NFL Draft 2015: Updated Selection Order and Prospects to Watch in 1st Round

While many teams were able to improve through free agency, there is no doubt that the tried-and-true method of building through the draft will be on full display come April 30.

The 2015 NFL draft is quite intriguing on paper due to the mixture of top-end talent and uncertainty. The draft is always a huge gamble for every team involved since it is impossible project with the utmost confidence, but simply having a first-round pick is an exciting lottery ticket that could pay off in a big way.

As anticipation for the 2015 NFL draft continues to build, here is a rundown of the first-round order of selection, as well as further analysis regarding some of the top prospects to watch.

Pick	Team
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2	Tennessee Titans
3	Jacksonville Jaguars
4	Oakland Raiders
5	Washington Redskins
6	New York Jets
7	Chicago Bears
8	Atlanta Falcons
9	New York Giants
10	St. Louis Rams
11	Minnesota Vikings
12	Cleveland Browns
13	New Orleans Saints
14	Miami Dolphins
15	San Francisco 49ers
16	Houston Texans
17	San Diego Chargers
18	Kansas City Chiefs
19	Cleveland Browns (from BUF)
20	Philadelphia Eagles
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	Pittsburgh Steelers
23	Detroit Lions
24	Arizona Cardinals
25	Carolina Panthers
26	Baltimore Ravens
27	Dallas Cowboys
28	Denver Broncos
29	Indianapolis Colts
30	Green Bay Packers
31	New Orleans Saints (from SEA)
32	New England Patriots

Top Prospects to Watch

Jameis Winston

Former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston doesn't come without some baggage, but the Heisman Trophy winner has all the tools needed to be an NFL star. Because of that, he is very much on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' radar with the No. 1 overall pick.

The Bucs desperately need help under center, and Winston can provide it. He looked good at both the combine and his pro day to the point that ESPN draft guru Todd McShay views him as the obvious selection for Tampa Bay, according to Mike & Mike on Twitter:

After throwing for 40 touchdowns and winning a national title as a freshman, Winston had some issues in 2014. He still enjoyed a fairly strong campaign, but he also threw 18 interceptions, which is something he will have to clean up at the next level.

Even so, Winston is supremely confident in his abilities, per the NFL's official Twitter account:

Regardless of where he lands, the expectation is that Winston will be a franchise player. He showed signs of being precisely that at FSU, and his potential suggests that it should carry over to the NFL.

Winston is very likely to be the first player off the board, and that will certainly make for an explosive start to the 2015 draft.

Marcus Mariota

Winston may be in the driver's seat when it comes to being the first quarterback and overall player taken in the draft, but it won't be a shock if Oregon's Marcus Mariota goes on to have a better NFL career.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner can do it all, and that should make him an intriguing option for teams in need of a quarterback. Several of them reside early in the draft, including the Tennessee Titans at No. 2 and the New York Jets at No. 6.

According to NFL on ESPN, there has been some speculation regarding the Jets making a move for the former Ducks standout due to their stance on potentially pursuing a quarterback:

The Jets may not get that opportunity, though, if the Bucs and Titans both decide to go with quarterbacks at No. 1 and No. 2. Assuming Tampa takes Winston first, the Titans could very well be the right landing spot for Mariota considering their need at the position.

Per NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, Mariota has received some big-time praise entering the draft, especially from Stanford head coach David Shaw:

If Mariota truly plays like a hybrid of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III (sans the injuries) at the NFL level, then he will be a true superstar.

Mariota has that "it" factor that teams look for in a franchise signal-caller, and it could be tough for Tennessee to pass him up at No. 2.

Amari Cooper

The 2015 NFL draft is stacked at several positions, but its depth at wide receiver is truly something to behold. There is some debate regarding who leads the way, but Alabama's Amari Cooper is near the top of the heap.

Cooper was an absolute stud this past season for the Crimson Tide, which is why he was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He had very little around him in terms of complementary weapons, so almost all of the receiving responsibility fell on his shoulders.

That is evidenced by this stat, courtesy of Pro Football Focus:

Despite opposing teams placing the bulk of their attention on him, Cooper was dominant throughout the season and was rarely held in check.

Even so, some are questioning if he should be the first receiver to come off the board ahead of West Virginia's Kevin White. Cooper was more productive, but White may be a bit more impressive physically. Regardless of who goes first, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes they'll both be stars.

Cooper could conceivably come off the board as early as No. 3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and almost every team after that is a realistic option. He feels like one of the safest picks in the draft, so it is tough to imagine him falling outside the top five.

If Cooper does somehow slip through the cracks, then teams will be champing at the bit to get him.

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