2015 NFL Mock Draft: Updated Predictions for Prospects After Free-Agent Shuffle

There's still more than a month before the first round of the 2015 NFL draft on April 30, but a whole lot has changed since March 10, when the free-agency floodgates opened.

March 10 is also when this writer most recently made his predictions for the draft's first 32 picks. Now, let's compare that mock draft with a new one, taking recent free-agent signings and trades into account. Teams' needs are changing, which inevitably throws everything into flux.

First, a look at the mock draft from a little over a week ago:

2015 1st-Round NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DE, 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	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	Philadelphia Eagles (acquired from Rams)	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
11	Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
14	Miami Dolphins	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
16	Houston Texans	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
17	San Diego Chargers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
19	Cleveland Browns (acquired from Bills)	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
20	St. Louis Rams (acquired from Eagles)	Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
23	Detroit Lions	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
24	Arizona Cardinals	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
25	Carolina Panthers	La'el Collins, G, LSU
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
28	Denver Broncos	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
29	Indianapolis Colts	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
30	Green Bay Packers	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
31	Seattle Seahawks	Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
32	New England Patriots	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Order via NFL.com, Rams/Eagles trade via NFL Network

And now a look at the updated predictions, followed by explanations of why things changed for a handful of teams: 

2015 1st-Round NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DE, 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	Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
8	Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, 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	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
14	Miami Dolphins	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
16	Houston Texans	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
17	San Diego Chargers	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
19	Cleveland Browns (acquired from Bills)	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
25	Carolina Panthers	La'el Collins, G, LSU
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
27	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
28	Denver Broncos	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
29	Indianapolis Colts	Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
30	Green Bay Packers	Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
31	New Orleans Saints (acquired from Seahawks)	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
32	New England Patriots	Devin Funchess, WR Michigan

Order via NFL.com

Bears

Julio Cortez/Associated Press/Associated Press

Chicago signed linebacker Pernell McPhee to a five-year, $40 million deal in free agency, lessening its need for Vic Beasley despite his indisputable talent. They'll take Danny Shelton, the best nose tackle in the draft, instead.

Falcons

With Beasley still on the board, the Falcons may not be able to pass up a chance to snag him. He's a deadly pass-rusher.

Saints

The Saints now have two first-round picks following their trade of Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks. Therefore, they'll wait until No. 31 to take a wide receiver and select defensive end Shane Ray at No. 13 overall. Ray may not fall this far, but if he does it would be a steal for New Orleans.

Chargers

Andy Manis/Associated Press

With Ryan Mathews having departed for Philadelphia, the Chargers could jump at an opportunity to fill his shoes by taking Melvin Gordon. Gordon would be the first running back picked in the first round since 2012.

Chiefs

It's still conceivable that the Chiefs would go for a wide receiver at No. 18, but if a defensive tackle like Malcom Brown is available, they may pull the trigger.

Eagles

Who the heck knows what Chip Kelly will do? Maybe the Eagles will trade up for Marcus Mariota. If not, they could draft a wide receiver such as Jaelen Strong.

Lions

USA TODAY Sports

The Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley departures change the equation for Detroit, even after signing Haloti Ngata to fill one hole on the defensive line. Eddie Goldman would help them continue to make up for those losses.

Cardinals

With Antonio Cromartie gone, picking cornerback Kevin Johnson would make sense for Arizona. "The Cardinals would be delighted to see Johnson slip to 24," writes Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com. "Potentially the first or second cornerback on some teams' boards, this is a good fit for Arizona if he's there."

Ravens

After losing Ngata and McPhee, the Ravens could use some help in their front seven. Jordan Phillips would add depth to their defensive line. Baltimore also has needs at cornerback, but the Ravens might simply be best off taking the best defensive player available.

Cowboys

Some think the Cowboys will go for a running back such as Georgia's Todd Gurley. But it's more likely that they'll look to beef up their secondary with a guy such as Jalen Collins. "Collins is a high-upside play as a cornerback with good size, reach and athletic attributes," writes ESPN.com's Mel Kiper.

Colts

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Colts could use an offensive lineman, but it's more fun to think about them picking the versatile Shaq Thompson. If he's still available at No. 29, Indianapolis could certainly find plenty of ways to use him, particularly to help contain opposing wide receivers and tight ends.