2015 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Early Outlook for Entire First Round

Although the 2015 NFL draft is still a few months out, the offseason preparation has already hastened for teams outside of the playoff picture. The search for the prospects who can help change their fortunes sooner rather than later is underway.

Of course, the draft class is still taking shape. The outlook should become more clear as the underclassmen decide whether to make the jump. Also, some prospects are sure to rise and fall as the draft process goes along.

By the time draft day arrives, most players should have a pretty good idea about when to expect their name to get called. For now, let's check out how things are shaping up at this stage, including a deeper dive into some of the most interesting selections.

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

Tampa Bay is one of the league's biggest disappointments after expectations were raised following the arrival of Lovie Smith. The search for a franchise quarterback continues, and Mariota is seemingly the best bet in the class.

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2. Tennessee Titans: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

Even though Tennessee might be tempted to go quarterback here, it may feel more comfortable adding an impact piece on defense and then taking a QB during the second wave. Ray is an emerging talent with plenty of upside left to develop.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Gregory possesses the combination of size and athleticism teams crave on the edge. For a Jaguars team in need of upgrades in so many areas, he represents a defensive cornerstone the Jags should be able to build around for many years to come.

4. New York Jets: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

The Jets could very well start next season with a completely new look. Starting with the coaching staff and working down throughout the roster, change is likely on the horizon. Whenever that happens, bringing in a new quarterback is usually atop the to-do list.

In Winston, the Jets would be getting a player with an incredible amount of upside, but also some points of concern both on and off the field. From a purely football standpoint, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com thinks patience will be necessary for whatever team takes the Florida State star:

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Although he remains the top quarterback prospect in college football with valuable experience running a pro-style system, he is not a plug-and-play prospect who can step in and lead a team from Day 1. In time, I believe Winston will be a franchise player, but his 2014 struggles suggest a patient approach might be best for the team that selects him if he comes out following his sophomore season.

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New York isn't one piece away from a championship, so it could afford to wait. Perhaps bring him into the fold late in the 2015 campaign for some experience before handing him the reins in 2016. The question is whether the bright lights of the Big Apple would bring the best or worst out of Winston.

5. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, Southern California

The Raiders could really use an offensive skill position star at this point. They probably want to give Derek Carr more time, however, and it doesn't appear there's a wideout worth the top pick. So instead, they'll go with a potentially dominant defensive lineman in Williams.

6. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The Washington offensive line needs to do a much better job of protecting the quarterback, regardless of who holds that position heading into 2015. The Redskins should have their choice of several terrific options, with Scherff standing out.

7. New York Giants: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

It seems like the Giants have the right pieces on offense, they just have to figure out how to make them fit together properly. So the focus in the opening round should be on the defense, where Thompson would be an immediate upgrade on the outside.

8. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

The Panthers offensive line is among the worst in the NFL in terms of both pass protection and blocking for the running game. Finding some stability up front would go a long way in helping get more production from the unit. Peat is the most NFL-ready tackle left on the board.

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9. Chicago Bears: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

Perhaps the main reason the Bears defense has struggled is the team's inability to get consistent pressure in the backfield. Beasley is a gifted rusher who's made progress toward becoming a more complete linebacker. Certainly worth a top-10 selection.

10. New Orleans Saints: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

It's difficult for the New Orleans defense to rank highly given the fast-paced, high-scoring nature of its offense. So the key is having a group that can force the issue and make the occasional game-changing play. Waynes is a prospect with the talent to fit that mold perfectly.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Cooper is a player who could very well push himself into the top five before it's all said and done. At Alabama, which is traditionally known for its running game, he's shined, with numerous big plays against tough SEC defenses. That type of playmaking is exactly what the Vikings need.

12. St. Louis Rams: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

The Rams have a couple of different directions they could go in with the pick. While the selection of skill positions is also more appeasing to fans, winning in the trenches is equally important, and Ogbuehi can help them do that more often right away.

13. Houston Texans: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

Safety isn't the biggest need for Houston. That said, it is an area where the Texans will probably look to improve during the offseason. And given how highly Collins is rated, it would be difficult to pass up the value he presents with the No. 13 pick.

14. Cleveland Browns: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

Josh Gordon is one of the best targets in the league, and Andrew Hawkins has carved out a role for himself in Cleveland. The Browns still need more talent on the offensive side, however, and White would give them another solid option in the passing game.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky

San Francisco could go with a wide receiver at this spot, but Dupree could go a long way in solidifying the defense. He can immediately join the defensive line rotation, and he should become more effective once he adds some more strength to go along with his short-area quickness.

