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NFL Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Projections Based on Prospects' Pro-Day Results
March 20, 2015
The outlook for the 2015 NFL draft has been shaken up by a frenzied free-agency period that featured a couple of blockbuster trades and saw top-tier veterans find new homes after signing some lucrative contracts.
While each one of those moves will surely have an impact on what each team does on draft day, another chain of draft-altering events have been quietly taking place in the background while free agency receives all the buzz—we're talking pro days.
Sure, pro days don't get the same amount of hype as the scouting combine, but they're just as important. They give NFL franchises one last up-close look at potential draft targets and could ultimately determine which direction a team goes when it's on the clock.
That said, here's a look at how the first round of the impending draft is likely to unfold based on recent offseason activity and the results of pro days across the nation.
| Updated 2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st Round | ||
| 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 | Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns | DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins | T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers | Jalen Collins, CB, LSU |
| 16 | Houston Texans | La'el Collins, OT, LSU |
| 17 | San Diego Chargers | Malcom Brown, DT, Texas |
| 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | Landon Collins, S, Alabama |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo) | Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Marcus Peters, CB, Washington |
| 23 | Detroit Lions | Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State |
| 24 | Arizona Cardinals | Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss St |
| 25 | Carolina Panthers | Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford |
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens | Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin |
| 28 | Denver Broncos | Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts | Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia |
| 30 | Green Bay Packers | Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA |
| 31 | New Orleans Saints (via Seattle) | Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma |
| 32 | New England Patriots | Cameron Erving, C, Florida State |
Analyzing Notable Pro-Day Results
With the draft fast approaching, many of the nation's top schools have already completed their respective pro days. Assessing how draft hopefuls fared during workouts is an important part of the draft process, as strong showings can propel a prospect up draft boards and weaker performances come with an adverse effect.
As these offseason workouts continue, let's take a glance at some recent pro-day results from some first-round candidates.
4. Oakland Raiders: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The 6'3", 215-pound Kevin White put on a show at the scouting combine, and he was at it again during West Virginia's pro day. He showed good burst, clean cuts in his routes and soft hands that allowed him to catch everything thrown in his direction. White may have just solidified himself as the draft's No. 1 receiver, and that makes him a likely target for the Raiders at No. 4 overall.
6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Reigning Heisman winner Marcus Mariota displayed his athletic ability at the combine, finishing as a top performer in every drill. However, questions surrounding his readiness to play in the NFL continued. The 6'4", 222-pound quarterback did well to quell those concerns at Oregon's pro day, taking snaps from under center and showing good footwork and a smooth throwing motion. Expect Mariota off the board at No. 6 overall.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Missouri's Shane Ray didn't participate at the scouting combine, and NFL franchises have been waiting with bated breath to see the athletic 6'3", 245-pound pass-rusher run the 40-yard dash. Unfortunately, his time of 4.68 seconds failed to impress. Still, his workout was just fine, and considering the speed he shows on his college tape, a bad 40 time won't break his status as a top-10 selection.
13. New Orleans Saints: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Trae Waynes impressed at the scouting combine with his blazing 4.31-second 40-yard dash, and he continued that trend at Michigan State's pro day. The 6'0", 186-pound corner ran a 4.19-second 20-yard shuttle and excelled during positional workouts, showcasing nice fluidity in his movements and good ball skills. Waynes' draft stock continues to improve, and he's nearing top-10 status.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills): Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
The highly athletic Bud Dupree continues to intrigue NFL personnel. The 6'4", 269-pound outside linebacker displayed great speed and leaping ability at the combine, and he picked up right where he left off at Kentucky's pro day. Dupree ran a 4.47-second 20-yard shuttle and 7.49-second three-cone drill. With a great showing during positional drills as well, Dupree's draft stock continues to rise.
All pro-day results courtesy of NFL.com's pro-day tracker.