2015 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Predictions for Can't-Miss 1st-Round Prospects

The 2015 NFL draft is inching nearer, but there still remains an endless amount of time for draft boards to turn on their heads.

With endless amounts of game film on the draft's top college prospects, you'd think league-wide scouts would have picked out some can't-miss prospects by now to target. But that's far from the case, with the NFL Scouting Combine and other individual workouts looming large when it comes to players' draft stocks.

Doing it on the college football gridiron is one thing, but standing out opposite some of the best players at the position in the draft class is what truly separates players in the first round. 

Let's take a look at the latest first-round mock heading into the final weekend before the combine.

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	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
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	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
14	Miami Dolphins	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Vic Beasley, 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

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

USA TODAY Sports

There aren't any picks early in the first round that feel like shoo-ins at this point, but if there is one, it's at the very top.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sputtered to the league's worst record in 2014, in no small part due to their ineffectiveness on offense led by troubles under center. They have young Mike Glennon on the roster but recently released veteran Josh McCown—opening up an opportunity at No. 1 overall.

And it's becoming increasingly apparent that it will be Oregon's Marcus Mariota at that selection, as reported by Bleacher Report's Jason Cole:

However, the rumblings have been promising in some respects and the exact opposite in others. ESPN's Pat Yasinskas reported that he's heard Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith prefers Jameis Winston to Mariota at the top of the draft. 

While it will be hard to pass on the game-readiness of Winston, Mariota's potential cannot be overlooked.

He may not be as built to deliver in the pocket, but he already possesses the innate ability to buy himself time and escape the pocket with a keen sense of mobility. Mariota will need time to thrive in a NFL system, but the Bucs are in no rush with a young, dangerous offensive core that also eyes development.

With the likes of Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the fold, Tampa will nab Mariota and won't look back.

2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT, USC

Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

With the second-overall pick, the Tennessee Titans will have their pick of either Winston or Mariota—if not both—when their selection is up. But with a heap of needs across the board, they'd be better set getting the best overall player available.

There's little doubt, as the predraft season gets underway, that Leonard Williams is that guy.

The USC defensive tackle has staked his claim as the most dominant interior lineman in the draft class. There remain potent edge-rushers like Randy Gregory, Shane Ray and Dante Fowler, but nobody can impact the middle like Williams does with his blend of strength and evasiveness.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah lauded him as the most dominant player in the draft:

The Titans already have Jurrell Casey, Sammie Hill and Ropati Pitoitua up front, but only Casey has proved himself as a dependable run-stuffer. Tennessee could use a guy like Williams to lock down his portion of the 3-4 scheme and open up lanes for the linebackers.

The arrival of Dick LeBeau should bring with it a defensive resurgence in Tennessee, but that won't come to fruition without the proper talent on that side of the ball. With Williams coming in, that effort would receive a massive shot in the arm.

5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska

There are a handful of pass-rushers in this year's draft class worthy of crowning with a top-10 overall selection, but none would bring the immediate change to the Washington Redskins that Randy Gregory would.

Nebraska's defensive end and outside linebacking cross-breed has absolutely dominated Big Ten offensive lines throughout his career. He uses his insane length and explosion to wreak havoc for opposing tackles, and he possesses the agility to brisk past linemen with ease.

He could be even better in the NFL once he finds his permanent position, as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted:

It's not hard to figure out where he would fit in with the Redskins. Washington is sticking with a 3-4 defensive scheme in 2015, per the Washington Post's Mike Jones, but the team has little presence on the edge other than Ryan Kerrigan.

A more aggressive Washington defensive front will be featured in 2015, and Gregory will fit right in with that movement. His elusiveness and explosiveness off the edge will be well received with the Redskins, and it could turn out to be the game-changing presence they need to take the next step.