2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Prospects Rising Up Round 1 Board

This is a tricky time for NFL draft forecasting. 

Everyone goes into overdrive analyzing NFL Scouting Combine results. After all, how will a quarterback ever succeed at the pro level if he sprints milliseconds slower in shorts than his peers? 

Yet it gives folks something to scrutinize before the free-agent frenzy commences. Most teams are currently riddled with needs, but several will get addressed by April 30. 

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

Any mock draft can only dissect the current landscape. While it's foolish to read too much into combine success, it's also foolish to ignore other people's foolishness. So public perception can't go ignored.

Combine results have skewed some prospects' draft stock, and many scouts and league evaluators are suckers for groupthink. Marcus Mariota was once considered an easy call for the No. 1 spot. Now he's in danger of falling outside the top five, with Jameis Winston sounding more and more like the first pick instead.

These guys won't go No. 1, but they continue to creep up the draft board.

Leonard Williams, DE, USC

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

After previously tabbing Mariota and Winston for the top spots, Leonard Williams looks like too much of a monster for the Tennessee Titans to pass up.

The Williams love reached a point of no return, as the 20-year-old began drawing comparisons to MVP stud and football cyborg J.J. Watt. ESPN Stats & Info presented a tale of the tape from their combine outings. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter also offered some perspective on Williams' freakish combination of size and speed.

Perched atop Mel Kiper's big board, he's the type of mega-athlete teams adore on the defensive line. Bleacher Report's Sean Tomlinson praised the prospect's versatility that makes him a fit regardless of his future employer's system.

"

When you press play on Williams’ game film, his blend of acceleration and power is clear immediately. That’s what made him a movable chess piece for USC. He was often used as a 3-4 defensive end, but his muscle to generate a deep inside push made him an imposing threat when lined up as a defensive tackle, too.

He’s a hybrid presence, which is critical in today’s NFL with blitz packages constantly evolving to create mismatches against pass-oriented offenses.

"

Zach Mettenberger is probably not Tennessee's long-term solution under center, but the sixth-round pick posted a solid 7.89 passing yards per attempt through seven games last season. He also coughed up 11 turnovers with a 59.4 completion percentage, but many rookies have fared far worse.

The Titans ranked No. 29 in total offense and No. 27 in total defense, so they need the best player available. Right now, that's Williams.

Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

Probably the workout session's biggest winner, Kevin White dazzled scouts with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, which tied for the third-best time among wideouts. NFL Network's Mike Mayock declared, via NFL.com's Mike Huguenin, that the speedy showing "officially makes him a freak."

Following White's standout combine, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller vaulted him to No. 4 on his big board behind Winston, Williams and Mariota. That's far from a contrarian opinion; NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah ranks him No. 2 after Williams. 

That's fine as long as they're not overreacting to a 40 time. Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin tweeted an NFL Network still of the top receivers' runs superimposed. The result highlights the procedure's inexact science, with Amari Cooper right beside White despite a 4.42 finish.  

The White vs. Cooper debate gained steam before the combine, and White warrants the discussion after collecting 109 catches for 1,447 receiving yards during his senior year. While the West Virginia wideout is now the trendier choice, Cooper's sizzling production (124 receptions, 1,727 yards, 16 touchdowns) can't fall by the wayside because someone else ran fast in a gimmicky drill.

If the Oakland Raiders are smart, they'll still grab Cooper with the fourth pick. White, however, is very much in play for that selection, with the Minnesota Vikings serving as a practical landing spot at No. 11.

Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson

Tyler Smith/Getty Images

Quite a few edge-rushers infiltrate most Round 1 projections, but there's little agreement on how to rank them. Vic Beasley clouded the field even more with an impressive combine that could net him prominent placement in the opening round.

NFL.com's Charles Davis pegged the Clemson alum as one of the showcase's biggest gainers. 

"

We knew he was a highly talented pass rusher coming into the combine, but he surprised with his added weight, weighing in at 246 pounds, and strength, posting 35 reps in the bench press. Some guys look sluggish after gaining weight, but Beasley was far from that. He had the best 40-yard dash of all front-seven defenders (4.53), and he was also very smooth in on-field drills. He went through defensive back drills in preparation for the combine to help his footwork, and it paid off. Beasley no longer takes a backseat to the likes of Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler and Shane Ray. A top-10 selection is not out of the question for him now.

"

Beasley recorded 12 sacks during his senior year at Clemson, yet size was a frequent talking point before he bulked up. Not shy about his potential, he compared himself to another hybrid pass-rusher never revered for his stature.

"A lot of teams saw me with my hand in the ground, comparing me to guys like (Miami Dolphins DE) Cameron Wake, but I like to compare myself to (Denver Broncos LB) Von Miller," Beasley told Reid Ferrin of AtlantaFalcons.com. "He's able to drop in coverage, and we have the same body size, so I try to compare myself after him."

Facing firm competition at his position, Beasley needed a strong showing to hold his ground. While the bar is set high with top-10 chatter and Miller comparisons, he fortified a first-round designation, likely in the upper half. 

Although he falls short of the top 10, he gets snagged soon after by the New Orleans Saints at lucky No. 13. New Orleans' second-worst defense can use all the help it can get.

 

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com.