It's funny. After several iterations of 2015 mock drafts, sometimes you venture back to where you started with things. In this, the final mock for the 2015 NFL Draft, there are a few things you'd expect. Florida State's Jameis Winston is the top pick. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota comes in right after him at No. 2.
Quarterbacks went with the top two picks in 2012 when it was Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. That year we saw a mega-deal between Washington and St. Louis. Could that happen again this year with the second pick in the draft? It's possible considering how many suitors there are for the pick.
Really complicating things this year is the story developing around LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins. Police want to question Collins about the murder of his ex-girlfriend, leaving his status up in the air for many teams. It's also hard to find a spot in the first round for someone like Missouri's Shane Ray. He was recently pulled over by police, who found marijuana in his car. Ray also has a foot injury and isn't a good fit on every team. With all of those things considered, you can rationalize why he could slip out of the first round.
There are some picks here you're used to seeing. There are also some picks you maybe saw two months ago that are back as the selections. Then there are some complete changes. That variety is the fun of the draft.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
As you'd come to expect with this choice. Winston has been the frontrunner for the pick since the NFL Scouting Combine.
2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
You know the explanation. It sure seems like No. 2 will be Mariota, but who will be making the pick? If the Titans try and hold out for too much, they may just end up taking Mariota and figuring out what to do with him.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The choice to Cooper switched late this week. The Alabama star can be Blake Bortles' future No. 1 wide out. Still, a pass rusher, or even Leonard Williams of Southern California, could be in play.
4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams, DT, USC
The Raiders sit back at No. 4 and take the best player in the draft in Williams. He and Khalil Mack could be viewed as the key pieces on defense that helped turn the team around. If Williams and Cooper are both available, Oakland will have a difficult decision to make.
5. Washington - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
This mock isn't projecting trades, but I think Washington moves back a bit in the first round to get the extra picks GM Scot McCloughan covets. Not a bad move, especially if Beasley lands in their lap.
6. New York Jets - Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
New York will have its pick of a few pass rushers here. Dupree is a high-upside athlete, who head coach Todd Bowles could mold into a cornerstone player.
7. Chicago Bears - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The Bears could easily go with the best defensive player available – perhaps Washington's Danny Shelton – but a player like White is too dynamic to pass up as a Brandon Marshall replacement.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
The idea here is that Atlanta moves up a bit to get Fowler, re-connecting him with Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Complicating matters is the rumor early Thursday morning that the Falcons could be making a play for Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Bruce Irvin.
9. New York Giants - Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Scherff, the long-standing pick for the Giants, can finally happen. He could be a star at guard or tackle in New York. Their version of Zack Martin. Other options include Miami's Ereck Flowers, who is a perfect scheme fit, a wide receiver or a pass rusher.
10. St. Louis Rams - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
There is a lot of buzz around Peat as the draft approaches. In St. Louis he could be the answer at right tackle, giving the Rams bookends along with Greg Robinson.
11. Minnesota Vikings - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes has been a popular choice for Minnesota, but here's one where we go back to where the process started. Parker can reunite with college teammate, Teddy Bridgewater, and be his lead receiver for years.
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
If the Browns don't trade up for Mariota, they should sit back and improve the league's worst run defense with the monstrous Shelton. Cleveland has shown a lot of pre-draft interest in Shelton and could make good for passing on Haloti Ngata in 2006.
13. New Orleans Saints - Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
This probably seems a little early for Gregory. The fact is, though, that he's far too talented to slide far in the draft, and Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would have a field day figuring out how to use him in a number of ways.
14. Miami Dolphins - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
It seems like this is the proper range for Gurley, and he's often been connected to Miami. He is a difference-making running back and would give the Dolphins great balance. A big wide out like DeVante Parker would be a popular choice if he's available as well.
15. San Francisco 49ers - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
That's right, Peters as the first cornerback off the board. He's the top corner in the draft and a true shutdown player. Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead will also be in play with this selection.
16. Houston Texans - Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
A lot of people are connecting Agholor to the Texans, and the buzz is similar to what it was for DeAndre Hopkins and Houston in 2015. Inside linebacker is a need, but that can be found later in the draft.
17. San Diego Chargers - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Gordon has been a popular choice for the Chargers, and he would immediately be considered by most the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. A right tackle like Ereck Flowers or T.J. Clemmings would be a good fit, as well. It would allow the Chargers to move D.J. Fluker to guard and give them a great pair to build around.
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Cameron Erving, OT/C, Florida State
The Chiefs' offensive line needs help in a couple spots, and a player like Erving could be used at center or tackle. Wide receivers have been common picks for the Chiefs, but how often does Andy Reid target that position in the first round?
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills) - Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
The Browns met with Perriman on Sunday, and it wasn't so they could wrack up a few more frequent flier miles before the draft. One of Perriman's best comparison is Josh Gordon, a player the Browns will be without all season.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
Jones over Michigan State's Trae Waynes may be odd, but Chip Kelly has shown plenty of interest in the Connecticut super athlete. Besides, we always see cornerbacks get drafted in an order we don't always expect. Jones and free agent acquisition Byron Maxwell would immediately turn around Philadelphia's woeful pass defense.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
This choice is being made solely based on something I heard late Wednesday night. The Bengals could also be targeting Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi as well.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The Steelers' direction has been cornerback throughout the draft process and Waynes is regarded by some as the draft's top corner. He fits perfectly in Pittsburgh and would give them a Day 1 starter.
23. Detroit Lions - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Brown would make a nice trio, along with Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker, and the team rebuilds the interior of its defensive line.
24. Arizona Cardinals - Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Armstead is a replacement for Darnell Dockett and could learn a lot playing with someone like Calais Campbell – his best NFL comparison. Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray makes some sense, but he's surrounded by question marks leading up to the draft.
25. Carolina Panthers - D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
The Panthers' need at offensive tackle matches up nicely with one of the biggest strengths in this year's draft. It just makes it a little more fun that Humphries is from Charlotte.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
This was initially Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson, but switched at the last minute to Strong. He's the new deep ball threat that Joe Flacco needs in Baltimore.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Dallas would be fortunate to see Johnson on the board here. He would let them move on from quasi-bust Morris Claiborne and underwhelming veteran Brandon Carr.
28. Denver Broncos - T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Clemmings is the athletic natural right tackle Denver's offensive line needs under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Drafting Clemmings would allow Manny Ramirez to move back inside, fixing two spots on Denver's line.
29. Indianapolis Colts - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Safeties Landon Collins of Alabama and Damarious Randall of Arizona State were nearly the choices here, but upgrading the right tackle position in Indianapolis is paramount. The powerhouse Flowers could really open things up in the Colts' offense.
30. Green Bay Packers - Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
Perryman is a thumper of an inside linebacker and fills the biggest position of need on Green Bay's defense. He's an immediate starter with an NFL-ready frame. Another option could be going after LSU cornerback Jalen Collins.
31. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle Seahawks) - Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
This pick came down to DGB and Miami's Phillip Dorsett. Since the Saints already have a wide out like Dorsett in Brandin Cooks, the lean was for Green-Beckham, arguably the draft's most purely talented player.
32. New England Patriots - Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke
The Patriots need an interior blocker who can come in and start immediately. Tomlinson is capable of doing that, as is South Carolina's A.J. Cann. A big run defender like Eddie Goldman may be in play well.