2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Top Prospects After Free Agency's Opening

NFL free agency should not fool fans—championship teams are still constructed through the NFL draft.

While big spenders such as the Miami Dolphins are at it again, notice annual contenders such as Denver, New England and others are not so concerned with free-agent departures.

There's a reason one departure calls for a slight schematic change and a quality fill-in, not a raise of the white flag. More often than not, many adequate replacements are right there in the first round of drafts; it stinks to lose a star player, yes, but championship rosters are championship rosters.

Right now, the first-round outlook doesn't change much despite what the hype says. A few playoff hopefuls do have a different approach now that some talent has left the building, though.

2015 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
10	St. Louis Rams	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
11	Minnesota Vikings	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
14	Miami Dolphins	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
17	San Diego Chargers	A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
27	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
30	Green Bay Packers	Carl Davis, DL, Iowa
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
32	New England Patriots	Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH.)

Where Draft Will Fill Biggest Free-Agency Voids

Houston Goes Wide Receiver

The NFL world laughed at head coach Bill O'Brien and the Houston Texans for ignoring quarterback at No. 1 last year. 

Houston got the last laugh, though, going 9-7 and missing the postseason by one game.

The NFL realm laughs again, though, this time as Houston decided to part ways with veteran wideout Andre Johnson, who joined the team way back in 2003. Johnson himself recently broke the news (who needs journalists?) of his signing with the Indianapolis Colts.

To be honest, it's not a huge ordeal for the Texans. Johnson caught an impressive 85 passes for 936 yards and three scores last season, but going into his age-34 season, the Texans are smart to want to get younger.

Houston can do this with Dorial Green-Beckham, who weighed in at the NFL Scouting Combine looking like Calvin Johnson at 6'5" and 237 pounds. As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller notes, the only thing holding DGB back is prior off-field transgressions:

If it all checks out on the path to the draft, Houston can swap out an aging veteran with a young, big-bodied target who can move the chains and gain plenty of yards after the catch.

DGB slots well in Johnson's role and as a complement to DeAndre Hopkins, DeVier Posey and others—no matter how O'Brien decides to address his quarterback situation.

Denver Jumps on Tight End 

One of the more obvious developments around free agency was tight end Julius Thomas' departure from Denver, even more so after the Broncos hit wideout Demaryius Thomas with the franchise tag.

Thomas used the lack of a restriction to hit the open market and cash in on a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Denver's response was to go out and grab veteran Owen Daniels off the market, per Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Daniels is a fine pro, but keep in mind he's 32 years old and only played five games in 2013. In fact, he hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2008. Take this track record into account and the fact he might receive more usage than ever before, and there's reason to believe the Broncos should address the position again.

General manager John Elway and the front office can do that near the end of the first round with Minnesota's Maxx Williams.

Williams is a proven producer who caught 36 passes for 569 yards and eight scores last season. Not impressive? Keep in mind the Golden Gophers attempted just 254 passes to 599 rushes last year.

At the combine, Williams came in at 6'4" and 249 pounds with blazing 4.78 40-yard-dash speed. So not only can he act as a solid red-zone target, but he can deploy all over the field in two-tight end sets and stretch teams in a vertical manner.

With Denver all-in surrounding what may be Peyton Manning's last season, Williams seems like a no-brainer if he falls.

New England Addresses Secondary

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

One doesn't just rattle head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. 

Darrelle Revis' departure and return to the New York Jets, per the team's Twitter account, seemed like an obvious conclusion this offseason.

Rather than panic, the Patriots are using the money saved by waving goodbye to Revis to upgrade the front seven. In an ESPN.com article, Adam Schefter reported the Patriots inked pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard to a deal, and according to Doug Kyed of NESN.com, the team also has an interest in defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.

The secondary isn't an afterthought, though—that's what the first round is for this year.

At the last pick of the opening round, Miami (Ohio) cornerback Quinten Rollins will still be on the board and fits quite well with what Belichick prefers in his defensive backs.

Rollins is a bigger defensive back, weighing in at 5'11" and 195 pounds at the combine. He also has the athleticism and upside to play inside or out and even freelance at safety if necessary.

He seems to have the right idea surrounding his stock, as USA Today's Tom Pelissero chronicles:

As a hybrid player with massive upside, Rollins is an ideal fit in New England alongside Devin McCourty and others.

No player will match Revis' talent level, and the expectations will be enormous of the replacement regardless. Rollins will prove up to to task in time.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 12. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.