NFL Mock Draft 2015: Pre-Conference Championship Projections for Top Prospects

Following the January 15 deadline, all underclassmen have finally declared their intentions for 2015—some will be returning to school, while others will be entering the NFL draft. We won't have an official list until it's released by the league, but thanks to social media and other sources, the crop of available prospects isn't hard to find.

That information is the latest of many facets that will shift the outlook of the impending draft.

With a total of 28 teams eliminated from Super Bowl contention, the draft order is only four spots away from being finalized. So, before the conference championship games alter the future of the first round once again, it's time for another mock draft.

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

LM Otero/Associated Press

Tampa Bay needs help in both the passing game and running game. Fortunately, Mariota can help in both of those categories. Not only is he an extremely accurate passer and careful with the football, but his ability to scramble and gain yards with his legs makes him a dangerous dual-threat option. Having two 6'5" wide receivers at his disposal should help him transition to the NFL rather easily.

2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

While the Titans need help on both sides of the ball, it may be difficult to pass up on a talent like Williams here. At 6'5" and 298 pounds, he isn't easily moved, and his combination of strength, athleticism and agility make him difficult to contain, forcing many double-teams. A versatile player, he can play all across the defensive line and contribute against the run and pass.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The Jaguars need to protect their 2014 investment in quarterback Blake Bortles, and adding a reliable offensive tackle is the best way to do so. Scherff has NFL size at 6'5" and 320 pounds. His big frame and upper-body strength make him a force when blocking for the run, but his quickness and strong hands make him very effective in pass protection.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

If Derek Carr is to continue to develop in 2015, he will really need a reliable wide receiver at his disposal. Cooper was one of the nation's most prolific wideouts in 2014 due to his soft hands, crisp route running and quickness. He's the kind of receiver who can beat multiple types of coverages and get himself into position to make a play.

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

Washington's defense needs to improve in a big way in an NFC East chock-full of high-octane offenses. That must start along the defensive line, and adding a pass-rusher like Gregory is the answer. With freakish athleticism combined with great length, he has the burst and drive to beat offensive tackles around the edge and the speed to quickly close in on ball-carriers.

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

The Jets need a change at quarterback, and while Winston's off-field antics aren't desirable, he has plenty of fine traits on the gridiron. At 6'4" and 232 pounds, he has the size of an NFL signal-caller, and combined with his strong arm, vision, toughness and anticipation, he has all of the prototypical traits NFL scouts covet.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

Chicago's biggest weakness is on the defensive side of the ball—against the run and pass—and it needs a player who can help in both departments. Collins is a hard-hitting safety coming from a great program in Alabama. He's showed improvement in coverage and is a sure tackler who is more than happy to play up on the line in run support.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

The Falcons need to find a way to generate a pass rush before they can fix their defensive woes. Luckily, that can be accomplished by selecting Ray here. Possibly one of the fastest defensive linemen in the draft, Ray's explosiveness around the edge makes him a formidable opponent for the most athletic offensive tackles.

9. New York Giants: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky

Dupree could be the answer for New York should Jason Pierre-Paul head out of town in free agency. The Kentucky product is a smart player who has flourished as a pass-rusher due to his sound technique, explosive burst and physicality. A sure tackler, Dupree has the speed to pursue faster ball-carriers and make a play in the open field.

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

St. Louis' defense really began to come into its own late in the 2014 season; however, it needs a big outside corner to take the next step forward. Adding the 6'1" Waynes is ideal here. The former Spartan has great length, and he combines that with physicality and great ball skills to put himself into position to make a play on the football.

11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

The Vikings saw some improvement from their young wide receiver corps in 2014; although, they still appear to lack a No. 1 threat. Adding the 6'3", 209-pound Parker will put an end to that. Solid hands, reliable route running, good acceleration and vision make Parker a danger all over the field, and those traits will continue to serve him well in the NFL.

12. Cleveland Browns: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida

If the Browns are looking for a presence along their defensive front, they need to look no further than Fowler. One of the most versatile defenders in this year's draft, he's spent time playing all across the defensive line and at outside linebacker at Florida. His quickness and athleticism will make him a valuable chess piece in Cleveland.

13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

New Orleans needs to get its defense back on track in 2015, and selecting a pass-rusher like Beasley is a wise move here. With excellent explosiveness off the line, the Clemson product routinely utilizes a speed rush to circumvent offensive tackles. Although, he isn't a one-trick pony, as a good bull rush helps him find his way into the backfield as well.

14. Miami Dolphins: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

The Dolphins get a steal here in the monstrous Peat. At 6'7" and 312 pounds, he'll be an ideal candidate to complement Ja'Wuan James on the end of the offensive line. Peat possesses a huge frame, great length and surprising quickness to keep pass-rushers at bay. His athleticism also allows him to quickly move to the second level when blocking for the run.

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

With Michael Crabtree set to become a free agent, the 49ers could be eyeing a receiver at No. 15 overall. With White available here, they need to look no further. The West Virginia product has nice size at 6'3" and 210 pounds. Great leaping ability and length allow him to win jump balls, and combined with good acceleration, he's a viable deep threat and red-zone target.

