The first mock NFL drafts for 2015 will have to wait until Sunday morning.
OK, Saturday night.
Until then, focus, people. The NFL draft sneaked up on us again. It arrives at 7 p.m. Thursday, continues with Rounds 2-3 at 6 p.m. Friday and wraps up with Rounds 4-7 at 11 a.m. Saturday. You and your mom are on your own Sunday, although the NFL does ask that the two of you submit your draft "winners" and "losers" first.
Below, you will find the John Calipari-approved — One-and-Done — Star Tribune Mock Draft 1.0ver.
Mocks 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 were considered, but fellow Vikings reporters Matt Vensel and Master Tesfatsion were quickly duct taped and wrestled into a nearby closet before the virus spread any further.
We're pretty sure no one else was infected, although I do find it strange that I now have a 2015 Big Board and a red flag on Jameis Winston for consumption of unpurchased crab legs.
Now, here's some serious highlights/lowlights from our guesstimate below:
• Three Texas A&M players will be picked. Johnny Manziel will be the last when the Cowboys take him 16th.
• The Vikings keep it simple, remembering how they blew those five leads in the final minute of regulation. Picking a cornerback sends their QB of the future to professional purgatory: Cleveland.
• Once again, offensive tackles are a hit. Three will go in the top six picks.
• The Vikings will start the run on five corners taken while contributing to only two QBs being taken.
• As many as seven teams head into the draft with receiver as their top need. And seven WRs will be taken.
Without further delay, here's Mock 1.0ver:
1 Texans
Top need: Quarterback
Trade potential: Down, even though they have 11 picks.
The pick: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Why? Freakish upside too tempting.
2 Rams
Top need: Offensive line
Trade potential: Down. Anybody smell that Johnny Football smoke screen?
The pick: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Why? Jeff Fisher taps a Hall of Fame bloodline to fix the O-line.
3 Jaguars
Top need: Quarterback
Trade potential: Unlikely
The pick: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Why? Justin Blackmon's issues have the Jaguars looking for a new No. 1 wide receiver.
4 Browns
Top need: Quarterback
Trade potential: Unlikely. With six of top 106 picks, it's time to pull some triggers.
The pick: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Why? Gun-shy Browns take the best player and wait to take a quarterback at No. 26.
5 Raiders
Top need: Pass rusher
Trade potential: Down. Looking to bail with Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins and Khalil Mack gone.
The pick: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
Why? It's a reach saying the Raiders won't reach, but we'll give them the best value here.
6 Falcons
Top need: Offensive tackle
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan.
Why? It's time for the Falcons to complement all those skill players.
7 Buccaneers
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Down. They have a new GM, Jason Licht, and only six picks.
The pick: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Why? Vincent Jackson is about all the Bucs have. And he's 31.
8 VIKINGS
Top need: Quarterback of the future.
Trade potential: Down. Trader Rick Spielman can get what he wants outside of the top 10.
The pick: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Why? Reaching and missing on a QB? Been there, done that (See: 2011). So let's step away from that pitfall and focus on that league-worst scoring defense. Hmmm. Let's see. A year ago, the Vikings blew five leads in the final minute of regulation. Five! Why? Primarily because the only corner who could cover anyone was Xavier Rhodes. And often he was hurt. If last year's team had more reliable corners, it could have won 10 games. Gilbert is a great playmaker with exceptional hands, instincts and timing. He's everything Chris Cook wasn't and more. Somewhere in Tampa, Leslie Frazier is shaking his head at the possibility of the Vikings putting Rhodes, Captain Munnerlyn and Gilbert on the field at the same time.
9 Bills
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Up. Like everyone, they love Sammy Watkins. But they also only have six picks.
The pick: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Why? Bills fill need for a big target by taking the best tight end.
10 Lions
Top need: Pass rusher
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
Why? New defensive coordinator Teryl Austin gets another raw rusher to experiment with.
11 Titans
Top need: Edge rusher
Trade potential: Down. They have no third-round pick and only six overall.
The pick: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Why? New defense can build around a guy who appears to be rising.
