2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Where Top Prospects Will Land in 1st Round

The 2015 NFL draft is getting bolstered with each passing day, as underclassmen announce their intentions to declare, meaning NFL teams will have no shortage of elite talent to pick from in April.

Although the current draft landscape likely looks much different than it will after the NFL combine and other pre-draft exercises, most teams probably have a good idea of which positions they are in the market for and which prospects might ultimately be good fits.

With draft chatter starting to heat up, here is an early look at where the top available prospects will land in the first round.

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

The Buccaneers have some great offensive weapons in wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, but they need someone who can get them the ball consistently. Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota has the ability to do just that.

2. Tennessee Titans: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

Tennessee was an absolute mess on both sides of the ball this past season, so it can afford to take a best-player-available approach. Randy Gregory may be the best pass-rusher in this draft, and he would add another dimension to the Titans defense.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Quarterback Blake Bortles had a tough rookie season due largely to the offensive line's inability to protect him consistently. The Jaguars need to change that, and selecting Brandon Scherff would be a step in the right direction.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Raiders were once enamored with speed and athleticism, but they are lacking in that regard offensively. Quarterback Derek Carr would benefit from a go-to weapon, and that is precisely what Amari Cooper would be.

5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DL, USC

Perhaps no defensive lineman in college football has been more dominant over the past couple seasons than Leonard Williams. He would fit perfectly as an end in Washington's 3-4 defense and immediately make that unit much better.

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

The Jets' last couple of attempts at taking quarterbacks early in the draft haven't worked out, with both Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith falling flat. That could make them wary of trying again, but Jameis Winston is too talented to pass up.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

The Chicago Bears have enough offensive talent to make a run toward the playoffs in 2015, but they must first make some big changes of defense. Selecting the draft's best safety in Alabama's Landon Collins would certainly be a great start.

Collins was a do-everything safety for the Crimson Tide, capable of intercepting passes, landing big hits and doing everything in between. He picked off three passes as a junior in 2014, and he had seven or more tackles in a game on nine occasions.

The Alabama secondary as a whole wasn't as talented as usual in 2014, so most of the responsibility fell on Collins' shoulders. He rose to the challenge, though, and he emerged as a true defensive leader.

His leadership ability likely stems from the fact he eats, breathes and sleeps football, as evidenced by the following quote, courtesy of Natalie Pierre of AL.com:

"It's not hard at all for me, myself in particular, because I love the sport," Collins said. "This is what I want to do my whole life. If I can do it until I'm 50, I'll try to. And then on the other hand, my brothers, they push me. We all strive for one goal, and that's to get those rings."

Collins is universally considered to be the top safety and one of the best overall defensive players in the 2015 draft class. ESPN.com's David Ching is one of many who expects big things of him at the next level:

The Bears ranked 30th in the NFL this past season in pass yards allowed, and 31st with 34 passing touchdowns surrendered.

It is blatantly obvious that the secondary must be overhauled, and Collins would undoubtedly bring a new, winning attitude to the table.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri

Atlanta has an offense capable of making the playoffs, but it doesn't have a defense to match. Rushing the quarterback was perhaps the Falcons' biggest deficiency. However, Shane Ray is the best possible option to change that.

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

There may be no more athletic linebacker in this draft class than Shaq Thompson. The Giants have been rolling with a patchwork linebacker corps for far too long, and it is time to finally bring in a true impact player.

10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

The Rams have a spectacular defensive line, featuring Robert Quinn, Chris Long and Aaron Donald, but their secondary is questionable to say the least. If Trae Waynes lives up to his potential, though, he could be the type of corner that locks down an entire side of the field.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a great deal of promise, and the Vikings must do everything they can to protect him. Andrus Peat is one of the top tackles in this draft, and he will keep opposing defenders from hitting his quarterback.

12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

As good as Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is, he is also unreliable, and he can't do everything himself. Cleveland needs someone to either complement or replace Gordon, and DeVante Parker is the obvious choice.

13. New Orleans Saints: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu knows a thing or two about playing defense on a team known mostly for its offensive acumen. He didn't let that dynamic bother him at Oregon, which should make him feel comfortable with the Saints.

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

The Dolphins have a great defensive line, but they don't get the most they can out of it because of their pedestrian linebacker corps. If they nab a high-volume tackler such as Benardrick McKinney, though, the dynamic will change.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Danny Shelton, DL, Washington

Defense has long been San Francisco's biggest strength, but it is time to reload on that side of the ball. The defensive line is of particular concern due to aging players and a lack of depth. However, the mountainous Danny Shelton would make everyone around him better.

16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Opinions are all over the map in terms of Brett Hundley's viability as an NFL quarterback. The Texans can't take that next step until they find a signal-caller, and it wouldn't be shocking to see them take a chance on someone with the physical tools of Hundley.

17. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State

The San Diego Chargers struggled with continuity along the offensive line this past season due to injuries. While injuries are impossible to predict, they can certainly be prepared for, which is why Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving makes all the sense in the world at No. 17.

It always helps to have versatile players capable of filling different roles, which certainly describes Erving. Although he had long been a tackle by trade, the Seminoles moved him inside to center this season, which paid huge dividends.

According to Ira Schoffel of Warchant.com, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit believes the decision to make Erving a center totally turned around the play of FSU's offensive line as a whole.

"Night and day," Herbstreit said. "We were all there that night in Miami. ... Cam was just a beast on the inside, just blowing people off the ball. I think it created a lot more continuity inside, and I think that's been missing since the center last year, [Bryan] Stork, left for the NFL."

There is no doubt that the running back combo of Dalvin Cook and Karlos Williams ran better as the season progressed, and Erving's insertion at center had plenty to do with that.

Although the Noles were ultimately blown out by Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Erving was one player who stood out in a positive way. His play prompted Ira Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune to laud his NFL chances:

The Bolts would really benefit from a player like Erving, since he could start at center right away but also move outside if injuries cause a shakeup.

Erving boosted his draft stock in a major way this past season, and every indication is that he has the tools necessary to thrive in the NFL.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

The Chiefs are a conservative team offensively, but they can't afford to neglect the wide receiver position any longer. No Kansas City wideout caught a touchdown in 2014, although that will change in 2015 if it selects Kevin White.

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

Vic Beasley may be undersized, but smaller pass-rushers have found success in the NFL recently. The Browns need someone who can pressure the quarterback regularly, and that is certainly what Beasley did at Clemson.

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

The Eagles have been searching for answers in the their secondary for years but continue to come up empty handed. They must invest a high pick in order to change that, and P.J. Williams is an excellent option.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida

No NFL team had fewer sacks than the Bengals in 2014. Cincinnati has plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but it needs a true sack artist such as Dante Fowler in order to open things up for the rest of the defense.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford

The Steelers have become an offensive team, and it is time to start injecting youth into the defense. The secondary in particular is aging rapidly, but Alex Carter can turns things around in that regard and become a reliable starting corner.

23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Marcus Peters may very well be the most talented cornerback in this draft. However, character concerns could impact his draft stock. If he is still available at No. 23, though, the secondary-starved Lions can't afford to pass him up.

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

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals rebounded to finish a somewhat respectable 24th in sacks this past season after a miserable start, but there is still little doubt that they are in need of a true pass-rusher who can disrupt opposing offenses.

Enter Alvin "Bud" Dupree, who had 22.5 career sacks at Kentucky and has the ability to play with his hand on the ground and rush from an upright position.

He would likely primarily act as a rush linebacker with the Cards, which would suit his skill set just fine. In fact, that is probably the best-case scenario for him, since he still needs to improve when it comes to defending the run, according to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah:

Arizona was pretty solid against the run in 2014, though, and pressuring the quarterback is priority No. 1 moving forward. The Cardinals also figure to get several key defensive players back from injury in 2015, which would make the addition of Dupree even more effective.

He did some great things with the Wildcats despite a lackluster supporting cast for much of his collegiate career. That won't be an issue in Arizona, which is why the Cardinals could prove to be an ideal fit for Dupree.

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

The Panthers can be a force to be reckoned with when quarterback Cam Newton is healthy, so that should be their No. 1 priority next season. If that is the case, then taking a potential stud tackle such as Cedric Ogbuehi is the best option.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

There is definite risk involved with taking a running back in the first round due to their short shelf life, but Melvin Gordon is elite in every sense of the word. He would add yet another dimension to the budding Baltimore offense.

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

The Colts are great from a skill position perspective, but they could certainly afford to improve in the trenches. A.J. Cann is the best pure guard in this draft, and he would make quarterback Andrew Luck feel much safer in the pocket.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

While Dallas won't be able to truly replace DeMarcus Ware with this pick, it needs a defensive end who can play a similar role. Shilique Calhoun has the same build and a similar skill set, and he would be a great fit for the Cowboys.

29. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Fla.)

The Packers can't afford to leave Clay Matthews at inside linebacker forever. They need to find a more permanent solution so Matthews can move back to his natural spot, and Denzel Perryman is the right man for the job.

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

New England only has one truly reliable outside receiver in Brandon LaFell, with Julian Edelman playing the slot. Quarterback Tom Brady would undoubtedly appreciate another option, and Dorial Green-Beckham has Pro Bowl potential.

31. Denver Broncos: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

The Broncos are often criticized for not being physical enough. That may be the case, but that will start to change if they take a truly dominant force at defensive tackle such as Eddie Goldman.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

Seattle doesn't feature the tight end prominently in its offense, but it would benefit from finding a more dynamic player at that position. Devin Funchess is as athletic as they come at tight end, and he would quickly become quarterback Russell Wilson's best friend.

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