2015 NFL Mock Draft: Early Offseason Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects

Realizing there are no games to watch this weekend, football fans are getting antsy. Some distraction must combat that gaping hole bludgeoning everyone into boredom, which is where the NFL draft comes into play.

With the season in the books, everyone resets to square one. That blank space offers the promise of a better 2015, but this optimism must get watered during the offseason. A crop of young newcomers is just what every team needs to feel better about that future. 

Slightly less than three months remain before draft day, so detailing every possible scenario is the only way for hardcore fans to stay sane during this inactivity. Let's dive into an early mock draft of the first round. 

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	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
5	Washington Redskins	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
6	New York Jets	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
7	Chicago Bears	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
12	Cleveland Browns	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
13	New Orleans Saints	Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
14	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Florida)
16	Houston Texans	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
17	San Diego Chargers	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
18	Kansas City Chiefs	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
23	Detroit Lions	Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
25	Carolina Panthers	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
26	Baltimore Ravens	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
27	Dallas Cowboys	P.J. Williams, CB, Ohio State
28	Denver Broncos	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
29	Indianapolis Colts	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
30	Green Bay Packers	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
31	Seattle Seahawks	Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
32	New England Patriots	Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

Quarterbacks get all the love (and hate), so Marcus Mariota and Jameis Wnston will receive most of the attention before draft day. A true superstar passer can galvanize a downtrodden franchise, but that's only one piece of the puzzle. Somebody has to protect him.

Offensive linemen constantly douse fires and save the day when nobody is watching, turning a talented offense into a juggernaut. Look at the Dallas Cowboys, who shattered expectations due to a completely revamped line.

Close to making one of the dumbest picks ever, the Cowboys ultimately talked down Jerry Jones from taking Johnny Manziel, instead taking guard Zack Martin. The All-Pro guard guided DeMarco Murray to a rushing title and Dallas to an NFC East crown.

Here's a look at this class' top offensive linemen, all projected to fall off the board in secession.

9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

Matthew Holst/Getty Images

The New York Giants hit the jackpot last season, snagging Offensive Rookie of the Year Odell Beckham at pick No. 12. Adding a premier offensive lineman at the No. 9 pick would form a completed offense fighting to stave off another losing season.

Beckham uplifted New York's passing offense, but it averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, ranking third last ahead of the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals. After signing Rashad Jennings and drafting Andre Williams last offseason, the G-Men won't look to the rushers themselves, but top-notch blocking fueled their first Super Bowl run with Tom Coughlin.

If he's still around, Iowa's Brandon Scherff is the ideal choice. ESPN's Todd McShay linked the two in his latest mock draft. "He is perfectly wired to be a New York Giants offensive lineman," McShay wrote. "He's durable, tough, strong and nasty."

Like Zack Martin, the 23-year-old is touted as a game-changing guard more than a top-shelf tackle. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, however, said Scherff can handle either position at the pro level.

Jason Pierre-Paul's free agency will impact general manager Jerry Reese's decision, but with the top pass-rushers locked up anyway, the Giants make the safe, steady choice.

10. St. Louis Rams: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Nothing like Scherff, Stanford's Andrus Peat represents a monumental high-risk, high-reward gamble. Last summer, head coach David Shaw talked him up as a future superstar, per NFL.com's Bryan Fischer:

"

I don't know if there's been anybody else in our conference, in the last eight years, that is as good as Andrus Peat has been and can be. In my entire career, nine years in the NFL, the only offensive lineman that was a step above of where Andrus can be is Jonathan Ogden -- one of the best tackles to ever play. Besides that special, special player, he's the most talented I've ever been around. And he's still scratching the surface. He can be phenomenal. Hopefully we have him for two more years.

"

Yet Peat failed to match that hype during an imperfect junior year, which will cause constant disagreement over the next months on where he gets selected. For those needing an immediate impact player, he's not the best choice. For someone hungry for upside, he's worth a gamble.

The St. Louis Rams need to turn the page from Sam Bradford, but they can't expect Mariota or Winston to fall into their lap at No. 10. It'd take a multi-pick trade like the one that sent Robert Griffin III to Washington.

Instead, clean the pocket for when their next quarterback eventually arrives. They surrendered 47 sacks last season, with first-round pick Greg Robinson failing to fix the problem. Rotoworld's Adam Levitan tracked the tumultuous play of last year's top tackles.

"

Four OTs went in 1st round of draft. PFF ranks Jake Matthews 83rd among 83 qualifiers. Greg Robinson 78th. Ja'Wuan James 76th. Lewan 30th.

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) December 22, 2014"

Taking Peat could compound the problem, but it'd also give St. Louis added depth and a potential mainstay protecting the quarterback's blind side.

11. Minnesota Vikings: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Good news for the Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater is a keeper. Now it's time to surround him with a supporting cast.

During the final five games of his rookie campaign, he completed 72.1 percent of his passes, averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt. One way or the other, Minnesota should help him out with the No. 11 pick.

That could mean giving him wide receiver Kelvin White or DeVante Parker, either way accepting Cordarrelle Patterson's rapid fall as last year's trendy breakout choice. Since the team's prized quarterback got sacked 51 times in 2014, stabilizing the trenches is just as important for Minnesota.

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

T.J. Clemmings is another youngster with untapped potential but a leaky floor. Mike Mayock leveled off on his top-10 chances after watching Senior Bowl practices, via NFL.com's Mike Huguenin.

"I think he's got a lot of talent, but he's so darned raw," Mayock said. "He's struggled all week in practice."

Not the best endorsement this high in the first round, but the Pittsburgh product sports off-the-chart upside after just two years at offensive tackle. Already a fierce run-blocker, Clemmings presents the strength and physicality to make a major dent.

It's a roll of the dice, but no sure things exist on draft day.