2015 NFL Draft: Identifying the Safest Picks in Round 1

It could be said that there is no such thing as a "safe" pick in the NFL draft. As a multitude of factors go into whether a player realizes his potential, no selection comes with guaranteed success.

Nonetheless, many teams will be looking to mitigate risk when they make first-round choices for 2015 on April 30. As such, scouting departments will be seeking to identify the prospects who are the best bets to make good on early investments.

The following six players are among the most likely to be productive, reliable starters at minimum for years to come. In addition to being technically sound, experienced players with well-rounded skill sets on the field, they also have impressive off-field character.

That's not to say they should or will be the first players drafted, as there are others who have higher ceilings and lower floors. Each of these players, however, is worthy of consideration for teams who are looking to avoid ending up with a draft bust.

Amari Cooper is no longer the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in this year's draft class, thanks to the outstanding senior year and NFL Scouting Combine performance by West Virginia's Kevin White. But Cooper, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's best wideout this past season, remains the safest choice in the draft among not only pass-catchers, but arguably all positions.

While Cooper does not have the length and jump-ball ability of White and Louisville's DeVante Parker, he is tremendously polished for a receiver coming out of college.

A precise route-runner who wastes no motion in his breaks, Cooper also consistently catches the ball in his hands. He should be able to gain separation and emerge as a go-to receiver for an NFL offense right off the bat.

Cooper has very good speed and excellent quickness, as evidenced by his 4.42-second 40-yard dash, 6.71-second three-cone drill and 3.98-second 20-yard shuttle (best among all wide receivers) at the combine. Those athletic traits, at 6'1" and 211 pounds, will enable his high-level production at Alabama to translate to the next level.

There are no significant flaws in the game of Cooper, who caught 228 passes for 3,463 yards and 31 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons. A team seeking a wide receiver should have no qualms about using a high pick on him in this year's draft.

Widely ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the draft, Leonard Williams might be the only player in this class without a true weakness.

A great athlete at 6'5" and 302 pounds who has experience playing both inside and outside, Williams projects as a safe pick for any defensive scheme. He could play both defensive tackle and defensive end for a 4-3 team, while he is ideally suited to be a 5-technique defensive end for a 3-4 front.

Williams has the strength to overpower his opponents and the athletic ability to make plays all over the field, the latter of which is a rare quality for an interior defensive lineman. He has terrific length, with 34.625-inch arms, and is a sound tackler.

To be the star he is expected to be, Williams will need to develop more pass-rushing moves. It is also questionable whether he has enough first-step explosiveness to be an elite interior penetrator.

But even if Williams does not maximize his potential, he should still be a quality starter and three-down player for an interior defensive line. Given his terrific point-of-attack strength and versatility to play multiple roles, Williams is a player a team can draft confidently for immediate contributions and long-term value.

Not one of the flashier prospects regarded as a potential first-round pick, Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown has not yet emerged as one of the draft's big names, but he would be one of the best choices for a team looking to select a ready-to-contribute player.

Like the aforementioned Leonard Williams, Brown has a great combination of size, athleticism and versatility. At 6'2" and 319 pounds, Brown has a combination of quickness, strength and hand skills that could enable him to play any interior defensive line position.

Versus the run, Brown holds up consistently well at the point of attack. He is also able to be effective as a pass-rusher, as he can win with both his burst off the line of scrimmage and his ability to generate power.

Brown has exhibited the stamina to be an effective every-down player for four quarters, and he comes across as "very mature" off the field, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

As Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski recently wrote, "Brown shouldn't be overlooked as a top-10 talent" in this year's draft. He's not expected to come off the board quite that early and might never be a star playmaker in the NFL, but he is a good bet to be a quality three-down linchpin for a defensive line.

If projected solely as a left tackle to the NFL, Brandon Scherff would not be on this list. Limitations in length (33.375-inch arms) and lateral agility make it uncertain whether he can be a blindside pass protector for an NFL offense.

However, Scherff is on this list because he could also project to playing right tackle or guard in the NFL—ideally the latter. With a position change, he should be able to step in immediately and provide quality play to a team's offensive line.

An explosive player with industrial strength, Scherff should make a big difference right away as an NFL run-blocker. He has the power to drive defenders backward and is very good at getting to the second level to clear linebackers away from running lanes.

Scherff's game as a pass-blocker is a work in progress, but he should perform well in that capacity if moved inside. While he has occasional trouble with outside speed-rushers, he is a great athlete overall who typically wins a battle once he gets his hands firmly on an opponent.

Often compared to 2014 Dallas Cowboys rookie sensation Zack Martin, Scherff has similar potential as a guard conversion. There is always some uncertainty when projecting a player to make a position change, but Scherff started his Iowa career at guard and has both the physical tools and technical skills to achieve early and long-term success at the next level.

Like Brandon Scherff, La'el Collins faces mixed projections as a left tackle prospect, but he has experience playing inside and should be able to carve out a strong career on an NFL offensive line at one spot or another.

A two-year starting left tackle and one-year starting left guard for LSU, Collins is arguably the most technically sound offensive lineman in this year's draft. He packs a strong punch, shows the ability to move defenders off the line of scrimmage and has a good downfield burst.

Also like Scherff, Collins has limited length (33.25-inch arms) and questionable lateral agility, a combination that could give him trouble with outside speed-rushers as an NFL offensive tackle.

On the other hand, he is a good straight-line athlete for his size (6'4", 305 lbs) who is more than competent at making second-level blocks. And once Collins gets his hands on an opponent, he typically smothers the defender with his strength and wins the battle.

Banking on Collins to be a franchise left tackle might not be a safe investment. Bringing him in as an upgrade at guard who could play on the edge in a pinch, however, would be a smart pick that is unlikely to backfire.

While running back prospects are no longer highly valued commodities in the NFL draft, top talents at the position continue to be among the safest selections for teams with bust-averse strategies. Although it is true productive running backs emerge annually from the draft's late rounds, it is also true that more often than not early-round running backs become quality starters for their teams.

Georgia's Todd Gurley, one of the top two running backs in this year's draft, is actually one of its riskiest potential first-rounders because he is recovering from a torn ACL. Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, on the other hand, is a player a team should feel comfortable taking in Round 1 provided it feels that a running back upgrade should be one of its priorities.

Explosive, productive and durable, Gordon ran for 4,915 yards and 45 touchdowns in three-plus seasons. Despite running the ball more than 600 times, he didn't miss a game due to injury after his first year at Wisconsin.

A 6'1", 215-pound running back with great lateral agility for his size, Gordon can make defenders miss and fight through contact. He is at his best in open space but nonetheless has the toughness and strength to gain consistent yardage between the tackles.

There are concerns about Gordon's ability to contribute to a passing offense, as he is neither a polished receiver nor a great blocker, but he has developmental potential in both of those areas. But even if he does not emerge as a three-down playmaker, Gordon should at least be a yard-compiling feature running back who can carry the load and break off some big plays.

All measurables courtesy of NFL.com.

Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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