2015 NFL Draft How will playoff teams approach first round
In the walk-up to the 2015 , we've spent the bulk of our time discu sing potential fits for the teams in the top half of Round 1 ...Is the right guy for Tampa Bay? Will end up with the , , or someone else? Could fall into Washington's lap at No. 5? Will the pull the trigger on a running back at 17?But what about the franchises that will enter 2015 with the highest hopes -- specifically, the teams that actually made the postseason in 2014? Which high-impact players could help the rich get richer?Now, obviously, it's impo sible to know who will or won't be available when these 12 teams go on the clock Roy Oswalt Jersey for the first time. That's why I wanted to present a bevy of options. Below I a se s the top pick for each reigning playoff team. (Seattle is the only one without a first-round selection, so I examine their second-rounder, No. 63 overall.) I've identified a pre sing need, a viable option in their current draft slot, a potential trade-up target and a backup plan.It goes without saying that any one of these teams could decide to take the best player available, but for the purposes of this exercise, I'm a suming each will look to fill an apparent need.No. 21: Cincinnati BengalsPre sing need: Pa s rusher.Viable option at No. 21:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan: Trade back.The have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, so "pre sing need" is a bit of a misnomer. That said, they could use another pa s rusher, even after the return of . When it comes to edge defenders in this cla s, most of the chatter revolves around five players: Ray, , , and . Harold gets lost in the shuffle, but I really like his twitchine s as a pa s rusher. He'd be a nice fit for a team that needs to get more pre sure from the outside. If Harold's gone when the No. 21 pick comes around, Cincy could look to trade back into the top half of Round 2 and still get a quality pa s rusher like UCLA's or Mi si sippi State's .No. 22: Pittsburgh SteelersPre sing needs: Secondary, edge rusher.Viable option at No. 22:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.The have gone defense in Round 1 in each Ken Giles Jersey of the past two drafts, and they should go right back to that well at the end of this month. and retired this offseason -- and , who was set to hit free agency, shockingly did the same. Not to mention, Dick LeBeau relocated to Tenne see. Freshly minted defensive coordinator Keith Butler needs more young talent on that side of the ball. Collins would be a nice option for Pittsburgh. If he's not available, the could snag Jones. No. 22 might be a little early for the UConn corner, but he fits a need and could even play safety if the wanted him to.No. 23: Detroit LionsPre sing needs: Offensive line, defensive line.Viable option at No. 23:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.After a solid season in 2013, the ' O-line took a step back last year. Humphries is , but I think there's a chance he's available here for the . If Armstead starts to slide, Detroit could look to pounce on the enticing, 6-foot-7 specimen. The lost and this offseason, but entering the 2015 campaign with and Armstead up front would represent a solid recovery. If Martin Mayhew and Co. stay put at No. 23 and don't like the O-linemen still on the board, they could scoop up Gordon. Running back is not as pre sing a need as those in the trenches, but the Wisconsin product does fit what the like to do on offense.No. 24: Arizona CardinalsPre sing needs: Defensive line, running back.Viable option at No. 24:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.The lost a Seminole stalwart this offseason -- free agency defection -- but they could replace him with one of two enticing prospects out of Florida State. Either Goldman or Edwards could fit very nicely alongside in Arizona's front. I like 's game, but he just doesn't have the physical prowe s to hold up as a bell-cow back. A backfield that features Ellington and Gurley would keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.No. 25: Carolina PanthersPre sing need: Offensive tackle.Viable option at No. 25:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.Right now, the ' projected starting offensive tackles are and . That cannot make feel very comfortable. Carolina needs to provide better protection for the face of the franchise. Now, if Parker starts to slide at all, he could be a trade-up target. That's probably a pipe dream, but Cam surely would be pleased with a young receiver duo of Parker and . Clemmings could be a fallback option at OT -- the former defensive end is still pretty raw at offensive tackle, but he offers plenty of upside.No. 26: Baltimore RavensPre sing needs: Cornerback, young running back.Viable option at No. 26:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.Ozzie Newsome's never going to be held prisoner to need, so this is kind of a funny exercise to do with Baltimore. But let's give it a whirl anyway! Yes, the just re-signed , who enjoyed a breakout season in 2014 with 1,266 yards rushing. But a) Forsett turns 30 in October and b) the signed