NFL Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Potential Trade Scenarios

In the months leading up to the draft, analysts carefully pick apart each and every prospect, decide what they all bring to the table and speculate where they will call home in the NFL based on team needs and schematic fits. The end result is a mock draft.

There are countless mock drafts available for your viewing pleasure across the Web, and each has exactly one thing in common—they will all go up in smoke once a draft-day trade is made. Trades are one of the most difficult aspects of the draft to predict, yet they happen every year—in 2014, there was a total of five trades in the first round alone.

So, here we are in February 2015. The scouting combine is about to commence, and as a result, we're about to get a better idea of how each prospect's skill set will translate to the NFL. Before big boards are shaken up once again, let's take a look at how the draft's first round could likely shake out, followed by a few trade scenarios that may eventually come to fruition, making this very mock draft obsolete.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
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, Nebraska
6	New York Jets	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7	Chicago Bears	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
14	Miami Dolphins	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
15	San Francisco 49ers	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
16	Houston Texans	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
17	San Diego Chargers	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
23	Detroit Lions	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
24	Arizona Cardinals	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
25	Carolina Panthers	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
26	Baltimore Ravens	Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH)
27	Dallas Cowboys	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
28	Denver Broncos	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
29	Indianapolis Colts	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
30	Green Bay Packers	Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
31	Seattle Seahawks	Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
32	New England Patriots	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

Draft-Day Trade Scenarios

Philadelphia Eagles Trade Up for Marcus Mariota

The Eagles are a very solid football team, generating a 20-12 record over the last two seasons under head coach Chip Kelly. Although, Nick Foles doesn't appear to be the future at the quarterback position for this high-octane offense, and that may prompt the team to move up and select Oregon's Marcus Mariota—a prospect who is very familiar with this type of offense.

It's no secret Kelly holds Mariota in high regard, and selling the farm for the quarterback could be the coach's ultimate decision. So, if that's the case, how high up do the Eagles need to trade?

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Jameis Winston with the first overall pick—a likely scenario—Mariota could still go No. 2 overall to the Tennessee Titans. Although, Tennessee has other glaring needs and still doesn't know what it has in Zach Mettenberger. If Philadelphia can remain patient, it won't need to trade up until the Washington Redskins pick at No. 5.

The next team in line that could pull the trigger for Mariota is the New York Jets. They need a quarterback in the worst way after suffering through years of Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith. A trade with division-rival Washington would allow the Eagles to leapfrog the Jets and grab their coveted quarterback of the future.

This won't be a cheap move, as trading up into the top five from No. 20 overall will likely come with a price of two first-round picks and several others. That would likely work for the Redskins, as they need to accumulate picks to fill several needs, and new general manager Scot McCloughan has a reputation of building teams through the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs Trade Up for Kevin White

Kansas City needs a No. 1 wide receiver in the worst way. Not a single receiver caught a touchdown pass for the team in 2014, and there isn't a pass-catcher on the current roster who has the upside to become a legitimate top target.

If Amari Cooper goes to the Oakland Raiders at No. 4 overall, that leaves White—arguably the draft's No. 2 receiver—ripe for the picking on the outskirts of the top 10. After all, following Oakland, the next team likely to snag a wideout is the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11 overall. Judging by team needs and available prospects at the draft's 10th pick, the St. Louis Rams should be open for business.

The Rams are likely looking for help at cornerback or possibly along the offensive line. By trading back eight spots, they'll still be able to get a great prospect at either of those positions and obtain something along the lines of a third-round pick in addition.

This works out nicely for the Chiefs, as they may be a playmaker away from a playoff run. White is 6'3" and 210 pounds with great acceleration, a huge catch radius and soft hands. He is a true No. 1 target and has the upside to be one of the league's elite wide receivers.

Trade Options for the Cleveland Browns

The Browns aren't strangers to draft-day trades. The team was involved in three of the five first-round trades one year ago. This year, Cleveland has two first-rounders in its arsenal, and with that kind of ammunition, we should expect it to be on the move once again.

Interestingly enough, the two aforementioned trades involving the Eagles and Chiefs are also options for the Browns. Due to the ongoing transgressions of Josh Gordon, the team will certainly be in the market for a wide receiver. Also, the Browns have been linked to Mariota and must have serious concerns regarding Johnny Manziel.

So, here are a couple of trade options for Cleveland.

If the Browns are intent on another change at quarterback, they'll need to move into the top five. Since they have the draft's No. 12 and No. 19 selections, creating a package deal to move into Washington's No. 5 spot shouldn't be difficult. Giving up those two first-round picks along with a mid-rounder may be enough to get the job done here.

Should Cleveland stand pat and allow another team to go after Mariota, it will still have the ability to snag the wide receiver of its choice.

The Browns pick at No. 12 overall; however, the Vikings are selecting the pick before. If Cleveland thinks Minnesota is going to snag its desired wide receiver, packaging the No. 12 pick and a fourth-rounder will allow the Browns to trade with the Rams and move up two spots to No. 10 overall.