2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Projections and Riskiest Prospects

Every team has its own approach when it comes to the NFL draft. You'll have teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and defending champion New England Patriots who continually pick low in the first round because they draft reasonably safe talents that fit their systems.

On the other hand, you'll have teams that want instant gratification. These squads tend to swing for the fences and go for the riskier prospects, which is great if you want to expedite the rebuilding process.

However, sometimes they miss and end up right back at the top of the draft. Every draft has the polarizing guys who you know will make or break a franchise, and 2015 is no different.

For football fans everywhere, every NFL draft pick will elicit some sort of reaction. Here is your mock draft highlighting the selections that are sure to raise an eyebrow or two.

Pick	Team	Selection
1.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2.	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3.	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
4.	Oakland Raiders	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5.	Washington Redskins	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
6.	New York Jets	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
7.	Chicago Bears	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
8.	Atlanta Falcons	Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
9.	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10.	St. Louis Rams	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
11.	Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
12.	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13.	New Orleans Saints	Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
14.	Miami Dolphins	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15.	San Francisco 49ers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
16.	Houston Texans	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
17.	San Diego Chargers	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
18.	Kansas City Chiefs	Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
19.	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills)	Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
20.	Philadelphia Eagles	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
21.	Cincinnati Bengals	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
22.	Pittsburgh Steelers	Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
23.	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24.	Arizona Cardinals	Eric Kendricks, OLB, UCLA
25.	Carolina Panthers	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
26.	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27.	Dallas Cowboys	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
28.	Denver Broncos	Cameron Erving, C/OT, Florida State
29.	Indianapolis Colts	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
30.	Green Bay Packers	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
31.	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle Seahawks)	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
32.	New England Patriots	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Riskiest 1st-Round Picks

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Whatever happens with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner will surely dictate the tempo of the entire first round. In a way, this draft doesn't even begin until after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely select Jameis Winston first.

The Tennessee Titans have orchestrated a feeding frenzy with their No. 2 pick. Of course, the big rumor is he will wind up with the San Diego Chargers in exchange for Philip Rivers, but you shouldn't believe that for one second.

According to Michael Gehlken of UT San Diego, there hasn't been a word of dialogue exchanged between the two teams regarding a potential trade. In fact, Rivers reported to voluntary workouts ready to get to work. General manager Tom Telesco gave no inkling that Rivers had any intentions of playing elsewhere.

"It's our plan and intent that he's our quarterback well into the future," Telesco said. "In all my discussions with him, he's shown a great amount of respect for his teammates and a great amount of respect for this organization. He's been here every day, working extremely hard, being the leader that he is that we've all come to know. I know he's really excited about this season as are we."

Mariota's draft stock appears to be rising lately, with quarterback guru Jon Gruden dubbing him a "can't miss" guy. He is still in play for the Titans at two, but the most likely scenario is that someone works their way up the draft board to snag him, with Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles being the prime suspects.

However, do not sleep on the Cleveland Browns. They are loaded with assets, and Mike Pettine is keeping an eye peeled, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

On the field, there are still big question marks. His trajectory is certainly not helped by the shakiness of recent dual-threat quarterback prospects, and his ability to go through reads is a big concern. Any coach who wants him will have to completely tailor the offense to fit his strengths, which could easily result in a dumpster fire should he not pan out.

If a team trades up for Mariota and he doesn't become the otherworldly player many expect him to be, it would doom said franchise for years. This is as risky as it gets.

Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Gregory's name was once being entertained as an option for the Titans at No. 2, but he has seen his stock take a dip for a number of reasons.

For one, he did not live up to the hype at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he measured at an underwhelming 6'5" and 235 pounds. It's about an inch shorter than he had been listed and reaffirmed that he is extremely light for his position. He also ran slower than many expected with a 4.64 40-yard dash.

There was also the failed drug test. It's not enough to label him an off-field problem, but it will likely knock him down the first round a little bit.

Gregory's first step is a blur, and he could be a fantastic new weapon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jarvis Jones hasn't been what they expected. The team still needs its next iconic pass-rusher, and Gregory is arguably the most talented in the entire draft at getting after quarterbacks.

B/R's Dan Pompei also pointed out a recent issue with Gregory. Not only is he slim, but he apparently has trouble keeping weight on. That does not bode well for his future.

Evaluating Gregory is similar to trying to figure out Jason Pierre-Paul or Dion Jordan in past years. His potential is limitless, but he could also flounder completely. Is he worth the risk?

Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

For a team that just dealt away Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks, the pairing of the New Orleans Saints with Devin Funchess is an interesting one.

The 6'4" junior collected 62 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns for the Wolverines last year. The numbers don't jump off the page, but considering the type of year quarterback Devin Gardner had, those receiving totals are Jerry Rice-esque.

Funchess would be a reach with the 31st selection, but his ability level is outstanding. He did not impress at the combine with his 4.70 40-time, but his frame is impressive. His 82 ⅝" wingspan is the longest of the entire receiving class.

What makes Funchess risky are his hands and tenacity. He has a huge frame, but shows an unwillingness to go up in traffic and yank down tough catches by high-pointing the ball. He can make things happen over the middle of the field, but does not always stick his nose into traffic like a big man should. His blocking is also highly questionable.

Most importantly, he dropped six passes this past season and was the primary target on four interceptions. He may not turn into the most well-rounded player at his position, but he can be a big weapon, particularly in the red zone.

Even this late in the round, Funchess is a big risk given his inconsistent hands. If he can iron out that kink, he could turn out to be a gem.

Justin Hussong is a Breaking News Writer at B/R. Follow him on Twitter @Hussington. All stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.