2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Top Prospects' Ideal 1st-Round Destinations

Now that the Senior Bowl in the rearview mirror of scouts and coaches, they can begin focusing on the next step of the NFL draft process.

The prospects with pro aspirations still have plenty of time to improve their draft stock between now and April. The Senior Bowl is always a great time for players to answer any lingering questions.

With the draft still a few months out, here's a quick look at prediction for the first 32 picks.

Notes: Draft order is courtesy of NFL.com. Picks 31 and 32 are subject to change depending on the Super Bowl.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

In terms of pure passing ability, Jameis Winston is better than Marcus Mariota. He may bring more off-field baggage and not be the dynamic athlete that Mariota is, but at the end of the day, Winston is much more suited to an NFL offense.

Both quarterbacks are a bit of a gamble, but drafting Mariota would likely mean needing to build an offense to suit his style rather than simply inserting him into whatever you're currently doing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might prefer the latter.

2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

The Tennessee Titans could really use a quarterback; Zach Mettenberger's not the future. With that said, the concerns stated above might scare them off of selecting Mariota.

Leonard Williams can be a force of nature on the defensive side of the ball. He possesses that rare combination of strength and agility that makes him a great run-stopper and pass-rusher. Williams would be more than worth taking at No. 2.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars passed on Khalil Mack to draft Blake Bortles. In retrospect, it wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but it stopped the Jags from getting a potential All-Pro on the defensive side of the ball.

With the opportunity to almost certainly draft Williams or Randy Gregory, Jacksonville can rectify that mistake. Gregory can get after the passer like few others in this draft.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

In Derek Carr, the Oakland Raiders have a quarterback around whom they can build. He won't fulfill his potential unless the Raiders upgrade their receiving corps, though.

Dorial Green-Beckham might be the most talented wideout available this year, but there's no chance Oakland makes that gamble.

Amari Cooper is a far safer bet. He's a polished route-runner with enough speed and athleticism to burn an opposing secondary.

5. Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The Washington Redskins allowed 58 sacks last year, 31st in the league. Although they have major issues on defense, the ability to draft Brandon Scherff would be too good to pass up. Scherff is beyond strong, and he's nimble enough to stick at offensive tackle.

There doesn't look to be an Eric Fisher or Luke Joeckel-like tackle in this draft. Scherff is the best on the board.

6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

If Mariota falls to the New York Jets at No. 6, there's no way they could pass him up. The Jets have a bad track record when it comes to QBs, but even they couldn't mess this up. Mariota is a definite upgrade over Geno Smith. 

He'll likely have an adjustment period when he hits the NFL, but he's an accurate passer with the arm to match. It's not like the Heisman Trophy winner is strictly a system guy.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

Right now, Landon Collins probably deserves the "box safety" designation. He's not strong in pass coverage, instead excelling against the run. And the concern is obviously that he doesn't grow much beyond that.

However, Collins has the physical tools to at least improve enough as a coverage guy to round out his game.

In what is a down year for safeties, the Chicago Bears would be smart to run the risk.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

The Atlanta Falcons' collective pass rush was woefully lacking last year. As a team, they had 22 sacks last year, 30th in the league.

Shane Ray might have the most burst of any pass-rusher in this year's draft. He reacts so quickly at the snap, and he has the speed and agility to breeze past the offensive tackle:

Since he was stuck behind a wealth of talented pass-rushers at Missouri, Ray doesn't have a great body of work in college. However, he's exactly the player the Falcons need to improve at the point of attack.

9. New York Giants: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Andrus Peat is still a bit far from the finished product, but he fills all of the boxes in terms of fitting the offensive tackle prototype. Peat has long arms to stay engaged with defenders, and he's agile enough to move laterally and cut pass-rushers off before they get too deep in the pocket.

He'd be a bit of a reach here, but after the injury to Cedric Ogbuehi, he's probably the New York Giants' best bet.

10. St. Louis Rams: La'el Collins, OT, LSU

La'el Collins is a great run-blocker with room to grow in pass protection. That would actually be a nice fit for the St. Louis Rams, who drafted Greg Robinson second overall last year. Robinson could be long-term option at left tackle, while Collins would be on the right side of the line, which will probably suit his game much more.

