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

Most of the NFL world is still recovering from one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in recent memory, but in reality, the majority of the league has been prepping for the offseason for over a month now.  Although the majority of transactions won't occur for another month, the scouting opinions currently being formed will shape the complexion of the 2015 season.  

Mocking the 2015 NFL draft is an entirely speculative exercise at this stage since we're still nearly three months away.  Thus, a more interesting way to approach it would be not to examine team-prospect fit, but rather to take a deeper look at each individual prospect to see how his stock might fluctuate over the coming weeks.

Obviously, it's impossible to predict where players will eventually end up, a truth that will largely hold up until the draft actually occurs.  Team needs were considered in the following projection, but for the most part, this board is a reflection on the current stock of the top names in the draft:

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

Taking a look at this early first-round mock, let's consider the prospects who could see their stocks rise the most once the draft actually arrives.  These players aren't as well-known commodities as other projected first-rounders, but once scouts see their workouts and dissect their film, look for these players to rise up draft boards.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

No player is going to elicit more vehement opinions from armchair parents who think they can impose their value systems and immediately solve a stranger's every problem.  But while it's always frustrating to hear faux anger from fans, Green-Beckham's future really does hinge on his ability to fight off the demons that plagued his collegiate career.

The 6'6" receiver would be a top 10 to 15 pick if he came with a clean sheet off the field.  With defenses increasingly seeking out bigger defensive backs who can play press coverage on the outside, a receiver who can overcome that strategy and serve as a fail-safe jump-ball target is becoming more valuable.  Indeed, there isn't really any disagreement about Green-Beckham's talent level:

But the off-field problems have interfered with his development, as plenty of toolsy receivers have failed in the NFL.  As physically talented as Green-Beckham is, missing the entire 2014 season and getting kicked out of Missouri undeniably stunted his development.  

Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon illustrated this season that past track record goes out the window after a player misses a large chunk of time, and as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein relays, a scout believes that the Gordon disaster could hurt Green-Beckham's stock:

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I think the consistent problems for Josh Gordon are going to leak over and hurt (Green-Beckham's) draft stock. He couldn't keep himself out of trouble, had no structure growing up and didn't take coaching at Missouri. He's tall and fast and has good hands, but he can't be trusted. Why would you take a guy like that before the third day?

"

Green-Beckham still needs to develop real route-running skills, especially if he's ever going to maximize his size advantage.  But if he handles himself even reasonably well in the predraft process, it's hard to imagine the ex-Missouri Tiger slipping out of the first round.

Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The 2015 class is rich with impact edge-rushers, with the likes of Randy Gregory, Shane Ray and Vic Beasley grabbing the headlines and sure to go early.  But Kentucky's Dupree has garnered increasing buzz as either a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker prospect, and it's not inconceivable that he could work his way into that top class by the eve of the draft.

The freakishly gifted Dupree predicted before his final season that he would eventually "blow up" at the combine, a confidence that appears likely to come to fruition later this month.  As Mike Gerken of NEPatriotsDraft.com illustrates, much of Dupree's production results from his uncanny quickness off the snap and bend around the edge:

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The first thing you notice when watching Dupree is his electric first step.  He is a pure athlete and has a great combination of height, weight, and speed, although on film he does not look to be 267 lbs. He has a knack to read and react to the snap of the ball and is the first player moving. He is a relentless pass rusher that does not give up on a play.  Dupree uses his hands well to swat the opposing offensive lineman’s hands away. He shows good bend in his ankles and knees when rushing around the outside shoulder of the opposing lineman. 

"

Dupree is currently generating some comparisons to another SEC edge-rusher, Florida's Dante Fowler Jr.  The 6'4", 264-pound Dupree and 6'3", 260-pound Fowler possess similar builds and skill sets, and though Fowler received more exposure because of the school he played at, some scouts prefer the ex-Wildcat:

There's always a danger in overrating "workout warriors," and Dupree's game isn't well-rounded enough for him to be anything more than a pure pass-rusher early in his career.  Still, in a deep edge-defender class, look for Dupree's name to shoot up boards as he impresses during workouts.

Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

John Raoux/Associated Press

Last year, five tight ends went in the first 65 picks, as the 2014 class offered a deep pool of talent and wide range of skill sets.  Unfortunately, no such luxury exists in the 2015 class, as teams looking for help at the position will mostly be wading in the middle rounds.

The one exception to that will be Williams, who could very well shimmy his way into Day 1.  

The 6'4", 250-pound Williams is more of a move "F" tight end (a la Jimmy Graham) than a traditional in-line "Y" tight end (like Rob Gronkowski).  But those players have plenty of value in a league where "12" personnel (2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB) is becoming increasingly prevalent, and some scouts see Williams as an elite talent, even in comparison to last year's impressive crop:

Moreover, it would be folly to pigeonhole Williams into a particular role.  Minnesota used him both in and off the line, and the scouting report from National Football Post's Greg Gabriel actually sees plenty of blocking potential from the ex-Golden Gopher:

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In the Minnesota offense, Williams lines up all over. He could be in tight as a conventional “Y” tight end, split out wide, in the slot, lined up as a wing and even at fullback. They tried (and were successful) in putting him into situations that would create a mismatch.

When put into a position to block, Williams is a consistently good blocker. He shows pop and aggressiveness and consistently looks to finish. Right now, he is a better blocker on the move than he is from an inline position.

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It's unlikely that Williams will reach the top 10, as Eric Ebron did, given the crop of highly impressive defensive front seven players and wide receivers.  Still, at an extremely scarce position this year, expect a team to take the plunge on a player who has already separated himself as the clear top option.