NFL Draft 2015: Last-Minute Picks and Predictions for the 1st Round

With the first round of the 2015 NFL draft now upon us, anticipation is not just boiling over—it's spilling all over the place.

To get you through the agony that is the final hours before the draft kicks off, here are four first-round predictions of varying fearlessness.  

The Philadelphia Eagles will land Marcus Mariota

At some point, the rumors burn too hot to ignore. The latest buzz comes from Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, who claims Philadelphia is the one team with the ammunition and willingness to pay the steep price the Tennessee Titans have placed on the second pick.

That’s just the start.

According to ProFootballTalk, the Eagles are also shopping several veteran players in an effort to obtain more picks. Whether that’s to satisfy Tennessee’s demands or to replenish their own stock following a blockbuster trade remains unknown.

Such a trade would be a win for both parties. Eagles head coach Chip Kelly would have the right quarterback in place to see if his system as originally conceived can win in the NFL, and the Titans would get multiple picks to fill the litany of holes on their roster.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will also trade out of the top three

No one seems to know what the Jaguars are going to do, which is a little bit surprising considering we have a pretty good idea who will be on the board when they pick—everyone but Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.

Part of the problem is that the Jaguars have a few different options, as CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco points out.

Simply put, there’s significant talent remaining on the board at multiple positions of need for Jacksonville. The Jaguars would be wise to trade back with a team that has its heart set on a specific player, grabbing an extra pick or two in the process.

Who might be a willing partner in the deal? The Oakland Raiders and New York Jets could both target Amari Cooper, while the New York Giants may have some interest in Leonard Williams.

Kevin White will slip out of the top 10

Chris Jackson/Associated Press

This isn’t a reflection of White’s ability, but a reflection of how talent is dispersed throughout the draft.

Teams might not have the luxury of waiting for an edge rusher or an offensive lineman to fall to them in the wake of Shane Ray’s arrest for marijuana possession and the unknown legal status of La’el Collins.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has ten wide receivers ranked among his top 50 prospects. With that kind of depth, teams can afford to exercise patience.

Here’s a bonus prediction: White won’t get past the Cleveland Browns at No. 12.

Todd Gurley will be taken in the first half of the first round

After two years passing without a running back being taken in the first round, we’ll see two selected on Thursday night. One of them, Gurley, will be among the draft’s first 15 selections.

According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Gurley is a bit more than “just” the top-rated running back on some teams’ draft boards.

Not many running backs have earned such lofty status in recent years.

If Gurley slips past the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, expect one of the running back-needy teams—the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions or Arizona Cardinals—to make a splash by leapfrogging the Miami Dolphins and grabbing the draft’s top back.