2015 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Free Agency Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects

Monday marked the deadline for all NFL teams to apply the franchise tag to a player slated to become a free agent this offseason. While several franchises took the opportunity to retain a star player for at least one more year, others didn't, and some very notable veterans may hit the open market as a result.

With the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Julius Thomas, DeMarco Murray and others potentially up for grabs when free agency commences on March 10, we should expect the impending draft's outlook to alter significantly. 

Signing a big-ticket free agent fills a need for a team that would have otherwise looked to the draft to bolster that position. Conversely, losing a key player may prompt a franchise to fill that void with a coveted prospect.

So, as we continue to evaluate draft hopefuls while waiting for team needs to change via free agency, let's take an updated look at how the first round of the draft is likely to shake out.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5	Washington Redskins	Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
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	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
12	Cleveland Browns	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
13	New Orleans Saints	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
14	Miami Dolphins	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
15	San Francisco 49ers	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
16	Houston Texans	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
17	San Diego Chargers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss St
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Todd Gurley, RB,Georgia
30	Green Bay Packers	Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
31	Seattle Seahawks	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
32	New England Patriots	Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

Analyzing Picks Determined by Free Agency

We've already gone over how free agency can affect the draft, so now it's time to answer this burning question: Which teams are most likely to select a first-round prospect due to losing a key veteran? Well, there are plenty of factors that go into this type of scenario, but it's always fun to speculate.

Based on how the above mock draft played out, here's a look at some examples of first-round selections that fill the void left by a player who is likely to depart via free agency.

5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Redskins may stand to lose oft-injured linebacker Brian Orakpo in free agency. He's a force when healthy; however, he has difficulty staying on the field, and that may lead to the team allowing him to walk. If that's the case, Washington should be looking for a complement to Ryan Kerrigan with the draft's No. 5 overall selection.

Nebraska's Randy Gregory was one of the nation's most explosive pass-rushers in 2014. At 6'5" and 235 pounds, he needs to add weight, but his physical tools are very impressive, giving him a high ceiling. Gregory's raw athleticism will allow him to step into a starting role immediately and contribute against both the pass and the run.

23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

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Detroit opted not to use its franchise tag on Suh, and now the team may see both of its defensive tackles depart via free agency (Nick Fairley is also hitting the open market). Losing those players doesn't bode well for the NFL's reigning top-ranked run defense, so expect the Lions to look for a versatile defensive tackle early in the draft.

Florida State's Eddie Goldman didn't work out at the combine, but the talented 6'4", 336-pound prospect did impress with his football knowledge during interviews. He has brute power in the trenches and has the explosiveness to walk offensive linemen back into the pocket. Goldman's only knock is he needs to show a more consistent pass rush to become a complete player.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

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Justin Forsett broke out for the Ravens in 2014; although, he may be in high demand when free agency begins. Since Baltimore doesn't have another viable option on its roster, it could look for a talented ball-carrier early in this year's draft. Luckily, the impressive 6'1", 215-pound Melvin Gordon is available at No. 26 overall.

In 2014, Gordon became the fastest player to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season. His blend of burst, agility, straight-line speed and strength give him a versatile skill set that should allow him to excel in the NFL. He doesn't have much experience as a pass-catcher; however, he showed solid hands and his route running looked good at the combine.

28. Denver Broncos: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

The Broncos used their franchise tag on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, meaning tight end Julius Thomas is likely to walk in free agency. If Denver intends to keep quarterback Peyton Manning happy for another season, it must add another reliable target for the veteran signal-caller. Well, enter Minnesota's Maxx Williams.

At 6'4" and 249 pounds, Williams has a solid frame and good length. He has sufficient straight-line speed and can stretch defenses up the seam. At the combine, Williams appeared to improve his route running, as his movements were extremely fluid and on time. Combined with his soft hands, there isn't much holding him back from producing immediately in the NFL.

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