12 Giants
Top need: Offensive tackle
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
Why? Giants go offensive line in the first round for the second consecutive year.
13 Rams
Top need: Cornerback (Assuming they take an offensive tackle at No. 2).
Trade potential: Still down. Still shopping pick for Johnny Football?
The pick: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Why? Race begins to see who will become the better CB: Flashier Justin Gilbert or steadier Dennard.
14 Bears
Top need: Defensive tackle
Trade potential: Down. With Donald gone, Bears look to bail.
The pick: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
Why? FS Chris Conte has poor combo: Hurt and bad.
15 Steelers
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
Why? Steelers have lost three of their top four WRs in 14 months.
16 Cowboys
Top need: Defense (everywhere)
Trade potential: Up. Johnny Manziel or Aaron Donald could send the Cowboys up the board.
The pick: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Why? Can't wait for Twitter to gather enough hindsight to explain to me in 140 characters why it was so obvious all along that Manziel was a future (insert one: Hall of Famer, colossal bust).
17 Ravens
Top need: Right tackle
Trade potential: Down. Looking for offense.
The pick: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
Why? Ravens want Zack Martin, but he's gone. Mosley is the best available.
18 Jets
Top need: Wide receiver
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Why? Might be early for Cooks, but the Jets need a No. 1 WR.
19 Dolphins
Top need: Right tackle
Trade potential: Down. New GM Dennis Hickey running a draft for first time.
The pick: Ja'Waun James, OT, Tennessee
Why? Dolphins have no one on the roster who has played right tackle.
20 Cardinals
Top need: Strong safety
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
Why? Desperation at safety overrides rumors of QB here.
21 Packers
Top need: Free safety
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Ryan Shazier, ILB, Ohio State
Why? Shazier is a good fit if the top safeties are gone.
22 Eagles
Top need: Cornerback
Trade potential: Down. With only six picks, Philly could be a trade partner for the Vikings trying to get back into first round for the third consecutive year.
The pick: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Why? Receiver a possibility, but Fuller better all-around player.
23 Chiefs
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Unlikely.
The pick: Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Why? Dwayne Bowe is turning 30 and the Chiefs whiffed on Emmanuel Sanders.
24 Bengals
Top need: Cornerback
Trade potential: Down. Another potential partner for a team, such as the Vikings, looking to move up for a QB.
The pick: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
Why? Leon Hall has had two torn Achilles in two years. Adam Jones is old, and Terence Newman is older.
25 Chargers
Top need: Cornerback
Trade potential: Down. The Chargers also are a target for teams looking to jump ahead of the Browns for a QB.
The pick: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Why? Tape allows Chargers to overlook injuries, lack of height.
26 Browns
Top need: Quarterback (assuming one wasn't taken at No. 4).
Trade potential: Up. If the Browns want a quarterback and sense other teams lurking, they have the ammo to move up.
The pick: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Why? No pressure, Blake. You'd just be the eighth quarterback they've drafted since 1999.
27 Saints
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Up. Saints really want a WR.
The pick: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
Why? Value at pass rusher trumps need at receiver.
28 Panthers
Top need: Receiver
Trade potential: Unlikely, considering depth of WRs.
The pick: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Why? With several holes to fill at LT, CB and WR, the Panthers take a receiver they're targeting.
29 Patriots
Top need: Defensive tackle
Trade potential: Possibly down because Bill Belichick believes he can find gems later.
The pick: Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame
Why? Tuitt can play anywhere on a line that's aging.
30 49ers
Top need: Cornerback
Trade potential: Up. With 11 picks, the 49ers can go get a player they want.
The pick: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana
Why? Big and fast, although Richard Sherman might disagree.
31 Broncos
Top need: Middle linebacker
Trade potential: Down, if MLB is a reach here.
The pick: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Gophers
Why? If Hageman truly wants to be good, this could be a great value pick for a conference champion.
32 Seahawks
Top need: Offensive line
Trade potential: Down. This franchise can quietly dominate Days 2-3.
The pick: Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State
Why? As Peyton Manning found out, Seattle never can have too many pass rushers.
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