2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions, Analysis for Combine Stars and Top Prospects

With a little over 30 days left before the NFL draft commences in Chicago, last-minute details, distractions and events are impacting some of the top prospects.

In the days leading up to the annual event, we analyze every happening with a microscope. Sometimes these examinations uncover issues that will prove to hamper a player throughout his career. Other times, things are blown out of proportion.

This mock draft focuses on the predicted landing spots, analysis, combine performances and latest news on three of the draft's top prospects. The spotlighted players are highlighted in the table below:

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	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama,
5	Washington	Vic Beasley, OLB/De, Clemson
6	New York Jets	Bud Dupree, OLB/DE, Kentucky
7	Chicago Bears	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
11	Minnesota Vikings	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
14	Miami Dolphins	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
15	San Francisco 49ers	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
16	Houston Texans	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
17	San Diego Chargers	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss St
30	Green Bay Packers	Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle Seahawks)	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
32	New England Patriots	Cameron Erving, C/G, Florida State

Randy Gregory

A failed drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine has drastically altered Randy Gregory's draft stock. Per Kimberly Jones of NFL.com, Gregory admitted to failing the test and blames himself for the situation.

ESPN First Take's Skip Bayless talks about how Gregory's failed drug test should affect his draft stock:

Gregory wants to put this issue behind him, but it will be difficult, as the news is coming to light at an inopportune time, as noted by Jones:

"

I don't wake up every day saying, I'd really love to go smoke. It's not a struggle for me every day (now), it really isn't. In the past, hell yeah, it's been a struggle. It really has been.

I was worse at Nebraska than I've ever been at any other time of my life. But I know how I am now. I think if teams really look at how I am now more so than the past, they'll see I'm making strides to get better, as a person and as a player. 

"

While there were questions about Gregory's size (6'5", 235 pounds) and his ability to play as a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end, there were no doubts that he'd be selected somewhere in the first 10 picks. His physical gifts were too apparent for 10 NFL teams to pass on him.

Now with this issue arising, it wouldn't surprise me if he slipped out of the first round altogether. It really depends on what read general managers and coaches got from him at the combine. Do they believe he's sincere about his desire to mature and stop smoking marijuana? He may not have done himself any favors with the verbiage he used when describing his habit.

He didn't make it seem as though it was something he tried once or twice. He made it sound as if he had an ongoing struggle. That could be scary enough to discourage teams from selecting him with one of the first 32 picks.

He ran a good—but not overwhelming—4.64-second 40-yard dash at the combine. When you compare his numbers in Indianapolis to the likes of other prospects at his position, like Clemson Tigers star Vic Beasley and Florida Gators star Dante Fowler, Gregory looks to be below them.

Add in weight concerns—and now drug worries—and things look rough for him. Optimistically, I'll move him to No. 18, where head coach Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs may be willing to take him as possible insurance for the 2016 season.

Sack master Justin Houston was franchised this offseason, but it's uncertain whether the team is able or willing to pay the price for him next season.

Kevin White

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Per Bryan Fischer of NFL.com, his colleague and draft expert Charles Davis thinks it's a possibility that West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White slips in the first round. At one point, he was being considered as high as No. 4 to the Oakland Raiders, but those sentiments seem to have waned.

In Davis' latest mock draft, he has White as the third receiver off the board. What happened between now and when White tore it up at the combine?

It's hard to tell. Perhaps a closer analysis of his game tape revealed flaws that have caused general managers to forget what the 6'3", 215-pounder did in Indy. His 4.35-second 40-yard dash and 23 reps in the bench press stood out.

For now, I'll swap him with the Alabama Crimson Tide's Amari Cooper from my last mock. White playing alongside former Mountaineers teammate Tavon Austin for the St. Louis Rams seems like a logical fit.

The Rams could use another athletic threat to contend with the bruising defenses in the NFC West.

DeVante Parker

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

One of the wide receivers Davis has slotted ahead of White is Louisville Cardinals star DeVante Parker. At 6'3", 209 pounds, Parker has a frame similar to White's. While he wasn't as fast as White in Indy, the 4.45 speed he displayed was more than enough to impress scouts.

Per Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, Parker is set to visit the Baltimore Ravens, which have the 26th pick in the draft. It doesn't appear as though Parker would still be on the board that late. Perhaps this means the Ravens are open to moving up in the draft.

Even though the Minnesota Vikings just acquired Mike Wallace, Parker would be an excellent fit with college teammate Teddy Bridgewater throwing him the ball.

Parker has the size and athleticism to go up and get the ball on the sidelines, and his hands in traffic are among the best in the draft. He should help solidify what could be one of the best crops of wide receivers in recent memory.