NFL Mock Draft 2015: Identifying Ideal Picks for Every 1st-Round Team

When the college football season ended, NFL draft season officially began.

The whole process grows tiring the closer it gets to late April/early May. January through March is the sweet spot because fans can see which prospects are improving or hurting their stock at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine.

It's also early enough that the constant sniping from anonymous coaches and scouts doesn't dominate the discussion.

A lot can change between now and April 30, but this is an early look at how the first round might unfold.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Jameis Winston is beginning to creep into the No. 1 spot on a few experts' boards. In terms of pure passing ability, he's arguably better than Marcus Mariota, and the transition to an NFL-style offense won't be as rough.

However, Mariota is more than just a product of his system. He's a strong thrower with impressive accuracy. Plus, Derek Carr seamlessly made the transition from the spread offense in his rookie year, so it's not impossible for Mariota to do the same.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't go wrong with either Mariota or Winston, but the former might have the higher ceiling because of his athleticism.

2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Winston's 18 interceptions this past year are a bit of a concern, but Florida State lost two big offensive weapons, Kelvin Benjamin and Devonta Freeman, to the NFL before the season. The Seminoles really missed those guys in 2014.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported from the combine that Winston was beginning to break away from Mariota in the eyes of more than a few teams:

The Tennessee Titans drafted Zach Mettenberger last year, but the franchise can't pass up the opportunity to snag one of the best QBs in what is a shallow draft class.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC

Defensive tackle isn't necessarily a top priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Leonard Williams is the kind of player you target no matter the need.

Miller compared Williams to St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and while he gave the slight edge to Donald, the difference isn't all that big.

Given his experience on the defensive side of the ball, Jags head coach Gus Bradley would love to have a player such as Williams at his disposal. The USC star is the perfect blend of run-stopper and pass-rusher that NFL teams love to have on the interior of the line.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

As mentioned earlier, Derek Carr had an encouraging rookie campaign, even if his stats weren't particularly overly impressive. Any quarterback would struggle when Andre Holmes and Mychal Rivera are among his top targets.

In Amari Cooper, the Oakland Raiders would be getting the most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft. Cooper is a fantastic route-runner, which will help on the short-to-medium routes. He's also quick enough to burn the secondary, as many SEC teams will attest.

5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

Simply on the basis of his ability to rush the passer, Randy Gregory could be an All-Pro linebacker/defensive end hybrid. He's long, athletic and quick off the snap, which will give NFL offensive linemen plenty of headaches.

The Washington Redskins don't really have a ton of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Gregory would help solve that issue.

6. New York Jets: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

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Todd Bowles is a defense-first guy, so it would make sense for the New York Jets to target somebody on the defensive side of the ball.

Between Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets have enough strength inside. New York needs to add some help off the edge, which is where Vic Beasley comes in. Beasley might be a bit limited in the NFL by his lanky frame, but he should excel as an edge-rusher.

7. Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

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NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah made the parallel to All-Pro defensive lineman Haloti Ngata when describing Danny Shelton's game:

Shelton might not possess the potential that Leonard Williams does, but he's a bit like Williams in that his game is predicated on more than his immense size (6'2", 339 lbs). That's not to say that Shelton is without certain physical advantages:

The Washington Huskies defensive tackle should grow into a passable pass-rusher, racking up around two or three sacks a year. He'd provide more value in that regard by collapsing the pocket and freeing up his teammates on the edge.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

The Atlanta Falcons were one of the worst teams in the league last year when it came to rushing the quarterback. With Shane Ray still on the board, this is a rather easy pick.

Ray's upside is through the roof, and he may be every bit the pass-rusher that Randy Gregory is. B/R's Matt Miller called it a "pick 'em" between the two:

The Missouri star is a freak of nature, and perhaps more importantly, he knows how to use his hands to get leverage when engaged with a blocker. The Falcons couldn't ask for much more at No. 8.

9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

According to Football Outsiders, the New York Giants ranked 22nd in the league in run blocking, struggling mightily when getting into the second level.

It's a problem that could be in part solved by drafting Brandon Scherff. Scherff is among the best offensive tackles in the 2015 draft, and he excels at opening up holes for his running backs.

