2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Prospects Vaulting into Opening Round

Almost there. The sea of 2015 NFL mock drafts will soon vanish when the real thing starts on Thursday night.

Everyone has a week left to place the finishing touches on their draft projections. Sure, one early unexpected decision will incinerate most of that careful forecasting, but playing general manager is fun anyway.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Leonard Williams, DE, USC
4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5	Washington Redskins	Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
6	New York Jets	Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
7	Chicago Bears	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
8	Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
9	New York Giants	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
10	St. Louis Rams	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
11	Minnesota Vikings	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
12	Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13	New Orleans Saints	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
14	Miami Dolphins	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
17	San Diego Chargers	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
18	Kansas City Chiefs	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
23	Detroit Lions	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
24	Arizona Cardinals	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
25	Carolina Panthers	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
27	Dallas Cowboys	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
28	Denver Broncos	Cameron Irving, C, Florida State
29	Indianapolis Colts	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
30	Green Bay Packers	Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
32	New England Patriots	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Most analysts have already formed stances on every top prospect, yet few mock drafts stay stagnant before draft day. While it's hard to learn more about a player's merit during the offseason, his public perception becomes heavily magnified.

As industry trendsetters speak their mind while others reveal a peek behind the front office's closed doors, it's possible to make more educated guesses regarding the opening round. Initially uncertain to get selected on Thursday night, these prospects now look like stronger bets for first-round inclusion. 

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Todd Gurley was first viewed as a high-risk, high-reward proposition worth undertaking for an elite squad possessing a late pick. Now a rosier health outlook is rocketing the Georgia running back up draft boards.

Having registered 7.4 yards per carry during a shortened junior campaign, there's no doubting Gurley's ability as a game-changer. Yet investing a first-round pick on someone recovering from a major injury is a huge risk, especially when he plays a devalued position.

It turns out experts were far more concerned about his health than reaching for a running back. According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, NFL teams believe Gurley will be ready to start his rookie campaign after tearing his ACL last season:

As a result, ESPN's Todd McShay catapulted the Bulldog back to No. 6 in his latest mock draft. Per Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, that reflects his rising stock across the NFL:

The teams at the top, however, have too many other pressing needs to go through with a volatile luxury pick. With fears of drafting an injured running back not entirely abated, he lasts to the San Diego Chargers, whose 3.4 yards per carry ranked No. 31 last year.

Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (FL)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Not that any prospect draws consensus approval, but Ereck Flowers especially induces dissenting opinions.

Former head coach and current ESPN broadcaster Jon Gruden adamantly leads the pro side, as relayed by Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald:

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, however, places the Miami offensive tackle outside of his top-50 big board. He explained his rationale, responding to a reader's inquiry on Twitter:

Seen by some as a cornerstone tackle, others view Flowers as a guard who must make significant progress as a pass protector. Luckily for him, he only needs one team to bite.

Also working in his favor, several clubs picking near the bottom of Round 1 can use upgrades in the trenches. The Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers both should place offensive tackle high on their wish list, and pick No. 23 or No. 25 is a sensible landing spot for Flowers.

If the Kansas City Chiefs or Cleveland Browns agree with Gruden, he could sneak into the top 20 ahead of LSU's La'el Collins. For now, let's conservatively peg him a late first-rounder.

Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

Although Trae Waynes has gained some leverage as this year's top cornerback prospect, the race for No. 2 has become wide open. With each passing day, Washington's Marcus Peters loses ground on Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson.

According to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, the 6'0" defensive back allowed 24 completions through 12 games for the Demon Deacons. Johnson often shadowed the other team's top wideout, mitigating him in single coverage.

His crisp man coverage led NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock, via College Football 24/7, to declare him worthy of a first-round nod:

Following Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu announcing retirement, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to usher in their next line of defensive backs. They pick at No. 22, which means Waynes and Alabama safety Landon Collins likely won't be available.

That leaves Johnson and Peters, a top talent in danger of slipping due to character concerns. Even with Pittsburgh going for the high-upside play, the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys could all grab Johnson in the 20s.