NFL Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Top Potential Mid-Round Steals

The ever-changing landscape of the NFL continued late this week. The Atlanta Falcons announced the release of running back Steven Jackson, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, on Thursday, and the Arizona Cardinals parted ways with defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, on Friday.

These are just two examples of moves that will ultimately help shape the 2015 NFL draft.

Will teams draft replacements for these players this year? That's a strong possibility; however, it may not be in the first round. There are plenty of factors that must come into play to make that situation come to fruitionschematic fits and prospect availability among them.

Let's take the Falcons for instance. They pick at No. 8 overall. Sure, they could snag Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon or Georgia's Todd Gurleybut would that be worth missing out on one of the draft's elite pass-rushers? Probably not. So, in this situation, we can expect Atlanta to look for a running back in the draft's middle roundswhere potential steals reside.

Which prospects appear to be the mid-round gems in this year's draft class? Before we take a look at some examples, here's an updated glance at how the first round is likely to shake out.

Analyzing Potential Mid-Round Steals

Mid-round steals can be a variety of things. These prospects could have sneaky starting potential and produce some impressive numbers out of the gate during their rookie seasons. They could also be athletic freaks who have the talent to dominate in the NFL after receiving the right coaching.

Every draft is chock-full of players who fit one of those aforementioned descriptions. The trick for NFL franchises is to figure out who they are. That said, let's take a look at some potential candidates.

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NFL Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Top Potential Mid-Round Steals