2015 NN community mock draft: The Cowboys, Colts, Packers, Seahawks, Patriots select ....

The 2015 NN community mock draft rolls along, moving into the second half of the second round. You can read over Karl Cuba's thoughts on the 49ers first round pick from last week, and then their second round pick earlier this week. Today wraps up the second round, and we will likely get the third round started on Monday.

Here is where we stand through the 27th pick of the second round.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2. Tennessee Titans - Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB/DE, Florida
4. Oakland Raiders - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5. Washington - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
6. New York Jets - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
7. Chicago Bears - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
9. New York Giants - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
10. St. Louis Rams - Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
11. Minnesota Vikings - Landon Collins, S, Alabama
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13. New Orleans Saints - Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
14. Miami Dolphins - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15. San Francisco 49ers - La'el Collins, OG, LSU
16. Houston Texans - Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
17. San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
19. Cleveland Browns - Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
23. Detroit Lions - Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
24. Arizona Cardinals - Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
25. Carolina Panthers - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26. Baltimore Ravens - Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
27. Dallas Cowboys - Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
28. Denver Broncos - D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
29. Indianapolis Colts - Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
30. Green Bay Packers - Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
31. New Orleans Saints - T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
32. New England Patriots - Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut

1. Tennessee Titans - Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
3. Oakland Raiders - Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
5. New York Jets - Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
6. Washington - Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
7. Chicago Bears - Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
8. New York Giants - Derron Smith, FS, Fresno State
9. St. Louis Rams - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
10. Atlanta Falcons - Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
11. Cleveland Browns - Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
12. New Orleans Saints - Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (FL)
13. Minnesota Vikings - Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
14. San Francisco 49ers - Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
15. Miami Dolphins - Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
16. San Diego Chargers - Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
17. Kansas City Chiefs - Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
18. Buffalo Bills - Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
19. Houston Texans - Rob Havenstein, OT, Wisconsin
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Paul Dawson, ILB, TCU
22. Detroit Lions - Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke
23. Arizona Cardinals - Danielle Hunter, OLB/DE, LSU
24.  Pittsburgh Steelers - Eric Rowe, DB, Utah
25. Carolina Panthers - Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (FL)
26. Baltimore Ravens - P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
27. Denver Broncos - Hroniss Grasu, C, Oregon

With the 60th pick of the NN community mock draft, BryKno and the Dallas Cowboys select...Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

Alternates: Hau'Oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington; Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State; Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State

While I'm loathe to use an early pick on a running back, especially considering Dallas' needs elsewhere, I know that replacing DeMarco Murray is a major storyline for the Cowboys this offseason.  Honestly, considering the quality of the offensive line, they could probably be just fine sticking with Darren McFadden back there and taking someone in the later part of the draft to split carries.

That being said, Abdullah is one of my favorite second-round prospects.  He's got crazy mobility, finishing as a top performer at the combine in the three-cone drill, 20- and 60-yard shuttles, broad jump and vertical jump.  His 40 time wasn't great, at only 4.6 seconds, but he shaved nearly a tenth off of that at his pro day, so I'm not overly concerned—and he plays faster than that, anyway, when you look at the tape. He's patient and can explode through cutback lanes, and has fantastic vision for holes.  If he was slightly bigger—he's only 5'9" and 205 pounds—he might well be a first-round-caliber back.  He'll go well in a zone-blocking front, like the Cowboys use.

I had kind of written down in my notes not to take a running back before round three, considering the needs at other positions.  However, I'm not thrilled with the options at safety here, which is Dallas' biggest remaining need, so I'll have to dip into the third round there.  Outside linebacker is a bigger need, and I do like Kikaha, but he doesn't fit in a 4-3 system, really—he'd be s a round peg in a square hole in Dallas.   Darby is an interesting option as a second cornerback, but the talent-gap between him and Abdullah is just too much.

Also, is anyone going to take Devin Smith?  Anyone at all?  Because even with the Cowboys franchising Bryant, and thus taking themselves out of the receiver race, seeing him still sitting on the draft board at this point was insanely tempting.  I opted to fill a need instead of going with the luxury pick, but dang.

With the 61st pick of the NN community mock draft, TheFreakSF and the Indianapolis Colts select...Mario Edwards, DT, Florida State

Alternates: CB Ronald Darby, WR Sammie Coates, RB Duke Johnson

I went with another FSU product for the Colts here because as I mentioned in my reasoning for the Colts' 1st round pick, their biggest need is defensive end/tackle and Edwards was simply the best available player to fill that need and was not a reach overall. The Colts brought in Trent Cole to help solidify their pass rush opposite of Robert Mathis but after losing Cory Redding in free agency and cutting overpaid Ricky Jean-Francois, they have no starting quality interior lineman outside of Josh Chapman who is a nose tackle. Edwards is a prototypical 3-tech lineman (3-4 DE) who excels against the run and is a powerful pass rusher. He has the versatility to also play as a 5-tech lineman (4-3 DT) and even dropped into coverage on occasion as a 3-4 OLB at FSU. He's still quite raw as a pass rusher and is over-reliant on his strength in that area-- he needs more pass rushing moves-- but if he continues to develop at this current trajectory, he could be looked at as a steal in a few years.

I considered yet another FSU product here in Ronald Darby because the Colts don't have much at CB behind Vontae Davis. Coates was considered because of how good I believe he is overall but it was too tough to pass on filling a huge hole with what's left at the defensive line position after Edwards. Duke Johnson would be a bit of reach because of how deep RB is in this draft but he's my favorite RB in the tier behind Gurley/Gordon and would be a great complement to another former Miami great in Frank Gore.

With the 62nd pick of the NN community mock draft, Rowingdave and the Green Bay Packers select...D'Joun Smith, Florida Atlantic

The Packers don't waste time addressing their two biggest needs in the first two rounds, nabbing Eric Kendricks in the first and this extremely underrated corner, D'Joun Smith in the second.  Smith has been rising up boards lately, but is widely regarded in scouting circles due to his fluid hips as evidenced in the 3 cone drill, his ability to press despite his somewhat smaller frame, but above all for his ability to track the ball consistently while not losing track of his man in coverage.  He's also an incredibly serviceable kick returner, which could take the heat off guys like Randall Cobb and even Micah Hyde, as Hyde's role in the secondary increases.

After Mario Edwards fell off the board, it was between Smith, Ronald Darby out of FSU, and Josh Shaw of USC.  Out of all three cornerbacks, Darby was the fastest, Shaw was the best combination of size and speed, but Smith has the best tape in space and in press coverage.  He also comes without any off-the-field issues.  If Darby and Shaw were the better players, I would have drafted them, but I feel Smith is a guy that will fly under the radar among fans, and will be a hot commodity in the middle of the second round due to his dual threat capabilities as a return man and a guy who can play on an island or in the slot.

With the 63rd pick of the NN community mock draft, jhc33 and the Seattle Seahawks select...Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State

Alternates: AJ Cann, Quinton Rollins, Ali Marpet, Grady Jarrett

Looking at team needs, interior offensive line, WR, and nickel CB, stand out. Interior offensive line is probably the biggest need, and initially my priority draft position. The Seahawks traded Max Unger to New Orleans, but unfortunately for them, his college clone Hroniss Grasu was selected 4 spots earlier. OG Laken Tomlinson is also off the board. Ali Marpet is available, and would provide solid depth behind Alvin Baily. However with all his college play against small schools, and no college experience on the interior line, he is not likely to make an impact immediately. Surprisingly, AJ Cann, who many project as the #1 OG, also remains available. However, his relatively slow and lumbering style may not be a good fit with Seattle's zone blocking offense. Rather than try and force a square peg into a round hole, I moved on to a different position.

With the obvious exception of TE/WR Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks receiving corps might be described as, well, mediocre. Baldwin, and to a lesser extent Kearse, are relatively solid. But rookies Norwood and Richardson did not blow anyone away, and Richardson will miss time in 2015 with an ACL tear. Speedy Ricardo Lockette has never established himself as a deep threat. So why not add one here? Devin Smith may be the best pure deep threat WR in the draft, averaging 27.2 yards per reception. Just about every write up mentions at some point that "he's a one trick pony, but what a trick!" He needs work to become a well-rounded WR, but should see the field immediately on 3rd and long, and as a gunner on special teams (important with Jeremy Lane on the sidelines.)

Quinton Rollins to compete for nickel CB, and Grady Jarrett to provide depth at the nickel DT were also considerations, but in the end, Smith offered a better chance to contribute right away for a team that remains very much in "win now" mode.

With the 64th pick of the NN community mock draft, GreatOden'sRaven and the New England Patriots select...A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

Well this was unexpected. I figured there would be a reach here to find someone who could play inside on the line and help solidify the spot. Cann was one of my alternates in round 1 and to see him still here, pretty great for the Dark Lord and keeps the hope of a repeat alive.

The Pats generally go later for offensive lineman but sometimes BPA and a need matchup so perfectly you have to go with it. The Pats are thin across the entire O-line but at this point a day 1 starter is expected from round 2. Dan Connolly might return and provide some relief to the line but getting a mauler in there like Cann helps them immensely. When he was still around after the Seahawks pick I literally ran to the computer to put the pick in.

Alternates: Grady Jarrett DT Clemson, Ellis McCarthy DT UCLA, Ali Marpet G/T Hobart, Daryl Williams OT Oklahoma

I figured I was going to have to reach for this pick before Cann fell. Marpet seems like a Belichick guy but this seems a bit early. Daryl Williams is the best tackle left but this is also a bit early. I really see Jarett and McCarthy as 3rd/4th rounders so while DT is a need, I wanted to go OL if possible. I also briefly considered Jay Ayayi as well as thats a great fit for the Dark Lord's system, but he rarely spends a high pick on a RB and the depth at that position runs through 2 more rounds.