NFL Draft 2015: Predictions for Next Year's Projected 1st-Round Class

When it comes to the NFL draft, it's never too early to look ahead.

With a brand new season on the way and another star-studded class of prospects set to put the finishing touches on their college careers next fall, it's time we look into the crystal ball.

Here are my predictions for the first round of next year's NFL draft.

*2015 draft order based on teams' regular-season records since 2011.

Selection	Team	Player
No. 1	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
No. 2	Cleveland Browns	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
No. 3	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
No. 4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
No. 5	St. Louis Rams	P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
No. 6	Washington Redskins	Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
No. 7	Buffalo Bills	Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
No. 8	Minnesota Vikings	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
No. 9	Kansas City Chiefs	Devonte Fields, DE/OLB, TCU
No. 10	Detroit Lions	Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
No. 11	Miami Dolphins	Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
No. 12	Tennessee Titans	Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
No. 13	New York Jets	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
No. 14	Philadelphia Eagles	Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
No. 15	Arizona Cardinals	Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State
No. 16	Houston Texans	Jabari Hunt-Days, ILB, Georgia Tech
No. 17	Dallas Cowboys	Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
No. 18	San Diego Chargers	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
No. 19	Indianapolis Colts	La'El Collins, OT/G, LSU
No. 20	New York Giants	Noah Spence, DE, Ohio State
No. 21	Carolina Panthers	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
No. 22	Chicago Bears	Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
No. 23	Atlanta Falcons	Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC
No. 24	Pittsburgh Steelers	Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
No. 25	Cincinnati Bengals	Landon Turner, G, North Carolina
No. 26	Baltimore Ravens	Derron Smith, S, Fresno State
No. 27	New Orleans Saints	Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
No. 28	Seattle Seahawks	Devin Funchess, TE, Michigan
No. 29	Denver Broncos	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
No. 30	Green Bay Packers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
No. 31	San Francisco 49ers	Jordan Jenkins, LB, Georgia
No. 32	New England Patriots	Antwan Goodley, WR, Baylor

First-Round Prospects to Watch

Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Stanford's Ty Montgomery is another topflight prospect worth watching closely in 2014. At 6'2", 215 pounds, the explosive wide receiver has developed into a lethal playmaker with the ball in his hands—that includes on special teams as a return man.

Montgomery averaged 30-plus yards per kickoff return in 2013 and scored two kickoff return touchdowns.

More importantly, Montgomery led Stanford in receiving as a junior last season, catching 61 passes for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns. Therefore, watch for Montgomery to continue to be a focal point in the Cardinal passing attack next season. 

Like every other top 2015 prospect, staying healthy will be the biggest key of all, as pointed out by former NFL scout John Middlekauff:

While Alabama's Amari Cooper and Florida State's Rashad Greene are two other names to watch for, Montgomery's size, strength and explosiveness will make him a coveted prospect in 2015.

Don't be surprised if a team in need of some burst on the edge makes a move on Montgomery. One of those teams could be the Miami Dolphins, who project to pick somewhere outside the top 10.

Prediction: Miami Dolphins (No. 11 overall)  

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

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While a handful of potent passers are set to enter the 2015 NFL draft next spring, Baylor's Bryce Petty is one to keep an eye on over the next year. 

Petty won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award as a junior in 2013, ranking fourth in the nation with 4,200 yards passing and recording 32 touchdowns to just three interceptions. And at 6'3", 230 pounds, NFL scouts and coaches are sure to fall in love with Petty's ideal blend of size, accuracy and arm strength.

Although he's extremely biased, Baylor head coach Art Briles wasn't shy about expressing his confidence in Petty last December, via NFL.com's Dan Greenspan.

"Now we have a good feel how Bryce functions, what he can do, and next year I think he'll be phenomenal. I think he'll be a top-five pick in 2015, no question."

Despite his proximity to Petty, Briles' opinion is worth considering given the fact he coached former No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III at Baylor. 

Like Griffin, Petty projects to be in the mix for the Heisman Trophy next season. But regardless of whether he wins the award, a team in need of a franchise quarterback, much like the Tennessee Titans, are likely to pursue the talented passer in Round 1.

Prediction: Tennessee Titans (No. 12 overall)

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

USA TODAY Sports

In today's pass-happy NFL, possessing depth in the secondary, specifically at the cornerback spot, is critical to success.

Therefore, Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is a prospect to watch for in 2014. The Ducks senior could have left early for the 2014 NFL draft, but opted to return to school for his final year of eligibility. He explained several reasons for his decision back in January, via CBSSports.com college football writer Tom Fornelli:

"

The two main factors related to my decision to return were my continued progression as a person and a player, and I felt Oregon was my best option to achieve those goals and improve my situation for next year...I should be able to finish my degree by next fall, possibly by the end of the summer. Football is only one phase of who I am; my degree will be forever. Secondly was my ability to make an impact and become a top [draft] pick, and I felt staying one more year would only help me.

"

Ekpre-Olomu broke up half a dozen passes last season as a junior and has recorded seven interceptions over the past two seasons in Eugene.

But the top-tier cornerback can also help out in run support. He recorded 84 tackles, including five tackles for a loss, last season as a junior and should only improve in that area with another season in college.

If Ekpre-Olomu can stay healthy next season, he's likely to hear his name called in Round 1. The Philadelphia Eagles could be in the market for a cornerback this time next year and, plus, there's the Chip Kelly-Oregon connection to keep in mind.

Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles (No. 14 overall) 

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