2015 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Assessing Buzz on Top Prospects

In roughly 32 hours, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will officially be on the clock, and the 2015 NFL draft will be underway. Just hours later, 32 selections will be in the books, and we can begin mulling over the picks, grading them and speculating on how each rookie will fare with his new team.

Until then, mock drafts will continue to run rampant.

With the draft rapidly approaching, information regarding what teams are likely to do in the first round is beginning to surface around the Web. As we know, some of that chatter is very real, while the rest is a smokescreen. It's an analyst's job to sift through the buzz, put the pieces together and determine what is true and what is false.

So, before we delve into some speculation regarding trade talk and prospect draft stock, let's take a look at how the first round is likely to shake out April 30.

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

Assessing Draft Buzz

There are some questions that continue to burn in the hours leading up to the draft. Which team is most likely to trade up for Marcus Mariota? How much have Shane Ray and Randy Gregory's stocks fallen due to turbulent offseasons? Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather? Well, maybe not the third one, but you get the drift. Here's a look at what's being said about some of the draft's top prospects.

Trade Frenzy for Mariota

Many expect the Buccaneers to select Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall selection. That leaves Mariota as the coveted quarterback target for many teams in need. Several franchises have already been linked to the Oregon signal-caller, and there's no shortage of proposed trade scenarios; however, some are more realistic than others.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to Mariota, per Sal Paolantonio of ESPN (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com); however, the team acquired Sam Bradford in a trade with the St. Louis Rams over the offseason, and it doesn't look like the Eagles are intent on moving the veteran anytime soon. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Bradford will remain in Philadelphia.

There was also talk about the San Diego Chargers trading quarterback Philip Rivers in an effort to acquire Mariota, per Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego. Don't expect that to happen, as San Diego is a playoff-caliber team, and parting ways with Rivers will only hurt the Chargers in that regard.

If any team has the ammo and the intent to trade for Mariota, it's the Cleveland Browns. With the No. 12 and the No. 19 picks in this year's draft, they have the tools to get a deal done. Based on what we've seen out of Johnny Manziel, the team doesn't appear intent on sticking with him as its quarterback of the future, so this is a possibility.

Titans' Intentions at No. 2 Overall

This is where things get interesting. The Tennessee Titans know several teams are interested in Mariota, and moving up to No. 2 overall will ensure a franchise will obtain the quarterback; however, the Titans could be in the market for a signal-caller of their own, making this a pivotal point in the draft.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, the Titans have been talking up Mariota in the days leading up to the draft. General manager Ruston Webster also commented on what it would take for a team to move up to No. 2 overall: "Because of players that are there, we'd need to get value that will help our team now and in future."

In other words, a lot.

Sure, Tennessee does have Zach Mettenberger in the fold, and the team doesn't exactly know what it has in the young signal-caller just yet. But if the Titans feel they can improve by selecting Mariota, don't expect them to hold back on draft day.

Consider the Titans' interest in the Oregon quarterback very real, but also expect the team to listen closely to trade offers before making a decision.

Stock Watch for Top Prospects

There has been some recent movement in mock drafts and on big boards due to rising and falling first-round prospects. These late shifts will surely make Round 1 even more unpredictable due to the uncertainty of where these players will land.

Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory has been the center of much gossip. He's an extremely talented pass-rusher, but his underwhelming weight at the scouting combine and a positive test for marijuana has deterred some teams.

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, some franchises think he'll slip to the late first round. That may be a stretch considering the huge need for edge-rushers earlier in the draft.

Missouri defensive end Shane Ray is in the same boat. Not only is the pass-rusher facing possible toe surgery that could keep him out of commission for up to five months, but he has a marijuana citation to deal with as well.

On Mike and Mike (via John Breech of CBSSports.com), ex-NFL GM Mark Dominik said Ray could drop to the third or the fourth round. That may be a slight exaggeration, but he'll likely fall out of the top 10.

Not every prospect's draft stock is declining.

Georgia running back Todd Gurley has been skyrocketing up draft boards after his surgically repaired ACL checked out during medical exams. Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com showed Gurley moving very well recently, so expect him to receive quite a long look from running back-needy teams picking in the first half of the first round.