The hallmark of a great team in the NFL is its ability to draft and develop talent. Free agency is a nice way to supplement a roster, but the addition of young and cost-effective talent is what separates the championship contenders from the bottom feeders.
Once you start winning championships it becomes more difficult to develop young talent. New England continues to do it better than anyone, but having one of the best quarterbacks and coaches in NFL history helps.
When you pick later in a draft, the quality of player being added isn't the same as having a top-10 selection. This year's mix of first-round talent is fascinating because of the names at the top and depth all the way down to No. 32.
Not every player taken in the first round will turn into a quality professional, of course, but the rationale for why a team went in a certain direction is always justifiable. Here is a look at how the first round is likely to shake out as things stand right now.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
There's no denying Jameis Winston is the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft. He's got the size (6'4", 231 pounds) and touch on his passes to be successful very early. Tampa Bay also has the playmakers to help the 2013 Heisman winner develop with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.
However, the one thing Winston must do in the coming months is improve the way he's viewed by the world. Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com broke down what the Florida State star needs to do:
In that regard, there are questions about Winston. If the Bucs are going to take him, they've got to get all the right answers. Winston's been involved in some off-field issues and that's why the pre-draft aspect that is most important for him will be how he comes off in interviews.
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If the Bucs indeed are sold on Winston as a player, they better be sold on him as a person before they draft him.
The Buccaneers may have gotten their answers when Winston visited with team personnel on March 3.
Winston has a way of making everyone fall in love with him when they talk to him. Jimbo Fisher can attest to that, so expect the Buccaneers to come out of pre-draft interviews with a high opinion on Winston and make him the No. 1 pick.
2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
In terms of work ethic and makeup, there's no denying Marcus Mariota checks all of the right boxes. The questions come in terms of how his game will translate to the NFL.
While the Titans have been fooled in the past by tooled-up quarterbacks like Jake Locker, Mariota is part of the new breed in the NFL. He's a multi-dimensional talent who has shown poise in the pocket and running ability.
The 2014 Heisman winner needs to develop accuracy in the pocket, but the tools are too great for a quarterback-needy team to pass on him at this spot. He seems to be falling right now, as ESPN's Mel Kiper had the Oregon star sixth in his most recent mock draft, but the ceiling and need make Mariota too attractive for the Titans to pass up.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, USC
One benefit for the Jaguars not needing a quarterback and having so many holes on both sides of the ball is they can simply take the best player available. In this case, they get arguably the best pure talent in the draft with Leonard Williams.
The USC star is certainly the best defensive lineman in this class, having the strength to play inside and speed/agility to move outside, getting after the quarterback from either spot.
Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com also broke down Williams' toughness in his first mock draft of the season:
There's a minor red flag because of an offseason shoulder surgery, but that shouldn't be too worrisome. Williams played through a torn labrum last season and battled an ankle injury this year and still was the most dominant player on the field. A hot shot high school recruit out of Florida, Williams has drawn comparisons to Gerald McCoy for his inside play and Muhammad Wilkerson at the end spot.
Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley has a defensive background and understands the importance of versatile defensive linemen as well as anyone. Williams will be his foundation piece on that side of the ball.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
It's remarkable Derek Carr had the success he did last year with James Jones as his top option at wide receiver. The second-year quarterback will get a much-needed upgrade in Amari Cooper.
It's a close race between the Alabama star and Kevin White, who does have a higher ceiling with more room to develop, but Cooper gets a slight edge for polish and present ability.
5. Washington: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Of the many things missing from Washington's defense in recent years, the most pressing is an impact edge-rusher. Randy Gregory will solve that problem with his combination of size (6'6", 238 pounds), agility, top-shelf athleticism and excellent pass-rushing moves.
6. New York Jets: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
The Jets have the interior of their defensive line taken care of with Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, but the exterior can use a little help.
Enter Vic Beasley, who dazzled at the combine with 35 reps on the bench press and a 4.53 40-yard dash.
The Clemson star doesn't meet all the physical check marks at 6'3" and 246 pounds, but with Wilkerson and Richardson capable of absorbing so much attention on their own, Beasley will be able to use his speed to get around the edge.
