2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects

The New England Patriots are Super Bowl XLIX champions, and now it's time for the other 31 teams to work on closing the gap and for the Pats to figure out a way to remain on top. The quickest way to use the draft to improve a team is by targeting prospects capable of making an instant impact. 

Just below the table that shows the mock selections of the first round is a look at three players capable of helping their new teams immensely as rookies. Those players are highlighted in the table.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2	Tennessee Titans	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5	Washington Redskins	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB. Nebraska
6	New York Jets	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
7	Chicago Bears	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
8	Atlanta Falcons	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
9	New York Giants	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
14	Miami Dolphins	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
15	San Francisco 49ers	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
16	Houston Texans	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
17	Kansas City Chiefs	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
18	San Diego Chargers	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
23	Detroit Lions	Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
25	Carolina Panthers	Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
26	Baltimore Ravens	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
27	Dallas Cowboys	Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
28	Denver Broncos	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Florida)
29	Indianapolis Colts	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
30	Green Bay Packers	Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
31	Seattle Seahawks	Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
32	New England Patriots	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon

Amari Cooper Would Be Gift to Derek Carr

Before Derek Carr can be effectively evaluated as the future franchise quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, the team has to get him a No. 1 wide receiver to throw to.

James Jones led the team in receptions with 73 in 2014, but he's 30 years old, and no one will mistake him for a go-to guy. Alabama's Amari Cooper is the top receiver in the draft with his blend of speed, hands and route-running ability.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com gave this ringing endorsement of Cooper in a scouting report from early in the 2014 season:

"

Cooper is a talented No. 1 receiver with a fundamentally sound game that should allow him to quickly blossom into an elite receiver at the next level. While I'm not ready to proclaim him a top-10-caliber receiver at this point, I certainly believe he is already more polished than Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans as a route runner, and exhibits the explosiveness to be a difference maker in any system. If he continues to refine his overall game and displays better consistency as a pass catcher, I can see Cooper thriving as a Roddy White-like playmaker as a pro.

"

The Raiders could certainly use a player like White in their lineup for next season. Carr showed flashes of possibly turning into the type of player who could lead. Drafting Cooper and allowing the young duo to grow together is Oakland's best move with the No. 4 overall pick.

Shane Ray Is Perfect for Bears' New 3-4 Look

USA TODAY Sports

When the Chicago Bears hired Vic Fangio to run their defense, it all but guaranteed the team is going to incorporate a ton of 3-4 looks on defense.

There's been talk that Fangio's hire doesn't necessarily signal a complete move to that scheme, but if the Bears weren't looking to go that route, they could have hired a candidate who ran the 4-3.

With that assumption established, there isn't a player in the draft who is better suited to make an impact as a 3-4 outside linebacker and pass-rusher than Shane Ray of Missouri.

His explosiveness off the edge might be matched only by Clemson's Vic Beasley. However, at 6'3" and 245 pounds, Ray has a more adequate frame for the role in the NFL. In 2014, Ray set a single-season Missouri record with 14.5 sacks. His skills should translate well to the NFL as long as he falls into the right system.

Fangio's scheme is perfect for him.

Danny Shelton Can Instantly Improve Browns' Run Defense

The Cleveland Browns allowed the most rushing yards of any team in the NFL last season. Improving up front is a necessity if this team is going to get better in 2015. 

As run-stuffing defensive tackles in the 2015 NFL draft go, Washington's Danny Shelton sits atop the list. At 6'2", 335 pounds, Shelton is a load. He's also nimble for a man his size. After shining at the Senior Bowl, it's pretty clear the Browns have the big man on their radar:

Shelton is hard at work trying to improve as much as possible heading into the NFL combine. In his draft diary on FoxSports.com, Shelton said: "With a couple of weeks before the combine, I've been focused on setting new personal records in the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, L-drill and looking to get the most reps on the 225-pound bench."

He certainly has a chance to make his mark during the bench press. Shelton's massive strength, size and lateral movement could be huge for Cleveland's run defense.

Browns fans should hope and pray that the tweets aren't a smoke screen. The team needs Shelton as much as any team needs any prospect in this draft.