NFL Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Projections and Safest Prospects Available

The word "safe" means something different to each individual, but when it comes to the 2015 NFL draft it has a pretty strict definition. 

A safe prospect will turn out productive on the field and not hurt the team off it.

Sometimes it's not so obvious. Look at last year, when Jadeveon Clowney and Jake Matthews were considered the safest prospects. Injuries for the former and poor play for the latter ripped the title away. Instead, the safest picks turned out to be Odell Beckham, Aaron Donald, Zack Martin and C.J. Mosley.

This year, recent events such as the NFL Scouting Combine and pro days have helped to reveal these prospects yet again. On-field performances at those events and interviews pair with film to help each prospect stand out.

With pro days just about over, let's take a look at a full first-round mock based on team need and prospect value before a look at 2015's safest picks.

2015 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
9	New York Giants	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
10	St. Louis Rams	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
11	Minnesota Vikings	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
12	Cleveland Browns	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
13	New Orleans Saints	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
14	Miami Dolphins	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
17	San Diego Chargers	A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
27	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
30	Green Bay Packers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Mario Edwards Jr., DE, Florida State
32	New England Patriots	Byron Jones, CB, UConn

Highlighting Safest Prospects in 2015 Class

Leonard Williams, DL, USC

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Remember last year when Clowney's stock was all over the place until he ran around well in shorts?

Leonard Williams doesn't have those problems.

The USC product was an absolute terror at the collegiate level, generating a rush with ease and clogging lanes with his brute strength. At the combine, he weighed in at 6'5" and 302 pounds, looking like the most physically impressive player in Indianapolis.

There's a reason experts such as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller steer clear of comparisons to names such as New York's Sheldon Richardson:

Keep in mind that Richardson ranked as the second-best 3-4 defensive end last year at Pro Football Focus—behind only Houston's J.J. Watt.

Which is another reason Williams is so safe. He's scheme versatile, able to play on the outside in a three-man front or kick inside as one of four on the line.

"You can't over-think this one. It doesn't matter how raw he is because he's got freakish qualities that are rare for men his size," an NFC Director of Scouting told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "I think he has a chance to be as good as Kevin Williams. That's his comp."

At this point, overthinking is just what an extended wait for the draft causes. Don't when it comes to the draft's safest player. 

Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa

The mention of Matthews above, even more so given his family history, might scare some away from the draft's top offensive linemen when it comes to the "safe" label.

Brandon Scherff has the antidote, though, as a player who can man any position along the line as a rookie. 

Perhaps above all else, Scherff has a strong mind for the game. It helps him understand how to progress downfield through the layers of a defense as a run-blocker and which rushers to pick up in pass protection.

He's an elite athlete, too, posting strong numbers at Iowa's pro day after an injury hampered his trip to Indianapolis. NFL.com's Gil Brandt provides the scoop:

"

At the pro day, he had a 32 1/2-inch vertical and a 8-foot-11 broad jump. He completed the short shuttle in 4.57 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.18 seconds. Scherff has big hands (11 inches) and performed 22 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He had a very good workout, justifying his standing as a prospect expected to go in the first round.

"

There's a reason Mel Kiper over at ESPN now mocks the Iowa product at No. 6.

In a rough class for offensive tackles, Scherff continues to emerge as the top option. He can start on the outside as a rookie, or kick inside to guard and bowl over much more experienced players as a mauling run-blocker.

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Some prefer West Virginia's Kevin White to Alabama's Amari Cooper this year. 

Fine. It's an eye-of-the-beholder thing. But whereas White could fizzle in Tavon Austin-like fashion, Cooper is a sure thing from the jump and for quite a long time after.

A wideout doesn't just become a Heisman Trophy finalist and not produce at the pro level. A wideout doesn't just force Nick Saban to go away from his run-first ways and not produce at the next level. He doesn't produce these sorts of numbers and not pan out, either:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
2014	124	1727	13.9	16
2013	45	736	16.4	4
2012	59	1000	16.9	11

Cooper runs the best routes of any wideout to enter the draft in quite a long time. While he's not flashy like White, his short-area quickness—he posted one of the best three-cone drill times in Indianapolis at 6.71 seconds—ensures he'll encounter few issues creating separation and getting across or down the field.

Want a great comparison? Marvin Harrison, as Reese's Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage told Zierlein: "Amari is super athletic, very fluid and highly skilled as a route runner and hands catcher. Because of his reserved demeanor and similar ability, I compared him to Marvin Harrison during the season."

Cooper is one of those rare wideouts who can go to any team and any offense and still produce right away. 

Look for Cooper to come off the board quite early and pay dividends for the franchise that is willing to take the dive.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 9. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.