NFL Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Projections for Nation's Top Prospects

Few things can top the excitement of March Madness, the NBA playoffs are right around the corner and baseball is about to start up. Let’s be honest, though—nothing in the American sports world makes headlines like the NFL.

The NFL draft is the biggest headline-maker of them all during the league’s offseason, and the first round is less than a month away (April 30). There are a number of highly regarded prospects who will make an impact right away at the next level, many of which will hear their names called in that first round.

With that in mind, here is a look at an entire first-round mock draft and some of the most intriguing potential selections.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5	Washington	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
6	New York Jets	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7	Chicago Bears	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
14	Miami Dolphins	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15	San Francisco 49ers	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
16	Houston Texans	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
17	San Diego Chargers	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
25	Carolina Panthers	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
27	Dallas Cowboys	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
28	Denver Broncos	Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
29	Indianapolis Colts	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
30	Green Bay Packers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints	Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
32	New England Patriots	Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State

No. 7 Chicago Bears: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The Chicago Bears are an interesting case study as the NFL draft approaches.

For one, they were an absolute disaster on defense last season and could truly use some more depth in the front seven. There are a number of edge pass-rushers who could fill in as an outside linebacker or down lineman in a 3-4 set who will likely still be available at the No. 7 pick. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Chicago selected one of them.

However, part of what made the Bears offense dangerous the past couple of seasons was the combination of wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Now that Marshall is on the New York Jets, there is an opening for a playmaker to slide in on the outside because newly acquired receiver Eddie Royal is more of a slot receiver.

Enter Amari Cooper.

All he did at Alabama last season was total 1,727 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches. He checks in at 6’0" and 211 pounds and is not afraid to outmuscle defenders for underneath routes or use his solid speed on the outside. 

There is also some familiarity in place, per Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune:

Cooper would be in an ideal situation in Chicago because he would rarely see double-teams with Jeffery, Matt Forte, Royal and Martellus Bennett all on the field. With all that talent around him and an NFL skill set already in place, Cooper could challenge for Rookie of the Year in the Windy City.

No. 23 Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Sometimes free agency from earlier in the offseason dictates what teams do in the NFL draft. That is exactly what will happen with the Detroit Lions at No. 23.

The Lions watched Ndamukong Suh sign with the Miami Dolphins and Nick Fairley sign with the St. Louis Rams this offseason, which leaves a hole along the defensive line. Yes, bringing in future Hall of Famer Haloti Ngata was a major move on Detroit’s part, but there is still a need for depth up front.

Florida State’s Eddie Goldman may not be an elite pass-rusher, but he stuffed the run during his college career as well as almost any defensive tackle in the nation. The Lions could certainly use some of that in an NFC North division that typically features strong running attacks as the weather gets colder.

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Goldman is a physical force in the middle of the line and would help occupy multiple blockers alongside Ngata. What’s more, Goldman would have the opportunity to develop under one of the greatest defensive tackles of this era and likely hone his skills as he eventually enters his prime. 

Suh and Fairley may both be gone, but a Ngata and Goldman combination is sure to make an impact right away.

No. 27 Dallas Cowboys: Todd Gurley, TB, Georgia

There hasn’t been a running back taken in the first round of the past two drafts, but that is bound to change this year with Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley. The Dallas Cowboys will grab Gurley with the No. 27 pick.

Gurley is a throwback type of running back who runs with overwhelming power. He is nearly impossible to bring down with arm tackles and racked up 7.4 yards per carry at Georgia last season, largely by bullying his way through the middle like a battering ram.

However, he is a question mark in this draft because he suffered an ACL injury in November that ended his season.

He certainly seemed confident in his own abilities in pre-draft comments, regardless of the injury, per Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports: “I want to be the No. 1 pick. I’m not here to be No. 5 overall or a second-round pick. I want to be the best. I know what I can do. I can come in and help a team. That might sound ridiculous, but that’s the confidence I have in myself.”

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Cowboys could use an every-down back after DeMarco Murray left for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Darren McFadden isn’t exactly a proven commodity at the NFL level anymore. There is certainly some risk involved in taking Gurley so early, but the reward is a potential All-Pro runner who will make mincemeat of NFL defenses for years to come. 

That will be enough to entice Dallas to make this selection.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek