Six story lines for draft night

Marcus Mariota, whose prospectus has held up this draft on many fronts. Actually, it's quite fascinating when you consider he's labeled a "can't-miss" only in Chip Kelly's offense. In every other system, he will be a project and take time to develop. Can he make those pro-level, anticipatory throws that are necessary? Tennessee, San Diego, Cleveland and even Washington make this an uphill battle for Kelly and the Eagles. Factor in the number of picks it would cost or the amount of proven talent (Cox, Kendricks, Boykin), and it just seems too insurmountable even for the wild card that is Kelly. My guess:  Mariota doesn't land in Philadelphia.

What will the Tennessee Titans do with the second overall pick? I have felt all along that USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams is the best player in this draft, even ahead of Jameis Winston. I get the feeling that Tennessee will ride with Zach Mettenberger for another year and take the promising wrecking ball out of Southern California. If they would select Mariota, it would merely be to deal him to another team in a situation similar to what San Diego and the Giants did with Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.

Shane Ray and whether his draft value went up in smoke Monday morning. It's 2015. Marijuana is legal in four states and Washington. He wasn't arrested. Relax. Former NFL executive Mark Dominik said on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike that Ray, a defensive end out of Missouri, could drop to the third or fourth round. That's blasphemy. His foot and the looming surgery are a bigger concern than a joint. He's a top-15 talent, and I expect him to go in the first round still. I would say he's the second-best edge rusher in the draft, behind Dante Fowler of Florida.

The ongoing saga of troubled running back Adrian Peterson. Will he be running roughshod in a purple Vikings jersey or those hideous Cowboys colors? There has been a lot of bad blood among Peterson, his agent, the Vikings front office, and others. I believe Dallas's Stephen Jones when he says the Cowboys will not give up draft picks for a veteran player. Translation: Peterson will not be a Cowboy. Wise decision. The Cowboys can get Melvin Gordon or another back in a very deep class and he can crank out 1,200-plus yards behind that ultra-talented offensive line. Minnesota would be wise to keep Peterson, who still has two or three really dominant years left, and this will only help with QB Teddy Bridgewater's maturation.

Who will be the third quarterback, third receiver and third running back selected in the first round? After Winston and Mariota, who goes next? I do not love UCLA's Brett Hundley or Baylor's Bryce Petty. I will take a flyer on Colorado State's Garrett Grayson to be the next QB off the board, in the late second or early third round. After Amari Cooper and Kevin White are drafted, which wide receiver is next to go? My guess is that it will be Louisville's DeVante Parker. He's clearly a notch below Cooper and White, but definitely better than Jaelen Strong and the rest of a solid bunch. Minnesota would be a great fit for him. At running back, Todd Gurley is a lock to go as the first back, followed by Gordon. The third back should be Boise State's Jay Ajayi, who is built like an NFL running back at 6-foot and 221 pounds. He could very well end up in Carolina, Dallas or New England.

Where do three quarterbacks -- Rivers, Sam Bradford and Johnny Manziel -- spend the 2015 season? There has been a lot of talk, but I expect little action. With Rivers, there are many reasons that look legit, on paper, for his exit from the Chargers: not wanting to play in L.A., being closer to home in the South, his relationship with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, etc. But I think he will remain a Charger. Bradford will be the Eagles quarterback in 2015. Manziel will continue to be a clown show in Cleveland.