Who Are the Experts Predicting to Buccaneers in the 1st Round of NFL Draft?

The 2015 NFL draft is just a few weeks away, and it looks like Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans could be filling Raymond James Stadium with a flood of brand-new No. 5 jerseys for the second time in the last 10 years.

They're also hoping those new jerseys don't end up at Goodwill with the Josh Freeman jerseys they bought with such high expectations just a few years ago.

As the draft draws closer, the consensus among experts and analysts is that Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will be the team's selection with the No. 1 overall pick. That said, there's still evidence that Oregon's Marcus Mariota is still in the running, as the Bucs sent their big decision-makers to both Eugene, Ohio, and Tallahassee, Florida, for private workouts with both signal-callers this week.

Do the experts buy Mariota as the dark-horse candidate to be taken by the Bucs with the top pick? Or do they all believe fans will be filing into "Raymond Jameis Stadium" this fall and beyond? Let's take a look.

ESPN.com's Todd McShay: Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Like most analysts at his point, Todd McShay of ESPN.com is confident the Bucs will use the first overall pick on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, though he admits that Oregon's Marcus Mariota is still in the running:

"

I think Mariota is still a possibility to be selected here, but purely from an on-field standpoint, I think Winston has a clear advantage. He is one of the best QB prospects to enter the league in the last 10 years in terms of the skills that translate to NFL success, including reading defenses, anticipating throws and delivering the ball accurately.

"

The fact that the Bucs sent all of their important decision-makers to Eugene to work out Mariota on Tuesday shows they're at least somewhat interested in spending the top pick on him, but I'm with the field on this one. Most experts are projecting Winston to the Bucs for a reason, and I'm right there with them.

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco: Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Another expert who is on board with Jameis Winston going to the Bucs at the No. 1 overall pick is Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, who references the microscope the former Heisman Trophy winner has been under this offseason: "Between now and the draft, there will be a lot of folks trying to poke holes in him. Unless something major pops up, he's the guy."

The only thing that should keep Winston from being the top pick is his off-the-field history. The Bucs are clearly doing their due diligence in researching Winston's background, and they appear to be comfortable with making him the face of their franchise at this point.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks: Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Put another expert in the Jameis Winston column. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes Winston possesses all the traits the Bucs will be looking for in a potential franchise quarterback: "Winston checks all of the boxes as the Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback. He is a polished pocket passer with the charisma and leadership skills to help the Buccaneers get over the hump in the NFC South."

There are some minor mechanical flaws in Winston's game, but it's been well-documented that his biggest concerns are off the field. If Winston can mature and stay out of trouble, he could be a special player at the next level, and it's likely he'll be doing it in Tampa Bay.

SI.com's Don Banks: Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Don Banks of SI.com also has the Bucs selecting Winston with the draft's top pick, noting that a strong pro-day workout in Tallahassee likely cemented his spot at the top of Tampa Bay's board:

"

He certainly sounds convinced that he and the Bucs are a match, calling himself “the best player in the draft,” and Tampa Bay’s decision-makers continue to give the impression that their comfort level with the FSU star is sky-high, both on the field and in the realm of the character-issue debate. If those trends hold steady for another couple weeks, it’s not hard to imagine the Bucs opening early contract negotiations and trying to strike a pre-draft deal.

"

Winston's confidence has never been in question, and he's made it clear he wants to be the top pick and end up with the Bucs. I'm not sure a deal gets worked out in advance of the draft—just in case something goes wrong—but Winston is clearly leading the race to be the top selection.

CBSSports.com's Rob Rang: Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Rob Rang of CBSSports.com makes it five-for-five on the Team Winston side, predicting the Bucs will grab the former Seminole, who will take advantage of the playmakers Tampa Bay has at the wide receiver position:

"

Winston essentially sealed his position as the top pick with a solid pro day workout. Though questions still remain about Winston's maturity, from a purely football perspective it is an excellent match as he possesses the awareness, accuracy, and arm strength to take full advantage of Tampa Bay's massive pass-catchers.

"

Again, there are few questions about Winston's abilities as a passer and leader, both on the field and in the locker room. He's the type of quarterback who seems to elevate the play of his teammates, which is a rare and valuable quality. If he can grow and learn from his off-field mistakes, he could be the playmaker that Bucs fans have longed for since the franchise's inception.