NFL Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft Predictions for Top Prospects of Round 1

Twenty-eight teams now know when they'll select in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft.

The end of the divisional round means that only four teams remain in the hunt for the Super Bowl. They won't have their pick of the litter when it comes to prospects, as most of the talent in this draft comes between picks No. 1 and 16. The other half of the first round is still strong, but there's a clear delineation of talent.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the lone team who is guaranteed the player they want. As the No. 1 team picking in the draft, the Bucs are in line to make a significant splash.

Addressing glaring needs is often the goal for general managers in Round 1. Below are the most sound picks for every team as things stand now.

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

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Fresh off a Heisman Trophy win and College Football Playoff National Championship berth, Marcus Mariota is now the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. Question whether or not Mariota is as NFL-ready as some of the other top quarterbacks in this class all you want, but there's no arguing with his ceiling. Mariota has the opportunity to completely change the direction of the franchise. 

2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

The best defender in the draft is Leonard Williams. The Titans need help across the board—quarterback, most noticeably—but it's hard to pass up on an impact defender like Williams. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah tweets why:

Williams will anchor Tennessee's defensive line for years to come.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Protecting QB Blake Bortles is imperative moving forward. Despite too many interceptions, he proved that he has the arm to succeed. Decision-making will come with time. For now, he needs someone like Brandon Scherff to grow with in their most crucial years in the NFL. Scherff is a near-lock to be a 10-year starter in the NFL.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Amari Cooper will win the Offensive Rookie of the Year next season. Book it now.

Derek Carr showed promise with limited weapons in his rookie season. Cooper gives him an immediate No. 1 wideout, as James Jones is not that type of receiver. Plugging the Heisman Trophy finalist into the offense will help Carr progress to the next level.

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

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

A hybrid pass-rusher who can bully offensive linemen is a smart pick for a Washington Redskins team in need of a more fearsome defense. Gregory uses his strength to get around linemen before turning on his wheels to get to the quarterback quickly. Ryan Kerrigan is the star of the defense right now, but Gregory can form a lethal pairing in time.

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

The No. 6 pick is tied largely to who becomes the next head coach of the Jets. Geno Smith isn't everyone's cup of tea. There's a chance that the new coach wants to give him another shot, but there's also a possibility that he wants to move on. If so, Jameis Winston should be available. He's more NFL-ready than Mariota, despite possible off-field baggage.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

An ideal fit for the Bears, Landon Collins will bring intelligence and leadership to a defense that surrendered 377.1 yards per game this season—30th in the NFL.

Collins plays strong coverage in the secondary, but that's not all. He's a capable open-field tackler and can even step up to help in the run game. He will be a top-tier safety in a few years.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

You can build a defense around Shane Ray. He pressures quarterbacks so frequently that it's surprising to not see him in the backfield on a dropback. The Falcons need plenty of help defensively. A capable unit would complement the strong offense and bring Atlanta back to relevance. Ray can help usher in a new era of defense.

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

Athletic linebackers are pretty difficult to come by. Shaq Thompson was also a running back at Washington, so it's obvious that he has the athleticism to make nearly any play asked of him. That said, he does need work. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller compared him to an NFL legend:

The Giants desperately need consistency at linebacker. Thompson is a high-upside pick who can anchor the unit if everything pans out.

10. St. Louis Rams: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Rams have few holes defensively, and it's plausible that they could trade up or down in Round 1 to take a quarterback. Assuming they stand pat, St. Louis could address the secondary. The unit isn't a glaring weakness, but Marcus Peters is a definite upgrade. He is athletic and plays strong coverage, and he could be tasked with playing significant snaps early on.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

Anthony Barr was a success as a rookie, and the Vikings could give him some help in this draft by taking Vic Beasley. His speed off the edge is ridiculous:

There's a lot to like in Minnesota. Teddy Bridgewater showed great composure in clutch situations as a rookie, and even though the running game is suspect, it's enough to get the job done. This offense won't score a ton, so a smashmouth defense is a must.

