2015 NFL Mock Draft: Examining Optimal Pick for Every Team in 1st Round

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The NFL draft is supposed to balance the scales of the league hierarchy, offering the worst teams the highest picks in order to help them become contenders as quickly as possible. Often, though, some of the best talent falls later in the first round to the teams that truly did their homework.

The smartest minds know how to maximize each and every pick, and it's the biggest reason the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl last year. General manager John Schneider unearthed hidden gems in Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Kam Chancellor.

Seattle drafted all of those players outside of the first round, but you can bet that more than a few players who will hear their names a little later on Day 1 will blossom into All-Pros.

Below is a mock of the first 32 picks.

Note: Draft order is courtesy of NFL.com.

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

While neither Marcus Mariota nor Jameis Winston is the can't-miss quarterback that Andrew Luck was coming out of college, it seems unfathomable that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would pass up one of the two stars.

Winston is perhaps the better pure passer, but Mariota is the better athlete and comes with much less baggage.

2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Maybe Brett Hundley blows everybody away at UCLA's pro day and the NFL Scouting Combine. Maybe the Tennessee Titans are satisfied to move forward with Zach Mettenberger as their starting quarterback. If neither of those statements proves true, the Titans will be taking whomever is still available between Mariota and Winston.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

It speaks volumes to Leonard Williams' ability that he could reasonably be considered a No. 1 overall draft pick. Williams is Ndamukong Suh without all of those stupid penalties and borderline dirty plays. The USC star has the talent to become a perennial Pro Bowler and can serve as the defensive stud the Jacksonville Jaguars missed out on last year after passing on Khalil Mack.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Oakland Raiders have a few different positions they can target with their first-rounder. In Amari Cooper, they'd have their No. 1 target for Derek Carr. The signal-caller exceeded expectations in his rookie year and looks every bit a franchise QB. The Raiders just need to surround him with the requisite talent.

5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

The Washington Redskins are in dire need of a pass-rusher, and with Williams off the board, Randy Gregory would be the player to target. He's a bit one-dimensional in that he won't help much against the run; however, his ability to get after the quarterback will be more than enough to make him an impact player at the next level.

6. New York Jets: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Without that one really great left tackle, teams in need of offensive line help might have to reach if they want one of the top names. The New York Jets arguably need a cornerback and quarterback more, but with none worth taking this early, they might as well go after Brandon Scherff to help shore up the O-line.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

Landon Collins is just about the prototypical safety. The only thing he needs to iron out is his inconsistency in pass coverage. Collins is an instinctual player, and sometimes he'll make the wrong read. He'd be a perfect fit for the Chicago Bears, though, given their massive hole at safety.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

The Atlanta Falcons finished tied for 30th in sacks this past year. Clearly, getting after the passer is an issue. Vic Beasley would inject some much-needed athleticism on the defensive line. If he fulfills his potential, he'll be a monster in terms of pressuring the quarterback. The only problem is that his game might not evolve enough for him to be an every-down linebacker.

9. New York Giants: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

"

/hopes nobody in his fantasy league has ever heard of Devante Parker come draft time next summer

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 31, 2014"

The New York Giants need to get younger on the defensive line. Technically, Shane Ray is as good as you could possibly expect from any college end who is entering the draft. He can rely too much on his incredible athleticism at times, but that's not unique among pass-rushers at his stage.

Ray apparently ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, so plenty of teams will be willing to gamble that he puts it all together.

10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Right behind Scherff on the list of best tackles available is Andrus Peat. He is better in pass protection than Scherff but not quite as skilled at run blocking. The St. Louis Rams can't find a good QB here, so Peat at least gives them another young tackle to pair with Greg Robinson.

11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

It's too early for the Minnesota Vikings to give up on Cordarrelle Patterson. Drafting DeVante Parker wouldn't necessarily signal Patterson's demise since the two aren't carbon copies of each other. Both could thrive in the Vikings passing game, while Parker could blossom into Teddy Bridgewater's No. 1 target.

CBSSports.com's Tom Fornelli thinks Parker will be an immediate-impact rookie in 2015:

12. Cleveland Browns: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

This seems high for Ereck Flowers, but the injury to Cedric Ogbuehi has moved a lot of offensive tackles up the board. Flowers is still a work-in-progress, but that would suit the Cleveland Browns well in this situation. They could put Flowers—who has loads of potential—at right tackle until he's ready to take over for Joe Thomas on the left side of the line.

13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida

Many of the New Orleans' problems against the pass this year started up front. The Saints sacked the quarterback only 34 times, 25th in the league. Dante Fowler Jr. played a variety of roles at Florida, and that versatility could be an asset for his next team. His combination of speed and power will also serve him well in the NFL.

14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

If he had played for a better team, Shaq Thompson might have garnered Heisman Trophy consideration. He made about the biggest impact of any player on his team this past year, recording 81 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He also ran for 463 yards and two touchdowns. Did I mention he returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown?

Thompson revealed on Monday that he will enter the 2015 draft, per the Huskies:

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller called Thompson a "top-10 talent":

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The Miami Dolphins invested heavily to improve at linebacker when they signed Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler. Neither has worked out, which has left the position a weakness for the team.

Thompson's natural position is linebacker, so he'd be a great target for the Dolphins as they look to rectify their past mistakes.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

What the San Francisco 49ers have really lacked over the past few years is a downfield target who can stretch the secondary. Colin Kaepernick has deserved plenty of criticism for his regression, but the team hasn't exactly surrounded him with a wealth of good WRs. Kevin White doesn't possess track-star speed, but he's the kind of wideout the Niners need.

