2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Dark-Horse Prospects to Watch

The media focuses all of its attention on the first round when it comes to the NFL draft, and for good reason, but picking up quality players in the later rounds is just as important.

After all, there are 22 players on the field at any one time, and a single draft pick doesn’t necessarily carry the same weight as it does in basketball (unless that one pick is a quarterback). The best way to build a long-term winner is stocking up on quality depth in a number of positions come draft day and then sprinkling in a quality free agent or two.

With that in mind, here is a look at a mock draft for the entire first round and then some dark-horse players to look out for in later rounds.

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

Duke Johnson, Running Back, Miami

It is a testament to how far the running back position has fallen when it comes to the NFL draft that someone who played at a high-profile school like Miami and rushed for 1,652 yards in a season is under the radar. However, that is the case for Duke Johnson, who could be an instant contributor at the next level if he goes to the right situation.

In addition to the yards on the ground, Johnson racked up 421 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns on the season and was a weapon in the passing game as well as the rushing attack.

In the pass-happy NFL, that type of production as a pass-catcher is critical. Throw in his explosiveness and ability to go from zero to 60 with NFL-ready acceleration, and Johnson can be a third-down back at the very least in his rookie season.

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Johnson is much more than just a speedster in the open field who can mix it up in the passing game. He is physically tough and not afraid to run through the middle and between the tackles. He can get the grueling yards in the red zone or make the big plays in the middle of the field with his cuts and elusiveness.

That certainly sounds like someone who could make an impact at the next level.

Kevin Johnson, Cornerback, Wake Forest 

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

NFL fans who follow the draft and top prospects know the cornerback names of Trae Waynes, P.J. Williams and Marcus Peters. However, there will still be some talent available after the first round, and Kevin Johnson represents one of the better dark-horse players at the position.

Had Johnson played at a higher-profile school than Wake Forest, he would likely be more of a household name along with the other guys, but he will have the chance to prove himself in the NFL.

He only tallied one interception during the 2014 season, but that was largely because few teams dared to consistently throw at him. Johnson never backs down in press coverage and can match almost any receiver at the college level with his lateral speed and ball-hawking abilities when the pass is up for grabs.

Another thing teams won’t have to worry about is confidence if Johnson’s quotes are any indication, via Scott Brown of ESPN.com: "I'm the best cornerback in the draft. I think I'm a lockdown cornerback. I think I have excellent feet, hips, ball skills; I'm a competitor. I’m a student of the game and I'm a playmaker. I can do it all.” 

ELI LUCERO/Associated Press

All it will take is one team to take Johnson at his word in the draft. Perhaps he really can do it all.

Eric Kendricks, Linebacker, UCLA

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

You would be hard-pressed to find a more productive tackler in all of college football than UCLA’s Eric Kendricks.

He racked up more than 100 tackles for his third consecutive season as a senior when he tallied 101 individual tackles and 149 total tackles, per sports-reference.com. He made big play after big play for the Bruins defense and helped them stay in contention for the Pac-12 South title for the majority of the season.

His NFL.com draft profile certainly paints an enticing picture for professional teams looking for depth on the defense:

"

Confident with a downhill, attacking mindset. Good feet to slide, follow and burst to developing run plays. Can turn and chase sideline to sideline. Diagnoses quickly and attacks run fits while avoiding blockers. Is always around the play.

"

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

In addition to his ability to make tackles against the run, he is capable of covering tight ends in the passing game and challenges receivers who dare go over the middle. Kendricks may not be a potential first-rounder like Benardrick McKinney, but he will be a cheaper option who can produce for a number of years at the next level. 

Tackling translates to the NFL.

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