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The 2015 NFL Draft is somehow almost 10 years removed from where we are now, which is a pretty fascinating thing to think about.
That's the one where Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota headlined an ultimately underwhelming quarterback class and the overall talent wasn't quite as impressive as you'd normally expect. However, some great players came out of the 2015 draft class to be sure.
LATEST NFL MOCK DRAFT: A Jaguars trade into the top-3, Shedeur Sanders to a surprise team
What if we redrafted that year's first round? How would it go? Well, we've tried to make fresh picks for all of the NFL teams who made selections in that first round. Some teams made big changes, while others stayed right where they were with the guys they chose.
Like we did when we redrafted the 2014 NFL Draft, let's dive in and see how this all goes.
Winston never materialized into a long-term option at quarterback for the Buccaneers, but there were no great quarterback options in this draft class. Tampa Bay probably wouldn't change its draft pick here, if only because it at least got five seasons with Winston under center. It was never meant to work out in this draft class to find a long-term option under center, so we'll leave Winston atop a relatively weak draft class all over in the rearview.
[IMG alt="Tennessee Titans first round draft pick quarterback Marcus Mariota poses at his locker at St. Thomas Sports Park May 1, 2015 in Nashville.
Nas Sig Titansmariota0502"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/365c9ee416247a446dad0e73b090879e[/IMG]
Mariota had some sensational highs with the Titans, but injuries and shaky offensive line play ultimately stunted the quarterback's growth and limited his prospects as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Like Winston, he remains one of the best backups available and can start in a pinch. However, his Tennessee highs, including a road playoff win in 2018, still make him a major part of the Titans' history. He deserves to still go to Nashville, even if it didn't work out.
Hunter falling to the third round of this draft was a stunner, as his raw talent ultimately materialized into one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Dante Fowler, Jacksonville's original pick, has had a solid NFL career, but Hunter remains one of the best players at his position. The Minnesota Vikings lose out in this redraft as Jacksonville gets the benefit of knowing what Hunter ultimately turns into when making this pick.
Diggs is one of the great fifth-round steals in recent NFL Draft history, and the Vikings again benefitted greatly from selecting him where they did. However, this redraft puts Diggs where his future dictated he belongs, going fourth-overall to the Raiders (then in Oakland). That means original draft pick Amari Cooper tumbles a bit. The Raiders would've undoubtedly been thrilled to get Diggs and his elite skillset with this high a draft pick.
Scherff played admirably during his days with the Commanders, so keeping him here makes a ton of sense.
Williams never quite blossomed into the sky-high expectations he had entering the NFL, but he has stayed a steady, formidable presence on multiple defensive lines in his career. The Jets made the right pick for the moment.
[IMG alt="`’Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
(16) runs down the field baseline at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/1dede56f7a1acd2fac016645ba91d0ba[/IMG]
The Bears taking wide receiver Kevin White didn't work out at all for either side, so we'll give them one of the most reliable veteran receivers of the last decade in Lockett. His speed and productivity were sorely missed in this era of Bears football, as the White pick remains one of Chicago's worst draft whiffs. Lockett could fix that in hindsight.
The Falcons originally drafted Jarrett in the fifth round, which turned out to be one of the best steals in this draft class. Jarrett became one of the best defenders in the franchise's history. Original draft selection Vic Beasley led the NFL in sacks in 2016, but his career slowly tapered out from there. Jarrett remains a quality NFL starter.
Original Giants draft pick Ereck Flowers struggled to acclimate to the NFL as an offensive tackle, but Humphries turned into a very solid left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals for a number of years. New York taking Humphries and getting durable tackle play to close out the Eli Manning years would have been a more favorable outcome.
Injury cut Gurley's electric career short, but he is a likely Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the most electric offensive players of the last decade. The Rams made a Super Bowl with Gurley in tow, and we have a strong feeling Los Angeles wouldn't do this differently. At his best, Gurley was a truly game-changing running back.
Original Vikings draft pick Trae Waynes was solid enough as he developed, but Peters had a higher floor and ceiling as an NFL Draft prospect. Minnesota decides to cope with losing Hunter and Diggs in this redraft by upgrading its original pick and adding Peters to the secondary.
Original Cleveland draft pick Danny Shelton had a solid NFL career, winning two Super Bowls and helping various teams in the defensive interior against the run. However, Armstead turned into a better player and is still in the league. His positional versatility to play inside and on the edge gives the Browns a better outcome in this redraft.
In the original draft, the Saints selected offensive lineman Andrus Peat. However, Marpet had a more illustrious career as a second-round pick with the Buccaneers. Let’s go ahead and have Marpet head to another NFC South team where he could have thrived for a good number of years.
The Dolphins originally drafted DeVante Parker with their 2015 NFL Draft pick, but a falling Cooper makes him much more appealing at the time than Parker. He could have given Miami high levels of play at receiver for a number of years.
