NFL Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Draft's Most Exciting Prospects

As more and more top underclassmen declare for the 2015 NFL draft, fans of the annual event continue to get more and more excited as the depth of this year's class continues to improve.

Consider me among the draft nuts eagerly awaiting this year's event. Below, I'll break down where the most exciting players in this year's class will end up in the first round. To the mock!

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

You really only need to watch the video above to see why Marcus Mariota is likely to be the top overall pick over Jameis Winston. If you aren't in the mood to watch a video, I'll summarize. Jason Cole talked to eight separate scouts, and all eight said they preferred Mariota, largely because they believe Mariota will do what it takes to be great, whereas they have major concerns about Winston's immaturity. 

Yes, Winston might end up being the better player. He certainly looks like the more prototypical quarterback prospect. But for now, it appears scouts better trust Mariota, who I still see as a taller version of Russell Wilson, on and off the field. 

And you can bet most NFL teams would love to have a Wilson clone at quarterback. Mariota will be the new face of the Bucs. 

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

This, truly, will be the most intriguing pick at this year's draft, mostly because I don't think the Titans are going to select a quarterback here. I think they'll give Zach Mettenberger a chance to prove he can be the man.

So for teams in the market for a quarterback, this is the first pick you might consider moving up to. The Titans are going to have to sell the fact that they are interested in selecting a quarterback, sure, but if a team falls in love with Winston, trading up to No. 2 is the surest bet to get him (or Mariota, depending on what the Bucs do).

Ultimately, I think the Titans will keep the pick and upgrade their pash rush with Randy Gregory. But don't be surprised if there are a slew of rumors surrounding this selection and what the Titans might do with it.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri 

The Jaguars are another team that could be swimming in trade offers, though I think they'll also end up staying put and adding another quality player off the edge in defensive end Shane Ray. The problem for the Jags here is that arguably the top players available—Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper—don't necessarily fill a huge need. 

Ray is hardly chopped liver, of course, and he'll make an already solid defensive line that much better. 

4. Oakland Raiders: Leonard Williams, DT, USC 

The Raiders have a lot of options here, and many fans would love to see the team select Cooper to give Derek Carr a potential elite No. 1 receiver. But if Leonard Williams is available, it's hard to see the team passing him up to solidify the interior of the defensive line, a major weak point for the squad this year. Williams could goes as high as No. 2 in this year's draft, so the Raiders would be thrilled if he drops to No. 4.

5. Washington: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

This is where things could get really interesting.

Winston is a better fit for Jay Gruden's offense than the beleaguered Robert Griffin III, and Daniel Snyder's Washington regime has been wacky and dysfunctional and misguided enough that few folks would be surprised if they ditched RG3 to take a chance on Winston.

Ultimately, I think the team will look to improve off the edge and will go with Vic Beasley. I don't think Snyder will want the pie on his face that would come with ditching RG3 so soon after trading a ton of draft picks in order to move up and select him. But the disconnect between Gruden and RG3 was very real this year, and if Snyder really believes in Gruden as a head coach for years to come, he and Washington's front office might relent and bring in the quarterback who fits the system better.

So no, it wouldn't be shocking if Washington selected Winston. But will it happen?

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

No, Washington won't end up drafting Winston, if only because he seems destined to become a Jet. And truly, the Jets would probably love this scenario. 

If Winston can stay out of any trouble, he could end up being a very really star. The glitz and glamour of New York City will offer its temptations, but if Winston decides being great is more important than anything else, he'll be great. The talent is there. 

If you're the Jets, you don't really have much of a choice but to take that chance. With the sixth pick, the juice is worth the proverbial squeeze.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama 

Perhaps this is something of a reach, but the Bears desperately need to improve the defense and they desperately need to improve the safety position. Landon Collins is a difference-maker and will instantly solidify a secondary that was regularly picked on last year.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida

Again, perhaps another slight reach, but improving the pass rush should be one of the top concerns for Atlanta. Atlanta's offense is still in pretty good shape, but if the Falcons can retool the defense on the fly, they should once again be able to compete for a playoff spot. The hope will be that Dante Fowler makes an immediate impact.  

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

You aren't just drafting a linebacker when you draft Shaq Thompson. You are also drafting a player who proved he can be successful at both running back and safety and, if nothing else, could be a special teams dynamo. In New York, he'll be given the chance to bolster a weak linebacking corps. Any other position he solidifies will be icing on the cake. 

10. St. Louis Rams: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama   

Come draft day, I'm pretty sure Cooper won't drop to the No. 10 selection, but in this particular mock draft he does. And boy, you have to think the St. Louis Rams would be thrilled. I'm not sure wide receiver is a pressing need for the team, given the emergence of Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey and the presence of Tavon Austin, but Cooper is a major upgrade on all of them. Sam Bradford would be doing a little jig.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Matt Kalil probably can't be considered a bust quite yet, but he's approaching that point. The Vikings would be wise to solidify their offensive line one way or another. Brandon Scherff might be better off playing right tackle or guard at the next level, but he would also provide some insurance for Kalil should the former first-rounder never pan out.

12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville 

There were three mistakes the Cleveland Browns made when they selected Johnny Manziel: They thought he could change overnight, they didn't dedicate themselves to building a scheme that maximized his abilities and they didn't surround him with offensive weapons.

In 2015, the Browns need to fix that. They need to go into the season with Manziel as the man and build an offense around him, and they need to give him exciting weapons to work with outside of Josh Gordon. Drafting DeVante Parker would go a long way toward doing just that. 

Johnny Football will never quite die. But Manziel still might end up being a very good, very exciting player who puts butts in seats if the Browns build around him. Parker would be the perfect pick.

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

Rob Ryan is going to get another shot as defensive coordinator despite a rough year in 2014. One thing the Saints could do to help him out is provide him with some talent at cornerback, and Trae Waynes would be a great start. You could make a strong argument that Waynes is an even better prospect than his former teammate, Darqueze Dennard, who was taken in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals last year.

14. Miami Dolphins: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington 

The Dolphins need to improve the interior of their defense, and they'll have some interesting players to select from in that regard, including Florida State's Eddie Goldman. But I have Danny Shelton higher on my board at this point, so I think he'll be the pick for the Fins. 

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

The 49ers have a pretty solid base, but there is no question the team needs another weapon in the passing game. Kevin White will bring some of the sizzle the team is sorely lacking in that department and add another weapon for Colin Kaepernick, who hopefully can reverse the regression he showed in 2014. 

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

The Texans need to address the quarterback position at some point unless they really think Tom Savage is the guy, and they may have considered Cardale Jones here had he declared for the draft. But they also need linemen to protect whichever quarterback is starting for them next year, which is where the talented, if yet somewhat unpolished, Cedric Ogbuehi comes into play.

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

The Chargers absolutely, positively need to address the offensive line at this year's draft. Philip Rivers isn't getting any younger, so protecting him should be the team's top priority. 

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

The easiest pick in the draft is giving the Chiefs the top wide receiver on the board. Andy Reid would be crazy to allow the Chiefs to go into the 2015 season with the same shoddy group of wideouts. Devin Funchess is an instant upgrade at the position.

19: Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills): Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State 

This would conclude a very solid first round for the Browns, as both Parker and Goldman fit needs and are excellent values at their draft slots. The 2014 season was an odd one for Cleveland, as the Browns both got their fans' hopes up and predictably crushed them. Parker and Goldman would be excellent additions that would really improve this team. Things are looking up in Cleveland, even if they weren't looking up at the end of the season. 

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest 

If the Eagles don't seriously address the secondary this offseason, Chip Kelly might quickly become a very unpopular man in the City of Brotherly Love. Philly's biggest glaring weakness, outside of perhaps an unsettled quarterback position, is cornerback. Johnson is the longer type of corner that Kelly generally seems to favor, so he seems like a nice match.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

If teams are willing to take a chance on Marcus Peters after he was booted from the Washington team, he could be a top-10 pick. He's that talented. But character concerns drop players down the board more often than not, and I think the trend will likely include Peters. Nonetheless, he'll land on a talented Cincy team that has a history of taking in players with character concerns and getting the most out of him. This is the potential steal of the draft.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville 

The Steelers are traditionally a defensive team, but this year they were excellent on the offensive side of the ball and struggled on defense, particularly in the secondary. The folks of Steel City won't stand for that, so look for the Steelers to improve defensively this offseason. Gerod Holliman would be a nice start.

23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas 

If Ndamukong Suh doesn't return to Detroit, adding another defensive tackle will shoot up the list of needs. Given that Suh is primed to receive a huge payday, I think there's a very good chance he won't be back. Malcom Brown is the sort of dynamic talent that Suh has always been, but he'll certainly be given the chance to prove he can make an impact in the trenches. 

24. Arizona Cardinals: Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

After a season full of injuries, the Cardinals probably wish they could draft a little good luck. But since that won't happen, a more practical need they can fill through the draft is improving themselves on the edge. Bud Dupree is one of the more intriguing talents and risers at this year's draft, and he could end up going much higher than this. At No. 24, he could be one heck of a steal.

25. Carolina Panthers: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen are excellent, but Cam Newton could use one more weapon in the passing game, namely a player who can stretch the field. If there's one thing that Sammie Coates can do, it's stretch the field. This is a great fit.  

26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia 

Drafting running backs in the first round is totally out of style, and the Ravens, on paper, may not seem desperate for a running back. But folks forget just how special a talent Todd Gurley is after his year of suspensions and injuries, and Justin Forsett is probably better served as a third-down and change-of-pace back rather than occupying the featured role. He and Gurley would be a dynamic pair in Baltimore's backfield.

27. Dallas Cowboys: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

Morris Claiborne is fast approaching the bust designation, and the Cowboys need some insurance and depth at the position. P.J. Williams will instantly challenge for the starting gig.  

28. Denver Broncos: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

There is unrest in Denver right now, but one thing is for certain—if Peyton Manning returns, the team should be focusing on bolstering the offensive line to keep him healthy and upright. If he doesn't return, this pick could easily be Brett Hundley. 

29. Indianapolis Colts: Benardrick McKinney, MLB, Mississippi State  

The Colts look pretty good on offense for the foreseeable future with Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton leading the way, but the defense could use an upgrade, namely at linebacker. Benardrick McKinney needs to become more consistent, but in flashes he is downright dominant. He should make an instant impact for this defense.

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

There's no doubt that the Green Bay Packers need to address the middle linebacker position, namely so they don't have to slide Clay Matthews III over to the position in a pinch going forward. Either Perryman or McKinney would be a great get for their defense.

31. New England Patriots: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

The Patriots are solid at tight end with Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman has been excellent in the slot, but Brandon LaFell could use someone to pair with out wide. Jaelen Strong would be an, um, strong addition. I couldn't resist. 

32. Seattle Seahawks: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Seattle is a team without many weaknesses, but the offensive line is probably their sketchiest unit. Russell Wilson isn't going to be able to scramble around and bail his line and receivers out forever, so adding offensive line depth will be a priority. I could also see the team targeting wide receiver depending on how the board shakes out.