2015 NFL Draft: 1st-Round Order and Prospects Vying for Opening-Night Selection

Breaking up the 2015 NFL draft into a three-day spectacle will cause a tortuous waiting game for prospects across the nation.

For 32 players, the road ends on Thursday, April 30. For everyone else, they'll go to bed wondering where, if anywhere, they'll work. Quite a few prospects harness feasible but far from certain hopes of generating a first-round selection. The difference between No. 32 and No. 33 seems arbitrary, but tell that to the youngster who is watching his future paused until the following day.

Looking at the full Round 1 order, these three prospects have potential suitors near the end of the list. Whether those teams bite is another story that won't get resolved for another seven weeks.

Pick	Team
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2	Tennessee Titans
3	Jacksonville Jaguars
4	Oakland Raiders
5	Washington Redskins
6	New York Jets
7	Chicago Bears
8	Atlanta Falcons
9	New York Giants
10	St. Louis Rams
11	Minnesota Vikings
12	Cleveland Browns
13	New Orleans Saints
14	Miami Dolphins
15	San Francisco 49ers
16	Houston Texans
17	San Diego Chargers
18	Kansas City Chiefs
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)
20	Philadelphia Eagles
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	Pittsburgh Steelers
23	Detroit Lions
24	Arizona Cardinals
25	Carolina Panthers
26	Baltimore Ravens
27	Dallas Cowboys
28	Denver Broncos
29	Indianapolis Colts
30	Green Bay Packers
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)*
32	New England Patriots

*Fox Sports' Jay Glazier reported the Seattle Seahawks sent a first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in a blockbuster trade for Jimmy Graham:

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Seattle will ship this year's No. 31 pick to New Orleans: 

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

If not for health concerns, Todd Gurley would surpass Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon as this year's best running back in the draft. The Georgia powerhouse procured 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just six games, averaging 7.4 yards per rush before an ACL tear shut his season down.

The significant injury makes him a monumental risk, but the upside is a superstar running back. Discussing his recovery with USA Today's Jim Corbett, Gurley mentioned another back who made a remarkably quick recovery:

"

I'm definitely not Adrian Peterson. That guy is a freak of nature. But my goal is to be a freak of nature as well. ... My goal is to try to get back as fast as possible. But I'm not going to rush anything.

I definitely have the heart to do it. What type of back I was over the past few years, I'm going to work as hard as possible to be that guy when I come back.

"

Even a healthy Gurley would face an uphill battle for an early selection, as the last two drafts saw no running backs go in Round 1. Gordon is a solid bet to break that trend, but the Bulldogs bulldozer may fall due to the injury hazard.

Formerly at No. 31 before acquiring Graham, the Seattle Seahawks presented a sensible fit. Marshawn Lynch inked a two-year extension, but they probably won't commit longer to a heavily worked rusher who turns 29 in April and considered retirement.

The Seahawks could have saved Gurley for 2016 and beyond as the next iteration of Beast Mode. Now his best chance involves the New England Patriots announcing his name to end the evening.

Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

As a stigma forms around running backs, tight ends draw more attention as athletic monsters and matchup nightmares. This draft, however, offers no prominent prospect.

Minnesota's Maxx Williams is this year's only opening-round candidate, and he's far from a lock to fall off the board on Thursday night. A 4.78-second 40-yard dash derailed his hype, even though it placed third at the position.

Evaluating Williams for Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports, former New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride also questioned his blocking prowess:

So why does Williams grade as a potential first-rounder after collecting 61 catches through two college seasons? Bleacher Report's Dan Hope explained why Minnesota's offense stymied his raw production:

"

In a run-heavy Minnesota offense, Williams played with quarterbacks who were often woefully inaccurate and had no dynamic wide receivers around him to draw coverages off him.

Williams’ market share within the Minnesota offense itself was impressive. He led the Golden Gophers in receiving in both of his collegiate seasons, and in 2014, he had double the receptions of his closest teammate. In total, Williams accumulated more than 28 percent of Minnesota’s receptions and more than 30 percent of its receiving yards this past season.

"

The Denver Broncos, picking at No. 28, need a tight end to replace the departed Julius Thomas, per ESPN.com. Williams will likely fall to the second round, but Denver will desire a new end-zone weapon despite signing the oft-injured Owen Daniels, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia

Steve Helber/Associated Press

One of the winter's biggest climbers, Eli Harold has brandished enough versatility to get taken seriously as a potent rusher.

The 6'3", 247-pound linebacker notched a 4.60 40-time, but he particularly impressed at Virginia's pro day. Although listed as an outside linebacker, Harold lined up at defensive end in 2013, collecting 8.5 sacks for the Mountaineers.

According to NFL.com's Gil Brandt, the pass-rusher boosted his stock by displaying those skills at his pro-day showcase:

In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper paired Harold with the Cincinnati Bengals at pick No. 21. He previously was left out of the one-round simulation altogether. 

Superathletic edge-rushers are all the rage these days, and Harold is one of many in the hunt for first-round status. If the Bengals don't grab him, one of the ensuing 11 clubs likely will look his way.

Prospect information courtesy of NFL.com.