NFL Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Projections and Trade Scenarios for Top Prospects

We've come to a very interesting and pivotal point of the NFL offseason.

Following a frenzy of free-agent activity, the lingering needs for every team heading into the draft are known. With pro days winding down, we also have a good idea of each prospect's expected value. As is the case every year, a player who perfectly fills a particular team's needs isn't always projected to be available once that franchise is on the clock. This, of course, leads to draft-day trades.

With the draft now less than one month away, some rumors revolving around draft strategies and potential targets have begun to leak from team sources across the league. That leaves us with the task of sorting through what's been said in an effort to determine which chatter is real and what may be a smokescreen—or, at the very least, give a hint toward a team's actual agenda.

Let's take a look at how the first round of the draft is likely to unfold, followed by some trade scenarios that could really shake things up based on some recent gossip from around the Web.

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	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
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, OG, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
11	Minnesota Vikings	Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
14	Miami Dolphins	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
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)	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
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	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
27	Dallas Cowboys	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss St
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 Potential Trade Scenarios

As we get closer to the draft, more rumors will begin to surface regarding a certain team's interest in a prospect and its willingness to trade up or down to acquire his services. At this point, there are a few interesting pieces of information surrounding some of the draft's top prospects, giving us a good jumping-off point.

Here's what's being said in regard to potential trade scenarios that could really flip the script on draft day.

Philadelphia Eagles Move Up for Marcus Mariota

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

This isn't as simple for the Eagles as you might think. It's going to take plenty of ammunition to move high enough in the draft to select Marcus Mariota, and if Philadelphia intends to do that, it will need to work some magic.

The Eagles currently reside at No. 20 overall—in the above mock, they are selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong—however, the fit in Philadelphia is perfect for Mariota, and we can't rule out the possibility of Chip Kelly making another major offseason move.

Philadelphia did trade for Sam Bradford early in the new league year, but is the former St. Louis Rams signal-caller really the future for Kelly's squad? Some would say he isn't. If that's the case, the Eagles could potentially trade Bradford to another team that was very interested in the quarterback this offseason—the Cleveland Browns.

According to Peter King of MMQB, the Browns were willing to trade a first-round pick for Bradford. Nothing came to fruition because the Rams needed a signal-caller in return. That said, the Eagles could potentially trade the quarterback for one of Cleveland's two first-round picks, package that with picks of their own and make a play to move up for Mariota.

Trading up may present an issue of its own, as the Washington Redskins have shown interest in the quarterback at No. 5 overall, according to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole:

That may be a smokescreen from Washington, but it's a clever one. It will force the Eagles to make a deal with the Redskins at No. 5 instead of the New York Jets at No. 6 to grab Mariota. That will drive the price up and allow Washington to come away with plenty of assets in return.

Other Moves for Mariota

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Mariota is one of the draft's hottest topics, and he's been linked to several teams.

We already touched on the interest from the Redskins, but a couple other aforementioned teams could also still be in play for the former Oregon quarterback.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks the Browns will make a run to move up for Mariota. Cleveland certainly has the ammunition to get that done, as two first-round picks in this year's draft are a good start; however, the team has an abundance of holes to fill, and moving a slew of draft picks for one player may not be the wisest of moves.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

If the Browns could grab Bradford for just one first-round pick, let's say No. 19 overall, and grab a wide receiver like Louisville's DeVante Parker at No. 12 overall, it could be argued they'd be in much better shape moving forward.

It's been speculated that the Rams could be players for Mariota in this year's draft. They hold a good position at No. 10 overall, and if the quarterback slips to No. 5 or 6, the cost of moving up to acquire him could be inexpensive enough to intrigue Jeff Fisher and Co. 

According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, the team still plans to draft a quarterback; however, it may not be in the first round. With Garrett Grayson, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley looking to be decent second- or third-round options, St. Louis may opt to go in that direction instead.

Oakland Raiders Moving Out of No. 4 Pick

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Since 2015 NFL mock drafts began appearing, a wide receiver has been pegged to the Raiders just about every time. Whether it was Alabama's Amari Cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White, Oakland is in dire need of a big-play pass-catcher, and everyone knows it.

Interestingly enough, the Raiders are looking to trade out of the No. 4 selection despite having their pick of the litter at wide receiver, according to Cole:

The Raiders are looking to trade up for USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams; however, at such a great expected expense, that's probably unlikely. The more likely scenario here is Oakland trading back to accumulate picks and grab another wide receiver in a draft that is chock-full of talented pass-catchers.

So, if that comes to fruition, which team is most likely to strike a deal with Oakland and move up to No. 4 overall? Well, according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, that would be the San Francisco 49ers:

Miller reports the 49ers are enamored with Cooper and would love to have the Alabama product in the fold. San Francisco would be able to get its guy at No. 4, and the Raiders would still have some great options to choose between at No. 15 overall.