2015 NFL Draft: List of Top Prospects, Sleepers and Final 1st-Round Mock Picks

It sounds so simple on paper.

The recipe for a successful NFL draft is one or two top-notch players and then a number of sleepers in the later rounds who can contribute in a variety of ways. If a franchise can accomplish that exact formula two or three years in a row, it is likely headed straight for the postseason.

Easy, right?

The tricky part is actually forecasting which prospects will thrive in which systems and drafting accordingly. There are a number of intriguing prospects in the 2015 draft class, but only a handful of them will reach their full potential at the NFL level. It’s up to the various teams around the league to figure out which ones.

With that in mind, here is a look at a first-round mock draft for the top available prospects, as well as a list of sleepers who will be available in the second round and 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	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
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	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
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)	Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
32	New England Patriots	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

Player	School
Jake Fisher, OT	Oregon
P.J. Williams, CB	Florida State
Rashad Greene, WR	Florida State
Nick O'Leary, TE	Florida State
Michael Bennett, DT	Ohio State
Garrett Grayson, QB	Colorado State
Doran Grant, CB	Ohio State
Tevin Coleman, RB	Indiana
David Cobb, RB	Minnesota
Sean Mannion, QB	Oregon State
Jay Ajayi, RB	Boise State
Duke Johnson, RB	Miami
Sammie Coates, WR	Auburn
Jeff Heuerman, TE	Ohio State
Nate Orchard, DE	Utah
Eli Harold, DE	Virginia
Paul Dawson, LB	TCU
James Sample, S	Louisville

Top Prospect to Watch: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

It is easy to get lost in this year’s crop of wide receiver prospects. With playmakers such as Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Breshad Perriman, Jaelen Strong and Devin Smith making plenty of noise in the predraft process, Parker has quietly ascended up mock draft boards.

Parker finished with 855 receiving yards and five touchdown catches in a mere six games last year for Louisville after missing time with injury, and he still managed to tie the school record for career touchdown receptions (33).

It may seem simplistic for a wide receiver evaluation, but Parker’s game revolves around his ability to make catches. Between his soft hands and ability to navigate traffic downfield, Parker rarely ever drops a catchable pass. He also boasts impressive leaping skills that allow him to high-point passes in the red zone, which will thrill fantasy football players during his rookie campaign.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

ESPN commentator Mel Kiper discussed Parker, per Steve Jones of The Courier-Journal in Louisville: "Great player, love him as a player. Great catch radius. He came back from the injury and was dominant again. He's got to stay healthy, and I'd like to have seen him for a full year, but a great kid, hard worker. He's a team guy, great after the catch. He'll do everything." 

Parker won’t be the first receiver taken on Thursday, but don’t be surprised when he puts up better numbers than the rest of his peers. His prowess for making difficult catches and then turning them into impact plays will immediately translate to the next level.

Sleeper to Watch: Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State

Tight end Jeff Heuerman is accustomed to being overshadowed.

Ohio State’s offense was loaded with so many playmakers on the way to the national championship that Heuerman only tallied 207 receiving yards during the 2014 season. Had he played on a team that didn’t have so many impact players who needed the ball in their hands, Heuerman would have posted better numbers.

To his credit, he fought through lingering injuries all year and stayed on the field.

Heuerman is the type of NFL tight end who can create mismatches at the next level from the moment he steps on the field. His athleticism allows him to beat defenders up the seam, and his leaping ability and impressive hands make him a red-zone threat in any offense.

Throw in the fact that he is 6’5” and 254 pounds, and he will be difficult for a safety to contain.

Heuerman is also a solid blocker from the tight end spot and uses his size to chip edge-rushers early in routes and seal off blocks on running plays. 

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller believes there is an ideal fit for the Ohio State product:

Today’s NFL is anchored around the ability to create matchup problems in the passing attack. Having a tight end who plays like a wide receiver is an invaluable asset, whether it is through him racking up numbers or simply creating space for the receivers on the outside by sucking in the safeties and linebackers. 

Heuerman can do exactly that and will fit into whichever offense selects him as a blocker and pass-catcher. That alone makes him worthy of a late-round flyer as a potential sleeper in the 2015 draft.

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