The 2015 NFL Draft is now just hours away, and make no mistake about it, today is a great day to be a football fan. However, it's even a greater day to be a draftnik.

With the NFL Draft returning to Chicago for the first time in 51 years, I'm here to offer some insights and hopefully shed some light on this year's first round with the release of my 2015 final mock draft, which has become an annual staple of the TIMES NEWS for the past 15 years and has been ranked as the most accurate mock draft in the industry over the past five years according to

www.thehuddlereport.com.So, without further adieu, here's how I see things unfolding tonight (before the first trade blows it all up):1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston (QB, Florida St.) ... Winston to the Buccaneers is pretty much locked in and any other pick here would be a jaw-dropping shock. Winston definitely comes with some baggage as far as character concerns go, but Tampa Bay's front office prefers him as a player (over Marcus Mariota) on the field, and they seem to be comfortable enough with him as a person off the field.2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) ... This is where things get interesting, as I believe that Titans will explore trading out of this pick, with their most likely trade partners Cleveland (with two first-round picks and future draft compensation) and San Diego (with Philip Rivers and additional draft compensation). However, if they're not blown away by any offers, staying put and selecting Mariota would make a ton of sense. He's not the prototypical quarterback that Ken Whisenhunt looks for, but he has all the intangibles to become the face of the franchise (sorry Zach Mettenberger). Leonard Williams will also be in consideration here, but I give the nod to Mariota.3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dante Fowler, Jr. (DE/OLB, Florida) ... Jacksonville's biggest need is a LEO edge pass rusher and they should have the pick of the litter. Dante Fowler is the best of the bunch and is probably the safest choice as well. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Jaguars throw a curveball by selecting a wide receiver like Amari Cooper, but I think that buzz is more of a ploy to get someone to trade up ahead of the Raiders for a stud wideout.4. Oakland Raiders - Leonard Williams (DT, USC) ... Hailed by many as the top prospect in this year's draft class, it might be surprising to see Williams still on the board at this point. Oakland really needs to surround quarterback Derek Carr with some weapons on the outside, so Amari Cooper or Kevin White would be logical picks here. However, if Williams slides, he would really solidify their defense line and I think it would be difficult for the Raiders to pass him up.5. Washington Redskins - Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) ... When the Redskins picked up the fifth-year option on Robert Griffin's contract, they committed to the quarterback for the next two years. With Jay Gruden being an offensive-minded head coach, it only makes sense to surround RG3 with as much talent as possible. A pass rusher might be a huge area of need here so Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley and Bud Dupree may be in play here, but Amari Cooper presents the best value still on the board.6. New York Jets - Alvin "Bud" Dupree (DE/OLB, Kentucky) ... For the Jets, upgrading their pass rush is a big concern and a glaring need. Most mock drafts I've seen have Clemson's Vic Beasley going here, but I believe that Beasley is too small for a 3-4 defense. New head coach Todd Bowles likes big rushers and this is why I give the edge (no pun intended) to Bud Dupree.7. Chicago Bears - Kevin White (WR, West Virginia) ... This pick scares me a little as the Bears are playing a 3-4 defense for the first time in their history and new head coach John Fox has always prioritized a pass rusher with his first picks with his new teams (Julius Peppers in 2002 with Carolina and Von Miller in 2011 with Denver). However, the Bears still need to replace Brandon Marshall and White is a big-bodied receiver who can slide right into his starting spot and be a huge weapon opposite Alshon Jeffery.8. Atlanta Falcons - Vic Beasley (DE/OLB, Clemson) ... Atlanta desperately needs a pass rusher and it needs to be a top priority with this pick. The Falcons haven't been able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks since John Abraham left town and new head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive mastermind. I think Atlanta would love to see Bud Dupree still on the board here, but with him being gone, Vic Beasley is the next best option.9. New York Giants - Brandon Scherff (OT/OG, Iowa) ... The Giants have a penchant for addressing their offensive line early in drafts and Brandon Scherff might just present the safest option with the most versatility. They can play him pretty much anywhere (tackle, guard) in their 24-7 effort to protect Eli Manning. Andrus Peat will also be in play here. Also, if Amari Cooper is somehow still on the board at this point, it would be very difficult for the Giants to pass him up.10. St. Louis Rams - Andrus Peat (OT, Stanford) ... The Rams are a difficult team to get a read on as I don't foresee them to have too many holes. However, despite picking offensive tackle Greg Robinson with the second overall selection in last year's draft, St. Louis still has some work to do on its offensive line. This could just be a matter of personal preference between Peat, Scherff or Ereck Flowers, but I give the nod to Peat who can fill in for free agent Joseph Barksdale at right tackle.11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan St.) ... Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer covets first-round cornerbacks and Trae Waynes is the consensus top cornerback in this draft. Minnesota wants another outside corner to start opposite Xavier Rhodes and Waynes seems like a perfect fit. It might be tempting for the Vikings to reunite DeVante Parker with former college quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but they are higher on Charles Johnson than most people realize and they just traded for Mike Wallace.12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton (DT, Washington) ... Cleveland was atrocious against the run late last season (finishing dead last in the league) thanks to incompetent play from its defensive line. The Browns are said to covet Shelton, who is a run stopper that can play in their portable defense that bounces around from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Cleveland also drafts at #19, and I feel they need to address the trenches with each of their two first-round picks.13. New Orleans Saints - DeVante Parker (WR, Louisville) ...The Saints really need an edge rusher, but with three already off the board, this might be a tad too early to take a chance on Randy Gregory (and all his red flags). With Kenny Stills and Jimmy Graham gone and Drew Brees left with Brandin Cooks and 32-year-old Marques Colston at wide receiver, it might make sense to invest in another very capable target.14. Miami Dolphins - Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia) ... When the Dolphins signed Greg Jennings last week, they basically took themselves out of the running for a wide receiver with this pick. While there are a lot of smokescreens in the days leading up to the draft, Miami's interest in Todd Gurley is not one of them. Lamar Miller is not an every-down back and Gurley would really provide a boost for Ryan Tannehill out of the backfield. Gurley is being touted as one of the best running backs to come out of college in years and will be the first running back chosen in the first round in the past three drafts.15. San Francisco 49'ers - Arik Armstead (DE, Oregon ... With the defensive line aging and Justin Smith contemplating retirement, the 49'ers need to inject some youth into their defensive front seven. Armstead is a huge physical specimen (6'7") that is capable of serving as a defensive end and an inside rusher in the 49'ers 3-4 defense, similar to Smith. San Francisco is definitely a team in transition and cornerback might also be an option with its first round pick.16. Houston Texans - Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest) ... After parting ways with franchise stalwart Andre Johnson, it might be wise to bring in another wideout to bolster their anemic passing attack, such as Central Florida's Breshad Perriman. However, with the wide receiver position being so deep in this year's draft, Houston might opt to look in a different direction. Rick Smith and Bill O'Brien love offensive linemen and cornerbacks, so Kevin Johnson and/or Cameron Erving both look to be in play with this pick.17. San Diego Chargers - Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) ... Providing San Diego doesn't trade Philip Rivers for a chance to select Marcus Mariota, this pick should ultimately help to address San Diego's running game, whether it be a running back or an offensive lineman. The Chargers need to replace Ryan Matthews after he defected to the Eagles, and San Diego can't possibly feel good about having Brandon Oliver and Danny Woodhead as their top running backs entering the season.18. Kansas City Chiefs - Ereck Flowers (OT, Miami) ... The Chiefs had pass protection issues last season and it's no secret that Andy Reid loves drafting linemen. There is some who think that the Chiefs might opt for a second-tier receiver to help replace Dwayne Bowe with this pick, but that's just not Reid's M.O. There will be several serviceable offensive linemen available here and Flowers is probably the best of the bunch. I did have LSU offensive tackle La'El Collins here last night, but removed him after he left the draft to meet with Louisiana authorities over the murder of his former girlfriend.19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) - Cameron Erving (C, Florida St.) ... Cleveland seems intent on fortifying their offensive and defensive lines early on in this draft, and if you remember correctly, the Browns were kicking the tires on Greg Robinson in last year's first round. If they go defensive line with their first pick, I expect them to look offense with this pick and there are several capable players still on the board. Erving can play center, guard or tackle and will be especially valuable if center Alex Mack opts out of his contract next year. Don't rule out a wide receiver here either, or the possibility of the Browns using their picks as leverage to trade up in the first round (Marcus Mariota?).20. Philadelphia Eagles - Byron Jones (CB, Connecticut) ... Chip Kelly is playing by his own set of rules this offseason and he's a tough guy to get a read on. I would assume he'd be leaning wide receiver or defensive back with this pick, but who really knows. The Eagles secondary was putrid last year and even though they signed Byron Maxwell from Seattle, they still need more upgrades at the position. According to the SPARQ formula, Jones is the most athletic player in this year's draft class, which should be very tempting to Kelly.21. Cincinnati Bengals - Damarious Randall (S, Arizona St.) ...I really feel that this selection will come down to either offensive tackle or safety, as all four current starters' contracts are up after this season. The Bengals love big nasty tackles, but I'm not sure their best fit will still be on the board when they pick. I'm going out on a limb here with Randall (over Landon Collins) because he's more of a free safety, which is what will be needed if the Bengals don't bring back Reggie Nelson after this season.22. Pittsburg Steelers - Marcus Peters (CB, Washington) ... Pittsburgh's biggest needs are a cornerback and an edge rusher. Randy Gregory might still be on the board, but will