10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

After drafting a project pick such as Greg Robinson last year, the St. Louis Rams might prefer to have a more ready-made offensive tackle. Luckily for them, Andrus Peat shouldn't have any issues adjusting to the NFL.

Peat has the athleticism and footwork teams look for in top-end tackles, and his technique doesn't need a ton of work. Peat's ceiling isn't quite as high as Robinson's was last year, but when paired up with the former Auburn Tiger, the Rams would have the bedrock of their offensive line for years to come.

11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

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For the Minnesota Vikings, the beauty of drafting DeVante Parker is that he and Cordarrelle Patterson have complementary skill sets. They could easily coexist in the same offense. In addition, the presence of Parker might allow Patterson to bounce back after what was a disappointing 2014.

12. Cleveland Browns: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

Ideally, the Cleveland Browns could draft Parker to either replace or supplement Josh Gordon. With Parker gone, T.J. Clemmings would be a good consolation prize.

The nice thing for the Browns is that they already have Joe Thomas to handle the left side, which would ease Clemmings' transition. When Thomas' time is up, Clemmings would be more than prepared to step in.

13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida

Once you get past Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan, the New Orleans Saints don't really have any teeth in their pass rush. Dante Fowler would ease some of the pressure on those two veterans and make the Saints much tougher at the point of attack.

14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

Versatile doesn't begin to describe Shaq Thompson. He ran for 456 yards and two touchdowns in his final season at Washington, in addition to recording 81 total tackles and returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.

The Miami Dolphins wouldn't need Thompson to handle quite as many duties should he arrive. As long as he can stabilize what's been an underwhelming group of linebackers, he'd have more than fulfilled his duties.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virgina

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Kevin White is the downfield threat the San Francisco 49ers desperately need. The team can't expect Colin Kaepernick to rebound until it adds another weapon such as White. He would bring that extra dimension to the 49ers passing game.

16. Houston Texans: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Trae Waynes is a nice blend of physicality and athleticism that teams like to see in college cornerbacks. Waynes can play bump-and-run coverage, and he's quick and agile enough to keep pace with opposing wideouts when stuck out in the open.

He'd be a nice piece to help strengthen the Houston Texans secondary.

17. San Diego Chargers: La'el Collins, OT, LSU

Once again, the San Diego Chargers offensive line was a problem area. Football Outsiders ranked the unit a somewhat pedestrian 16th in pass protection and a downright awful 31st in run blocking.

There are more than a few offensive tackles the Chargers could target at 17. Quick, athletic pass-rushers can beat La'el Collins a little too often. He would, however, provide some help for San Diego as it tries to open up more running lanes in 2015.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Enough jokes have been made about the Kansas City Chiefs' troubles at wide receiver. Put simply, the franchise has to add an impact wideout through the draft or free agency. With the 18th overall pick, the Chiefs should have a few different options available.

In soccer, some players are labeled a scorer of great goals, rather than a great goalscorer. That's Jaelen Strong. He can make tough catches look extremely easy but struggle making the more simple receptions. His route running is also a little unrefined.

Strong has good upside, though, and would add a nice red-zone target to Kansas City's passing game.

19. Cleveland Browns: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

The Browns are a bit soft in the interior of their defense. Karlos Dansby was a good signing, but adding another inside linebacker such as Benardrick McKinney would be a smart idea for Cleveland.

McKinney struggles a bit in pass coverage, but his run defense is excellent. He can accelerate quickly, and with his aggressive nature, he gets in the backfield in a heartbeat.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

The one thing holding Landon Collins back is his pass coverage, which is admittedly a pretty important aspect of a safety's game. Collins is excellent against the run, and because of that, he'll have a role in the NFL.

In order to become an every-down safety, though, he must improve against the pass.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

At this point in the draft process, Eddie Goldman looks to be some distance behind Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton. While a good run defender, he doesn't have that ridiculous athleticism that could transform him into a Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh.

The Cincinnati Bengals are looking for a space-eater on the defensive line, so Goldman should fill that void well.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary was a complete mess come the playoffs. Injuries ravaged the unit, but it was clear the team needs to get a lot younger.

Marcus Peters brings some off-field issues that somewhat cloud his draft stock, but he remains confident that the past is firmly in the past.

"I don't guarantee anything," Peters said in February, per ESPN.com's Scott Brown. "Everyone makes mistakes. All I tell [teams] is that I've matured and I'm moving forward."

