Chicago will be at the center of this football-loving nation’s attention as it hosts the 2015 NFL draft from April 30-May 2. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been on the clock for four months, and are widely expected to select the notorious Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick.
It gets a lot more unpredictable after that, though, with a host of possible trades and scenarios surrounding Marcus Mariota capable of setting off a chain-reaction throughout the first round. Nevertheless, we’ve come up with a list of 10 very realistic predictions on how the draft will unfold this Thursday. Read on below and see how many of them come to fruition.
For more on the upcoming draft, check out our compilation of NFL Draft 2015 Experts’ Predictions.
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1. Jameis Winston will go No. 1 overall
Despite the red flags concerning his off-field issues, it would be a huge surprise to hear Roger Goodell call a name other than Jameis Winston’s as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first overall pick. The Florida State product is considered the more NFL-ready prospect, which is a big reason why he’s priced at -800 in our list of NFL Draft prop bets to be taken ahead of the draft’s other top QB, Marcus Mariota.
2. Marcus Mariota will go No. 2 overall
[sc:NFL240banner ]Such is the value of a good quarterback that even a project like Mariota, who will likely need a year or two to develop, is worth taking at No. 2 over a more polished prospect like defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The Oregon quarterback will be the second player off the board, but he won’t be playing for the Tennessee Titans.
3. Philip Rivers will get traded for the No. 2 pick
Speculation has been rife about the San Diego Chargers possibly moving up to No. 2 in a trade involving Philip Rivers, whose future is very much up in the air. That would give the Chargers the opportunity to grab their quarterback of the future in Mariota. The trade is a win-win for both the Chargers and the Titans, and it makes too much sense for them not to make it come draft day.
4. Adrian Peterson will not get traded
The other big rumor regarding a superstar changing jerseys centers around the Vikings’ star running back, Adrian Peterson. Minnesota has been mulling the possibility of moving on from the beleaguered face of its franchise, but has gone on record that it’ll keep Peterson if he isn’t traded before the end of the draft.
However, teams in need of a running back might just take their chances of finding a competent back through the draft, which means Peterson will stay in Minnesota.
5. Two running backs will be taken in Round 1
Speaking of running backs, it’s been two years since one has been selected in the first round. But that little drought will almost surely end this year. Top running back prospect Todd Gurley from Georgia is even projected to go as high as No. 6 to the Jets.
With all due respect to Gurley, that might be a bit of a stretch. But it’s not a stretch to see both him and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon off the board by the end of Round 1, and possibly within the first 20-25 picks.
6. Amari Cooper will be the first receiver taken
Alabama’s Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White are viewed as the No. 1 and 1-A wide receiving prospects in a draft chock full of them. But Cooper is widely perceived as the safer pick of the two, which is why he’s almost certainly going to be the first wideout off the board. Take a good look at Cooper to go under 5.5 picks at No. 4 to the Oakland Raiders, who are eager to fill their need for a worthy No. 1 receiver.
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7. Dante Fowler will be the first pass-rusher taken
Pass rusher is a position very much in demand in this draft, with at least five teams in the first 16 picks in need of one. Florida’s Dante Fowler is the popular pick to be the first one taken, and is even -110 to be taken ahead of the very talented Williams overall. Williams is still slightly favored to go earlier, but it’ll be a shock if another pure pass rusher like Randy Gregory, Vic Beasley or Bud Dupree is taken before Fowler.
8. Dorial Green-Beckham will drop to Round 3
One player who shouldn’t be too shocked to still be on the board in Day 2 (or later) is wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Much like Winston, there are major concerns about Green-Beckham’s off-the-field issues. But unfortunately for DGB, he’s no quarterback.
The Browns’ issues with Josh Gordon are probably still fresh in some teams’ minds, and might not want the same headaches with DGB. Despite his undoubted talent, Green-Beckham won’t get his name called until Round 3.
9. The Cleveland Browns will trade up
Last season, the Browns traded down from No. 4, which allowed the Buffalo Bills to draft Sammy Watkins. This season, though, expect the Browns to move in the opposite direction in order to get a much-needed receiver, especially with Gordon out for another year.
The Browns have two first-rounders (No. 12 and No. 19) this year, and the very likely possibility of missing out on the top three receiving prospects by the time they pick at 12 will prompt the Browns to move up.
10. The Philadelphia Eagles will do… something
Chip Kelly and the Eagles have been unpredictable all offseason long, so why stop now? A trade for Mariota is apparently still in play on draft day, although it’s pretty unlikely. Nevertheless, expect Kelly to pull at least a couple more unforeseen moves during the draft. Oh, and he’ll draft at least one Oregon player because he’s Chip Kelly.
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