Gordon was always a good Charger, and we're not sure there was a better running back in this draft class available at this point outside of David Johnson. We'll leave this pick as it is.
Original 2015 Texans draft pick, cornerback Kevin Johnson, never materialized into a long-term starter in Houston, but Jones provided high-level play at the position for a number of years. He's the Texans gain in this redraft.
The 49ers lose out on Armstead in this redraft but still add a ferocious presence off the edge in Smith. A fourth-round gem of the Baltimore Ravens, Smith has carved out a stellar career as a disruptive pass-rusher.
The Chiefs lose out on taking Peters, but they can at least keep Nelson in the fold, their original third-round pick. He carved out a solid career as a starting cornerback, never elite but always reliable. Kansas City keeps its focus on the secondary in this redraft and still walks away with a starting-caliber player.
Morse was a rocksteady NFL starting guard for about a decade, and he'd give Cleveland a better option to start than original Browns draft pick Cameron Erving. Walking away with Armstead and Morse would have been pretty great for Cleveland in retrospect.
[IMG alt="Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (11) stiff arms New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) on a fourth down and one play in the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on December 11, 2017. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)
Miami Dolphins Vs New England Patriots
Syndication Palm Beach Post"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/294a16ce8d1fecb9663dca4f44fba639[/IMG]
Parker falling to No. 20 would be great for Philadelphia in this redraft, as the Eagles can swap off original pick Nelson Agholor and add a more reliable, productive wide receiver in Parker.
Smith held down a tackle spot in Tampa Bay for a number of years, and he would have been a much better pick for the Bengals than original draft pick Cedric Ogbuehi. Cincinnati would have been thrilled to get more consistent tackle play from a player of Smith's caliber for a number of years.
Beasley originally went to the Falcons at No. 8, and he did lead the NFL in sacks in 2016. While original Steelers draft pick Bud Dupree was a more successful outside linebacker in the NFL in the long run, it would have been fascinating to see Beasley go to Pittsburgh and develop under Mike Tomlin's watch. Since this is a redraft, let's play, "What if?"
The Steelers' gamble on Beasley is the Broncos' gain as Dupree falls right into place at No. 23. Dupree would be a massive upgrade over original pick Shane Ray, who struggled to make a long-term dent in Denver. Dupree needed a couple of seasons to get going, but he's still a productive pass-rusher in the NFL to this day.
Havenstein has been a mainstay on the Rams offensive line for about a decade now, and Humphries going higher in this redraft leaves him as the best option on the board for the Cardinals.
Thompson originally went to Carolina at this point in the draft, and we don't see a reason to switch this up. He was an excellent defender for the Panthers for nearly a decade.
Crowder turned into a fourth-round gem for Washington, and he'd be a better fit for Baltimore at this point in the draft than original pick, wide receiver Breshad Perriman. Crowder spent a decade as a productive slot receiver and a special teams ace.
Byron Jones being off the board means Dallas must try and find the next-best cornerback on the board. Darby has been a reliable starter for about a decade now, and he'd be a heck of a Cowboys consolation prize in this redraft.
The Lions originally selected guard Laken Tomlinson with this draft pick, but we're curious to see what happens if a really good pass-rusher like Smith went to Detroit instead. The Lions could use the defensive line help here.
Fowler was originally the third-overall pick, but it makes more sense for his career trajectory to go late in the first round. He is still a productive pass-rusher and could have helped the Colts get better play on the defensive line. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was the original pick, but Fowler is too enticing to ignore here.
Safety Damarious Randall was the original Packers pick, but Kendricks gives Green Bay an excellent starting linebacker to add to the defense. Green Bay can address safety later in the draft.
Golden was a really good pass-rusher for a number of years, and he'd have given the Saints a better return on this draft pick than original draft selection, linebacker Stephone Anthony.
The Patriots originally drafted defensive tackle Malcom Brown with this draft pick, but Goldman has had a better pro career. He gives New England a stout run defender for its defensive line who can also rush the passer.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Redrafting the 2015 NFL Draft 10 years later
Continue reading...
That's the one where Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota headlined an ultimately underwhelming quarterback class and the overall talent wasn't quite as impressive as you'd normally expect. However, some great players came out of the 2015 draft class to be sure.
LATEST NFL MOCK DRAFT: A Jaguars trade into the top-3, Shedeur Sanders to a surprise team
What if we redrafted that year's first round? How would it go? Well, we've tried to make fresh picks for all of the NFL teams who made selections in that first round. Some teams made big changes, while others stayed right where they were with the guys they chose.
Like we did when we redrafted the 2014 NFL Draft, let's dive in and see how this all goes.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
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Winston never materialized into a long-term option at quarterback for the Buccaneers, but there were no great quarterback options in this draft class. Tampa Bay probably wouldn't change its draft pick here, if only because it at least got five seasons with Winston under center. It was never meant to work out in this draft class to find a long-term option under center, so we'll leave Winston atop a relatively weak draft class all over in the rearview.
2. Tennessee Titans: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
[IMG alt="Tennessee Titans first round draft pick quarterback Marcus Mariota poses at his locker at St. Thomas Sports Park May 1, 2015 in Nashville.
Nas Sig Titansmariota0502"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/365c9ee416247a446dad0e73b090879e[/IMG]
Mariota had some sensational highs with the Titans, but injuries and shaky offensive line play ultimately stunted the quarterback's growth and limited his prospects as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Like Winston, he remains one of the best backups available and can start in a pinch. However, his Tennessee highs, including a road playoff win in 2018, still make him a major part of the Titans' history. He deserves to still go to Nashville, even if it didn't work out.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Danielle Hunter, LSU
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Hunter falling to the third round of this draft was a stunner, as his raw talent ultimately materialized into one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Dante Fowler, Jacksonville's original pick, has had a solid NFL career, but Hunter remains one of the best players at his position. The Minnesota Vikings lose out in this redraft as Jacksonville gets the benefit of knowing what Hunter ultimately turns into when making this pick.
4. Las Vegas Raiders: WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland
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Diggs is one of the great fifth-round steals in recent NFL Draft history, and the Vikings again benefitted greatly from selecting him where they did. However, this redraft puts Diggs where his future dictated he belongs, going fourth-overall to the Raiders (then in Oakland). That means original draft pick Amari Cooper tumbles a bit. The Raiders would've undoubtedly been thrilled to get Diggs and his elite skillset with this high a draft pick.
5. Washington Commanders: Brandon Scherff, OG
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Scherff played admirably during his days with the Commanders, so keeping him here makes a ton of sense.
6. New York Jets: DE Leonard Williams, USC
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Williams never quite blossomed into the sky-high expectations he had entering the NFL, but he has stayed a steady, formidable presence on multiple defensive lines in his career. The Jets made the right pick for the moment.
7. Chicago Bears: WR Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
[IMG alt="`’Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
(16) runs down the field baseline at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/1dede56f7a1acd2fac016645ba91d0ba[/IMG]
The Bears taking wide receiver Kevin White didn't work out at all for either side, so we'll give them one of the most reliable veteran receivers of the last decade in Lockett. His speed and productivity were sorely missed in this era of Bears football, as the White pick remains one of Chicago's worst draft whiffs. Lockett could fix that in hindsight.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DT Grady Jarrett, Clemson
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The Falcons originally drafted Jarrett in the fifth round, which turned out to be one of the best steals in this draft class. Jarrett became one of the best defenders in the franchise's history. Original draft selection Vic Beasley led the NFL in sacks in 2016, but his career slowly tapered out from there. Jarrett remains a quality NFL starter.
9. New York Giants: OT D.J. Humphries, Florida
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Original Giants draft pick Ereck Flowers struggled to acclimate to the NFL as an offensive tackle, but Humphries turned into a very solid left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals for a number of years. New York taking Humphries and getting durable tackle play to close out the Eli Manning years would have been a more favorable outcome.
10. Los Angeles Rams: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
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Injury cut Gurley's electric career short, but he is a likely Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the most electric offensive players of the last decade. The Rams made a Super Bowl with Gurley in tow, and we have a strong feeling Los Angeles wouldn't do this differently. At his best, Gurley was a truly game-changing running back.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Marcus Peters, Washington
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Original Vikings draft pick Trae Waynes was solid enough as he developed, but Peters had a higher floor and ceiling as an NFL Draft prospect. Minnesota decides to cope with losing Hunter and Diggs in this redraft by upgrading its original pick and adding Peters to the secondary.
12. Cleveland Browns: DE Arik Armstead, Oregon
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Original Cleveland draft pick Danny Shelton had a solid NFL career, winning two Super Bowls and helping various teams in the defensive interior against the run. However, Armstead turned into a better player and is still in the league. His positional versatility to play inside and on the edge gives the Browns a better outcome in this redraft.
13. New Orleans Saints: G Ali Marpet, Hobart
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In the original draft, the Saints selected offensive lineman Andrus Peat. However, Marpet had a more illustrious career as a second-round pick with the Buccaneers. Let’s go ahead and have Marpet head to another NFC South team where he could have thrived for a good number of years.
14. Miami Dolphins: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
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The Dolphins originally drafted DeVante Parker with their 2015 NFL Draft pick, but a falling Cooper makes him much more appealing at the time than Parker. He could have given Miami high levels of play at receiver for a number of years.
15. Los Angeles Chargers: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
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Gordon was always a good Charger, and we're not sure there was a better running back in this draft class available at this point outside of David Johnson. We'll leave this pick as it is.