As long as Peters stays out of trouble, he'd be a great addition for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

Looking at it from a salary-cap perspective, it seems unrealistic that the Detroit Lions can re-sign Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley this offseason. They could, hypothetically, but that would wrap up a ton of money at just one position.

Malcom Brown would be a good foil for Suh, since he's not much of a pass-rusher but is extremely stout against the run. Drafting Brown would keep defensive tackle an area of strength ahead of the 2015 season.

24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky

The Arizona Cardinals have one of the better defenses in the league, but they still struggled to get after the passer at times.

Alvin Dupree is a physical specimen, which will likely help him at the scouting combine and Kentucky's pro day. Dupree isn't a great run defender, which will limit how often he's on the field. But his presence on the edge is exactly what's missing in Arizona's defense.

25. Carolina Panthers: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

It feels like the offensive line has been a concern for the Carolina Panthers for years now. Cam Newton's mobility helps to paper over the cracks a bit, but the team needs to supply him with more protection in the passing game.

Ereck Flowers is technically astute and physically gifted. He's not a freak athlete like T.J. Clemmings or as strong as Brandon Scherff, but the tools are there for Flowers to have a long, prosperous career. He'd be a solid addition for the Panthers.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

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Even if the Baltimore Ravens re-sign Justin Forsett in the offseason, they'd be wise to draft a running back, whether it's in the first round or a little later. Forsett will turn 30 in October.

Todd Gurley is a risky proposition, so Baltimore will go with the safer pick in Melvin Gordon. Gordon is such an explosive runner, yet he's patient enough to let the play develop before making his move. Even with running backs becoming easier and easier to unearth in later rounds, the 2014 Heisman runner-up would be worth a first-rounder.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

The Dallas Cowboys have gotten little from Morris Claiborne since drafting him sixth overall in 2012. He missed 12 regular-season games in 2014 and six in 2015. Claiborne's signed through 2015, but it might be time for the Cowboys to start looking elsewhere.

Jalen Collins is a physical corner at the line of scrimmage with the instincts to be in the right place at the right time. He'd be a more than adequate replacement for Collins.

28. Denver Broncos: Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

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Since Jake Fisher isn't a freak athlete for a player of his size, it's fair to wonder how high his ceiling can go. The trade-off is that Fisher can offer a team a more ready-made offensive tackle in comparison to other potential first-rounders.

His ability to make an immediate impact would greatly help a Denver Broncos team whose current window is closing quickly.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

After the spectacularly bad nature with which Trent Richardson's time with the Indianapolis Colts has gone so far, the team might be a bit loathe to invest heavily in a decorated college running back, especially one with Todd Gurley's injury history.

If he can return to only 90 or 95 percent of his old self, Gurley could be an every-down, dynamic back in the NFL. Taking any running back in the first round is undoubtedly a risk in today's league, but the reward is certainly worth it in Gurley's case.

30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami

Clay Matthews adjusted to the inside very well, but there's no question he's much better utilized coming off the edge. The Green Bay Packers moved Matthews to inside linebacker more out of necessity than anything else. Drafting Denzel Perryman would allow the team to abandon that plan.

Some will knock Perryman's size, and he takes that criticism personally, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times:

The former Miami Hurricane might be a bit of a reach here, but he would provide nice value for Green Bay. Perryman is a very instinctual linebacker who knows how to wrap up a ball-carrier.

31. Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

James Carpenter, the incumbent starter for the Seattle Seahawks at left guard, is a free agent this offseason, and the Seahawks don't have a ton of money to throw around. Financially, it probably makes more sense to let Carpenter walk and then find his replacement in the draft.

A.J. Cann is an extremely safe pick who can contribute as soon as he steps onto an NFL field. He'd be the best successor Seattle could find to Carpenter in the first round.

32. New England Patriots: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

The window for success is closing for the New England Patriots, at least with Tom Brady at quarterback. The team should do whatever it can to capitalize on that.

Nelson Agholor doesn't quite have the upside that Sammie Coates and Dorial Green-Beckham do, but he'd be able to step on the field in Week 1 and give the Patriots something. He's a more polished wideout, and he has enough speed to be more than a possession receiver.

Notes: Draft order is courtesy of NFL.com.