NFL Mock Draft 2015: Projections for 1st-Round Prospects Before Pro-Day Workouts

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the rearview mirror, and while we have a better idea of what every prospect brings to the table, the outlook for the impending draft's first round remains murky.

Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go with Jameis Winston at No. 1 overall after watching his pro-ready arm at the combine, or will a mixture of his past transgressions and the alluring athletic ability of Marcus Mariota sway the team in the direction of the Oregon product? Rest assured, every NFL team has at least one similar question to answer prior to the draft.

We won't know the answers to those inquiries until the draft actually unfolds, but speculating on its outcome and debating projected team selections is what makes this time of year so interesting. So, before the results from individual drills at pro days alter big boards once again, here's a look at how the first round may shake out.

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	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5	Washington Redskins	Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
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	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
11	Minnesota Vikings	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
14	Miami Dolphins	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
15	San Francisco 49ers	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
16	Houston Texans	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
17	San Diego Chargers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky
20	Philadelphia Eagles	P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
25	Carolina Panthers	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
27	Dallas Cowboys	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
28	Denver Broncos	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
29	Indianapolis Colts	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
30	Green Bay Packers	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss State
31	Seattle Seahawks	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
32	New England Patriots	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

Analyzing Notable Combine Top Performers

As pro days approach, many of the combine's participants will be feverishly working out in preparation to improve on the numbers they posted in Indianapolis. After all, poor showings at Lucas Oil Stadium sent several prospects plummeting down draft boards in the eyes of analysts.

Others, however, bolstered their draft stocks significantly, enticing scouts by putting on jaw-dropping performances at the combine. These players are already cemented with first-round grades and will be highly coveted as the process leading up to the draft continues. Here's a look at some examples of such players and their projected NFL destinations.

4. Oakland Raiders: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

How many NFL teams would like a 6'3", 215-pound wide receiver who runs a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, can rip off 23 reps on the bench press and has phenomenal hands? The answer is all of them. Luckily for the Raiders, they're the winners of the Kevin White sweepstakes in this scenario.

White immediately impressed in Indianapolis, displaying his great strength on the bench press. However, the draft community just exploded following his 40-yard dash. Here's one example of the many tweets regarding the wide receiver's time, via NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah:

Oakland needs a true No. 1 wide receiver in the worst possible way, and White has the ability to secure that position and become one of the league's most dangerous weapons.

6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Winston may have performed well enough to maintain the draft's top pick, but Mariota's athleticism stole the show at the combine. With NFL size at 6'4" and 222 pounds, the Oregon product ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash—the fastest among all quarterbacks. He also finished as a top performer in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle.

What's even more impressive is Mariota threw the ball very well during positional drills. He was extremely accurate and displayed a smooth throwing motion. It seemed apparent he worked hard prior to the event, and NFL analyst Jon Gruden has similar feelings about the signal-caller, via a tweet from Mike & Mike:

The Jets haven't had a viable signal-caller, well, for quite some time. Mariota has the tools to end that drought.

13. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Clemson's Vic Beasley was already known for his athletic ability entering the combine. His unique combination of size, speed, strength and agility allowed him to flourish as a pass-rusher for the Tigers despite his raw technique. Despite that common knowledge, the 6'3", 246-pound Beasley still shocked scouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Not only did Beasley run a blazing 4.53-second 40-yard dash and rip off an impressive 35 reps on the bench press—both topping all linebackers—but he finished as a top performer in every single drill he participated in. Here's a look at his insane numbers, courtesy of Rotoworld's Josh Norris:

The Saints defense struggled last season due to an inconsistent pass rush. Even though Beasley is still raw, his athletic ability will allow him to produce while he develops. After some tutelage from Rob Ryan, Beasley may become one of the NFL's elite pass-rushers.

14. Miami Dolphins: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Trae Waynes really helped himself at the combine. Already heralded as the draft's top prospect at cornerback, Waynes put together a solid tenure at Michigan State due to a great combination of technique, instincts and ball skills. He successfully added speed to his ever-growing list of strong traits after running an impressive 4.31-second 40-yard dash.

On-field drills only continued to elevate Waynes' draft stock. Here's a look at his ability to quickly transition out of his backpedal:

Miami has a solid duo of veteran corners already, but the team could use some youth and depth at the position. Adding Waynes will do the trick.

25. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings was considered a first-round prospect coming into the combine due to his impressive athleticism and strong 6'5", 309-pound frame. A former basketball player, Clemmings has quick feet and the agility to change direction quickly, and his workouts reaffirmed that notion.

The offensive tackle ran a solid 5.14-second 40-yard dash and finished as a top performer in both the vertical jump and the 20-yard shuttle. Clemmings looked explosive and showcased his quickness during workouts, and that was noticed by Bleacher Report's Dan Hope:

Due to a late switch to offensive tackle, Clemmings will still need to work on his technique going forward; however, his upside is astronomical, and he has the potential to become the anchor of Carolina's offensive line for years to come.

All prospect measurements and combine results courtesy of NFL.com's results tracker.