winning season isn't going to be forgotten after a disappointing title game loss to Ohio State. He still put up prolific numbers while proving to be one of the most effective dual-threats in all of college football. But Oregon's offensive system put Mariota into simple, easy-to-succeed situations. We don't know yet how Mariota will respond when asked to go to his second and third options with pass rushers in his face.
"The Titans have said all the right things about Zach Mettenberger, but based on what we saw from him in 2014, there are considerable questions about his NFL ceiling," Kiper wrote. "Offensive fit and the ability to adapt are big questions around Mariota, but he's an elite talent and has the chance to be special if a team is patient with him. Mariota has a great work ethic, exceptional athletic tools, enough arm to drive the ball down the field and on intermediate throws and he did improve in his ability to get through progressions, anticipate and deliver with good placement this season. The question is whether he can look as special outside the confines of the Oregon offense. If Tennessee doesn't like either of the top two quarterbacks, this is a pretty obvious trade-up position."
Tennessee would not lack for trade partners should they opt to go that route. The New York Jets (No. 6) have long been rumored to be enamored with the redshirt junior, and the St. Louis Rams (No. 10) are just a competent quarterback away from being a threat.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DE, USC
Williams may actually be the top prospect on many draft boards across the league. He has a long and powerful frame that allows him to disengage from blockers with ease when he closes in on opposing ball carriers and quarterbacks.
"If you drop need and go on 'best player available' ... Williams is a contender to go No. 1 overall," Kiper wrote. "A versatile and relentless defensive lineman, he's a good fit in Jacksonville's scheme and is so tantalizing because you're adding a disruptor, a player who has great awareness against the run but can batter both guards and tackles as a pass-rusher, too. This is a player you can say would help every team in the draft."
Jacksonville has placed a premium on the defensive line in recent seasons. For all of their issues, the Jags actually ranked sixth in the NFL in sacks this past season with 45. Williams would fit right in with that defensive philosophy.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Raiders need help all over, so it's not a lock they'd go with Cooper here. But the 6-foot-1, 205 pound wide receiver set SEC records this season by hauling in 124 receptions for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. It's hard to argue with that type of production and we all know Oakland's infamous infatuation with flashy receivers in the draft.
"...The Raiders have also likely found their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr, and they really need to add a high-level wide receiver in that offense," Kiper wrote. "James Jones was adequate, but the yards per catch was a problem, and Andre Holmes is a weapon, though a complimentary one. Cooper can be a Reggie Wayne-like starter for years in the right offense."
With rumors that Oakland is potentially interested in adding running back DeMarco Murray in free agency, the Raiders could overhaul their offense overnight.
5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Gregory has produced impressive numbers in his college career: 16.5 sacks, 115 total tackles and two interceptions in two seasons at Nebraska. At 245 pounds, he may need to put on a little weight to be effective at the next level. But this guy can flat out get after opposing quarterbacks. Watch this and tell me you don't agree.
"Gregory is the type of pass-rushing talent that can transcend systems," Kiper wrote. "Long, athletic and highly explosive coming off the edge, he's a little undersized as a classic 4-3 defensive end and could play in space a little better as a 3-4 outside linebacker...Washington should be purely in the 'take a great football player' category, and Gregory fits the bill and can make them better as a rookie."
The Redskins need help all over. Taking what seems to be a can't miss prospect appears to be the right route to take for this upcoming draft.
