NFL Draft 2015: Latest Order, Predictions Before Super Bowl Game

The 30 teams that will watch the 2015 Super Bowl from the couch need to pay attention.

Like it or not, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks do it right. Tom Brady worked out. Russell Wilson, who has changed the quarterback height conversation, has as well.

Of the lessons put on by these two teams when it comes to the draft, two reign supreme. One is to be decisive in the need-value department. Take a player such as Vince Wilfork at No. 21 overall.

Two is to tune out the white noise. Like a player and value him more than others? Trust that instinct and nab a Bruce Irvin at No. 15 overall.

Championship rosters don't craft themselves. Sure, it takes a bit of luck. A fifth-round pick rarely turns into Richard Sherman.

The point is not to overshoot. Trust the process and construct a roster that eliminates a reliance on free agency to fill gaps. That's a surefire way to remain near the top of the draft order, not postseason standings.

2015 NFL Draft Order and First-Round Predictions

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2	Tennessee Titans	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
8	Atlanta Falcons	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
11	Minnesota Vikings	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
14	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
16	Houston Texans	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
17	San Diego Chargers	A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
23	Detroit Lions	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
24	Arizona Cardinals	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
27	Dallas Cowboys	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
28	Denver Broncos	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
29	Indianapolis Colts	Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
30	Green Bay Packers	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
31	New England Patriots	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
32	Seattle Seahawks	Carl Davis, DL, Iowa

Pre-Super Bowl Predictions

Tampa Bay Stands Pat

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Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Disaster of a season upon Lovie Smith's arrival, sure, but now the team sits in an opportune position to secure a franchise quarterback.

Why throw that away?

Extra picks and assets via a transaction would help build the roster, sure. But this approach requires a serious look at the class as a whole. After Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston, there is nothing to speak of at the position.

It makes sense, then, that ESPN's Adam Schefter hears Tampa Bay favors Mariota right now:

"

Plus, there's a real sense that Tampa Bay has its sights set on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. So for now, Mariota shapes up as the most likely No. 1 pick. But there are still three months of combine work, pro days, interviews and investigations to go.

"

Tampa Bay is similar to Houston last year. The Texans tout plenty of defensive talent and some top-tier offensive weapons, but they elected to pass on the quarterback position. No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney played in just four games, and the team missed the postseason by one game.

In the up-and-down NFC South, Tampa Bay cannot afford to take the same approach. One of the most dominant Heisman winners in history can hit Mike Evans with consistency right out of the gates, while a defense led by Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David can help make a postseason push.

Any thought of a trade needs to go out the window. Now.

Prediction: Tampa Bay selects Marcus Mariota No. 1 overall.

Two Birds, One Stone—Cleveland Style

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2015 draft with two first-round selections and as many serious problems. 

Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel are the latter, of course.

As Schefter pointed out recently, Gordon is in trouble with the league again:

Folks know Manziel's story at this point. A Seth Meyers punchline as the rest of the NFL giggled at his expense, Johnny Football's 51.4 completion percentage and two interceptions in minimal time is the focal point of the offseason.

Cleveland can take a step to both replace Gordon and help along Manziel in one swoop with a wideout such as Louisville's DeVante Parker.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Parker, who comes in at 6'3" and 211 pounds, played in just six games this past season but caught 43 passes for 855 yards and five scores.

Not only is Parker reliable, he is a stellar big-play threat, hence his average of 19.9 yards per catch in 2014. Manziel, presuming the front office gives him the chance, can use the crisp routes, sure hands and explosiveness on an offense that suddenly looks quite bare without Gordon. 

Besides, the Browns will have another pick later in the round to shore up an additional area. 

Prediction: Cleveland selects DeVante Parker at No. 12 overall.

New England Gets Predictable

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It seems each year the world expects Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots to grab another tight end to complement Rob Gronkowski. 

This is the year it happens.

The tight end class is rather weak, so this figures to be the year Belichick makes it happen—especially when a talent such as Maxx Williams is sure to be on the board.

Williams, all 6'4" and 250 pounds of him, is the subject of praise from many. This includes CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, who gave Andy Greder of TwinCities.com quite an interesting comparison:

"I see the Witten-Rudolph similarities because of the natural body control and receiving instincts. Williams looks the part with his size-build-athleticism mix and plays the part as well to make impressive catches with his large catching radius."

The lack of a third weapon around Brady to soak up targets and take pressure off Gronkowski and Julian Edelman is a must. With that in mind, Williams to the Patriots makes too much sense. 

Prediction: New England selects Maxx Williams at No. 31 overall. 

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 31 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).