16. Houston Texans: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

Even if Danny Shelton never grows into more than a space-eater and run-stuffer on the defensive line, he'll still have a productive NFL career. You can't coach size, and at 6'2" and 339 pounds, Shelton casts a massive shadow. Even the strongest NFL offensive linemen will have a hard time moving him.

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

According to Football Outsiders, the San Diego Chargers offensive ranked 31st in run blocking, with blocking in the second level and open field being the biggest problems. The beauty of San Diego drafting La'el Collins is that even if he proves to be a better guard than tackle, he'd still fill a vital role for the team.

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

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I'll admit to being really, really high on Jaelen Strong. His propensity for making incredible catches perhaps inflates his ability just a little bit. His route tree is not the most advanced, either. With that said, the Kansas City Chiefs are screaming out for a wide receiver, and Strong's size and speed will give them a different dimension in the passing game.

19. Cleveland Browns: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

With wide receiver already covered, the Browns should now look to strengthen the interior of their defense. Benardrick McKinney isn't yet a dependable coverage guy, but he has the physical tools to become one.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

As great as it would be for Chip Kelly to go all Mike Ditka and give up the farm to draft Marcus Mariota, that would be a disastrous move for the Philadelphia Eagles. They'd be much better off waiting for a corner like Trae Waynes to fall into the back end of the first round. He is a solid cover corner who loves to get physical with opposing wide receivers. Once he learns the limits of that physicality, he'll thrive in the NFL.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Given Andrew Whitworth's contract situation, the Cincinnati Bengals might want to draft an offensive lineman to eventually take over at left tackle. In Eddie Goldman, they would be getting a major space-eater on the interior of the defensive line. He is also nimble for his size (6'4", 320 lbs) and could grow into a more consistent pass-rusher.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

The Baltimore Ravens exposed the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in the playoffs. Taking P.J. Williams in the first round looks like a bit of a gamble, but he has everything the Steelers could ask for in a cornerback. He has the speed and agility to move step for step with his man, and his more aggressive nature will inevitably lead to turnovers, in addition to a few big plays down the field.

23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

The Detroit Lions will almost certainly have a massive hole on the defensive line after Ndamukong Suh leaves in free agency. Malcom Brown could not possibly replace Suh in terms of talent, but he's an athletic tackle with a quick first step.

24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky

It's hard to find too many holes in the Arizona Cardinals defense, but the team did struggle in pass rushing. The Cardinals finished 24th in team sacks. Alvin Dupree is a gifted athlete, so his stock is likely to rise in the coming months. Should he still be around when the Cardinals' number is called, he'd a no-brainer here.

25. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

The Carolina Panthers offensive line improved as the season went on, but that doesn't mean the team shouldn't potentially look at a tackle in the first round. T.J. Clemmings doesn't have a ton of experience on the O-line, so he'll be a work-in-progress. Over time, though, he should blossom into a stalwart left tackle.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

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Depending on what else they do in the offseason, the Baltimore Ravens might be the perfect team for Todd Gurley. It'd probably be a bit rash to rely on Gurley right from Day 1, so bringing back Justin Forsett would allow the Ravens to slowly bring Gurley along until he's physically ready.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

The Dallas Cowboys have had their fair share of headaches dealing with Dez Bryant for all of these years. You could understand why they might shy away from somebody like Marcus Peters. If they do pull the trigger, they could grab potentially the best cornerback of the draft. He's the total package in terms of size (6'0", 198 lbs), speed, coverage skills and ball-hawking ability.

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

Ty Sambrailo hasn't quite learned how to use his size to his advantage. Also, 315 pounds isn't a great weight when it's spread over a 6'5" frame. The big thing is that his footwork is advanced for this stage, which leads you to believe that once he bulks up, he can be a consistent starter in the NFL.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

It's difficult to gauge how far Cedric Ogbuehi might fall considering how recent his injury occurred. Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin reported that the Texas A&M star should be ready for training camp, which would be a nice boost for him.

At No. 29, the Indianapolis Colts could afford to gamble that the injury won't hamper Ogbuehi too much and he will eventually grow into a capable left tackle.

30. Green Bay Packers: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

Ideally, the Green Bay Packers would go defense here, but all of the good defensive tackles and inside linebackers are off the board. And it would seem like the last thing the Packers need is more wide receivers.

However, Devin Funchess could be the red-zone target Green Bay has lacked this year. Tight end is a problem area, and Funchess has plenty of experience at the position.

31. New England Patriots: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

Let's go ahead and pencil whomever the New England Patriots draft in the first round as a Pro Bowler now and save ourselves some time. The Pats continue to take low picks and turn them into gold.

Nelson Agholor fits the mold of a New England draft pick in that he's a polished wide receiver who offers little bust potential. Miller has him as a second-rounder, so it wouldn't be crazy to see him go at the end of Round 1:

We're not talking about the next Odell Beckham Jr., but Agholor might be the best route-runner in this year's draft. He's also quick enough to be more than just a possession receiver.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Playing at Auburn, Sammie Coates didn't have the best opportunity to put his talents on display. However, over the course of the predraft process, scouts will fall in love with his physical gifts. Seattle Seahawks fans might prefer the team to target a more NFL-ready wideout, but Coates' potential is through the roof.