2015 NFL draft: Pick-by-pick recap

Reporting from Chicago —  Join us here for pick-by-pick updates from the first round of the 2015 NFL draft in Chicago, where The Times’ Sam Farmer will be providing biographies on each player and giving his analysis of each selection.

1. Tampa Bay: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds

A year after winning the Heisman Trophy, Winston led the Seminoles to a 13-0 record in the 2014 regular season, and finished the year with 3,907 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. His only college defeat came to Oregon in the Rose Bowl during the College Football Playoff semifinal game.

Comment: The Buccaneers have never had a QB make it to a second contract, including Steve Young, Doug Williams and Vinny Testaverde. Maybe Winston will be the first.

2. Tennessee: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon, 6-4, 222

Mariota, who won the Heisman last fall, was selected the offensive MVP in a 59-20 victory over Jameis Winston-led Florida State in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks subsequently lost to Ohio State in the national championship game.

Comment: Titans took Zach Mettenberger in the sixth round last year, but obviously he isn’t their answer at quarterback. Draft goes Heisman-Heisman.

3. Jacksonville: Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida, 6-2 1/2, 260

The Jaguars, who weighed taking a receiver here, don’t have any star pass rushers. Fowler knows how to put heat on opposing quarterbacks.

Comment: Fowler had at least one tackle for loss in every game but one last season. He led the Gators with 15 tackles for loss with 17 hurries and 8 1/2 sacks.

4. Oakland: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama, 6-1, 210

Cooper won the Biletnikoff Award last fall as college football’s top receiver. He led the nation in receptions (124), and finished second in yards (1,727) and touchdown catches (16).

Comment: The Raiders wanted a weapon for Derek Carr, and Cooper is a great one. He’s stong, and especially tough after the catch.

5. Washington: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa, 6-5, 320

Scherff won the Outland Trophy last season as college football’s best offensive lineman. Started his high school career as a quarterback.

Comment: The Redskins need to better protect Robert Griffin III, and Scherff is a mean blocker. This guy is a next-generation Hog.

6. N.Y. Jets: Leonard Williams, DT, USC, 6-5, 300

Williams was USC’s most valuable player last season and is widely considered the best defensive player in this draft. In 2014, he had 80 tackles, 9 1/2 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. Ed Orgeron, his position coach in college, has compared him to Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy and Warren Sapp.

Comment: The Jets needed an edge rusher and a receiver, but Williams -- who many see as the draft’s best player -- was irresistible.

7. Chicago: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia, 6-3, 215

White set a school record by beginning the 2014 season with seven consecutive 100-yard games. He also set the school record for catches in a game, with 16 against Texas.

Comment: With Brandon Marshall now on the Jets, the Bears need a bookend for Alshon Jeffery, and White has the speed to take the lid off the defense.

8. Atlanta: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson, 6-3, 245

A two-time first-team All-American, Beasley ranks first in school history with 33 sacks. He finished his college career with 29 quarterback pressures, 11 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two touchdowns.

Comment: Running back was tempting, but the Falcons needed an edge rusher to beef up that pass rush. Beasley can be like Bruce Irvin in Seattle.

9. N.Y. Giants: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami, 6-6, 330

Started all but one game at left tackle last season and was a second-team All-ACC pick. Although he suffered a knee injury at mid-season, one that required a surgical procedure, he missed just one game.

Comment: The Giants need to protect Eli Manning, and Flowers is capable of playing either tackle spot. Plays nasty like a defensive lineman.

10. St. Louis: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia, 6-1, 220

Gurley, who left college with a year of eligibility remaining, is widely considered the top running back in this class despite suffering a torn ACL in November. His best season was as a freshman, when he rushed for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Comment: Powerful back might remind Jeff Fisher of Eddie George. When he gets healthy, Gurley might be the Rams’ answer to Beast Mode.

11. Minnesota: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State, 6-0, 185

Considered by many scouts the top corner in this draft class, Waynes had three interceptions and eight pass breakups last season. He ran a 4.31 40 at the combine.

Comment: Waynes was the second-fastest player at the combine. Vikings upgrade their secondary in a division with potent passers.

12. Cleveland: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington, 6-2, 340

A first-team Academic All-American -- Washington’s first since 1991 -- Shelton led the nation with five fumble recoveries, and had 16 tackles for loss. He was second on the team with 93 tackles.

Comment: The Browns could neither stop the run nor get to quarterbacks last season. The rock-solid Shelton will help change that.

13. New Orleans: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford, 6-7, 315

As a junior last fall, Peat was voted a second-team All-American. He’s the son of Todd Peat, who spent six seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles Raiders. Andrus’ brother, also named Todd, played football at Nebraska.

Comment: With Drew Brees in the line of fire, the Saints needed to plug the holes in protection. Skill-position players can wait.

14. Miami: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville, 6-3, 210

After missing the first seven games last season because of a foot injury, Parker roared back with 43 receptions and five touchdowns in the final six games. That was enough to earn second-team All-ACC honors.

Comment: Dolphins lost receivers Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline, so Parker will be able to step right in and make an impact. Good news for Tannehill.

15. San Diego (from San Francisco): Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin, 6-2, 215

The Heisman runner-up to Marcus Mariota last season, Gordon led the nation with for 2,587 yards rushing, the second-most yards in FBS history to the 2,628 of Barry Sanders in 1988.

Comment: The Chargers needed a back who can pick up the hard yards. Gordon is ultra-productive but has a history of fumbling problems.

16. Houston: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest, 6-0, 188

Johnson started 12 games last season and gave up a total of 24 receptions. He finished the season with 44 tackles, 3 1/2 for loss.