11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

The Minnesota Vikings might have gotten the best quarterback out of last year's draft. It's a tossup between Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr.

Much like the Raiders, Minnesota would be wise to look to wide receiver with its first-round pick. There's still time for Cordarrelle Patterson to put it all together, but the Vikings need that every-down target.

DeVante Parker could be that guy. He and Patterson would complement each other very well in the same offense.

12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

Before the Senior Bowl festivities began, most expected Danny Shelton to shine in Mobile, Alabama. He didn't disappoint, showing scouts exactly why he's the best nose tackle on the board.

Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar made the comparison to Shaun Rogers:

Andy Staples of SI added that Shelton is going to be a matchup nightmare in the NFL:

The Cleveland Browns were way too soft on the inside defensively. They need to look at either a defensive tackle or inside linebacker in the first round, so with Shelton on the board, it makes too much sense. According to Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, the Browns are already setting the wheels in motion:

13. New Orleans Saints: Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida

The New Orleans Saints reverted to their 2013 form this past season. Much of the problems stemmed from the team's inability to pressure the quarterback.

Dante Fowler is extremely versatile, so he could fill a few different roles for the Saints. Most importantly, he's an adept pass-rusher with a very high motor. New Orleans' front seven is crying out for a player like Fowler.

14. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

In a way, it's kind of a shame that Shaq Thompson is going to the NFL. College football fans were robbed of one last year with Thompson doing everything for the Washington Huskies. He might've played QB in 2015.

The Miami Dolphins have tried recently to upgrade at linebacker, but nothing's really worked out. Thompson's versatility would be a major asset because he could slot in wherever Miami needs him and for whatever role.

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

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers are in the same boat as the Raiders and Vikings in that they've got a young quarterback whom the front office needs to surround with more talent.

Kevin White is the best wideout on the board, and his ability to burn a secondary over the top would be a nice contrast to what the Niners have had in the past few years.

16. Houston Texans: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Danny Shelton would probably be the ideal pick here, but it doesn't look like he'll fall far enough. In Trae Waynes, the Houston Texans would instead be getting the best cornerback in the draft. Waynes is equal parts ball hawk, cover corner and run defender.

Although his ceiling may not be as high as some of the best CBs from past years, Waynes would still be a nice addition for Houston.

17. San Diego Chargers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

In terms of physical tools, T.J. Clemmings is the complete package at offensive tackle. The question is whether he'll put that all together.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller watched Clemmings at the Senior Bowl and wrote that the Pittsburgh star is more sizzle than he is steak right now:

"

The hype surrounding T.J. Clemmings the athlete is real. He's long, lean and has very little softness to his body. But as a left tackle, Clemmings struggled this week. He's definitely a project more than a product at this stage of his development.

His punch needs work, and while his feet are very quick and fluid, he has to become a better puncher in pass protection and show more strength in the run game.

"

It wouldn't be too shocking to see Clemmings fall closer to the top 10, but the San Diego Chargers would mitigate some of his risk if they can snag him at 17. He'd be a nice value pick.

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

The Kansas City Chiefs have a few different positions they could target here, but none seems more pressing than wide receiver. They simply can't ignore the issue any longer.

Although Jaelen Strong does have some bust potential, his large catch radius and ability to make the difficult look simple should ensure he has a long, fruitful NFL career.

19. Cleveland Browns: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

The Browns could target wide receiver as well, given the Josh Gordon situation. Instead, Benardrick McKinney would guarantee that run defense isn't a concern for Cleveland for years to come. McKinney and Shelton together would transform that defense.

McKinney is a bit like Landon Collins, though, in that his problems in pass coverage somewhat hinder his value right now.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

While it's not impossible that Marcus Mariota would fall all the way down to the Philadelphia Eagles, Brett Hundley is a much more realistic option if the Eagles are actually targeting a quarterback. Nick Foles still has one year left on his deal, so it wouldn't be shocking for Philly to give him one more chance to be the franchise guy.

Hundley still has some question marks, but the drop between him and the likes of Bryce Petty, Sean Mannion and Garrett Grayson looks pretty significant.

Somebody's going to reach for Hundley in the first.

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

Although Eddie Goldman's not in the same class as either Leonard Williams or Danny Shelton, he's at least a more multidimensional defensive tackle. Goldman is more than just a big body who plugs holes and shuts down the run.

