NFL Mock Draft 2015: Early Selection Forecast for Entire 1st Round

Although the class for the 2015 NFL draft is still getting sorted out, and will continue to throughout the predraft evaluation process, the signs are encouraging. There are several prospects in the group with high ceilings for fanbases to get excited about in the years ahead.

One thing that will be of particular interest during the buildup is which players are able to separate themselves from the pack. Given how closely grouped they are at most positions, there's room for serious movement both up and down the board.

The outlook should obviously become more clear by the time the draft kicks off on April 30. For now, let's check out a complete mock draft for the first round, based on where prospects stand as they make their best efforts to impress talent evaluators around the league.

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

Mariota isn't a lock to become a franchise quarterback, but he has the least question marks. The Heisman Trophy winner has made steady progress in terms of running an offense over the past three years. He should finally bring stability to the game's most important position for Tampa Bay.

2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

If the Titans are satisfied with Jameis Winston after the workout and interview phase of the scouting process, they could very well go in that direction. It's certainly not a guarantee, though. Gregory represents a far safer route, especially if the team has a different quarterback in mind for Round 2.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Even though the Jaguars still need to improve in several areas before they begin to climb toward playoff contention, none is more important than the line play. They need to start winning more battles up front on both sides of the ball to become competitive. Scherff is a major upgrade.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Raiders offense is trending in the right direction under Derek Carr. Now the front office must focus on bringing in some more weapons to put around him at the skill positions. Cooper showcased his playmaking ability at Alabama and would bring a winning mentality to Oakland.

5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

Williams is a special prospect. There are times when he completely takes over a game by forcing constant pressure up the middle, blowing up running plays and putting quarterbacks under duress. When he gets into the proverbial zone it's a sight to behold.

Five years from now, it wouldn't be a surprise to look back and see him as the best player to emerge from this draft. Falling to fifth has nothing to do with his talent level or outlook. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network is also bullish on the USC star:

Williams would be a welcome addition to a Redskins defense that ranked 20th in yards allowed last season. All signs point to him becoming a piece for the team to build around for the next decade. Any concerns like technique or field awareness are minor.

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

Winston could go as high as No. 1 overall, and it's hard to imagine him sliding past this slot unless the predraft process is an absolute disaster. His talent warrants plenty of hype, but keeping him focused could prove difficult under the bright lights of New York City.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

While there's an argument to be made that Chicago's offensive struggles were based more on philosophy than talent, the secondary was just plain bad. It's something that must be addressed in a major way before the 2015 season arrives. Collins would be a nice start.

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8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

The Falcons narrowly missed out on an opportunity to draft Khalil Mack last year. So as their search for somebody who can make a huge impact off the edge continues, they turn to Ray. The Missouri product is a raw prospect, but the upside is enormous.

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

What Thompson lacks in ideal size, he makes up for by illustrating an across-the-board skill set that's coveted in today's NFL. He's shown the ability to drop into coverage, stop the run and stands to improve as a rusher as he gains more experience.

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

St. Louis has been working to reshape the offensive line for several years. It still hasn't come up with a combination that's been able to protect the quarterback on a consistent basis. In turn, back to the well the Rams go with the hope that Peat is the answer to their woes up front.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

Like Thompson, there will probably be plenty of talk in the weeks leading up to the draft about whether Beasley has the size to thrive at the next level. But in an era where getting after the opposing quarterback is essential to success, he's worth whatever risk comes along with him.

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

The Browns have two picks inside the top 20 and needs on both sides of the ball. White is the best option here because he represents what the Browns need most: A reliable option on the outside who should be very effective on third down and in the red zone.

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

While the Saints had some offensive struggles down the stretch that were a bit concerning, the defense remains the bigger issue. The unit simply wasn't good enough. It needs improvement at every level. It starts with the secondary, where Waynes could make a quick impact.

14. Miami Dolphins: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

McKinney is generating a little more buzz than originally anticipated. He's a force on the inside that should make his presence felt against the run immediately. He still needs some work in terms of coverage, but has the athleticism to make it happen.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

The 49ers aren't going to give up on Colin Kaepernick despite some struggles last season. Even in a down year he was a league-average option. It illustrates the league's lack of depth at the key position. Instead, they should look to upgrade his targets with players like Strong.

16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

This pick is very much subject to change based on the way Hundley performs during the evaluation process, and once word of his status from within organizations starts becoming public. He seems like a polarizing prospect right now, with no real consensus about his outlook.

Two things are clear, though. First, the Texans have a good enough roster to make some serious noise if they can upgrade at quarterback. Second, Hundley has some very impressive raw ability, but needs some work when it comes to standing tall in the pocket and delivering strikes with rushers barring down on him.

That said, UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone told Kevin Gemmell of ESPN the quarterback made notable progress despite not always getting to work with an experienced group:

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He was raw when he got here, but he had all of the physical abilities. He had some growing up to do in terms of pocket presence. But mentally, he was ready for anything. And a lot of what he's accomplished, he did with a lot of freshmen, sophomores and redshirt freshmen around him. He didn't walk into a situation with a junior- or senior-heavy line. He's carried a lot of the burden.

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Hundley isn't on the same level as Mariota and Winston. He's kind of on an island by himself in the second tier behind that duo and ahead of everybody else. If the Texans like what they see, he's worth taking a chance on here.

17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

Shelton is an interesting case. There were times when he looked like a potentially dominant force on the interior. Other times he went invisible for extended stretches. If he can improve his consistency, this would turn into a steal for the Chargers. Offensive line is another option.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

It's no secret that the Chiefs must upgrade their receiving corps. The group failed to catch a single touchdown during the regular season, a remarkable feat. Parker caught double-digit touchdowns two times in four years at Louisville. He would probably end Kansas City's drought pretty quickly.

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19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida

After adding to the offense with their first pick of the round, the Browns shift their focus to defense. Fowler still needs to round out his game if he wants to become a three-down linebacker. His pass-rushing potential should make him a first-round pick, though.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

An Oregon product landing with the Eagles definitely wouldn't be a surprise. The team's playing style lends itself to playmakers on the defensive side. That would seemingly make Ekpre-Olomu a perfect fit at this stage in the round. This option could change based on injury updates, though.

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

Perhaps Goldman didn't fully live up to the high billing he carried with him to Florida State. He still managed to make a noticeable impact most weeks, though. The remaining untapped potential makes him all the more interesting for a team like the Bengals.

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

Williams was often overshadowed on a highly talented Florida State roster. He played a crucial role during the team's extended winning streak. It seems like an ideal fit for a Steelers defense that uses a group concept rather than relying on individual stars.

23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

The defensive coaches and players for the Lions deserve credit for making positive strides this season. There's still work to do, though. Peters would bring more depth to a secondary that must continue to improve for the defense to reach elite levels.

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24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky

It may be tough for the Cardinals to move forward after watching a promising season slip away due to injuries. But they have no choice. Dupree could help a defense that needs to figure out a way to get more pressure on the quarterback in 2015.

25. Carolina Panthers: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

The Panthers would be getting tremendous value if Ogbuehi falls to this point. He's going to need some further development in terms of his technique. That said, all the raw tools are there for him to become a cornerstone for the offensive line.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Baltimore's rushing attack was actually far more reliable than expected thanks to the strong play of Justin Forsett. Yet, it's still an area that needs a long-term plan. Gordon is exactly that after a terrific college career at Wisconsin.

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27. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah

Orchard is exactly what the Cowboys need: A workmanlike player on the edge who's proved he can fight through blocks to stuff the run. While he's still improving as a pass-rusher, it's an area where he could have a secondary impact with a handful of sacks.

28. Denver Broncos: La'el Collins, OT, LSU

The Broncos are one team that could see their needs changes quite a bit before draft day. They have some key personnel decisions to make, especially among Peyton Manning's targets. But for now, an offensive lineman is a safe bet.

29. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

Opponents were able to get consistent pressure up the middle on Andrew Luck. It's something that forced him into regular mistakes. It's not a particularly deep class of interior offensive linemen, but Cann would be a solid selection here.

30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami

Getting better against the run is probably the one area where the Packers will focus during the offseason. Perryman will need a strong draft process to solidify his place as a first-round pick. He was a reliable option in the middle for Miami.

31. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

Seattle has proved that a high-flying passing game isn't necessary to have success. Of course, that doesn't mean it won't continue to make additions to that area to make the roster even more complete. Funchess has good size and could play in certain packages right away.

32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

The talking point of Green-Beckham going much higher based purely on talent is fair. Teams are forced to make decisions while taking more things into account nowadays, however, and that leaves him with an uncertain status.

He's a player with a combination of size, athleticism and big-play ability that jumps out. Yet, off-field issues derailed an otherwise promising collegiate career. As Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports notes, it all comes down to a balancing act between the two factors:

Ultimately, a team like the Patriots may end up getting incredible value. Tom Brady could use another target on the outside, and Green-Beckham would obviously benefit from playing with one of the best quarterbacks ever. Seems like a good fit all around.