2015 NFL Draft: 1st-Round Order, Predictions for Top Prospects and More

For months leading up to it, commentators, fans and experts dissect the NFL draft, but it still finds a way to defy expectations every season. The 2015 version will be no different.

Be it a surprising trade, an unexpected slide by a highly regarded prospect or something else, there are bound to be notable storylines that few saw coming. Part of what makes that possible is the presence of wild-card prospects who could go anywhere from the top 10 in the draft to the second round.

With that in mind, here is a look at some potential wild-card first-round picks as well as the complete first-round order and predictions for the landing spots of the nation’s top prospects.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
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	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
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	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
14	Miami Dolphins	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15	San Francisco 49ers	Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
16	Houston Texans	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
17	San Diego Chargers	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
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	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
25	Carolina Panthers	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
27	Dallas Cowboys	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
30	Green Bay Packers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
32	New England Patriots	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

Biggest Potential Wild-Card First-Round Picks

WR Dorial Green-Beckham

There is little doubt about Dorial Green-Beckham’s overall ceiling and ability to make an impact right away at the next level.

He checks in at 6’5” with raw athleticism and incredible leaping ability that will help him snag plenty of passes in the corner of the end zone. It is impossible to look at him and not think of some of the NFL’s most physical wide receivers inside the 20, such as Calvin Johnson or Brandon Marshall.

While it is far too early to assume Green-Beckham will turn into a star, the physical tools are in place. 

On paper, he should be a top-15 pick, but he was dismissed from Missouri after too many off-field incidents and didn’t even play the 2014 season. Joan Niesen of Sports Illustrated suggested that Green-Beckham may have worn out his welcome in some circles:

Plus, wide receiver is one of the deepest positions in this draft. Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker, Jaelen Strong, Devin Smith and Breshad Perriman are all potential first-rounders. If they start hearing their names called in the first 15 or 20 picks, Green-Beckham could slide on draft day. 

Or he could be a top-10 pick himself based on overwhelming physical potential.

QB Marcus Mariota

At this point, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has been dissected as much as any prospect in the draft.

Was he a product of the system? Does he deserve to be the No. 1 pick over Jameis Winston? How can we ignore the 4,454 passing yards, 770 rushing yards and 57 total touchdowns in one Heisman Trophy season?

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

He is such an intriguing player in this draft because he could go No. 1 overall or fall because the teams that need help at quarterback also need depth at other positions. The New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears all pick in the top 10 and could use stability under center, but part of the reason they are drafting so early is the lack of impact players at other spots. 

If Mariota doesn’t go in the top 10, he could experience a significant fall. Of course, he could possibly be the first pick in the draft as well.

DE/DT Arik Armstead

Speaking of Oregon players who could go anywhere from the top 10 to the second round, defensive lineman Arik Armstead is an interesting prospect.

The first thing that jumps out about him on film is the fact that he is 6’8” and boasts freak athleticism up front. He is long enough to disrupt any pass simply by putting his arms up and quick enough to explode past offensive tackles on the outside.

An NFL general manager discussed Armstead’s potential, per Chase Goodbread of NFL.com: “Can see him go very, very high. Has everything you want out of a [defensive lineman]. Height, length, power, pass-rush ability. Needs to show more consistency, but raw potential is very intriguing.”

For all the raw skill, though, he only finished with 2.5 sacks during the 2014 season. That type of inconsistency may scare some teams off.

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Then there is the depth concern. Much like Green-Beckham in a deep wide receiver class, Armstead could see his name slide lower than expected because there are simply so many pass-rushers in this draft.

Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley, Shane Ray and Randy Gregory are all virtual locks to be top-20 picks, which leaves less room for Armstead early in the draft. If the Oregon product is truly below all those other names on most draft boards, it is difficult to envision a scenario where he goes in the first 10 or 15 picks. 

Still, how often does a 6’8” defensive end with explosive athleticism come around in the draft?

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