The Cincinnati Bengals need to get tougher on the interior of the line, and Goldman would be a nice complement for Geno Atkins.

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

One look at the Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff exit revealed the need for another cornerback. Unfortunately for them, Waynes is already off the board, and he's a long shot to fall to 22.

P.J. Williams will almost assuredly be available, however. Williams can be a bit too greedy at times and get fooled on double routes. He has good ball skills, though, and with the right coaching, he should rein in his more aggressive nature.

23. Detroit Lions: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

The Detroit Lions should make every attempt to re-sign Ndamukong Suh. They should also have a contingency plan in the event he leaves for a boatload of cash.

Michael Bennett is nowhere near Suh's level, but he's a solid pass-rusher and run-stopper, helping to give the Lions a more balanced defensive tackle.

24. Arizona Cardinals: Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

In general, the Arizona Cardinals have a very good defense. One of the areas in which they struggled was getting after the passer. They were in the bottom half of the league in sacks in 2014.

Alvin Dupree in all likelihood won't become a transcendent pass-rusher, but he'll help to solve that problem, while giving the Cardinals a talented all-around player at outside linebacker.

25. Carolina Panthers: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Once again, the Carolina Panthers offensive line was one of the weakest parts of the team. They have some options at offensive tackle if they want to pull the trigger, and given how 2014 unfolded, it might be a good idea.

In terms of upside, Ereck Flowers isn't on the level of Brandon Scherff or Andrus Peat. He should, however, grow into a consistent left tackle in the NFL. The Panthers can't ask for much more.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

It seems like Vic Beasley's stock is dropping rapidly. There's no question that his role in the NFL will likely be limited by his more lanky frame. Beasley's not the kind of guy who can line up as a defensive end and be productive.

As long as his new team is aware of his limitations, Beasley should be a useful player. The Baltimore Ravens also have plenty of experienced veterans who can impart their knowledge on the Clemson star.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

At 6'2" and 198 pounds, Jalen Collins fits the mold of an NFL cornerback. He won't have much trouble defending taller wide receivers.

Collins is very physical at the line of scrimmage, which is an extremely valuable asset at the next level. Combine that with his instinctual nature, and the Dallas Cowboys could be getting the long-term replacement for another former LSU Tiger, Morris Claiborne.

28. Denver Broncos: Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State

Peyton Manning hasn't officially announced whether he'll return to the Denver Broncos for 2015, but the hiring of Gary Kubiak seems to signal that the two parties aren't through pursuing a Super Bowl ring:

If Manning does come back, Denver needs to draft a player who can help immediately. Ty Sambrailo isn't a can't-miss offensive tackle, but he would contribute to the Broncos right from the starting training camp. Once he gets into an NFL strength-and-conditioning program, his lack of bulk shouldn't be a big issue.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

Pre-ACL injury, Cedric Ogbuehi was almost certainly a lock for the top 15 and could've easily sneaked into the top 10. Post-ACL injury, it's anybody's guess as to where he'll fall.

The Indianapolis Colts are in a position where they could gamble on Ogbuehi returning from surgery and retaining all of his previous athleticism. This late in the first round, he might be worth the risk.

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

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Drafting Denzel Perryman would allow he Green Bay Packers to move Clay Matthews back outside, which would benefit all parties involved. Matthews played well after his shift to inside linebacker, but his best position is unquestionably more to the outside.

Perryman is a natural leader on the field and knows how to read the field. He'd be a nice addition for Green Bay.

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

The New England Patriots would be best served capitalizing on their ever-shrinking window for success. Imagine the damage Bill Belichick could do with a player like Devin Funchess in the passing game. And more importantly, Funchess isn't the kind of player who needs a lot of seasoning. He can step right into an NFL offense and produce.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

Where Dorial Green-Beckham falls is one of the more interesting questions of this year's draft. Rarely do you see a player whose draft evaluation has so much fluctuation; DGB could be a first-rounder, or he might be more likely to go in the fourth or fifth rounds.

B/R's Matt Miller wonders if Green-Beckham is even worth all of the hype he's receiving:

The Seattle Seahawks could use an athletic wideout like him, and if he can stay out of trouble, he'd be well worth a pick this late in the first round.