2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Elite Prospects with Star Potential

Decisions, decisions, decisions. They face every team in the NFL as the league's draft approaches. Many teams know what their primary needs are, but the conundrum is: Which prospect should they take to fill them? 

There are several factors involved in the decision, but there are no definitive answers. This mock draft will examine three of the most compelling battles for positional supremacy and team favor. The players spotlighted are highlighted in the table below.

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

Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston

This is the most popular competition in this year's draft, but Jameis Winston's testing at the NFL Combine seems to have separated him from Marcus Mariota in most experts' minds.

Per Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, Winston's football IQ impressed NFL scouts. Brooks wrote:

"Winston impressed observers with his high football IQ and spectacular arm talent at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is an ideal fit for Dirk Koetter's vertical passing game."

There are always the character concerns that surrounded Winston in college, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith has a reputation for being a player's coach and disciplinarian. His players love and respect him. That could potentially be the ideal environment for Winston.

As for Mariota, it's hard to see him slipping far. He proved to be one of the premier athletes at the combine. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compares him to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. However, some teams may still have questions about how he'll adapt to a more pro-style offense.

There's plenty of talk about him falling to No. 6, but, per Marc Eckel of NJ.com, the trade market seems hot for the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. Whether it's the Philadelphia Eagles or the Chicago Bears, it would be a shock if a team doesn't make a move to get into position to take Mariota.

The Tennessee Titans could simply take him at No. 2. It's not as if they don't need a quarterback themselves. No matter what happens, he won't slip past No. 6.

Amari Cooper vs. Kevin White

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

For most of the season, Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper wasn't just considered the top receiver in college football; he could have possibly been regarded as the top overall prospect.

Things have changed a bit as the West Virginia Mountaineers' Kevin White has turned some heads with his combination of size, strength and speed. Because of his physical gifts, his ceiling as a playmaker looks to be higher than Cooper's.

Brooks has him going No. 4 to the Oakland Raiders. At the combine, the 6'3" 215-pounder ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash, hit 23 reps in the bench press and showed off a 36.5" vertical leap.

Those are measurables that cause NFL teams to salivate. 

That said, Cooper is the safer and more polished player. His 4.42 40 time and 33" vertical are nothing to sneeze at. Plus, he's a better route-runner. He also has mounds of production against elite SEC athletes to state his case.

Both players could easily become stars, but if a team is desperately in need of immediate help at receiver, Cooper seems like the smartest choice.

Shane Ray vs. Vic Beasley vs. Randy Gregory

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Edge-rushers are perhaps the most important pieces of NFL defenses today. They make life easier for the rest of the defense. That's why you'll likely see three to four of them drafted within the top 10 picks of the draft.

Three of the names likely to be called will be Missouri's Shane Ray, Clemson's Vic Beasley and Nebraska's Randy Gregory. All three young men have the requisite burst and speed to make an impact as a disruptive force in the backfield.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Gregory's size raised some concerns at the combine. He measured 6'5" and weighed in at just 235 pounds. That makes him around the same size as Calvin Johnson. He also only hit 24 reps in the bench press. Without question, he'll need to add some bulk and strength to be a three-down player in the NFL.

Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

Ray only managed 21 reps, but there are no size concerns and his production in college suggests he has the physical ability to succeed at the next level. Ray set a single-season Missouri record with 13 sacks in 2014. 

Gregory had seven. While he might have tremendous upside, he also might have the most boom-or-bust potential of any player projected to be selected in the first 10 picks.

In my opinion, Beasley is the man any team running a 3-4 scheme and in need of an outside linebacker should be targeting. Beasley dispelled any size concerns when he showed up for the combine at 246 pounds.

Anyone who was worried about Beasley losing speed with the extra muscle were quickly shown that wouldn't be a problem. Beasley ran a 4.53 in his 40-yard dash. What about his strength? He hit a freakish 35 reps in the bench press.

The ACC Defensive Player of the Year had 21.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 13 games. He's the real deal.