12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

Uncertainty at wide receiver has been a theme for the Browns recently. Given that neither Brian Hoyer nor Johnny Manziel proved themselves at quarterback, it's clear that more weapons could help hide their struggles. DeVante Parker should be there at No. 12, and CBS Sports' Dane Brugler tweets that Cleveland may already be checking in:

13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida State

Following a successful year on defense in 2013, the Saints regressed this past season. Jairus Byrd's injury didn't help the cause, but upgrading the defensive line this offseason will help make the entire unit more effective. Dante Fowler can be used in a variety of different packages (all of which involve getting to the quarterback). More pressure equals more errant passes, therefore making the entire unit better.

14. Miami Dolphins: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Trae Waynes contests the ball at the catch-point, and that's a talent that the Dolphins can't pass by. Sure, offensive line is perhaps a bigger need, but finding a starter opposite Brent Grimes is also high on the to-do list.

Waynes said in a statement that his decision to go pro was not based on draft rankings, via Kyle Austin of MLive.com: "I have never really paid attention to pre-draft player rankings. In fact, I wasn't even aware that some draft analysts had me rated as the No. 1 corner. So I didn't make my decision based on those ratings."

A lock for the first round, Waynes will add depth to an already capable defense.

15. San Francisco 49ers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

At 6'7", 300 pounds, Andrus Peat is a monster of a human. Colin Kaepernick will surely appreciate having someone that size protecting him, especially given how shaky he was in spurts this season.

There's a lot of change in the air in San Francisco. Frank Gore is a free agent who could definitely leave, so young runner Carlos Hyde should be given the reins. He needs stability on the offensive line to be successful.

16. Houston Texans: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

Quarterback is an amalgam of question marks in Houston, so don't be surprised if the Texans look to add another signal-caller at some point in this draft. It won't happen in Round 1, though. Instead, adding extra protection for whoever plays the position will be their priority. Cedric Ogbuehi excels at preventing the pocket from collapsing.

17. San Diego Chargers: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

Adding a corner opposite Jason Verrett is key for the Chargers, especially with the talented receivers in the AFC West. Williams has the speed to keep up with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and other threats. Given the depth of wideouts in the division, adding Williams (or any corner) is very important.

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

Add another potentially dynamic receiver to the AFC West. The Chiefs didn't record a touchdown by a wide receiver this season, mostly because of a lack of quality.

Welcome, Kevin White. He's big at 6'3", but his leaping ability allows him to play even larger. Alex Smith will quickly appreciate his inclusion in the offense.

19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills): Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It wouldn't be all that shocking to see Cleveland double up on wideouts in Round 1, but the smart pick is Benardrick McKinney. Cleveland's interior defense was lacking, so adding someone who can complement standouts like Joe Haden and Paul Kruger would help the Browns avoid another late-season collapse.

B/R's Miller has him ranked as his No. 1 middle linebacker:

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State

Ronald Darby is a reliable cover corner who can use his speed to limit separation from his assignments, something vastly important against speedy NFC East receivers like Odell Beckham, DeSean Jackson and Victor Cruz. The Eagles desperately need help in the secondary, and the best available corner should be taken at No. 20. In this mock, that's Darby.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: La'el Collins, OT, LSU

Another year, another early playoff exit. The Bengals have the talent at the skill positions necessary to make noise in the AFC, but the unappreciated positions (namely, offensive tackle) could use some work. LSU's La'el Collins is 6'5" and has incredible strength. He also has the footwork required to play both tackle and guard, so he can shift around Cincy's line.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU

Collins' teammate at LSU, Danielle Hunter plays on the opposite line. He's a defensive end with a good first step who can make enough plays right away to warrant Day 1 starter status. He's also committed to the team he plays for, given the heartfelt tweet he sent out to Tigers fans following his decision to go pro:

"

#GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/WF8yyxiqtZ

— Danielle Hunter (@DHunt94_TX) January 9, 2015"

That type of commitment is what scouts and executives love to see. It puts players above others on draft boards.