Comment: Kareem Jackson is in the last year of his deal, so the Texans pick up a versatile corner to groom. Pass on OLB Bud Dupree.

17. San Francisco (from San Diego): Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon, 6-7, 290

The 6-foot-7 Armstead, who missed two games last season with an ankle injury, finished with 16 quarterback pressures, 2 1/2 sacks and 4 1/2 tackles for losses. His older brother, Armond, played for USC and the New England Patriots.

Comment: New Coach Jim Tomsula is a defensive line specialist, so the rebuilding project will begin there with the huge, rangy Armstead.

18. Kansas City: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington, 6-0, 195

Peters might be the most athletic corner in this class, but he also has his share of character issues. He was suspended for a game after a sideline tirade and was later dismissed from the team after a confrontation with an assistant coach. During the last two seasons, he gave up just 38.1% of the passes against him to be completed.

Comment: In a division with passers Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers and Derek Carr, the Chiefs look to shore up a hole in their pass defense.

19. Cleveland (from Buffalo): Cameron Erving, C, Florida State, 6-5, 313

A former defensive tackle, Erving switched to the other side of the ball and started at left tackle, protecting the blind side of future NFL quarterback EJ Manuel.

Comment: A converted defensive tackle, Erving might be best at center, but the Browns don’t need him there. He’ll be a guard or right tackle.

20. Philadelphia: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC, 6-0, 198

Born in Nigeria and the son of a Nigerian soccer player, Agholor led USC in receptions last season. He had a big game against Notre Dame, catching 12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. He was first-team All-Pac 12 and third-team All-American.

Comment: With Jeremy Maclin gone, Agholor can step right in and make an impact. He’s the seventh Pac-12 player off the board so far.

21. Cincinnati: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M, 6-5, 305

Ogbuehi blocked for Johnny Manziel, first at right guard and then at right tackle. He might have been a top-10 pick had he not suffered a torn ACL in a bowl game against West Virginia.

Comment: The Bengals are graying at tackle with Andrew Whitworth, and Ogbuehi can get healthy and eventually replace him on left side.

22. Pittsburgh: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

Dupree finished his college career with 23 1/2 sacks, the most by any active SEC player. He had his first career interception last season, against South Carolina, returning it six yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Comment: A week away from 37, James Harrison might be the best Steelers linebacker. Dupree slipping this far is a big bonus.

23. Denver (from Detroit): Shane Ray, DE, Missouri, 6-3, 245

Ray, who leaves college with a year of eligibility left, was chosen SEC defensive player of the year last season and was a first-team All-American. He led the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss, was a finalist for the Hendricks Award –- presented to the nation’s top defensive end –- and a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik awards.

Comment: Broncos were convinced Baltimore was going to grab Shane Ray, so they needed to moveto get a bookend to Von Miller.

24. Arizona: D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida, 6-5, 305

Humphres is a talented player who missed a lot of snaps in college because of injuries. In 2013, he sat out the final five games with a sprained knee ligament. He played in two-thirds of the offensive snaps last season but missed two games because of injuries.

Comment: With a 36-year-old quarterback in Carson Palmer, it never hurts to get more protection. Cardinals also added Mike Iupati.

25. Carolina: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington, 6-0, 228

The versatile Thompson played safety, linebacker and running back for the Huskies and could excel on special teams as well. Thompson won the Paul Hornung Award, given to college football’s most versatile player. He scored six touchdowns last season, including two as a running back and four on defense.

Comment: Projected as a middle linebacker by most NFL teams, he could also play strong safety. He’s the school-record third UW player to go in the first round.

26. Baltimore: Breshad Perrimon, WR, Central Florida, 6-2, 212

The son of former NFL player Brett Perriman, Breshad is blistering fast. He was the first Central Florida receiver to roll up 1,000 yards receiving in a season since Mike Sims-Walker in 2006.

Comment: Perriman has sizzling speed and can help stretch the field for the Ravens, now that Torrey Smith is in San Francisco.

27. Dallas: Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut, 6-1, 200

A converted safety, Jones played in seven games last season but missed the final five after undergoing shoulder surgery. He had three interceptions in 2013.

Comment: There’s uncertainty at corner for the Cowboys with the top three players either coming back from injury or in contract flux.

28. Detroit (from Dallas): Laken Tominlinson, G, Duke, 6-3, 323

Started every game at right guard for Duke after he red-shirted in 2010. He was selected first-team All-American as a senior.

Comment: Tomlinson will start at left guard, even though he played on the right side in college. Lions were 28th in rushing offense.

29. Indianapolis: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami, 5-10, 185

Ten of Dorsett’s 36 catches were for touchdowns last season, and he averaged 24.2 yards per catch. Suffered a partially torn knee ligament in 2013 and missed five games.

Comment: The Colts had a need at safety -- and the two top ones were still on the board -- but instead took another target for Andrew Luck.

30. Green Bay: Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State, 5-11, 195

A first-team All-Pac-12 pick, Randall finished last season with 106 tackles. In each of the last two seasons, he returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Comment: Randall played safety in college, but he’s fast enough to play cornerback, and that’s probably where the Packers will want him to play.

31. New Orleans (from Seattle): Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson

Anthony led the Tigers with 90 tackles last season, when he forced two fumbles and had one interception.

Comment: The Saints were looking to get younger and more dynamic at inside linebacker, and Anthony can start right away.

32. New England: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas, 6-2, 320

Brown, who started every game the last two seasons, was the first defensive tackle to lead the Longhorns in tackles for loss and sacks since Tony Degrate in 1984.

Comment: With Vince Wilfork in Houston, the Patriots were looking for a big body in the middle to create havoc. Brown fills the bill.