the Steelers take a chance on his character concerns. I really wanted to give Pittsburgh Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest) with this pick, but the Steelers more than any other team in the league tend to take players that come in for pre-draft visits. Johnson didn't come in, but Peters did…advantage Peters.23. Detroit Lions - Malcom Brown (DT, Texas) ... Detroit needs to replace both Ndamulong Suh and Nick Fairly who fled in free agency, and while they did sign Haloti Nagata, I consider that more of a short-term fix. Malcom Brown had a great junior season for Texas and is someone that can help rebuild Detroit's depleted defensive line. The Lions may also be hoping that one of the top two running backs falls to them, but that is wishful thinking at best.24. Arizona Cardinals - Randy Gregory (DE/OLB, Nebraska) ... Arizona, like Detroit and several teams in the back end of the first round, are hoping that one of the top two running backs falls to them. However, that is unlikely to happen, so the Cardinals should turn their attention to an edge rusher or the top cornerback still on the board. Randy Gregory is a top 10 player who's going to slide due to character concerns, and at this point in the first round, he's someone worth taking the chance on.25. Carolina Panthers - D.J. Humphries (OT, Florida) ... Offensive tackle is probably the chalk pick here for the Panthers and I'm fully on board with that. Last year, Carolina neglected the offensive tackle position and it came back to bite them, as Cam Newton took a beating. I don't see them making the same mistake twice, and D.J. Humphries is a true left tackle prospect that can give Michael Oher a run for his money on the "Blindside."26. Baltimore Ravens - Breshad Perriman (WR, Central Florida) ... Marcus Peters, Randy Gregory and Dorial Green-Beckham will all be tempting, but the Ravens probably won't take a chance on a player with character concerns considering what they just went through with Ray Rice. Cornerback is thin outside of Jimmy Smith and wide receiver is an area of need, as Torrey Smith left town and Steve Smith won't be around too much longer. Perriman is a freak athlete and one of the fastest players in this year's draft. I don't know if Perriman will last this long, but if he does, Ozzie Newsome will get another draft-day steal.27. Dallas Cowboys - Jalen Collins (CB, LSU) ... America's Team could reach for a running back with this pick, but I really think they look defense here and the two positions that stand out are edge rusher (due to Greg Hardy's 10-game suspension) and cornerback. I think this pick ultimately comes down to the best player available, and with the way my board fell, that player would be Jalen Collins. Collins has some risks (which could cause him to fall right out of the first round), but he may have the highest ceiling of any cornerback in this class. Shane Ray could also be a consideration.28. Denver Broncos - Cedric Ogbuehi (OT, Texas A&M) ... This year might be the last hurrah for Peyton Manning, and for the Broncos to make a run, you need to keep Manning upright and protected. Last year, Denver's pass protection wasn't very good and it looks to be even worse now with the departure of Orlando Franklin. I think the Broncos would love to have a shot at Cameron Erving, but since he's gone, look for the pick to come down to Ogbuehi, Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings and Oregon's Jake Fisher.29. Indianapolis Colts - Landon Collins (S, Alabama) ... The Colts will no doubt be looking at Cameron Erving, as they started three different center last year, but ultimately, I think Indianapolis needs to solidify the middle of the field on the back end of their defense, both defending the pass and the run. With Landon Collins, you get the best of both worlds. Collins was projected to go much earlier than this, so this might be a steal for the Colts.30. Green Bay Packers - Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida St.) ... Most mock drafts I've seen have an inside linebacker going to the Packers with this pick (Eric Kendricks or Denzel Perryman). My issue with that is that I just don't know if there's any inside linebackers in this draft that are worthy of a first round pick. Green Bay could also stand to address cornerback and its defensive line. B.J. Raj is only signed to a one-year contract, so someone like Eddie Goldman could be looked at as his eventual replacement.31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) - Shane Ray (DE/OLB, Missouri) ... If New Orleans doesn't take a wide receiver with its first pick (#13), I would full expect one to be chosen here and Dorial Green-Beckham would make a ton of sense. However, the Saints have a ton of options and flexibility in this draft with five selections in the first 78 picks. Cornerback and edge rusher are also needs for the Saints. Shane Ray is a top 20 player that is in a free fall over injury concerns and stupidity (a marijuana citation earlier this week). Ray may ultimately fall right out of day one, but he's someone worth taking a chance on this late in the first round.32. New England Patriots - Nelson Agholor (WR, USC) ... New England has a huge question mark at the cornerback position after losing both Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner this offseason. If one of the top 5 corners falls to them, I think it's a slam dunk pick. A versatile defensive lineman or a wide receiver could also be positions that the Patriots look to address early. The Patriots have never selected a wide receiver in the first round under Bill Belichick, but Agholor or Dorial Green-Beckham would be a perfect fit for the defending Super Bowl champs.Other Possible First Round Selections: Dorial Green-Beckham (WR, Oklahoma); Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami); La'el Collins (OT, LSU); T.J. Clemmings (OT, Pittsburgh); Jordan Phillips (DT, Oklahoma).