NFL Mock Draft 2015: Examining Where Top Prospects Will Land in 1st Round

Prospects in the 2015 NFL draft class have probably felt the level of scrutiny rise. The draft process has heated up, which presents an opportunity to improve their stock but also means teams will try to test them both physically and mentally like never before.

A front office wants to emerge as confident as possible that the player it takes in the first round is going to pay off. It's a major investment and one of the best chances to upgrade a roster during the offseason. Missing on an early pick is a huge setback.

Those who handle the gauntlet well could see their status improve. Players who don't fare as well could end up sliding down the board. So let's check out how things shape up at this stage of the process with movement likely before draft day.

2015 NFL Mock Draft

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

Teams are often forced to weigh risk against reward when it comes to the draft. There are very few sure things. Some front offices prefer to play it a little safer, while others are willing to take a chance with hope of a bigger payoff in the end.

There are numerous different reasons a prospect could present risk. In some cases, there are on-field questions about how a player's game will translate to the next level. Usually, the danger comes from potential off-field problems, though.

In an era where the league is working to crack down on those types of negative incidents, it makes the process a little trickier. With that in mind, let's examine some of the picks where teams will need to make that risk vs. reward decision.

Biggest High-Risk, High-Reward Picks

2. Tennessee Titans: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Winston has all the tools to become a top-tier quarterback. He sports ideal size (6'4", 231 lbs), can make all of the throws into tight windows with impressive accuracy and is capable of escaping the pocket to make plays with his legs when necessary.

He's dealt with numerous off-field incidents, though. They have raised questions about his maturity level and readiness for the NFL. The Florida State product told Chantel Jennings of ESPN.com he's not the person many people believe he is:

"

People always can bring up old things but now I'm doing what I do. I'm a loving person -- I'm loving my teammates. I'm dependable. I'm accountable. I can't show out to the world that I'm that guy because you're not in the locker room and a lot of people don't know me for who I am. Perception is reality but perceptions can also be false.

"

Of course, actions speak louder than words. Teams will want to see him stay out of trouble between now and draft day. They will also want to see how he reacts to questions about those prior problems during the interview process.

It's a mystery whether Winston can truly turn the corner and act like a professional. If he does, the Titans would be getting the franchise quarterback they have been seeking. But his margin for error is probably quite thin.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

Beasley falls into the category of on-field question marks. He possesses plenty of pass-rushing upside, which is particularly attractive at a time when getting after the quarterback is vital to success. The other areas of his game yield less confidence.

Most of the risk comes from his lack of size at 6'3" and 246 pounds. Not only does it limit his arsenal off the edge, but it could also hurt him against the run. That's why some people, including Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, previously stated they aren't completely sold on him as an elite prospect quite yet:

The downside is Beasley becomes a one-dimensional edge player who can only be confidently used on passing downs. While there's still some value to that type of role, it certainly wouldn't warrant getting picked inside the top 10.

On the flip side, even if he can make moderate improvement in other areas and add some more power to his frame, he can become a key piece of the Falcons' defense. It's a risk they may be willing to take in their intense search for playmakers on that side of the ball.

32. New England Patriots: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

Green-Beckham transferred to Oklahoma after getting dismissed from Missouri. He never played a game for the Sooners before opting to enter the NFL draft. He's another player with off-field concerns teams must keep in mind.

Yet a quick glance at Green-Beckham makes it clear why teams will still be interested. At 6'5" and 237 pounds, he's a big, powerful target who possesses all the physical skills to excel at the next level. Sigmund Bloom of Footballguys is very bullish on his football talent:

He's still going to need more polish, but his natural ability should allow him to contribute while learning the finer points of the position. If everything goes according to plan, which is no guarantee of course, he can become a key target in a few years.

The Patriots are a team that has the flexibility necessary to take the risk. Working with Tom Brady should hasten Green-Beckham's development process. And if it doesn't work out, the impact wouldn't be quite as large for the reigning champions as teams drafting earlier in Round 1.