23. Detroit Lions: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are both free agents, meaning the Lions could see a major drop in run prevention next season. It's likely they lose at least one of those big bodies, so going with a defensive tackle in Round 1 is a must. Danny Shelton excels in getting around blockers, an important part of stopping the run up the middle.

24. Arizona Cardinals: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Stuffing gaps isn't a problem for 320-pound defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. The Cardinals need someone with that size who can stabilize the interior of their defense, especially with how inconsistent the unit was down the stretch.

Ryan Lindley was the main issue in the last few weeks of the year, but poor defensive spurts really hurt Arizona's ability to stay in close games. Goldman won't fix the problem himself, but he'll help.

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

Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton were tough to stop on the ground down the stretch, and it's clear that the future of the Panthers should be geared toward making the ground game the best it can be. Naturally, that would mean taking an offensive lineman at No. 25.

T.J. Clemmings is 6'5" and 305 pounds, the ideal body for a ground-and-pound offense. The best part about Clemmings is the speed he possesses for his size. He's perfectly capable of using his quick feet to contain edge-rushers, which in turn leads to a higher success rate on runs to the outside.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

If Tom Brady's fantastic performance against the Ravens in the divisional round proved anything, it's that Baltimore's secondary needs a face-lift. A number of quality corners have already gone off the board, but the Ravens aren't exactly "settling" by taking Jalen Collins. He's a tall corner at 6'2", which should help him against the more physical players in the AFC North.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Eric Kendricks, ILB/OLB, UCLA 

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Eric Kendricks will be a three-down starter in the NFL. He has great speed and coverage skills for a linebacker, and UCLA's defense often had him dropping back into coverage against wide receivers.

Dallas' defense failed to stop several of the NFL's best offenses. The secondary needs work, but Kendricks is too good of a talent to pass by. If he's there at No. 27, he'll be a Cowboy.

28. Denver Broncos: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

Cameron Erving is an intriguing prospect. He is very good in pass protection and blocking while on the move, but his inexperience at center makes him a bit of a project at the back of Round 1. He played tackle at Florida State (with center sprinkled in), so his lack of experience is the real negative here. That can be fixed with plenty of reps in practice and the preseason.

Playing center in front of Peyton Manning also isn't easy because of his hard count and propensity to audible at the line of scrimmage. 

29. Indianapolis Colts: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Melvin Gordon's draft stock is puzzling. Some think he'll be gone long before No. 29. Others think he'll be available early in Round 2. Running backs are so hard to predict that he probably could go anywhere in the first two rounds.

The Colts need a three-down back, however. Despite Daniel Herron's improved play down the stretch, it's clear that he's not a difference-maker. Gordon will be. This is a no-brainer, as Indy needs to take pressure of Andrew Luck.

30. Green Bay Packers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

Ronnie Stanley can handle stiff competition from aggressive defensive linemen. Jeremiah wrote about how well he played against a top-five pick in this class:

"At 6-foot-5 ½ and 315 pounds, Stanley has good size to go along with great feet and balance. USC's star defensive lineman, Leonard Williams, lined up over Stanley a couple of times Saturday, and Stanley didn't have any problems against him."

Aaron Rodgers has proved to be an actual human when it comes to injuries (he has missed time each of the past two seasons), so focusing on keeping him upright in the pocket is supremely important. Plus, adding Stanley will also help Eddie Lacy continue to terrorize defenses.

31. New England Patriots: Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

Tony Ding/Associated Press

The Patriots are rolling with minimal weapons outside of Rob Gronkowski. Danny Amendola is back from the dead, and Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman are only capable wideouts because of Brady. Adding a versatile receiver like Devin Funchess would pay huge dividends for the Pats. He can go up in traffic to make tough catches, but his speed is also good enough to outrun some NFL corners.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Just imagine if the Seahawks had a true No. 1 receiver.

That's not a knock against Doug Baldwin or Jermaine Kearse, but they're better suited to be complementary receivers. Sammie Coates can be a No. 1 because of his blinding speed and ability to go get the football in the air.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn