2015 NFL Draft: Pac-12's Mariota, Williams headline updated mock draft

Week one of the NFL season is in the books, but it's never too early to look towards the next NFL Draft. With the draft eight months away, this exercise isn't about accuracy, but rather a sneak peek at the prospects that scouts view as potential first round picks, led by Pac-12 standouts Marcus Mariota and Leonard Williams.

*The selection order for this mock draft is based on the projected outcome of the 2014 NFL season by the NFLDraftScout.com staff. The Cleveland Browns own the rights to the Buffalo Bills' selection due to the Sammy Watkins trade.

1. St. Louis Rams -- QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
With Sam Bradford, the Rams are contending for the playoffs in 2014. But with the former No. 1 overall pick out for the season (again), St. Louis will instead be in contention for the top pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. Although Bradford is under contract for the 2015 season, the Rams need to think of the future of the position if they have the chance to draft one of the top quarterbacks next spring.

2. Oakland Raiders -- DL Leonard Williams, USC
The Raiders have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL and desperately need an injection of young talent on the defensive line that is currently filled with veteran cast-offs acquired via free agency. And they luck out in this situation with a supreme talent like Williams available who might be the best player in the entire draft and gives the Raiders a building block to pair with Khalil Mack in the front-seven.

3. Cleveland Browns -- OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
The Browns strongly considered an offensive tackle with their top-10 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and will probably again in 2015 if Mitchell Schwartz doesn’t secure his grasp on the starting right tackle spot. Ogbuehi will play left tackle as a senior in 2014, but spent most of his career in College Station at right tackle and could potentially start there in Cleveland while also being the long-term successor to Joe Thomas at left tackle.

4. Houston Texans -- QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
With the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Texans decided to pass on a quarterback, drafting Tom Savage with the 135th pick in the fourth round instead. Head coach Bill O’Brien can’t be overly excited about his current quarterback situation and with several talented passers projected to be in the 2015 class, including Winston, it will be much tougher for Houston to pass on a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
With a new front office and coaching staff taking over in Tampa this season, the long-term plan for the roster, notably the quarterback position, is an unknown at this point. But if the Buccaneers are picking in the top-10 again next spring, quarterback has to be high on the team’s wish list. Hundley has all the physical tools and with improved consistency in 2014, he will be considered a possible top-10 pick.

6. Washington Redskins -- FS Landon Collins, Alabama
In the 2004 NFL Draft, Washington drafted one of the best safety prospects of the last 20 years fifth overall (Sean Taylor). And they might have a chance to do it again with Collins, who is as well-rounded as they come with his ability to play both the run and the pass. With this likely being Ryan Clark’s last season with the Redskins, Collins would fit as the starting free safety from day one.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars -- DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
The Jaguars finished dead last in the NFL in team sacks last season (31) and that can’t sit well with head coach Gus Bradley, a defensive guru. Despite only one season at the FBS level, Gregory is a name buzzing in NFL circles after recording 19.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2013. He needs to get stronger and refine his skill-set, but the upside as a pass rusher is off-the-charts.

8. Dallas Cowboys -- DE Dante Fowler, Florida
Is there any doubt that this pick will be defense? The Cowboys traded up for Demarcus Lawrence in the 2014 NFL Draft, but the Dallas defense needs to add depth on the edges with players who can rush the passer and stop the run. Fowler would fit as a left defensive end in the Cowboys scheme and give Dallas bookend defensive ends, along with Lawrence on the right side.

9. Carolina Panthers -- OT Andrus Peat, Stanford
With Jordan Gross retiring after the 2013 season, the Panthers have entered this season with Byron Bell as the team’s starting left tackle. Time will tell if he settles in and secures the job long-term, but the early feedback is the Panthers could be looking for a new option there next off-season – especially if a talent like Peat lands in their laps.

10. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) -- WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
Regardless of who is at quarterback, the Browns have to get stronger at the wide receiver position, especially on the outside where Josh Gordon’s absence has left a glaring hole. Cooper isn’t an elite size/speed prospect, but he plays fast with the natural receiving characteristics needed to be a dangerous threat in the NFL. Cooper at the X, Andrew Hawkins at the Y and Gordon at the Z would give Cleveland an impressive trio next season.

11. New York Giants -- DE Shawn Oakman, Baylor
The strength of the Giants’ Super Bowl runs over the last decade was the talent on the defensive line, but that’s no longer the case with the current roster in New York. Although they come in different packages and skill-sets, Oakman has some similarities to Jason Pierre-Paul, who the Giants drafted in the first round a few years ago – both have uncanny athleticism, natural power and loads of untapped potential.

12. New York Jets -- RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
The Jets have some talent in their backfield with Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, but potentially adding a talent like Gurley immediately upgrades the position for New York. Although the NFL Draft hasn’t produced a first round running back since 2012, there is a strong chance that streak ends next spring with a player of Gurley’s talents.

13. Tennessee Titans -- QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
Unless Jake Locker takes a big step forward in his development in 2014, there is a chance this season is his final one in Tennessee. And although the Titans drafted Zach Mettenberger a year ago, there were more than few reasons why he was a sixth round pick. An offensive-minded head coach, Ken Whisenhunt likely wants a quarterback who can push the ball downfield and command the huddle and Cook checks those boxes as he continues to improve with every snap at Michigan State.

14. Kansas City Chiefs -- CB Marcus Peters, Washington
The Chiefs have some question marks in the secondary, especially after parting ways with Brandon Flowers in the off-season. Peters isn’t a household name, but his combination of size, length and athleticism makes him an attractive player to develop at the NFL level.

15. Miami Dolphins -- WR/TE Devin Funchess, Michigan
Whether he fits best at wide receiver or tight end in the NFL, Funchess will be able to help Miami in either area, possibly playing a hybrid version of both. The Dolphins need to continue and surround Tannehill with weapons and a big, athletic target like Funchess adds another dimension to Miami’s offense.

16. Arizona Cardinals -- DL Arik Armstead, Oregon
With 33-year old Darnell Dockett out for the season with a serious knee injury, the Cardinals could potentially address that position in the draft next season. Armstead is still very lean for the position and looks more like a basketball power forward in pads, but his natural skill-set and potential are off-the-charts.

17. Minnesota Vikings -- WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
The Vikings found their explosive deep threat in Cordarrelle Patterson and Strong could potentially be the powerful possession target opposite him, giving Teddy Bridgewater an impressive 1-2 punch long-term at the receiver position. With Greg Jennings on the wrong side of 30 years old and due to make $9 million in 2015, 2016 and 2017, there is a good chance he doesn’t see the end of his contract.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers -- CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Despite locking up Cortez Allen long-term, it’s an aging secondary in Pittsburgh and new life at cornerback will be targeted next off-season. The Steelers strongly considered Darqueze Dennard in the 2014 NFL Draft but decided to take a different Big Ten defender, Ryan Shazier. Ekpre-Olomu isn’t the biggest and won’t run the fastest 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, but he’s fluid, instinctive and plays the position with the confidence and veteran presence that will endear him to pro teams.

19. Detroit Lions -- OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Detroit currently has some questions at right tackle and while LaAdrian Waddle impressed as an undrafted free agent last season, it’s still uncertain if he’s a long-term option. Scherff is a plug-and-play type at right tackle and would give Detroit a pair of book-end Iowa tackles with Riley Reiff and Scherff.

20. Atlanta Falcons -- DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
It’s not easy to be optimistic about the Falcons pass rush situation right now with question marks on the roster at defensive end. Calhoun needs to add a power element to his game and continue to develop, but is a young up-and-comer who displays some first round traits.

21. Chicago Bears -- DE Hau’oli Kikaha, Washington
Chicago added Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston this offseason and need some young blood to groom on the edges. Kikaha has suffered a few knee injuries, but with a clean bill of health in 2014 and at the Combine, the Washington pass rusher has the natural ability to be considered in the first round.

22. Baltimore Ravens -- CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
The Ravens situation at cornerback is interesting because Jimmy Smith is due for an extension soon and Lardarius Webb, who already received his long-term contract, has struggled with several nagging injuries. At the very least, Baltimore needs to add cornerback depth through the draft and Williams has the skill-set to play the nickel and on the outside.

23. San Diego Chargers -- OL Lael Collins, LSU
San Diego’s offensive line has been just good enough, but has room for improvements in several areas. Collins is a three-year starting left tackle at LSU and has the skill-set that fits best inside as a mauling run blocker and agile pass protector vs. interior rushers.

24. Indianapolis Colts -- OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson
The Colts gave a lot of money to Erik Walden and drafted Bjoern Werner in the first round two years ago, but the team has struggled to consistently rush the passer with Robert Mathis currently suspended. Beasley is still relatively new to the defensive side of the ball, but the natural athleticism will draw some Bruce Irvin comparisons and likely land him somewhere in round one.

25. Philadelphia Eagles -- DE/OLB Noah Spence, Ohio State
The Eagles drafted a pass rusher in the first round last season (Marcus Smith), but I don’t think Chip Kelly would hesitate to draft another impact rusher if the situation presents itself in next year’s draft. Spence, who was suspended for Ohio State’s first two games in 2014, is a fluid, explosive athlete for the position with a high football ceiling.

26. Green Bay Packers -- CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The Packers re-signed Sam Shields to a long-term deal last off-season, but will have other decisions to make this upcoming off-season at the cornerback position with Tramon Williams and Davon House both hitting free agency. Waynes fits the skill-set that Green Bay looks for at the position and is an ascending prospect.

27. Cincinnati Bengals -- OT Ty Sambrailo, Colorado State
The Bengals have a few question marks on the offensive line with the departure of Anthony Collins and Clint Boling returning from a knee injury (and in the final year of his contract). Sambrailo, who is currently dealing with a knee sprain, isn’t well-known nationally, but scouts love his light feet, heady awareness and upside once he gets into a NFL strength program.

28. New England Patriots -- DT Danny Shelton, Washington
Due to injuries and age, Vince Wilfork’s days in New England are numbered and Shelton would give Patriots added beef up front while also serving as a long-term plan for the nose tackle position. He has the natural size and girth to occupy multiple blocks while also showing the range to make plays all over the field.

29. San Francisco 49ers -- WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
If not for the off-field issues, Green-Beckham would be mentioned as a top-10 draft pick, but the former Missouri Tiger will likely fall on draft boards due to maturity concerns. San Francisco might view him as “worth the risk” at this point in the draft, giving the 49ers a specimen to groom and eventually take over for Anquan Boldin.

30. New Orleans Saints -- OL Spencer Drango, Baylor
Ben Grubbs and Jahri Evans have multiple Pro Bowls on their resumes, but both are on the wrong side of 30 and have some lingering health issues, making interior offensive line depth a need area for New Orleans. A player who flashes some similarities to Cowboys 2014 first rounder Zack Martin, Drango has a well-rounded skill-set to play either guard or tackle at the next level.

31. Denver Broncos -- LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
The Broncos are much improved on defense but have some depth issues, especially at linebacker. Also seeing playing time at safety and running back over his college career, Thompson is a versatile athlete who continues to improve and get better.

32. Seattle Seahawks -- DE/OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville
The rich get richer. Seattle has a formidable defense and a lot of options when it comes to this pick, including pass rusher. Mauldin has played defensive end and linebacker over his time at Louisville, showing the ability to effectively play both positions and be a threat collapsing the pocket and stopping the run.