16. Houston Texans: La'el Collins, OT, LSU

The Texans have plenty of holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball, but none is more pressing than along the offensive line. Adding Collins here makes perfect sense due to his wide 6'5", 321-pound frame. Powerful when blocking for the run, he could immediately take over at right tackle or move inside to play guard, giving Houston nice versatility.

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

San Diego really struggled against the run for the better part of the 2014 season, and selecting the 6'2", 332-pound Shelton here would give the team an immediate upgrade in that department. With a powerful base and ability to gain leverage in his favor, he's very difficult to move, resulting in double-teams. His presence will not only help plug running lanes, but it will free up pass-rushers as well. 

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

The Chiefs have been without a viable threat at wide receiver for quite some time, but that will change instantly with the selection of Strong. The former Sun Devil has good size at 6'3" and 215 pounds, and he uses his strength to gain position against defenders. His long frame, great leaping ability and reliable hands allow him to win contested jump balls.

19. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

Green-Beckham has some off-field concerns, but that hasn't stopped Cleveland from making a run at a talented prospect in recent years. With tremendous size at 6'5" and 225 pounds, this wide receiver has excellent athleticism, a powerful body and a huge catch radius. He has the upside to be one of the league's most dominant wide receivers for years to come.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Philadelphia needs a corner who can play the outside, and it will get a good one here in Peters. At 6'0" and 198 pounds, he has a great combination of physicality and athleticism to flourish against larger and faster receivers. Not only is he sound in coverage, but he doesn't shy away from contact and routinely makes plays in run support.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

After years of owning one of the league's best pass rushes, the Bengals were pathetic in that department in 2014. Adding Thompson will give Cincinnati a boost opposite Carlos Dunlap, opening things up across the defensive line. Thompson has great speed, serving time at running back in a pinch while at Washington, and that could allow the Bengals to explore the possibility of playing him at outside linebacker as well.

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

Pittsburgh may be getting ready to undergo a youth movement in the defensive backfield, and adding Williams will be a good start. At 6'0" and 196 pounds, he has the size and length to play outside corner. Aside from good coverage skills, he is a physical player who doesn't shy away from contact—a trait the Steelers will love.

23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

In all likelihood, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is headed elsewhere in free agency. This makes the position a big need for the league's top-ranked run defense. The 6'3", 320-pound Goldman has great upper-body strength and a thick base. He won't be a huge threat to rack up sack totals, but he will be a major factor in controlling the line of scrimmage and containing opposing ball-carriers.

24. Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State

The Cardinals suffered a rash of injuries in 2014, making the need for depth wildly apparent. McKinney has the ability to start at inside linebacker, but he's versatile enough to play outside as well. At 6'4" and 249 pounds, he is strong enough to fight through interior blockers, but he's also quick enough to rush off the edge or drop into coverage.

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

After watching Cam Newton struggle in 2014, the Panthers should be focusing on getting him better protection up front. At 6'5" and 305 pounds, Clemmings has the upside to serve as a long-time left tackle. He's still a bit inexperienced, but he's quickly gained solid technique and has the quickness and athleticism to flourish in the NFL.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah

Baltimore has a nice stable of outside linebackers; however, the team could use another pass-rushing specialist to add to the rotation. Orchard was a monster at Utah. Standing at 6'4" and weighing 255 pounds, he has great speed for his size and was initially recruited by the Utes as a wide receiver. Having experience at linebacker and on special teams only boosts his value here.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

Dallas needs an upgrade along the defensive line, and selecting Bennett here would be ideal. The Ohio State product isn't the largest lineman at 6'2" and 288 pounds; however, he has an extremely high motor and the quickness to win around the edge. This versatility will allow the Cowboys to use him like a chess piece and line him up all across the defensive front.

28. Denver Broncos: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

With Terrance Knighton set to hit free agency, the Broncos may look for a replacement at No. 28 overall. Fortunately, the 6'4", 320-pound Brown is still on the board. A combination of great size, strength and agility allows Brown to take on several roles on the interior of the defensive line. He can take on double-teams or use his quickness to work his way into the backfield.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

The Colts have a very apparent lack of a running game, and adding a big, strong tackle like Flowers will certainly help in that department. At 6'5" and 324 pounds, he is a mauler in the trenches but fast enough to get to the second level when blocking for the run. He covers plenty of ground in pass protection, but he lacks the agility to win consistently against faster pass-rushers.

30. Green Bay Packers: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

If Green Bay is looking for an upgrade along the defensive line at No. 30 overall, it could go for a big-upside player like Armstead. The Oregon product has tremendous physical qualities at 6'7" and 296 pounds, and he began to come into his own during the 2014 season. A blend of athleticism and power makes him a prospect with an extremely high ceiling.

31. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

The Seahawks appear ready to part ways with Marshawn Lynch following the postseason, and if that's the case, it may be difficult to pass on a running back prospect like Gordon here. With NFL size at 6'1" and 207 pounds, Gordon was extremely productive at Wisconsin, setting numerous team, conference and national records. He will ensure Seattle's dangerous running game remains intact.

32. New England Patriots: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

New England has plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball; however, none happens to be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. At 6'5" and 230 pounds, Funchess has the size, length and athleticism to become a major threat on the outside for the Patriots. Although, a former tight end, he also has the versatility to play multiple positions and gain favorable matchups in a pass-friendly offense.