7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
The Bears took their first significant step to repair the defense by hiring Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:
One hallmark of Fangio's defense in San Francisco was the safety position with names like Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea. The Bears need someone opponents fear, especially in pass coverage, to become respectable on defense.
Landon Collins isn't a great pure coverage safety, but his vision and ability to find the ball are second to none in this class. He will fit right in with last year's top pick Kyle Fuller as foundation pieces on Chicago's defense.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
The Falcons have been craving an elite pass-rusher for years. That's not the only hole on the defense, but addressing that need can hide a lot of those other wounds.
Shane Ray is the most explosive and polished edge-rusher in this class, with Lance Zierlein of NFL.com offering this masterful assessment of the Missouri star:
Explosive athlete in every sense. Has elite power for his size and explodes off the line like a coiled spring. Rushes passer with extreme passion and purpose. Has fast, violent hands with advanced understanding of how to use them. Tough and plays with bad intentions on each snap. Uses rip to get under linemen and out-leverage them.
The bit about playing with bad intentions is what the Falcons need. They have lacked any kind of identity on defense for years. Ray brings the right attitude and swagger to make this team instantly better.
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
When the Giants were winning Super Bowls, they were as good in the trenches as any team. That's not the case anymore, as the results have shown. Adding Brandon Scherff to shore up an inconsistent offensive line will make Eli Manning better, which creates more opportunities for Odell Beckham to show off his greatness.
10. St. Louis Rams: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Kevin White is the kind of receiver St. Louis desperately needs. He showed much better speed at the combine than anyone expected with a 4.35 40-yard dash, but his ability to make plays in traffic and attack the ball at its highest point, especially in the red zone, will provide a tremendous boost to this passing attack.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
The Vikings hit big last year by drafting Teddy Bridgewater out of Louisville, so why not get a wide receiver he knows well and has a built-in rapport with?
DeVante Parker is a lot closer to Cooper as far as NFL talent is concerned than analysts seem to be admitting. He's as tough as they come, as B/R's Connor Rogers noted in looking at game film from this past season:
Bridgewater was able to succeed last year without a good group of receivers or consistent running game, so imagine how much better he will get with a legitimate target on the outside.
12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
While the Browns have made headlines in recent years for signing edge-rushers like Paul Kruger, they have neglected their interior defensive line. It showed last year when they allowed a league-worst 141.6 rushing yards per game.
Danny Shelton is the perfect addition to this roster, boasting the huge frame and upper body strength to throw around offensive linemen. He will also provide a boost to the pass rush by commanding extra blockers, freeing up the outside for players like Kruger.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
According to FootballOutsiders.com, the Saints finished 19th in adjusted sack rate last season. That's a bad rate when the hallmark of your defense is sending extra rushers in blitz packages, which helps explain why the secondary was so often overmatched.
Dante Fowler is the kind of explosive pass-rusher the Saints need to boost that rate, as well as avoid having to send all those additional pass-rushers to get after the quarterback. He's got underrated strength to go along with top-flight athleticism and closing speed.
14. Miami Dolphins: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
If the Dolphins are going to take the next step in 2015, they have to get younger and more athletic in the secondary. Cortland Finnegan and Brent Grimes are both on the wrong side of 30.
Marcus Peters is the best cover corner in this class, though his competitive fire can rub some the wrong way. It seemed be the reason behind his dismissal from Washington's football program, which will be something teams dive deep into during the pre-draft process.
However, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com wrote in November that Peters' outspokenness wouldn't be a problem in some circles:
I've had several scouts tell me that his character and personality wouldn't be an issue at other major programs. An NFC scout told me that coaches comfortable dealing with kids who have a bit of an edge wouldn't have a problem getting the best out of Peters or helping him assimilate into a structured program.
No one seems to have a problem with Richard Sherman speaking his mind. Peters has a long way to go before getting to Sherman's level, but if you produce, no one cares how loud your voice can get.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
The 49ers got a nice start to their offseason when Drew Rosenhaus tweeted Darnell Dockett would be signing with the team when the new league year begins on March 10:
However, it also drove home the issue that San Francisco's defensive line is getting old. Dockett, who is coming off a torn ACL, is 33. Justin Smith is 35 and still deciding whether he will retire, though Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reported on March 2 the veteran lineman has been working out at the 49ers' facility regularly.