him to an affordable deal ($9 million over three years), so it doesn't preclude them from pouring more resources into the position. Gordon would be a nice option at No. 26. Or the could trade up for Gurley, who has some similarities to former Baltimore back Jamal Lewis (he of the 2000-yard season in 2003). If neither back is available, Newsome could look at Jones or Wake Forest CB . Baltimore's just had so many injury problems at corner.No. 27: Dallas CowboysPre sing need: Running back.Viable option at No. 27:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan: Trade out.Back in the 2010 , the traded one spot ahead of the to take and keep him from Baltimore. If Gurley starts to slide a Tyler Clippard Jersey bit, the could do the same thing -- leapfrog Baltimore and get their hands on the Georgia running back. But if the Joneses can't get to one of the top two backs in this draft, they could trade out of the pick, use some of the extra draft currency to addre s defensive needs and look to scoop up Boise State's in the second round. One way or another, Dallas needs to add a quality player to the backfield in the wake of 's departure. No. 28: Denver BroncosPre sing needs: Defensive tackle, offensive line.Viable option at No. 28:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.With the free agency exit of Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton, the could use some more beef up front. Goldman might not be around at No. 28, and Denver could take a chance on Phillips, who's a boom-or-bust prospect at the position. The would also be well-served getting some more protection up front, so don't be surprised if they go the OL route. It just depends on who's still on the board.No. 29: Indianapolis ColtsPre sing needs: Offensive line, pa s rusher.Viable option at No. 29:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:., quite po sibility the most valuable young commodity in the NFL, has taken way too many hits in his young career. Indy needs to upgrade his protection. The added in free agency, which helps, but he's 32 years old and has had some injury i sues of late. Teams are split on whether Collins is a tackle or a guard, but I think the could slot him in at right tackle -- he'd be a nice upgrade there. Peat's gaining Francisco Liriano Jersey a lot of steam around the league. Personally, I'm not as high on him, but offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is familiar with him from his Stanford days. Indy's going to score a lot of points and routinely play with a lead -- this kind of team can never have too many pa s rushers, so Odighizuwa could be of interest if the O-line pool dries up.No. 30: Green Bay PackersPre sing need: Inside linebacker.Viable option at No. 30:.Potential trade-up target: N/A.Backup plan: Trade out.The are in a weird spot here. Inside linebacker jumps out as a pre sing need, and at No. 30, they could have their pick of the litter at that position. But there's no star power at ILB in this draft. Perryman is , but taking him in the first round feels a little too aggre sive, especially when there isn't a huge gap between the Miami product and the other top ILB prospects. Best player available's obviously an option, but for the purposes of this exercise, let's explore how the Pack could addre s a need on the second level of the defense. Green Bay's best move could be trading out of the first round and then looking to addre s the position in Round 2. If Perryman's still there, great -- if not, the Pack can happily scoop up UCLA's or TCU's . I put "not applicable" in the trade-up category because, as I said, Green Bay is likely to have every ILB option available at No. 30. There just isn't much reason to trade up, while trading down would make a ton of sense.No. 32: Mike Scott Jersey New England PatriotsPre sing needs: Cornerback, offensive guard.Viable option at No. 32:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.Bill Belichick certainly doesn't have the best track record when it comes to drafting cornerbacks, but and just left the organization, so New England will have to go back to the CB well early in the draft. Jones might still be available at No. 32, or the Pats could look to move up a few spots and snag Collins (if they prefer the LSU product). In the event that all the top-tier corners are gone by the final pick of Round 1, Belichick and Co. could target Tomlinson. Back in 2005, people thought the reached when they took a guard at No. 32 -- that worked out pretty well with .No. 63: Seattle SeahawksPre sing need: Interior offensive line.Viable option at No. 63:.Potential trade-up target:.Backup plan:.The traded stud center -- as well as their first-round pick -- in , and also lost starting guard to free agency. Thus, they need to addre s the interior offensive line in the draft. Jackson might be available when Seattle finally goes on the clock. John Schneider could also look to trade up into the middle of the second round to grab Cann. If both those guys are gone, Miller should still be left -- though the second round might be a little early for the Louisville product.Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter .