2015 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Most Pro-Ready Prospects Ahead of Event

The right pro-ready prospect can make or break an NFL franchise's next few seasons.

While the pro-ready vs. upside debate makes for quite the interesting argument, a stout pro-ready prospect who can come in and produce right away can make all the difference for a rebuilding team.

Such a player provides the foundation for a rebuild for years down the road. Such a player can also be the critical over-the-hump piece a contending team needs to fill a gap free agency couldn't.

Of course, being a pro-ready prospect doesn't mean there isn't room to grow, but there are a few names above all others who will have an obvious impact as rookies.

2015 NFL Mock Draft 

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2	Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Leonard Williams, DL, USC
5	Washington Redskins	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
6	New York Jets	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
7	Chicago Bears	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
8	Atlanta Falcons	Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
9	New York Giants	La'el Collins, OL, LSU
10	St. Louis Rams	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
11	Minnesota Vikings	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
12	Cleveland Browns	Arik Armstead, DE/OLB, Oregon
13	New Orleans Saints	Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
14	Miami Dolphins	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
17	San Diego Chargers	Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke
18	Kansas City Chiefs	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
19	Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)	Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Landon Collins, SS, Alabama
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Owamagbe Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
23	Detroit Lions	Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
24	Arizona Cardinals	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
25	Carolina Panthers	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
26	Baltimore Ravens	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
27	Dallas Cowboys	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
28	Denver Broncos	Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
29	Indianapolis Colts	Mario Edwards, DL, Florida State
30	Green Bay Packers	Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
31	New Orleans Saints (via Seattle)	Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
32	New England Patriots	Byron Jones, CB, UConn

Top Pro-Ready Prospects

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama 

It doesn't get better than Amari Cooper at wideout this year.

Folks may know Cooper as the guy who exploded for elite production in 2014 despite an Alabama offense accustomed to favoring the run over the pass.

Cooper changed the reputation in a major way, in the process becoming one of just three Heisman Trophy finalists. When he's getting the ball, Cooper simply produces:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
2014	124	1727	13.9	16
2013	45	736	16.4	4
2012	59	1000	16.9	11

There's no doubt Cooper can produce at the pro level right out of the gates. He's an elite route-runner with sure hands who does a great job of generating yards after the catch. At 6'1" and 211 pounds, he won't be pushed around by pro defensive backs, either.

Solomon Wilcots put it best, per NFL Network on Twitter: 

So where does a prospect such as Cooper land this year?

Teams in the top five may favor quarterbacks and top-tier defenders, so it wouldn't be wild to see Cooper dip to No. 7, where the Chicago Bears would be happy to scoop him up.

The team let go of Brandon Marshall and needs a new running mate for Alshon Jeffery. Cooper would fit like a glove if the Chicago front office is willing to wait on defensive needs.

Prediction: Bears select Cooper at No. 7.

Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Marcus Peters is a lot of things, one of them being as pro-ready as it gets at cornerback.

Most know Peters as the guy with red flags around his name thanks to a dismissal from Washington's program this past year, but as the predraft process wore on, he attacked the concerns head-on and positive reviews continued to come out.

Turron Davenport of the Baltimore Times captures one such account:

If teams find Peters' off-field resume positive, his on-field skills make him a can't-miss prospect.

Peters touts good size at 6'0" and 197 pounds, but what makes him attractive to pro teams is his elite ball skills, recognition and ability to drop back in zone or press at the line of scrimmage.

Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times captures the current hype levels around Peters well:

It makes sense, then, that a team such as the St. Louis Rams wouldn't be able to look the other way at No. 10 if Peters takes a slight fall.

The Rams don't have a ton of pressing needs they can't address later in the round or in the second, so a gamble on a player who could become one of the best in the league at his position makes sense.

Look for Peters to make a difference right away as a starter.

Prediction: Rams select Peters at No. 10.

Leonard Williams, DT, USC

There's just one constant about the 2015 draft class—Leonard Williams is an elite, safe prospect who will provide an impact upon arrival and for quite a long time.

It might not be an exaggeration to suggest Williams is the best interior defender to enter the draft since Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. At 6'5" and 302 pounds, Williams can do it all in any scheme and at a high level.

An NFC director of scouting put it best to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: "You can't overthink this one. It doesn't matter how raw he is because he's got freakish qualities that are rare for men his size. I think he has a chance to be as good as Kevin Williams. That's his comp."

NFL Network's Albert Breer followed with a strong review of his own:

The question comes down to how the teams picking in the top five feel about the board and if one of them trades out to let a random team into the fray, which could see Williams taken off the board or push him further down.

Without diving into trades, it seems Williams slots best at No. 4 with the Oakland Raiders.

It's hard to imagine the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans passing on quarterbacks, and the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 3 seem to need an edge presence more than one on the interior.

Oakland, a team in the midst of a rebuild, will sprint to the podium to grab Williams, who instantly becomes the centerpiece of the defense.

Prediction: Raiders select Williams at No. 4.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 29. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.