2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Where 1st-Round Prospects Will Land

Now that the season is complete after an excellent Super Bowl XLIX, the first-round order of the 2015 NFL draft is set.

A proliferation of mock scenarios, analysis and anticipation will now ensue until the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go on the clock on April 30 with the No. 1 overall pick. The Bucs need a franchise quarterback but might deem it too risky to spend the top selection on one.

Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston are the only two QBs really in the running. One of the two most recent Heisman Trophy winners could go to Tennessee, since the Titans are in need with the second pick.

Read on for a complete mock of the first round, along with analysis on the QB dilemma and more potential storylines that should define the top 32 spots.

No.	Team	Pick
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2	Tennessee Titans	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
6	New York Jets	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
7	Chicago Bears	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
10	St. Louis Rams	La'El Collins, OT, LSU
11	Minnesota Vikings	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
14	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
16	Houston Texans	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
17	San Diego Chargers	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Florida)
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
23	Detroit Lions	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
24	Arizona Cardinals	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
25	Carolina Panthers	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
26	Baltimore Ravens	Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio)
27	Dallas Cowboys	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
28	Denver Broncos	Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
29	Indianapolis Colts	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
30	Green Bay Packers	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
31	Seattle Seahawks	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
32	New England Patriots	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

2015 NFL Draft Analysis

The pressure isn't as much on the Titans to take a quarterback, because they at least have an in-house, dark-horse candidate in Zach Mettenberger who could pan out.

Minimal free-agent options and the importance of the position will likely trigger at least one of the top two teams to choose Mariota or Winston.

Tampa Bay is reportedly keyed in on the Oregon star, according to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter:

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Many NFL executives and scouts believe Florida State's Jameis Winston is the best pro quarterback prospect in this draft. Of course, teams still have three months to dig into Winston's past and see what they can uncover. 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.

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Despite the pro-readiness Winston has from a football standpoint, his off-field concerns should terrify any team considering making him the face of a franchise. The ceiling Mariota has is higher thanks to his electric speed, quicker release and cleaner public image.

If the New York Jets have the chance to take either Winston or Mariota at No. 6, incumbent youngster Geno Smith is ready for the potential challenge.

"It's competition," said Smith of the possibility that the Jets choose a QB early, via NJ.com's Dom Cosetino. "No matter who it is, there's always going to be competition, and I look forward to it."

With regard to passing offense, though, this draft isn't short on firepower at the receiver position.

It will be almost impossible for this year's crop of wideouts to live up to the hype the 2014 group created and even exceeded. The same depth may not quite be there, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see five receivers chosen on Day 1.

Alabama's Amari Cooper and Louisville playmaker DeVante Parker are held in high regard. However, Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller suggests West Virginia product Kevin White could be the best of the bunch:

Then there's the polarizing case of Dorial Green-Beckham, as Miller discusses in the video at the top of this section. Green-Beckham is a freakish athlete who also has red flags away from the gridiron but could still land in the first round and pay off in a big way.

A plethora of pass-rushers will be available in this draft as well.

Prospective defensive ends and outside linebackers to watch for toward the top are the likes of Dante Fowler Jr. out of Florida and another SEC stud, Bud Dupree, from Kentucky.

The best of the best are USC's Leonard Williams, who many believe is the best overall player, and Nebraska's Randy Gregory, who at No. 3 would be an ideal fit for the "Leo" role in Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley's defense.

Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports captured an image of Williams' frame, which shows just how stunning his athletic ability is for a young man his size:

Several prospects bolstered their stock at the Senior Bowl, including UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis, adding depth to the front-seven playmakers this first round should be littered with.

Miami (Ohio) cornerback Quinten Rollins played four years of college basketball and is still raw on the gridiron, but his seven interceptions this season and pick at the Senior Bowl helped him gain notice as well.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah weighed in on him, suggesting Rollins needs to run well at the NFL Scouting Combine:

Rollins is one of the more intriguing options at his position. Since the secondary is such a point of emphasis in the pass-heavy NFL, his chances to go in the first round should only improve as draft day gets closer.

In a related story of a less coveted position group, lots of NFL-ready running backs will be up for the taking. Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon could well go in Round 1, as could Georgia star Todd Gurley—despite tearing his ACL this last season.

So there are a ton of interesting angles to think about with regard to how the first round will play out. The dominoes that fall when Mariota and Winston are chosen will be fascinating to see, and there could be some massive trades due to the uncertainty about both players.

From an on-field standpoint, hailing from a spread system certainly seems to make Mariota a boom-or-bust type of proposition. Should he somehow fall in the draft, though, those in need under center will regret passing over him if he thrives as a dual-threat sensation.