2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Top Prospects Ahead of Pro Days

As far as the stock department surrounding NFL mock drafts goes, let's just say things are looking up.

The NFL Scouting Combine is now in the rearview mirror, meaning prospects next return to the comforts of home at collegiate pro days.

Those who have followed the draft for quite a while know the drill—the players benefit with better numbers on friendly surfaces, get to perform drills with and against players they are most comfortable with and have the mental comfort of knowing that NFL teams came all the way to see them.

Pro days always have a major impact on mock drafts (a full schedule can be found at NFL.com). How things stand going into the spectacle can be found below, but keep in mind the next month and change will provide plenty of alterations.

2015 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
8	Atlanta Falcons	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
9	New York Giants	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
10	St. Louis Rams	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
11	Minnesota Vikings	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
14	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
17	San Diego Chargers	A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
23	Detroit Lions	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
24	Arizona Cardinals	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
27	Dallas Cowboys	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
28	Denver Broncos	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
29	Indianapolis Colts	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
30	Green Bay Packers	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
31	Seattle Seahawks	Carl Davis, DL, Iowa
32	New England Patriots	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

Prospects with Most on the Line at Early Pro Days

Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia (March 2)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

NFL teams sure don't lack for options this year when it comes to rushing the passer. 

The obvious names such as Randy Gregory, Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler Jr. inhabit the top of most draft boards, but one name slowly on the rise is Eli Harold out of Virginia.

Harold hit the combine at 6'3" and 247 pounds before running a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and times of 7.07 seconds in the three-cone drill and 4.16 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle—all great numbers that personify a great quick-twitch rusher.

Bleacher Report's Dan Hope even noted that Harold showed well in drills:

Virginia's pro day is key for Harold. It's early in the process, meaning he'll need to really impress in order to stay fresh in the minds of most as the month of events drags on toward a conclusion.

Harold is lanky and swift, with plenty of upside. It certainly wouldn't hurt his case to show a bit of additional bulk with speed retention at the event.

Should Harold run well, he'll continue to flirt with first-round-lock status.

T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh (March 3)

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Upside is always a major part of the equation when an NFL team considers a prospect.

Rarely is it the only equation.

Such is the case with Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings, who only has a few years of experience on the offensive line under his belt. The early returns are promising, but what may rest down the road is what has folks in NFL circles abuzz.

Clemmings is a raw athlete who stands at 6'5" and 309 pounds. He scored among the best at his position in the vertical jump (32.5 inches) and 20-yard shuttle (4.54), numbers that hint at his elite athleticism.

For his part, losing his starting gig on the defensive side of things and showing raw upside in the offensive trenches is a positive, as he wrote in a draft diary at USA Today, recorded by Tom Pelissero:

"

Everybody says I'm still raw, and I guess that's a fair assessment of me. You can look at it as a bad thing. Me? I'm looking at it as a positive thing. I've only had one offensive line coach, so the next coach that I get will be able to teach me exactly what they want me to do and how exactly they want me to play the position for their team. There won't be a lot of, 'Man, we've got to try to erase bad habits.' It's a fresh slate really.

"

Clemmings was impressive at the scouting combine in most areas, but there's still an aura of newness around his stock.

Normally, when teams draft linemen in the first round, they want a mixture of someone who can help right away and who will continue to improve.

If Clemmings can continue to exorcise some of those inexperience weaknesses, teams will continue to slowly view him in a different light.

Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State (March 4)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Before the combine, Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney was the runaway leader at insider linebacker.

Now, not so much.

Inside linebacker is a very weak offering this year, so much so that Eric Kendricks, Paul Dawson and Denzel Perryman—other potential top players at the slot—don't have a great shot at coming off the board in the first round, either.

McKinney might be able to change his fortunes, though, as CBS Sports Dane Brugler hints:

It's an interesting possibility that may gain some traction after McKinney weighed in at 6'4" and 246 pounds at the combine with 4.66 40-yard dash speed.

The truth is, McKinney lacks the agility and raw instinct on film to play linebacker at the pro level, something NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah reinforced after the combine.

With these concerns in mind, McKinney is in need of a major pro day. Whether he takes snaps with his hand in the dirt or not, the pro day is a chance to turn the tide back in his favor and recover lost ground.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 28. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.