In other words, even if Smith returns, the 49ers have to get younger on the defensive line. Arik Armstead is a perfect pick because he will need time to develop all of his skills, yet possesses tremendous athleticism and potential at 6'7" and 292 pounds.
16. Houston Texans: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
If the Texans want to remain a run-first team, which is probably smart given their quarterback situation, it's crucial to keep adding talent on the offensive line.
T.J. Clemmings is as raw as any first-round tackle in this class, but his physical gifts at 6'5" and 309 pounds are tremendous. He's also had flashes of brilliance in the running game, moving quickly off the line and into position, allowing the runner to hit a hole quickly before exploding into the second level.
17. San Diego Chargers: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
In one of San Diego's biggest games of the season against New England, everything was in place for the Chargers to pull off an upset. Except the offensive line gave Philip Rivers no time to do anything from the pocket.
It's going to be even worse next year, depending on what the team does, as center Nick Hardwick announced he is retiring after 11 seasons, according to Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Offensive tackle King Dunlap told reporters after the 23-14 loss his group was the cause of that defeat, via Eric Williams of ESPN.com:
"Obviously, we have to do better up front," Dunlap said. "If we do our job better, we put up more points and win. The defense played a hell of a game, but we didn't put up enough points to win. Everybody played great. We didn't do our part. We lost."
That's a recurring problem for the Chargers, one that La'El Collins can help fix. He's not the most athletic tackle, being exploited by speed, but the power is undeniable.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Even though wide receiver is the obvious pick for Kansas City, there isn't good value in this spot and the offensive line is an area that also needs to be addressed.
Andrus Peat isn't a high-ceiling bet, but the Stanford tackle is a powerful blocker in pass protection with the agility to move around in the running game. He's got 10-year starter written all over him.
19. Cleveland Browns: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
The Browns' investment in Karlos Dansby didn't provide immediate dividends, which doesn't bode well for the future considering he's 33 years old. Benardrick McKinney isn't exactly like Dansby, mainly because he's more versatile and dynamic, able to play inside or outside.
Speed is a big part of McKinney's game, which can cause him problems against powerful NFL linemen. He's got to get stronger and more physical, but the raw tools are there for him to be a special player at the next level.
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The drawbacks to Chip Kelly's offense are vast, though nothing stands out more than how much time the defense has to spend on the field when things aren't working right. Opponents exploited the secondary last year, racking up 4,238 yards through the air.
Kelly also exacerbated the problem by releasing cornerback Cary Williams. It's a move that will save the Eagles money against the cap, but it does leave them with at least two holes to fill in the secondary. One could come through free agency, while the other should be a draft pick.
Trae Waynes is an impact corner with size (6'1") and an aggressive style the Eagles need to win games against potent offensive teams like Dallas and New York.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Marvin Lewis' reputation as a defensive coach has shown at points during his tenure in Cincinnati, though the Bengals have never been the most consistent team in that regard. While cornerback is a higher priority, the value isn't there at this spot.
One way the Bengals can get more physical is adding more defensive line talent. Eddie Goldman is a dynamic talent, though Bryan Fischer of NFL.com did highlight one big drawback to his game in 2014:
At times dominant against opposing offensive lines, Goldman is widely viewed as a potential star at the next level with his strength, length and athleticism despite having the prototypical weight of an NFL defensive linemen. While there were times when he disappeared -- he failed to show up in the box score and on the field against Oregon in the Rose Bowl-- Goldman still flashed the ability to take over games when Florida State needed him to.
Goldman may have been saving his effort for the NFL, but teams will take notice of how hard you play in every situation. He's likely going to end up as one of the best players in this class or a bust, with no middle ground.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
Troy Polamalu is no longer a dynamic safety. He's old at 33 years old and susceptible to injuries, so the Steelers can't afford to enter another season without options at safety. Ed Bouchette of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said in a radio interview the team is hoping the former All-Pro safety retires to save them from making a decision.
Gerod Holliman is raw as a coverage player and has issues wrapping opponents up, but he's the best ball hawk in this class. He may give up a big play on occasion, yet he's also likely to lead the league in interceptions a handful of times in his career.
23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
The Lions will likely be replacing two defensive tackles this offseason, as Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh will be looking for contracts. Suh wasn't given the franchise tag and will be free to sign with anyone when the new league year begins on March 10.
Malcom Brown isn't at the level of Suh when he came out, but the Texas star is an elite run-stopper with power and balance. He's not going to be a star pass-rusher but will find a handful of sacks every year because of his strength.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Even before Carson Palmer got hurt, the Cardinals were a one-dimensional offense. They've tried drafting running backs in the past with no success.
Melvin Gordon should be the next in line, as he's displayed NFL-level vision and explosiveness when finding the hole. The only concern to have is his heavy workload in college, which ended with 343 carries in 2014. That may knock him down because of how the position is evaluated, but the Heisman finalist is going to be a valuable NFL player wherever he gets taken.
25. Carolina Panthers: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Cam Newton regressed in 2014 due to injuries and erratic protection from the offensive line. Carolina put together a patchwork unit due to retirements and salary cap limitations, so it's time to start rebuilding the group.
Ereck Flowers is an excellent starting point with his massive 325-pound frame, sneaky athleticism and solid all-around ability. He will make the Panthers more dynamic on offense right away.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Flying under the radar early in the draft process, Kevin Johnson will burst onto the scene following workouts. He's got an incredible feel for where the receivers are going to be and where the ball will end up, reading quarterbacks as well as any defensive back in this class.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com wrote after a game against Clemson that Johnson shows a knack for making big plays:
Playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, Johnson watched Clemson wide receiver Sean Mac Lain run a curl in front of him. With quarterback Cole Stoudt eying his 6-foot-4, 210 pound receiver the entire time, Johnson showed an explosive burst to cut ahead of the intended target and snatch away the ball, giving Wake Forest possession at the Clemson 43 yard line.
Playing cornerback is as much about anticipation as anything else. Johnson is so proactive, routinely making big plays look simple.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Jalen Collins is the kind of big-body cornerback at 6'1" NFL teams are starting to gravitate towards. It helps that he's light on his feet and has tremendous hands.
The Cowboys have been burned by big plays the last couple of years due to a lack of depth in the secondary. There's so much talent on offense right now that it's crucial to start building a defense to capitalize on this window they've built for themselves.
28. Denver Broncos: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
With Peyton Manning officially returning next season, Cameron Erving makes perfect sense for the Broncos. He's the kind of athletic, versatile lineman Gary Kubiak needs to run his offense, especially in the running game.
The Broncos fell apart down the stretch last year when Manning reportedly played the final month with a torn right quad. Given his age and limitations moving around, it's imperative to have a powerful, athletic offensive line that can keep the quarterback upright all year.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
If the Colts really want to take the next step with Andrew Luck, they need to get more physical up front. Cedric Ogbuehi did struggle at left tackle last season, but that's one area where the Colts don't need help. They can pencil the Texas A&M star in on the right side or at guard to add a dynamic this team hasn't had since Luck took over at quarterback three years ago.
30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
The NFL is a copycat league. Teams look at what others are doing all the time, hoping to capitalize on some overlooked aspect of the game. One thing that was proven last year in San Francisco, which got a standout performance from undersized linebacker Chris Borland, is measurables don't always tell the story.
The Packers need to come out of this draft with an inside linebacker, especially after releasing A.J. Hawk last month.
Denzel Perryman is a player who falls into the same boat at 5'11". Omar Kelly of The Miami Sun-Sentinel issued his doubts about the Miami star in the NFL:
The Packers play a 3-4 scheme, which allows them to move Perryman wherever they choose. He's not a big player, but is incredibly physical and has a nose for finding the ball. Sometimes playmakers come in unusual sizes, but you're always happy to have them.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
The Seahawks have gotten away with mid-level wide receivers throughout Russell Wilson's career, but that can only last so long. The Seahawks are still a run-first team, especially if Marshawn Lynch gets a long-term extension, but adding explosiveness on the outside should be a priority.
Nelson Agholor will fit in with Seattle's current group of wideouts as a quick, athletic talent with excellent hands and good separation at the top of his routes. He's got to get more consistent with those routes, but the big-play potential is there to make him a borderline first-round talent.
32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham is the most controversial player in this draft because of his various off-field issues. He's a talented freak at 6'4" and 237 pounds. Being able to bottle that talent could make him a steal in this class, which seems like something the Patriots are willing to take a chance on.