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NFC West: Each Team’s 7-Round Mock Draft
Who will each team in the NFC West select in 2015 NFL Draft? Click here to find out each team’s seven-round mock draft.
After completing each team’s seven-round mock draft in the NFC East, the NFC North, and the NFC South, it’s time to complete each team’s seven-round mock draft in the NFC West. Let’s jump right into it and get started.
Football Insiders mocks up all seven rounds of the draft for each team in the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks
It was a play that will be ridiculed for the next few decades, but the fact of the matter is that the Seahawks are still contenders for next year’s Super Bowl. Sure Russell Wilson will need his contract re-done before the start of the 2015 season, but the Seahawks should still have their main group of talent on their roster for next season. That being said, here is their seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: Cedric Ogbuehi, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
An ACL injury has put a halt on Cedric Ogbuehi’s draft stock, but that doesn’t exactly mean he’s lost skill. Texas A&M has produced many high draft picks at the position in the past few years, which gives even more promise for Ogbuehi. Russell Okung is one of the better tackles in the league and although they just drafted Justin Britt last year, he may be a better fit as a guard. Regardless, Ogbuehi also shows the ability to play multiple positions. He would be a solid pick at the end of the first round.
Round 2: Kevin White, Cornerback, TCU
It might be strange to see the Seahawks upgrading their vaunted secondary so early, but Byron Maxwell will be a free agent in less than a few weeks and although Seattle would be interested in bringing him back, the harsh reality is that a team is going to overpay Maxwell and he will be playing elsewhere in 2015. That being said, the Seahawks have to address the cornerback position as Tharold Simon and Marcus Burley have shown that they are incapable of a bigger role. Kevin White doesn’t have elite size, but he has excellent ball skills and great fluidity.
Round 3: Terry Williams, Defensive Tackle, East Carolina
At 6-foot-1, 350 pounds, Terry Williams is a huge defensive tackle. He isn’t explosive off the ball, but he has an excellent motor. While Williams does show a lot of potential, he has had a history of off-field problems that are extremely alarming. He’s had multiple strings with drugs and that has put a damper on his draft stock. However, Kevin Williams will be 35 years old when the 2015 season rolls around and the time is now for the Seahawks to start preparing for the future.
Round 4: Dres Anderson, Wide Receiver, Utah
While many NFL teams predicate their team’s success on their offense, the Seahawks have shown that teams don’t need an elite offense to be a contender. In their receiving group, the Seahawks have decent targets in Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and even 2014 rookie Paul Richardson; However, they need more talent and Dres Anderson is a guy that could be intriguing in the middle rounds. The Utah product is extremely elusive in the open field and in the Seahawks’ speedy offense, he would have great usage both inside and outside.
Round 5: Blake Bell, Tight End, Oklahoma
Although they may not be the most talented players, Cody Helfet and Luke Willson have roles in this offense. However, they lack an every-down tight end and although there aren’t a ton of them in this draft, Blake Bell is a player that would be a good fit in this offense. Bell has been playing the tight end position for only a year, but he has a ton of potential to be a great fit in Seattle. The Seahawks like guys with a unique skillset and Bell has just that.
Round 7: Tyler Varga, Running Back/Fullback, Yale
Going back to the unique skillset logic, one player that is extremely intriguing is Tyler Varga. He shows the ability to play running back or fullback, but he also is a great option in the passing game as well. Varga is a smart football player and he not only would be a fan-favorite, but he would play a vital role in Seattle’s ground game. Varga would bring another dimension to this offense.
Arizona Cardinals
Up until November, there wasn’t a better team in football than the Cardinals. However, Carson Palmer’s ACL injury made this team rely on Drew Stanton and although he didn’t play poorly, it was when the Cardinals relied on Ryan Lindley when they ran into major problems. Palmer will be healthy in 2015 and this draft will be important to them as they look to upgrade their roster. Here is their seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: Arik Armstead, Defensive End, Oregon
If there is one freak athlete in this draft class, it is definitely Arik Armstead. Out of Oregon, Armstead is extremely raw, but at 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, he has a huge frame that can still put on added muscle. He’s just scratching the surface with his potential as he has long arms and he’s extremely explosive off the edge. The Cardinals could use another pass rusher and Armstead fits the bill at the end of the first round. If he pans out, he could dominate the league for years to come.