16. Houston Texans: CB Byron Jones, UConn
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Original 2015 Texans draft pick, cornerback Kevin Johnson, never materialized into a long-term starter in Houston, but Jones provided high-level play at the position for a number of years. He's the Texans gain in this redraft.
17. San Francisco 49ers: OLB Za'Darius Smith, Kentucky
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The 49ers lose out on Armstead in this redraft but still add a ferocious presence off the edge in Smith. A fourth-round gem of the Baltimore Ravens, Smith has carved out a stellar career as a disruptive pass-rusher.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Steven Nelson, Oregon State
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The Chiefs lose out on taking Peters, but they can at least keep Nelson in the fold, their original third-round pick. He carved out a solid career as a starting cornerback, never elite but always reliable. Kansas City keeps its focus on the secondary in this redraft and still walks away with a starting-caliber player.
19. Cleveland Browns: G Mitch Morse, Missouri
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Morse was a rocksteady NFL starting guard for about a decade, and he'd give Cleveland a better option to start than original Browns draft pick Cameron Erving. Walking away with Armstead and Morse would have been pretty great for Cleveland in retrospect.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
[IMG alt="Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (11) stiff arms New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) on a fourth down and one play in the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on December 11, 2017. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)
Miami Dolphins Vs New England Patriots
Syndication Palm Beach Post"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/294a16ce8d1fecb9663dca4f44fba639[/IMG]
Parker falling to No. 20 would be great for Philadelphia in this redraft, as the Eagles can swap off original pick Nelson Agholor and add a more reliable, productive wide receiver in Parker.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Donovan Smith, Penn State
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Smith held down a tackle spot in Tampa Bay for a number of years, and he would have been a much better pick for the Bengals than original draft pick Cedric Ogbuehi. Cincinnati would have been thrilled to get more consistent tackle play from a player of Smith's caliber for a number of years.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson
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Beasley originally went to the Falcons at No. 8, and he did lead the NFL in sacks in 2016. While original Steelers draft pick Bud Dupree was a more successful outside linebacker in the NFL in the long run, it would have been fascinating to see Beasley go to Pittsburgh and develop under Mike Tomlin's watch. Since this is a redraft, let's play, "What if?"
23. Denver Broncos: OLB Bud Dupree, Kentucky
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The Steelers' gamble on Beasley is the Broncos' gain as Dupree falls right into place at No. 23. Dupree would be a massive upgrade over original pick Shane Ray, who struggled to make a long-term dent in Denver. Dupree needed a couple of seasons to get going, but he's still a productive pass-rusher in the NFL to this day.
24. Arizona Cardinals: OT Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin
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Havenstein has been a mainstay on the Rams offensive line for about a decade now, and Humphries going higher in this redraft leaves him as the best option on the board for the Cardinals.
25. Carolina Panthers: LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
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Thompson originally went to Carolina at this point in the draft, and we don't see a reason to switch this up. He was an excellent defender for the Panthers for nearly a decade.
26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Jamison Crowder, Duke
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Crowder turned into a fourth-round gem for Washington, and he'd be a better fit for Baltimore at this point in the draft than original pick, wide receiver Breshad Perriman. Crowder spent a decade as a productive slot receiver and a special teams ace.
27. Dallas Cowboys: CB Ronald Darby, Florida State
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Byron Jones being off the board means Dallas must try and find the next-best cornerback on the board. Darby has been a reliable starter for about a decade now, and he'd be a heck of a Cowboys consolation prize in this redraft.
28. Detroit Lions: DE Preston Smith, Mississippi State
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The Lions originally selected guard Laken Tomlinson with this draft pick, but we're curious to see what happens if a really good pass-rusher like Smith went to Detroit instead. The Lions could use the defensive line help here.
29. Indianapolis Colts: DE Dante Fowler, Florida
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Fowler was originally the third-overall pick, but it makes more sense for his career trajectory to go late in the first round. He is still a productive pass-rusher and could have helped the Colts get better play on the defensive line. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was the original pick, but Fowler is too enticing to ignore here.
30. Green Bay Packers: LB Eric Kendricks, UCLA
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Safety Damarious Randall was the original Packers pick, but Kendricks gives Green Bay an excellent starting linebacker to add to the defense. Green Bay can address safety later in the draft.
31. New Orleans Saints: OLB Markus Golden, Missouri
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Golden was a really good pass-rusher for a number of years, and he'd have given the Saints a better return on this draft pick than original draft selection, linebacker Stephone Anthony.
32. New England Patriots: DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
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The Patriots originally drafted defensive tackle Malcom Brown with this draft pick, but Goldman has had a better pro career. He gives New England a stout run defender for its defensive line who can also rush the passer.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Redrafting the 2015 NFL Draft 10 years later
Continue reading...
