2015 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Projections for Elite 1st-Round Prospects

It feels like the predraft season has just begun, yet the 2015 NFL draft stands just two months and some change away from unfolding right before our eyes.    

Two teams—the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, in case you're living under a rock—are still entering draft mode after Super Bowl XLIX. But alas, the other 30 teams have had their sights set on the nation's top talent for some time. 

While every team has concocted scouting reports by now of its favorite prospects, so much work is left to be done. With the NFL Scouting Combine and endless individual workouts on the horizon, players' stocks will be rising and falling all the way until April 30.

With that in mind, let's go ahead and break down a fresh mock with a closer look at a few sleepers who could very well see their names come off the board much earlier than projected today.

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

Top 1st-Round Sleepers

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

With the recent level of hype surrounding West Virginia receiver Kevin White and how it's grown since the end of the season, he may end up being off the board long before No. 18. But if he's there, the Kansas City Chiefs won't think twice.

White's capabilities on the field weren't an afterthought during 2014, as the senior racked up 109 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 scores. Those numbers weren't enough to catapult him close to Amari Cooper as the nation's top wideout, but that seems to be changing as the predraft season gets underway.

In fact, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller uncovered in the above video that White is actually preferred to Cooper by scouts he's spoken with. Sports Illustrated's Aaron Nagler quoted  Miller's most striking comment:

At 6'3" and 210 pounds, White boasts seemingly all of the physical tools possessed by Cooper, as both have slender frames with strength in their bodies and hands to outmuscle defenders. The only area perhaps lacking for White is turning on the afterburners or dancing around quick-footed defenders, which is an area where Cooper has everybody beat.

When it comes to finding a complete package at receiver and someone who can shoulder the load, though, White is the guy. And it's no secret that the Chiefs are in desperate need of such a guy after failing to throw a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver in 2014.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE, Kentucky

When it comes to elite SEC pass-rushers in this year's draft, you'll hear about plenty of them—with Missouri's Shane Ray and Florida's Dante Fowler headlining a scary crop of edge-rushers. But the hype around those two players has taken away from a player just as skilled as both of them.

Alvin "Bud" Dupree didn't receive the same type of recognition with the Kentucky Wildcats as some other SEC teams get, but he still dominated the conference. When his physical tools alone aren't enough to overpower opposing offensive linemen, he puts on a display of technique and skills to get to the quarterback.

With this year's draft class stacked with players at his position, Dupree fell all the way to No. 21 in the first mock draft of ESPN's Mel Kiper—an absolute steal, according to Mike'l Severe of World Herald Live:

What could truly set Dupree apart from his counterparts is the ability to make a seamless transition to defensive end. While the likes of Ray, Fowler and Nebraska's Randy Gregory figure to move to an outside linebacker role, the 6'4", 267-pound Dupree has the size and strength to remain on the line.

For a Bengals team that saw a multitude of injuries hamper its ability to get to the quarterback, the arrival of Dupree will be well received—especially at such a steal.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

While his departure from the Washington Huskies in the 2014 season took the headlines, the attention gained from Marcus Peters’ dismissal was only amplified by the potential he showcased.

When a player is dismissed due to run-ins with the coaching staff, it’s usually a recipe for disaster. But when it comes to dominating on the football field, there’s no cornerback in the class more talented than Peters.

The 6’0”, 198-pound corner possesses innate physical abilities that allow him to sky up and make plays against the most athletic of receivers. His backtracking skills are better than anyone in the class, as he’s able to turn back and make up ground when beaten.

His skill level isn’t lost on Miller, who also noted the interior rumblings around Peters’ off-field issues are overblown:

The Cowboys were able to minimize their secondary woes in 2014 and still made a run to the playoffs, but they can’t afford to put a band-aid over their 26th-ranked secondary in the future.

With Morris Claiborne not fulfilling his potential in the first few seasons as a lockdown corner, Dallas needs a new stud on the outside. Peters has all of the tools necessary.

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