2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions and Landing Spots for Top Prospects

The combine is over, the pro days underway and the NFL draft is nearly upon us. Let the rampant speculation begin.

There is nothing like draft season, where a seemingly endless supply of experts make their guess at who will be selecting who, and, more often than not, are wildly incorrect.

But even though the draft is the world’s biggest crapshoot, it is still the first step for players considered the future of the most popular sport in the country. So without further ado, here are a few predictions for what is set to occur on April 30 in the first round of the draft.

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

Will Amari Cooper be dethroned as the top wide receiver?

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

In this season of rampant speculation, it is rare to see consistency throughout the entire draft process, but that has come in the form of Amari Cooper’s status as the top receiver in the class.

The former Alabama star was penciled in as the top player at his position early in the year, and rightfully so. As a Heisman finalist this past season according to ESPN, the receiver was one of the most dangerous players in the country and considered to be one of the more NFL-ready prospects in this year’s class.

But while not much has changed for Cooper since the start of the process—he is still thought of as the best receiver prospect—his hold on the throne has weakened significantly in the past couple of months because of the rise of West Virginia’s Kevin White.

With a blistering 4.35-second 40-yard dash and an impressive 23 reps on the bench press per NFL.com, White has started to make the teams at the top of the draft reconsider their draft boards. A number of teams are looking for receivers in the top 10, so it is likely both players get selected early, but in what order?

Teams can’t go wrong with either player, but it is starting to feel like the momentum from the combine is going to push White over Cooper, making him the top receiver.

Prediction: Kevin White to the Raiders at No. 4, Amari Cooper to the Rams at No. 10

Does the first-round running back drought continue?

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

At this point it seems unfair to pile on more to the criticism Trent Richardson has received since being selected No. 3 overall by the Browns in 2012. But with the changing landscape in the league and the poor performance the Alabama back has displayed since entering the NFL, teams are much more hesitant to take a running back than in years past.

In the past two years, no team has selected a running back in the first round per www.drafthistory.com, but with the two best prospects since Richardson in this class, it seems as if teams are willing to take the risk again.

A running back going in the first 32 picks would be all but guaranteed at this point if it weren’t for the torn ACL Georgia’s Todd Gurley suffered midway through the 2014 season. Even with the injury concerns, it is still possible Gurley is selected late in the first round.

The real intrigue, though, comes in the form of Wisconsin’s record-breaker Melvin Gordon.

One of the most prolific rushers in NCAA history, Gordon nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single season rushing record last year and is the odds-on favorite to be the first back selected in the draft.

With a number of star running backs moving in free agency, like LeSean McCoy who is off to the Bills in a trade according to Adam Schefter, and DeMarco Murray and Justin Forsett who are free agents, teams will be looking for their next star ball-carrier in the early parts of the draft.

Prediction: Melvin Gordon to the Ravens at No. 26, Todd Gurley to the Seahawks at No. 31

Will the Cleveland Browns actually draft a wide receiver?

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

An argument can be made that the Browns decided to pass on a receiver in last year’s first round. With a number of positions that needed addressing just as much, and Josh Gordon, whether he would have played or not in 2014, one of the most talented receivers in the NFL, the argument was a fair one at the time.

After the explosive season put together by last year’s rookie receivers, the decision looks questionable, but with another super class of pass-catchers, can Cleveland correct its mistake this time around?

Unless things go in a completely unexpected direction, one of the top three receivers—Cooper, White and DeVante Parker—should be available when the Browns’ No. 12 pick rolls around.

Even if the AFC North team decides to pass on a receiver with its first pick, there is always pick No. 19 where the next tier, like Jaelen Strong and Dorial Green-Beckham, will still be around.

Once again, Cleveland has a lot of work to do before it can return to the playoffs, but that could start in this year's first round with the selection of a wide receiver.

Prediction: DeVante Parker to the Cleveland Browns at No. 12