2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Premier Prospects
Slower than the New England Patriots' Super Bowl parade, the path to the NFL draft can begin in earnest.
The big game is over. Folks will continue to rumble about the decision to not run a guy named Beast Mode with the Lombardi Trophy at stake. Others will point out that the NBA season is winding down. Even more will continue to send angry tweets to recruits in the wake of national signing day.
It all still pales in comparison to the fact that the scouting combine is right around the corner, with the draft shortly after. In a small amount of time, top picks can change hands, and prospects can make or lose millions upon millions of dollars while working out in shorts.
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2015 NFL Mock Draft
| 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 | Seattle Seahawks | Carl Davis, DL, Iowa |
| 32 | New England Patriots | Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota |
Analyzing Defenders with Most at Stake
No other position exemplifies this risk-reward dynamic better in the coming months than pass-rushers. Outside of Nebraska's Randy Gregory, some of the top names have everything at stake.
What they do is arguably the most valuable thing a defender does in this day and age, but pass-rushers have the most on the line in the coming months.
Shane Ray, Missouri
Shane Ray is truly the perfect example of the risk-reward dynamic.
Despite a status as one of college football's most productive and disruptive players, not to mention earning the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, Ray is already one of the most polarizing players in the class.
Comments by FootballGuys.com's Sigmund Bloom and Bleacher Report's Ryan Riddle show the diverging opinions on the Missouri product:
The negatives with Ray are rather simple. He best projects as a 4-3 defensive end and in fact may be the top prospect in that regard, not to mention the best first-round candidate, too.
Right now, though, his coming in at 6'3" and just 245 pounds is a setback.
The positives, of course, are a relentless motor, a versatile set of moves and a quick burst off the snap that mean Ray figures to fall somewhere between Bloom's and Riddle's thought processes once he completes the path to the draft.
Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
Alvin "Bud" Dupree does not hail from an SEC powerhouse. In fact, he's a relative unknown to the casual crowd who in past years would explode onto the scene at the combine were it not for the increased widespread access to info thanks to improved technology.
Dupree is hard to miss in this age of social media and the like. Coming in at 6'4" and 264 pounds, the Irwinton, Georgia, native is one of the most disruptive players in the class.
As Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes in his initial observations, Dupree's extreme athleticism and blatant high upside may translate into a high draft selection:
"Freakish athlete with chiseled frame. Outstanding power with ability to rag-doll tight ends at will. Should be an above-average edge-setter. Good transition from playing run to rushing quarterback in play-action. Explosive closing burst. Willing thumper when he has a shot on running back. Can drop into space and play zone. Raw but learning, with huge growth potential as a player.
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Few prospects have more on the line than Dupree as the draft nears. Stellar workouts and solid interviews can do wonders for a prospect who can convince NFL front offices he will blossom into an every-down, disruptive player—just ask Bruce Irvin.
Dante Fowler Jr., Florida
The hype train for Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. continues to barrel down the tracks.
Most recently, ESPN.com's Steve Muench compared Fowler to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Justin Houston—the guy who led the NFL in sacks with 22 this past season.
It might not be all that crazy of a thought, either. Fowler measures well at 6'3" and 277 pounds with plenty of explosiveness to post great numbers at the combine.
Fowler has the right idea, too, as his status as a scheme-versatile prospect opens up many more doors on draft day in comparison to a one-scheme player.
"I think the scouts like how versatile I am,'' Fowler said, per Scott Carter of Fox Sports. "Being able to play in a multiple defense, my freshman and sophomore year having experience to play defensive end and defensive tackle and then being able to show that I could play out in space this year."
Fowler can appeal to 3-4 teams that want to stand him up and rush from multiple spots. He also should look great to 4-3 teams that prefer he rush with his hand in the dirt on the outside or kick inside on passing downs.
Regardless, Fowler will impact himself and plenty of others in a big way as he navigates the path to the draft.
Vic Beasley, Clemson
Clemson's Vic Beasley can surely understand what Ray will experience.
Beasley is disruptive from any number of spots on the field, but he weighs in at 6'3" and 235 pounds, making him light in any scheme regardless of whether he stands up or puts a hand in the dirt.
Even Muench admits that "his frame makes it tough to find a practical NFL comparison," which also helps to explain why his stock is so down in comparison to his predraft hype last year before re-upping with the Tigers.
As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller points out, Beasley tends to win in one way:
Beasley turned down a spot at the Senior Bowl, which will have an interesting impact on his stock as things move forward.
The key now is for Beasley to come into the combine heavier than expected but retain the same quick burst that made him effective at the collegiate level.
Should he accomplish this, most everyone's first-round projections will need a major overhaul.
Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 4 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
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