2015 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Combine Predictions for Nation's Top Prospects

It is easy to get caught up in the NFL Scouting Combine, especially when coverage of 40-yard dash times and reps on the bench press is the only football news fans are exposed to during this long stretch of the offseason.

However, it is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to evaluating the prospects before the upcoming draft.

Clearly, college production and film work will play a major role in the evaluation process, as will individual pro days and even the interviews teams conduct with the players. The combine is important, but don’t overreact and assume that a prospect will suddenly become a first-rounder just because he ran an impressive 40 time.

With that in mind, here is a look at a post-combine mock draft for the entire first round as well as some intriguing prospects to watch.

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

No. 8 Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

Tyler Smith/Getty Images

In past mock drafts, I have pegged Shane Ray for this pick, but Vic Beasley closed a narrow gap with a head-turning combine.

Let Bucky Brooks of NFL.com paint the picture:

"

At the NFL Scouting Combine, he has silenced critics questioning his size, strength and power, capping off a fine week with a sensational on-field performance Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 246-pound edge rusher pumped out 35 reps on the bench press and posted impressive marks in every athletic drill. From his sizzling 4.53-second time in the 40-yard dash to his terrific measurements in the jumps (41-inch vertical, 130-inch broad) to his remarkable shuttle times (6.91 three-cone drill, 4.15 20-yard shuttle), Beasley showed scouts that he is one of the premier athletes available in this draft. Most importantly, he's packed on nearly 15 pounds since the end of the season without losing any speed or quickness, and he displayed more power than most evaluators expected prior to this event.

"

Beasley was already considered a first-round prospect before the combine because of his prowess at Clemson and his overall physical abilities. These are the types of players who can see their stocks skyrocket with impressive showings at the combine, and that is the case here.

He displayed an almost ridiculous combination of speed and strength, which is an offensive lineman’s nightmare. Beasley should be able to contribute right away on the back of his physical ability alone, and he will only improve as the season progresses.

That is good news for an Atlanta Falcons defense that put up terrible numbers from a season ago. 

They finished 32nd in the league in scoring defense, 30th in sacks, 32nd against the pass, 21st against the run and 27th in scoring defense and really didn’t do anything well. However, adding someone like Beasley with that type of speed will help against the run. He pursues running backs and protects against the pass by terrorizing quarterbacks.

No. 30 Green Bay Packers: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers were a middle-of-the-road defense last season and finished 15th in total defense, 13th in scoring defense and 10th against the pass. However, one area that drastically needs improvement before next season is the run defense, which finished 23rd in the league in 2014.

Marshawn Lynch gashed the Packers for 157 rushing yards and a touchdown in the playoff game that ended Green Bay’s season. A strong presence in the interior of the line would immediately help this weakness.

Eddie Goldman would be an ideal fit given his incredible upper-body strength and ability to explode out of his stance off the snap and drive offensive linemen back. Even if he isn’t the one to make the tackle, Goldman consistently gets penetration, which opens up holes for linebackers to burst through and make plays in the backfield.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

What’s more, Goldman said that he modeled his game after Ndamukong Suh, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com: "He was one of the most productive freshmen ever. I tried to match my stats to his my freshman year...but it didn't compare. He got me." 

If he can come into the league and make a similar type of impact as Suh, the Packers will get an absolute steal this late in the first round.

No. 24 Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

This pick is not as much about need as the other ones and is simply the Arizona Cardinals taking an impact player late in the first round. Sometimes going with talent is the right thing to do.

Arizona finished 2014 fifth in scoring defense, which helped the Cardinals get into the playoffs despite terrible luck with quarterback health. The rich will get richer when the Cardinals select one of the best inside linebackers available in the draft to bolster that defense.

Don’t get bogged down on the inside linebacker moniker for Benardrick McKinney, though. He is an incredible athlete who lined up in the middle but often rushed on both ends with his impressive speed and ability to simply get around offensive tackles.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

He is best against the run, which is critical in a division that includes physically grinding offenses like the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. He has the strength to shed blocks and the speed to pursue running backs in the open field. 

The Cardinals will make room for someone like that.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek