NFL Draft 2015: Full Order and Key Storylines for Top Players

All eyes are focused on the playoffs, but there are people behind the scenes in the NFL working diligently to prepare for the annual draft festivities taking place from April 30 through May 2. This year's event is already shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years, and there are still five months to go. 

Everything starts with Tampa Bay with the No. 1 pick. The Buccaneers are coming off a 2-14 record, though the question becomes if the decision-makers opt to see if there's a long-term answer at quarterback or address one of their many other needs. 

Once the Buccaneers make their pick, everything else should fall into place. It's easy to say that now, but on draft night, crazy things tend to happen. Whatever goes down, it will all be fascinating and noteworthy. Until that day comes, here is a look at the draft order before the playoffs begin and the storylines to watch. 

Pick	Team	2014 Record
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2-14
2	Tennessee Titans	2-14
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	3-13
4	Oakland Raiders	3-13
5	Washington	4-12
6	New York Jets	4-12
7	Chicago Bears	5-11
8	Atlanta Falcons	6-10
9	New York Giants	6-10
10	St. Louis Rams	6-10
11	Minnesota Vikings	7-9
12	Cleveland Browns	7-9
13	New Orleans Saints	7-9
14	Miami Dolphins	8-8
15	San Francisco 49ers	8-8
16	Houston Texans	9-7
17	San Diego Chargers	9-7
18	Kansas City Chiefs	9-7
19	Cleveland Browns (Acquired from Buffalo)	7-9
20	Philadelphia Eagles	10-6
21	Carolina Panthers	7-8-1
22	Baltimore Ravens	10-6
23	Cincinnati Bengals	10-5-1
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	11-5
25	Detroit Lions	11-5
26	Indianapolis Colts	11-5
27	Arizona Cardinals	11-5
28	Dallas Cowboys	12-4
29	Green Bay Packers	12-4
30	New England Patriots	12-4
31	Denver Broncos	12-4
32	Seattle Seahawks	12-4

Note: Picks 1-20 are set; 21-32 will be determined by postseason

Will Marcus Mariota Be Hurt By System?

While Marcus Mariota hasn't officially declared for the 2015 NFL draft, it seems like a foregone conclusion once Oregon's season ends. The 2014 Heisman winner is seen as a lock to go in the top five and has nothing left to prove in college. 

However, Mariota does face an uphill climb when he gets in front of NFL scouts. At least, that's a growing assumption for some analysts. 

In his first mock draft on ESPN.com (Insider subscription required), despite making Mariota the No. 1 pick, Todd McShay noted the Oregon star "isn't great" with anticipation and accuracy in the pocket.

It wasn't a complete knock on Mariota, as McShay noted he's good but needs to get better in the most important area for an NFL quarterback. 

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Mariota also has to overcome the stigma of being a running quarterback. Even though players like Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III have had varying degrees of success in the NFL, their best trait is an ability to move out of the pocket and create plays with their legs. 

Griffin hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL against Seattle in a playoff game three years ago, while Kaepernick was a mess this season when San Francisco asked him to start throwing more. 

Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost, who can be accused of bias, told Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times that the criticisms of Mariota are just nitpicking:

"

I’ve heard that he’s not a good pocket passer, that he doesn’t get to his third and fourth reads. Those guys must not have video, to be honest with you. There were some media guys at practice the other day, and they were marveling at how accurate he was in the pocket. The comparison was made to Steph Curry shooting free throws. That’s what he’s like.

"

Mariota can look like John Elway from the pocket in practice. None of that matters when games kick off. The Oregon star does have some things he will have to fix at the NFL. The system he plays in at college allows him to run if his first or second read isn't there, but we've seen that doesn't work at the next level. 

There's no denying that Mariota has the talent to be a star quarterback at the highest level. He's not going to be hurt because of his ability to run, but the period of adjustment might take longer for him than a traditional pocket passer. 

How Much Does Jameis Winston's off-Field Baggage Matter?

Speaking of quarterbacks, let's talk about Jameis Winston. The Florida State star has his share of obstacles to overcome prior to April 30, both on and off the field. 

Despite throwing 17 interceptions this season, there doesn't appear to be much concern about Winston's ability to make plays out of the pocket in the NFL.

Going back to McShay's mock, he doesn't say anything about Winston's decrease in completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns or increase in turnovers.  He notes the 2013 Heisman winner "has all the tools to be great on the field..." 

Stats in college don't tell you anything about how a player projects into the NFL, but such a steep drop in every category should raise some red flags. 

What McShay does note is being frightened of Winston's off-field history. Greg A. Bedard of TheMMQB.com wrote about the conundrum NFL teams will face when discussion Winston in the draft, which also includes this enlightening quote from an AFC general manager:

"

Oh, if I needed a quarterback, you bet your ass I’d have boots on the ground in Tallahassee—a lot of them—as soon as he declared for the draft. Because on the field there’s something special there. The problem is, can you ever trust him? Are you going to be able to sleep at night? That’s a rough deal with a quarterback.

"

For all of the problems Winston brings with him from college, teams see the potential he brings to the NFL. They can rationalize the selection by saying everything that's happened is in the past and they believe in his future. 

Maybe Winston will be a player who has no trouble off the field in the NFL. Based on the quote from that AFC general manager, unless Winston completely bombs his workouts and/or interviews, it doesn't sound like the star quarterback will wait long to hear his name called if he declares. 

Is Todd Gurley Still the Top RB?

It's been two years since a running back was taken in the first round of the NFL draft. The Cleveland Browns took Trent Richardson with the third overall pick. After one year, the team shipped him off to Indianapolis for a first-round pick in 2014. 

Because of how the NFL values running backs, it's hard to make a case for one being taken in the first round anymore. Georgia's Todd Gurley seemed like a lock to break that trend earlier this season, but a torn ACL suffered in a game on November 15 has his stock up in the air. 

It's not even clear at this point if Gurley will be the first running back taken. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com actually has Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon going to Arizona with the 27th overall pick, though he did say he wouldn't bet on a running back going in the first round.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com wrote that Gurley's draft stock is likely to be hindered more by the position than he plays instead of the injury:

"

With decision-makers carefully surveying the landscape of supply and demand at all positions, it's easier to place a running back on the backburner when recent history suggests that a team can find a dominant player in later rounds. That certainly doesn't diminish Gurley's talent or potential, but the collective success of the "outsiders" (running backs selected outside of the first round) threatens to diminish his draft value far more than his ACL injury in meeting rooms across the league.

"

However, former NFL scout John Middlekauf wrote for TheSidelineView.com that Gurley is still expected to be a first-round pick by people in the league:

"

Despite the ACL tear, I am told to not expect the Georgia RB to fall out of the first round. He’s an elite running back prospect, and the NFL people I have talked with don’t think the ACL is a big deal. He would have gone in the Top 15 pre-tear, and he should be ready by late-August, early-September. Not only is he a dominate RB, his return skills separate him from the pack.

"

The good news for Gurley is that his injury was just an ACL tear. Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore suffered two significant knee injuries that prevented him from ever playing an NFL game, but the second one in 2012 was much worse because it tore all three major ligaments. 

Gurley has been rehabbing his knee injury since late November, meaning he could be ready to play when the regular season opens in September. It will be interesting to see if he can go through training camp and preseason, but barring any setback in recovery, he should be around for most of the 2015 season. 

Whether that's enough to make him a first-round pick, or even the first running back off the board, is another story.