2015 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 1st-Round Predictions for Top Prospects and More

The lifeboat that is the NFL draft is here to rescue pigskin fans from the grueling football-less months between February and August and restore hope for even the most downtrodden franchises.

The football world will descend on the Windy City this Thursday in an exercise in unbounded optimism as players who will likely need a few years to settle into their roles as professionals find out which fanbases will put immediate expectations on their shoulders.

This year’s list of saviors includes two potential franchise quarterbacks, two running backs who could actually go in the first round and an impressive supply of elite pass-rushers and wide receivers.

Here is a look at a complete first-round mock draft as well as some potential steals who may be available late in the first round or beyond.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5	Washington	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
6	New York Jets	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
7	Chicago Bears	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
11	Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
14	Miami Dolphins	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15	San Francisco 49ers	Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
16	Houston Texans	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
17	San Diego Chargers	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
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	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
27	Dallas Cowboys	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
30	Green Bay Packers	Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
32	New England Patriots	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

Potential Steals

Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

There will be offensive linemen taken before Jake Fisher in the draft, but there is plenty to like about the Oregon Ducks product as a sleeper prospect.

Fisher was a third-team All-American last season and played in an Oregon offense that required elite conditioning. He also boasts versatility and started at left tackle in 2014 and right tackle in 2013. He will help fill holes on either side of the line for whichever team drafts him, which bolsters the chances he sees the field right away.

Fisher’s quickness allows him to cover plenty of lateral space and get into the second level.

An NFC executive noted that Fisher uses strong fundamentals to overcome a lack of dominant athleticism, per Mark Eckel of NJ.com: “He's not real strong and he's not real physical. He's really smart and he compensates with that, because he's just not real gifted. He's very fundamentally sound; doesn't make mistakes. He knows what to do. Is he first-round pick? I don't think so. But you never know.” 

Between the fundamentals and the versatility, Fisher has the ingredients necessary to start in the NFL. Teams can do much worse than a future starter along the offensive line in the late first round or early second round.

P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams was the defensive MVP of the 2014 BCS National Championship victory over Auburn and has the raw skill set to be a first-rounder.

Williams is more than comfortable in bump-and-run coverage because of his physicality and speed to make up ground in case the receiver gets past him. He is also 6’0” with impressive leaping ability, which helps him handle receivers in the red zone in jump-ball situations.

He earned the designation of top corner on a formidable Florida State squad because of his ball skills and ability to break up passes against some of the best receivers in the nation. Those are the traits necessary to contribute at the NFL as a rookie, especially if he is forced to the outside against playmakers by a team that is thin at corner.

Like Fisher, Williams played in a number of pressure-packed college games, including the aforementioned national championship contest. He will not be intimidated by the NFL spotlight and can fit into any scheme because of his press-coverage prowess and head-turning speed.

Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State

Let’s keep the Florida State train rolling with its go-to receiver from last season, Rashad Greene.

Greene racked up 1,365 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in 2014 and improved his yardage numbers every year he was on campus. That type of gradual improvement with more experience is exactly what NFL teams look for in young prospects, and he will earn more playing time throughout his career if that trend continues.

Greene, who was a second-team All-American in 2014, earned praise from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

"

Has the ability to play outside and from the slot and did so in college. Creates leverage with his routes. Plus concentration over the middle and near sidelines. Can get on top of off coverage quickly. Aware of boundaries and usually makes pro catch with two feet down. Silky athlete. Hits accelerator out of breaks, creating separation. Has long speed to make defender pay on missed tackles. Has some elusiveness after the catch. Shows subtle usage of hands to help him get open. Adjusts to poor throws.

"

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

That versatility to play in either the slot or on the outside is critical for rookie receivers looking for early playing time. That means he can fit into any type of offense and has the ability to go deep or beat defenders on important third downs on underneath routes and slants.

Kelvin Benjamin proved the Florida State wide receiver pipeline is alive and well last year. Look for Greene to do the same in 2015.