Round 2: Cam Erving, Center, Florida State
Just last year, the Cardinals had a solid offensive line. They did a decent job at adding talent to it last offseason, but they still need a few more pieces. Cameron Erving is one of the smartest players in this draft. He shows the ability to play offensive tackle or center. Erving could come in immediately and make this offensive line significantly better.
Round 3: Ben Koyack, Tight End, Notre Dame
For Bruce Arians’ offense to get better next season, they will need better play from the tight end position. Whether it was Rob Housler or Jeff Carlson, neither made much of an impact in the passing game. That being said, spending a high pick on a tight end is important. Ben Koyack seems to be a good fit here. Not only does he come from one of the nation’s best programs, but his work-ethic and his intelligence would intrigue the Arizona staff.
Round 4: Taiwan Jones, Inside Linebacker, Michigan State
In Arizona’s 3-4 defense, they need two stud inside linebackers. Kevin Minter made strides towards the end of the season in 2014 and although Larry Foote looked ageless at times this past season, the reality is that he will be 35 years old next season and the time is now to start looking for an inside linebacker. Out of Michigan State, Taiwan Jones has great vision and at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, he is more than capable of manning the inside linebacker position.
Round 5: Brandon Bridge, Quarterback, South Alabama
It’s no secret that Arians is a quarterback guru. His vertical offense as well as his coaching are just two reasons why Carson Palmer has had a lot of success in his tenure in Arizona with Arians being the head coach. Brandon Bridge is an extremely unique prospect. He lacks footwork, technique, and he has trouble making reads. However, he has perhaps the best arm in this draft class and although Palmer is the guy and they drafted Logan Thomas next year, it wouldn’t hurt to take a chance on Bridge, who could develop into a solid player with some good coaching.
Round 6: Tank Jakes, Outside Linebacker, Memphis
Outside linebacker seems to be a big need in Arizona; However, the reason why they should wait until the latter rounds is because of their other needs. In the sixth round, a player that shows a ton of promise is Tank Jakes. Jakes, a former Memphis Tiger, is extremely quick and while he could be undersized, his athleticism off the edge and his explosiveness will be of good use in Arizona.
Round 7: Dee Hart, Running Back, Colorado State
Even though the Cardinals had one of the worst running games in the league in 2014, it should be said that they do have a dynamic back in Andre Ellington. Ellington suffered a sports hernia injury at the end of the season and while he will be back in 2015, the Cardinals should be looking to draft some insurance in the later rounds. Dee Hart, an Alabama transfer, is extremely talented and although he is a bit of a draft unknown and a bit of a head case, he would be a nice player in both the running and passing game.
San Francisco 49ers
Even with a stacked roster, it was clear that Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke couldn’t make it work. Their tumultuous relationship led to a bevy of problems and it ultimately was the reason Harbaugh was fired. With Jim Tomsula taking over, the 49ers will look to enter the next phase with their organization. With so many questions needed to be answered, the 49ers need to hit on this draft. Here is their seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
Colin Kaepernick took a step back in 2014. Whatever it was, there seemed to be a disconnect between him and Vernon Davis, who was arguably his most impactful target in 2013. Anquan Boldin is nearing the end of his career and Michael Crabtree is an impending free agent. That being said, the wide receiver position is a huge need. Many people questioned Jalen Strong’s speed, but after a strong showing at the combine where he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash as well as a 42″ vertical leap, it should be said that Strong looks destined for success at the next level. He could very well come into San Francisco and play an important role in their offense.
Round 2: Danielle Hunter, Defensive End, LSU
Each year, the 49ers seem to keep drafting pass rushers and it’s no surprise that year after year they are among the league leaders in sacks. In a deep pass-rushing class, one defensive end who will be available in the middle of the second round is LSU’s Danielle Hunter. Even though LSU hasn’t produced many elite defensive linemen in the past few years, Hunter is a great athlete. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.57 and while he is a project, he has broad shoulders and he can be explosive.
Round 3: Martrell Spaight, Inside/Outside Linebacker, Arkansas
Again, the 49ers love to upgrade their front seven and although Chris Borland became one of the better linebackers in the league in his limited opportunities last season, Michael Wilhoite is less than stellar at the inside linebacker position. Martrell Spaight can play inside or outside, and he does a great job at using his hands and filling holes against the run. Spaight is a big hitter which will fit in well in San Francisco.
