2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Hottest Prospects in Football

Football fans seemingly always have one eye toward the NFL draft, but now that the 2014-15 season is officially in the books, all 32 NFL teams will kick their preparations into overdrive.

The 2015 draft class is an immensely talented one, especially on the offensive side of the ball. A ton of skill players managed to make massive impacts as rookies in 2014, and it appears as though many incoming players could do something similar during the 2015 season.

Much of that depends upon where those prospects land and the opportunities they are afforded, but the talent level is undeniable.

With the offseason officially upon us, here is a look ahead at what to expect out of the 2015 NFL draft's first round.

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

Analyzing Top Offensive Weapons

Amari Cooper

Following a season that saw perhaps the greatest rookie wide receiver class of all time enter the NFL, several teams in the 2015 draft will be hoping for a repeat. It will be difficult for this year's class to match 2014, but one player who almost certainly figures to make an instant impact is Alabama wideout Amari Cooper.

The Heisman Trophy finalist is coming off a spectacular junior campaign that saw him reel in 124 catches for over 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Cooper did all of that in the defensive-minded SEC, and he joined some elite company in the process, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

Cooper's production is even more impressive when you consider that he made it happen with a first-year starting quarterback throwing him the ball in Blake Sims. Also, the Crimson Tide's second-leading receiver had just over 500 yards, so it isn't as if Cooper had a ton of help in terms of drawing defensive attention.

The true hallmark of a great player is respect from the opposition, and Cooper had that at the collegiate level. Per Brian Hamilton of Sports Illustrated, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer paid Cooper a massive compliment:

The same can be said for Buckeyes cornerback Doran Grant, who covered Cooper in the Sugar Bowl and was impressed by what he went up against, according to Michael Casagrande of AL.com.

"He's probably the most explosive receiver I've seen in college besides Sammy Watkins," Grant said. "Great ball catcher, great speed. ... He gets out of his breaks quick, he snaps his head around. He's a great player."

There is no denying Cooper's skill level. The only question is how early he'll come off the board on draft night. Assuming he is still available when the Oakland Raiders pick at No. 4, it is difficult to envision them passing on him.

Oakland has James Jones, but he is better as a supporting option rather than the go-to guy. Also, while quarterback Derek Carr was very impressive as a rookie, he can't take that next step until he is surrounded with more talent.

Cooper would give him a reliable option on a game-by-game basis, and that is something every young signal-caller needs in order to reach his potential.

DeVante Parker

Cooper may very well be the best wide receiver in 2015 draft class, but it can be argued that no wideout is more polished than Louisville's DeVante Parker.

The 6'3", 200-pound pass-catcher spent four seasons with the Cardinals and seemingly improved by leaps and bounds with each passing year. He caught double-digit touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons, and he likely would have done the same as a senior had he not missed five games.

Even though he was on the shelf for nearly half the 2014 season, Parker went for 855 yards and five scores. According to ESPN.com's David Hale, he had over 100 yards receiving in all but one contest:

Parker even burned the vaunted Florida State defense to the tune of eight receptions for 214 yards, so he has shown an ability to raise his game against the highest level of competition.

It would have been easy for Parker to take a step back in 2014 after quarterback Teddy Bridgewater entered the NFL, but he somehow managed to get even better despite uncertainty under center. That is the hallmark of a great receiver.

If anyone knows about great receivers, it is former St. Louis Rams standout Torry Holt. The seven-time Pro Bowler has kept a close eye on Parker, and he gave him a ringing endorsement:

The Cleveland Browns offense is a massive question mark entering 2015. The quarterback situation is a mess, with Brian Hoyer set to hit free agency and Johnny Manziel entering rehab.

Add the fact that No. 1 wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended for the entire 2015 season after testing positive for alcohol, and there is no doubt the Browns need to add some pieces on that side of the ball.

Parker has all the tools to be a stud receiver at the next level, and that is something Cleveland desperately needs as uncertainty engulfs its offense.

Kevin White

On the heels of a breakout senior season at West Virginia, wide receiver Kevin White's stock is reaching enormous heights as the draft approaches.

White showed flashes of brilliance as a junior college transfer in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that he reached his full potential. He caught 109 passes for nearly 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Mountaineers, and he opened the eyes of many draft experts in the process.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes White and Cooper are essentially on a level playing field in terms of being the top wideout in the 2015 draft class:

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah took it one step further by declaring him the No. 1 receiver and comparing him to one of the NFL's best pass-catchers:

It's tough not to get excited about White, as he has a great skill set that includes speed, leaping ability and size at 6'3" and 210 pounds. Perhaps the only thing working against him is the fact that he has a fairly small body of work.

Some might argue that White was a one-year wonder, and while that may knock him down a few pegs, he should safely be a first-round pick.

One team that would love to see him slip into the middle of the opening round is the Kansas City Chiefs. KC famously went an entire season without having a wide receiver catch a touchdown pass in 2014. That can't happen again, and it won't if the Chiefs land White.

Quarterback Alex Smith needs a go-to target in order to go from game manager to game winner, and White is the type of guy who can make that happen.

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