2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Where 1st-Round Prospects Will Land

Now that the Super Bowl is in the rear-view mirror and the discussion about the game's final sequence is beginning to fade, it's time to begin looking forward for all 32 teams. Of course, a major part of that is the 2015 NFL draft.

This year's class looks quite average on paper. At least for now. The outlook can always change during the draft process. It could be particularly interesting this year because there's definitely room to move up the board for the top performers.

The question is which players will take advantage of the opportunity. A couple of prospects always seem to come from completely off the radar to force their way into Round 1. For now, let's check out how things are shaping up early in the offseason.

2015 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2	Tennessee Titans	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5	Washington Redskins	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
6	New York Jets	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
7	Chicago Bears	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
9	New York Giants	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
10	St. Louis Rams	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
11	Minnesota Vikings	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
12	Cleveland Browns	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
13	New Orleans Saints	Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky
14	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
16	Houston Texans	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
17	San Diego Chargers	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
19	Cleveland Browns (from BUF)	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
23	Detroit Lions	P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
25	Carolina Panthers	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
30	Green Bay Packers	Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
31	Seattle Seahawks	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
32	New England Patriots	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

One thing front offices are going to do a lot of in the months ahead is weighing risk against reward. The question is often whether they are willing to wait a few seasons for a player to develop or want somebody who can make an immediate impact, even if their ceiling isn't quite as high.

Another aspect that can sometimes come into play is a player's off-field issues. Teams must decide whether there are enough red flags to look elsewhere or if they are willing to take the chance that a talented player can leave that type of stuff in the past.

It's not an easy task and each team probably has a slightly different philosophy. Let's check out some of the safest choices from the mock draft above that should limit the potential downside.

Safest Selections

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Scherff definitely fits the mold of a left tackle. He sports a large frame, plenty of power and good athleticism for a player of his size. He's also got plenty of experience under his belt with 36 starts during his time at Iowa.

What really makes him a safe selection is his versatility. There are some minor question marks about how he'll handle elite speed rushers off the edge. As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller notes, however, he can play almost anywhere on the line:

So if the Jaguars get him into camp and he isn't quite ready for the all-important left tackle spot, not all hope is lost. They can flip him to the right side or move him inside at the outset. He should still provide plenty of value up front.

Obviously when a team invests this high of a pick on an offensive lineman, it's hoping for somebody to hold down the left side for a decade or more. Scherff should be able to do that, but there are other options available just in case to lower the risk.

5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

Williams could very well emerge as the best player from this class. The USC defensive lineman has all the tools to become a force up front. He can use his power on the edge or his quickness in the middle and wreak havoc in the backfield on a regular basis.

He could have returned to the Trojans and potentially set himself up to become the first pick next year. The need for quarterbacks at the top makes that a tough sell this time around. But he felt it was time to make the jump, as noted in comments passed along by Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles:

"

This was a very hard decision for me. I love USC, Coach [Steve Sarkisian] and the coaching staff, my teammates and the fans, and I love the game of college football. It's hard to leave all of that. I know life is never the same once you leave college. But I feel like it's the right time for me to go. I feel like I'm ready. I'm looking forward to the new challenge that the NFL presents.

"

Williams is a perfect fit for the Redskins, which desperately need another high-end playmaker on the defensive side. They finished 20th in yards allowed and 21st in sacks. He could combine with Ryan Kerrigan to form a terrific one-two punch.

The best way to use him would probably be a lot like the Houston Texans do with J.J. Watt. Now he's not on that level yet, but he can move around the line to create matchup problems. That helps open up opportunities for other players, as well.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

The story is much the same for Collins as the other two players. He's a top-tier prospect capable of making his presence felt right away. The Alabama product is also versatile, capable of handling either safety spot at the next level. So the trends when it comes to a risk-averse selection are clear.

Another thing that helps his stock, however, is the lack of depth at the positions. After him, there's a major drop off and could help push him into the top 10. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports highlights the lack of talent in this year's safety group:

The Bears were frequently burned in the secondary this past season. They gave up far too many big plays en route to a 30th-rank pass defense. Serious improvement will be necessary in that area if they want to push for the playoffs next fall.

Collins can protect against those game-changing plays while also stepping up into the box to defend the run when needed. He comes out of a terrific defensive program at Alabama. That should make for a smooth transition and a safe pick for Chicago.