2015 NFL Draft: 1st-Round Order and Prospects Who Can Shake Up Draft Outlook

The 2015 NFL draft class is probably best described as average. There are a handful of top-end prospects and a fair amount of depth that should carry into the early second round before things get a bit shaky. Nothing groundbreaking, but still a chance for teams to improve.

In turn, there could very well be some surprises in the opening round. Since there are a limited number of prospects with high grades, teams may feel the need to move up to grab one they particularly like. Prospects who may not have received a ton of hype could go earlier than expected, too.

If nothing else, those factors add to the intrigue as draft day finally nears after a long evaluation process. So let's check out how the draft order for the first round currently looks. That's followed by a breakdown of some prospects who can shake up the draft outlook.

Draft Order for Round 1

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 Buffalo Bills)
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 Seattle Seahawks)
32	New England Patriots

Prospects to Watch

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the top two quarterbacks in the class. They will likely both find new homes within the first six picks. Perhaps the bigger question at the league's most important position is how early the other prospects, led by Petty, could go.

The demand for upgrades at QB is not nearly met by the supply. A prospect like Petty could therefore be a target for a team trading into the latter stages of Round 1. If that happens, it also provides a stock boost to fellow players at the position like Brett Hundley and Garrett Grayson, among others.

Petty has good size, an above-average arm and handled the offense well at Baylor. His ability to stand tall in the pocket and deliver strikes fit the scheme well. ESPN Stats and Info highlighted his downfield throwing ability:

There are questions about his ability to transition from the Baylor system to an NFL scheme. It could lead to a longer transition period, but the tools are there for him to succeed at the next level. A QB-needy team could decide to take a chance on him in the bottom third of the opening round.

Mario Edwards Jr., DL, Florida State

Edwards was a top recruit coming out of high school. While he didn't fully live up to that hype during his time at Florida State, he did improve steadily. He registered 44 tackles, 11 of which were for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles in his final year with the Seminoles.

Add that to the remaining potential he's possessed since high school and a high level of intrigue remains about what he could become. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports passed along a take from one talent evaluator who believes the defender is getting overlooked:

"

Why aren't any of you guys writing about Mario Edwards? I look around the Internet at these mock drafts and I don't think I've seen him in the first round in one of them. He's not showing up in any of them. I think you're missing on him. He's going to surprise some people. I think he goes in the first round. In this [not overly talented] draft, he's definitely a first-rounder for me.

"

The question remains whether Edwards will ever fully realize his potential. He's shown some progress over the past few years and is likely going to need a patient team that's ready to let him grow for a few more. The size and talent are there, but the technique and work rate need improvement.

Of course, all Edwards needs is one team to fall in love with his upside and he could end up going in the first half of Round 1. The CBS Sports report notes he could come off the board as high as No. 11, which would obviously have a major trickle-down effect.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

One glance at Green-Beckham is all it takes to realize why he could be a major asset. He sports ideal size, terrific athleticism and reliable hands. Yet he still needs a lot of polish to become a No. 1 wide receiver at the next level, especially in terms of route running.

Beyond that, he has a history of off-field problems that raise a red flag. It definitely adds an element of risk for any team looking to select him. For what it's worth, Ron Clements of Sporting News notes the wideout is hoping to move forward in a positive light.

"I have to think about all that stuff and focus on being a better person," Green-Beckham said. "All those decision I made, I wish I could take them back. I was young. I made mistakes. I understand that and I just want to look forward to this draft and being the best I can be."

Based purely on long-term upside, Green-Beckham could very well be the best wide receiver in this class. That's not the only thing teams have to consider, though. His need for development time and the potential off-field distractions also come into play.

Each team will combine those factors differently, making it tricky to determine exactly where he'll fall. It wouldn't be a surprise if he cracks the top 20, but falling outside of Round 1 is also a possibility. The answer is going to impact the other receivers, which is one of the draft's deepest positions.