NFL Mock Draft 2015: Latest Post-Super Bowl Predictions for First Round

With Super Bowl XLIX and the 2014 NFL season officially in the books, all 32 teams and their fans can now shift their focus toward the offseason and the 2015 NFL draft.

Since the 31 franchises other than the New England Patriots fell short of their ultimate goal, there is an immeasurable amount of importance on drafting well and improving in the process. It could take a while for teams to bear the fruit of their labor, but the 2015 draft could be the start of big things for many organizations.

Prospects will begin to separate themselves moving forward throughout the draft process, but here is a current slate of predictions in the form of a full first-round mock draft.

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

The Buccaneers have never had a true franchise quarterback, but they have a chance to change that with the No. 1 pick. Mariota has all the tools to be great, and the Bucs ought to invest heavily in him.

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

Tennessee would likely love the opportunity to select Mariota, but if Tampa makes the smart move by nabbing him, the Titans should shift their focus toward landing an elite pass-rusher like Gregory.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The Jaguars have focused on bringing in young skill position players in recent years, but in order for them to develop properly, Jacksonville must continue to build its offensive line with guys like Scherff.

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Quarterback Derek Carr has a chance to become something special in the NFL, but he can't do it by himself. If the Raiders get him a weapon like Cooper, though, the sky is the limit.

5. Washington Redskins: Leonard Williams, DL, USC

Washington could have been a far more competitive team last season with a better defense regardless of its quarterback woes. Williams may be the most talented defender in this draft, so he should be an automatic pick.

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

The Jets may still have some semblance of hope for Geno Smith as an NFL quarterback, but he simply hasn't shown enough. With that in mind, New York needs to move on and roll the dice by taking Winston.

7. Chicago Bears: Landon Collins, S, Alabama

Chicago figures to have a renewed focus on defense after the hiring of John Fox as head coach and Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. It needs more talent on the field as well, and Collins is the best safety in this class.

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

The Falcons defense got burned often in 2014, due largely to an inability to sack the quarterback. That happens to be Ray's specialty, and he would be a huge difference-maker in Atlanta.

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

Big Blue has long needed more playmaking ability and athleticism at the linebacker position. No linebacker in the draft is as explosive as Thompson, which makes him an ideal fit for the Giants.

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

Having at least one top-level cornerback is hugely important in the NFL these days due to the emphasis on passing. That is something that the St. Louis Rams currently lack, but that deficiency can be rectified by selecting Michigan State's Trae Waynes.

Waynes is a supremely talented corner with elite size at 6'1". That enables him to cover bigger receivers, and it also makes him one of the most physical corners in the draft.

For the most part, Waynes has received rave reviews from scouts. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes the former Spartan has it all:

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah agrees and tabs him as the No. 1 player at his position in the 2015 draft class:

The Rams have a fantastic defensive line featuring Robert Quinn, Chris Long and Aaron Donald, but the secondary has to get better in order to take that next step. Landing Waynes would undoubtedly be huge in that regard.

Some might argue that selecting Waynes at No. 10 is a bit too early, but he would fill a position of need, and he has the skill set to exceed this draft positioning down the line.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater showed flashes of brilliance in 2014, but keeping him healthy will be Minnesota's biggest challenge moving forward. Drafting Peat would certainly help in that regard, though.

12. Cleveland Browns: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

There is a lot of uncertainty on the offensive side of the ball for the Browns currently. Cleveland needs another receiver no matter what, and Parker is a guy who could become a star at the next level.

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

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

There is no question that Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has the potential to be great at the NFL level, but many are questioning his draft stock due to his health.

Ekpre-Olomu suffered a torn ACL, which forced him to miss both the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Many players have bounced back from serious knee injuries over the years, but it is far from a guarantee.

With that said, Ekpre-Olomu is confident that he will return with a vengeance once he heals up, as evidenced by this tweet:

Perhaps some teams will be scared away by the injury, but that would be a mistake considering how talented he is. Ekpre-Olomu could be the beast cornerback in this draft when it is all said and done, so the New Orleans Saints shouldn't let his health cloud their judgment.

The Saints could use some immediate help in the secondary, and although Ekpre-Olomu may not be at his very best in 2015, some players are able to heal more quickly than others.

As good as Ekpre-Olomu was in college, Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal doesn't believe that he has even scratched the surface of his full potential, according to Jake Tabor of Scout.com:

"

No chance. He will reach his full potential as an athlete probably when he's about 30. Then he's still going to be really good. He's one of those guys who will play for a long time because of his conditioning. He'll be able to play any position he needs to play in the NFL.

"

Neal's comments might lead some to believe that Ekpre-Olomu is a project of sorts, but the fact that he is already as good as he is with even more room to grow has to be enticing for NFL teams.

There is some risk involved with taking him, but the payoff could be massive for New Orleans.

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

Miami's defense can be taken to the next level with the addition of a high-volume tackler at inside linebacker. McKinney should be available at No. 14, and there is no better option down the middle.

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

While the 49ers defense should be better in 2015 as key players return from injury, there are still some holes along the defensive line. Shelton is a dominant space-eater, though, and he will mitigate those concerns.

16. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

The Texans are in a tough spot in that they are ready to make a run, but they don't have a quarterback. Selecting Hundley would undoubtedly be a huge risk, but it could produce an even bigger reward.

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

San Diego was left searching for answers along the offensive line quite often in 2014 due to injuries. Taking a versatile plug-and-play guy like Erving would give the Bolts much more flexibility.

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

No team needs wide receiver help more desperately than the Chiefs after going a full season without a wideout catching a touchdown. If they land White, then that streak should end soon enough.

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

The Browns defense didn't make massive strides in its first season under Mike Pettine, due largely to a lack of great pass-rushers. Beasley may be slight, but he definitely knows how to get to the quarterback.

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

Philly's secondary woes contributed more heavily to missing the playoffs in 2014 than anything else. One player may not be able to turn everything around; however, Williams would be a great start.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida

The Bengals somewhat surprisingly ranked last in the NFL in sacks this past season. Carlos Dunlap is a solid pass-rusher, but he desperately needs some help, and Fowler would provide it.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford

Pittsburgh has a championship-caliber offense, but its defense is in rebuild mode. That starts in the secondary, which is why Carter must be considered if he is on the board at No. 22.

23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

From a pure talent perspective, it can be argued that Peters is the top cornerback in this draft. While character concerns hurt his stock a bit, the Lions can't afford to pass him up at this juncture.

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

There is a great deal of excitement surrounding the Cardinals defense entering 2015 since it should be much healthier. The unit needs some pass-rush help regardless, though, and Dupree is the best option.

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

It is easy to forget about some of the Panthers' deficiencies due to their late-season run, but pass protection was a problem for much of the season. That must be addressed by nabbing Ogbuehi.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

It is no secret that NFL teams have gotten away from drafting running backs in the first round in recent years. It is an understandable strategy considering the relatively short shelf life of players at that position, but there are exceptions to every rule.

The exception in 2015 may be Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon. The 6'1", 207-pound back had a season for the ages in 2014, as he rushed for over 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns. He averaged over 7.5 yards per carry and also added another three touchdowns as a receiver.

He got very little help from the Badgers' passing game, and he essentially put the team on his back on a weekly basis.

According to Big Ten Football, Gordon rushed for 200 or more yards in a game an astounding six times this past season:

He won't be asked to do that in the NFL, but he could instantly become a big-time contributor for a team like the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens got a great year out of Justin Forsett, which is a big reason why they fared so well in 2014, but they need a more youthful option.

Gordon fits the bill, and he would be a great complement to quarterback Joe Flacco and Baltimore's big-play passing offense. In fact, he would bolster the passing game due to his capabilities as a blocker, per Jeremiah:

Also, opposing defenses would have to respect Baltimore's running game more than ever, which would make it easier for everyone else on offense. The Ravens aren't far off from vying for a Super Bowl, and drafting Gordon could be the thing that puts them over the top.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Nate Orchard, DE, Utah

Orchard is a late riser after a hugely productive senior season at Utah. Many question whether he is capable of excelling in the NFL, but he's worth a gamble by a Cowboys team that needs pass-rushers badly.

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

The Broncos have plenty of weapons regardless of what happens in free agency, which is why they must continue to solidify the defense. Taking Goldman would give Denver a complete defensive line.

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

Indianapolis would really benefit from an improved running game in 2015. Fortifying the offensive line is one way to make that happen, and Cann is arguably the No. 1 guard available to be drafted.

30. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Florida)

The Packers' decision to move Clay Matthews inside yielded some good results, but he is an outside linebacker by trade. Green Bay should put Matthews back in his natural spot, and it can do that if it secures Perryman.

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

Seattle continues to do more with less in terms of pass-catchers, and it is time to upgrade. Whether he lines up at tight end or wide receiver, Funchess will make an impact and create mismatches.

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

New England hasn't really had an explosive outside threat at wide receiver since Randy Moss. Green-Beckham is a bit of a risk, but he is worth it because he possesses that type of ability.

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