Round 4: Doran Grant, Cornerback, Ohio State
Perhaps the biggest need on this roster comes at the cornerback position. Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox are free agents, and Tramaine Brock was good in 2013, but he took a step back in 2014. That being said, the 49ers need to add a cornerback and one they are reportedly interested in is Ohio State’s Doran Grant. Although Grant is small at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, he’s very aggressive. He might take chances at times, but he’s the type of player that has a non-stop motor. Grant could play on the inside or the outside. However, given his size, he will probably be a better fit at the slot cornerback position.
Round 5: Max Garcia, Offensive Guard, Florida
Joe Looney hasn’t done anything special in his tenure in San Francisco and he will be a free agent after next season. On the left side, Mike Iupati, who is perhaps the best guard in the league, is going to command a ton of money and if he does indeed leave in free agency, the 49ers have problems on their interior offensive line. Max Garcia is a smart player and he does an excellent job at using his frame to fend off pass rushers. Garcia showed at the Senior Bowl just how sound he is on the offensive line.
Round 6: Jean Sifrin, Tight End, UMass
One of the more odd prospects in this year’s draft is Jean Sifrin. While he does have many traits teams will love for an athletic tight end, the scary thing about Sifrin is his age. He’s 27 years old and he’s raw. His ability to go up for the football and bring it down is going to be of great use with an NFL team and even though the 49ers are content with Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald, it doesn’t hurt to add a goal-line tight end like Sifrin.
Round 7: Michael Dyer, Running Back, Louisville
In terms of talent, Michael Dyer is one of the better backs in this draft class. However, a bevy of off-field problems have really hurt his draft stock. However, when Dyer is focused on football and coaches are patient with him, he shows the ability to be a real nice back. He’s not that fast and he will be 25 years old when October rolls around, but he does a great job at staying behind his blockers and hitting the hole.
St. Louis Rams
After years of two first-round picks thanks to the Robert Griffin III trade, the Rams are back to just having one first-round pick. While the Rams do have a talented roster, they need to bring in more talent at the skill positions. If Sam Bradford is in fact the guy, upgrading the offensive line is also vitally important. In the NFC West, a strong offensive line is needed. Here is their seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: La’el Collins, Offensive Tackle, LSU
Head coach Jeff Fisher has said that this team has the mindset that Sam Bradford will be their quarterback next season. Knowing that, even though the Rams added a great offensive linemen in Greg Robinson in last year’s draft, they should keep building that foundation. La’el Collins is versatile enough to play guard or tackle. He shows excellent footwork and he has the smarts to play on either side of the line. He would help this offense in a number of ways.
Round 2: Gerod Holliman, Safety, Louisville
His inability to tackle will affect his draft stock, but Gerod Holliman has elite ball skills. The Rams have a special defensive line, one that led the league in sacks last season. However, they don’t really have a center-fielder in their defensive backfield and that is a role Holliman could fit. He needs to put on weight and he needs coaching, but he has natural skills against the pass. He has the true makings of a ball-hawk safety.
Round 3: Garrett Grayson, Quarterback, Colorado State
Even though Bradford is the guy, the clock is ticking fast for Bradford. Garrett Grayson is a guy that comes from a program that had one of the brightest offensive minds in the nation last year in Jim McElwain. Grayson has terrific size at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds to stand tall in the pocket and go through his reads. He has a strong arm and although he needs some coaching, the Rams would have a solid contingency plan in Grayson if Bradford fails once again.
Round 5: Tre McBride, Wide Receiver, William & Mary
In terms of savvy route-runners, Tre McBride is one of the better ones in this draft class. Similar to small-school gem Pierre Garçon, McBride wins with great speed and his ability to cut and break free from defenders. He shows the ability to catch contested passes and at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, while also running a 4.41 40-yard dash, it’s easy to see why McBride has a ton of potential. The Rams need a possession receiver and McBride fits the bill.
Round 7: Trey Depriest, Inside Linebacker, Alabama
Each year, Alabama linebackers make a name for themselves. C.J. Mosley and Dont’a Hightower are just two guys that have made impacts for their respective teams over the past few years. This year, Trey Depriest doesn’t have a ton of buzz surrounding his name, but he’s a guy that would learn a lot from a player like James Laurinaitis. Granted, Depriest is undersized, but he’s quick and he can be a technician for an NFL defense.
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