2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Top Prospects and Latest Storylines

The path to the NFL draft doesn't slow for anything, including madness.

Neither does mock-draft season.

While a tad muted by comparison to other events, storylines, stock changes and more continue to come to light as pro days continue and teams fill needs with free agents.

For those who turned away, a mock draft is a good way to digest the top prospect's current stock, updated team needs as each franchise inks more free agents and a general value chart map of the first round.

Below, let's take a look at an updated mock draft and dive into some of the most noteworthy storylines of the period.

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	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
8	Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
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	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
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	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan
32	New England Patriots	Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio)

Developing Draft Storylines to Watch

Tennessee's Dilemma at No. 2

The Tennessee Titans are at a crossroads. 

Not only does the franchise clutch the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft and figure to have a shot at one of Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, it's also undergoing major shifts at the top of the organization.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided analysis on the change:

Does a fresh beginning at the top create a ripple effect? A splash in the pond big enough to stand pat at No. 2 and take one of the top quarterbacks?

It's an intriguing question, to say the least.

The Titans could go the safe route and select someone such as USC's Leonard Williams. After all, the defense ranked 31st against the rush last year, and the coaching staff wouldn't mind an upgrade on the 39 sacks, either.

This means the Titans roll with second-year quarterback Zach Mettenberger under center, though. While he showed flashes last season, it's hard to argue he offers more upside than either Winston or Mariota.

As NFL Network's Albert Breer breaks down, the Titans are doing their due diligence on both quarterbacks:

So what's it going to be?

Given the importance of a top-tier quarterback to compete at the league's highest levels, it's hard to imagine how a new regime doesn't lean toward one of the top two quarterbacks.

Look at the scarcity of the position in the league right now. It's elite-quarterback-or-bust territory, and the 2015 class is a mess after the top two. Both Mariota and Winston are risks, but at the least, the Titans can create a competition under center that brings out the best of Mettenberger and a rookie.

Prediction: Tennessee goes QB at No. 2.

San Diego Gambles on RB?

One of the most polarizing discussions surrounding the 2015 class pertains to running backs. 

The position is as undervalued as ever, which would explain why backs just don't come off the board in the first round anymore.

It might change this year, though, thanks to elite prospects such as Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon.

Oh, and the San Diego Chargers.

There seems to be a growing sense the Chargers will select a back such as Gurley at No. 17, breaking the streak of no backs in the first round. USA Today's Nate Davis mocks the connection, and NFL Network's Charles Davis said as much on Path to the Draft, per NFL.com's Bryan Fischer:

"

I would take Todd Gurley and make him the obvious choice there at No. 17. When he is 100 percent, and I'm getting indications that he could be ready by training camp, he is everything Melvin Gordon is and then some. He's the most powerful back in this draft and the Chargers like physical players.

"

The fit makes sense. Ryan Mathews is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving a committee of Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver in the San Diego backfield.

If not Gurley, one of the most talented backs to come out in years, then Gordon, who rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.

Then again, perhaps the Chargers would be smart to see the fading light of running backs. The coaching staff already has a great pass-catcher in Woodhead. Oliver was a nice surprise last season, too, rushing for more than 100 yards and a score the two times the staff gave him 19 or more carries.

In the end, it makes more sense for the Chargers to address an offensive line that allowed 36 sacks of Philip Rivers last season and grab another committee rusher later in the draft.

Prediction: San Diego skips RB in Round 1.

Shane Ray Slipping?

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Before the combine, Missouri's Shane Ray popped up in the top 10 of most mock drafts, if not the top five, as he battled Nebraska's Randy Gregory as the top edge-rusher.

Not anymore.

Ray seems to be a victim of the process so far and slipping down boards. He showed up at the combine at just 6'3" and 245 pounds, a tad small for defensive end, then participated in just the bench press.

Things didn't improve for Ray at Missouri's pro day, either, as Brandon Kiley of The Sports Wire documents:

A lack of weight and explosiveness in certain agility drills reinforces concerns over Ray's stock, something ESPN's Todd McShay touched on while ranking him as the No. 15 prospect in the class:

"

I've cooled on Ray a little bit as I've studied more of his tape. He has elite speed and first-step quickness for an edge rusher, but I haven't seen much of a power element to his game -- and when you look at the top pass-rushers in the NFL right now, almost all of them possess the ability to win with power. He has a great motor and was very productive at Missouri, but his sack totals are a little misleading, as a lot came against lesser competition.

"

Right now, Ray measures a bit light for an edge-rusher on the line in a 4-3, as his lack of strength makes him a weakness against the run. An apparent lack of agility in drills throws his ability to cover the pass as a linebacker into question, too.

Still, the upside with Ray is tremendous, so a team capable of moving him around as a chess piece while he develops will take the risk. Think defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in New Orleans, whose amoeba look allows players to line up anywhere on a given down.

Prediction: Ray joins New Orleans at No. 13.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 23. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.