16. Miami Dolphins: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Running backs in the first round have become more rare in recent years. Gordon will likely be an exception given his success with the Badgers. The Dolphins could use a player like him to handle the early-down work.

17. Cleveland Browns (via BUF): Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor

Having already upgraded on the offensive side with their first pick in the round, the Browns will probably look defense here. The best option left who fills a need is Oakman. He's a monster on the edge with the potential to become a huge threat if he can improve his technique.

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

Watch Strong for a while and the first thing that will stand out are his hands. He's probably not the biggest, stronger or fastest wideout in the class, but if you throw it near him, there's a great chance he'll go up and get it. He's also made the highlight reel quite a bit for one-handed grabs.

The only reason he isn't rated higher is the concern about the rest of his tools becoming good enough to make him a No. 1 target. His technique and route running must improve to reach that upper echelon. He certainly believes in himself, based on comments provided by Tyler Lockman of Fox Sports Arizona.

"I think I'm the best receiver in college football," Strong said. "I should be compared to the top receivers. That's how I feel."

At the very least, he's definitely good enough for the Chiefs, which are desperate to add a playmaker on the outside. Kansas City uses a conservative approach, so it doesn't need huge numbers from its wideouts. But the group still needs to get better moving forward.

19. Baltimore Ravens: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

Steve Smith has enjoyed a nice resurgence after joining Baltimore from the Carolina Panthers. The veteran still isn't the receiver he used to be, though. That means it's time for the Ravens to start looking toward the future with Parker.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

The Cowboys finally put an onus on the running game, and the result has been far more consistent production on that side of the ball. There are still some concerns on the defensive side, including in the middle of the line, making Goldman a nice option.

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21. Atlanta Falcons: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Since Atlanta has struggled mightily to slow down opposing aerial attacks, upgrading the secondary should be the clear top priority. Ekpre-Olomu doesn't possesses ideal size, but he makes up for it with good technique and playmaking ability.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida

The Steelers are in the process of trying to revamp the defense without suffering a major drop-off in the process. It's worked pretty well so far. Fowler is another intriguing piece who would provide some much-needed depth up front.

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

The Chargers struggled to develop a reliable rushing attack. While part of that was due to running back injuries, the offensive line also failed to create enough running lanes. Collins should help rectify that issue in 2015.

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24. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Peters presents good value to a Bengals team that's had more quantity than quality in the secondary recently. Going with a receiver could be another option here, but the corner out of Washington makes more sense, at least for now.

25. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

While the Detroit defense made some major strides, it's still the side of the ball where the Lions could use the most help. Shelton is a player with plenty of experience who could help further the progress made along the defensive front.

26. Indianapolis Colts: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

Much like the years Peyton Manning was leading the offense in Indianapolis, the Colts can make minor additions and feel comfortable there. That allows them to spend early picks on the defense, where McKinney could step right in to a starting role.

27. Philadelphia Eagles: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

The signs continue to be mostly positive for Philadelphia. Mark Sanchez stepped in for Nick Foles and the unit barely missed a beat. It shows the explosive offensive structure in place is strong enough to withstand some losses.

If there's one question mark, it's trying to slow down teams with elite quarterbacks. That's where Williams would come in handy. He's got solid cover skills and is a heavy hitter. Alas, Rob Rang of CBS Sports noted during a game against Miami that there's room for tackling improvement:

Of course, you'd be hard-pressed to find a prospect without at least some flaws at this stage of the round. Williams is good enough to make a rotational impact for the Eagles as a rookie before working his way into a bigger role, assuming he shows progress.

28. Seattle Seahawks: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

It's fair to say Green-Beckham's collegiate career didn't line up to the hype. That said, the talent is still present. It will probably take a little extra time for him to complete the transition to the next level, but the Seahawks can afford to wait.

29. Green Bay Packers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

Drafting this late in the round is usually more about value than anything else. The Packers don't have a bunch of glaring weaknesses, either. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy is always crucial, so Clemmings would be a savvy selection.

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30. New England Patriots: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

New England could still use some more talent on the outside. Brandon LaFell has helped, but a player like Funchess would bring some size to help create more matchup problems. He'll need to work on his consistency to force his way into the lineup, though.

31. Arizona Cardinals: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah

The Cardinals surprised a lot of people by standing toe-to-toe in a very tricky NFC West. There are still some areas in need of further improvement to sustain that success in 2015. The defensive line is one of those, and Orchard is a good fit.

32. Denver Broncos: Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State

A lot of what was said for the Packers can be echoed for the Broncos. Some needs may arise as the free-agent process plays out, but for now, targeting an experienced lineman like Sambrailo to help protect Peyton Manning makes sense.