The Sports Xchange

CHICAGO — Redemption or regret, the 2015 NFL Draft will forever change the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the No. 1 overall pick for the first time 1987 and fourth time in franchise history, the Bucs are expected to align with Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, who won 26 of 27 starts with the Seminoles and hits the NFL with a Heisman Trophy and national championship on a resume that includes a checkered off-field past.

If Winston goes first, the expectation is Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, will be No. 2. It would be the sixth time in the history of the modern draft that quarterbacks went with the top two picks and the first since 2012 when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went 1-2.

Should the Tennessee Titans not deal the second overall selection, Mariota and Winston could meet on the field in Week 1 when the Titans and Bucs open the 2015 regular season. Mariota and the Ducks handed Winston his only loss as a college starter — Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl national semifinal.

The quarterback position demands the greatest attention in almost every draft. But the meat of the draft could be edge players — outside linebackers and defensive ends — wide receivers and a solid cornerback class.

NFLDraftScout.com projects the top defensive end, Dante Fowler Jr. from Florida, outside linebacker, Vic Beasley from Clemson, and wide receivers to be top-10 draft picks. Alabama junior Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White, who had a breakthrough season in 2014, could both go in the first eight picks. Cooper had 228 receptions for 3,463 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons with the Crimson Tide. He will give Alabama a first-rounder in seven consecutive drafts, second only to previous streaks by Florida (nine) and Miami (14).

Running backs are almost certain to return to the first round after a two-year absence, and a pair of talented and productive backs from pro-style college systems might be in high demand. Georgia running back Todd Gurley, five months removed from knee reconstruction surgery, could be selected in the first half of the opening round after receiving a positive medical report April 17 in Indianapolis. Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon could be preferred by some coaches — especially those that studied his 408 rushing yards in just three quarters against Nebraska last season.

While smokescreen season heats up, several teams shared in recent days their desire to trade down to accumulate multiple picks. The first opportunity to slide down a few spots could be at No. 2 if the Titans are blown away by Mariota bidders. Then at No. 3, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Oakland Raiders at 4, could get calls depending on how the players come off the board. There were 11 total trades in the 2014 first round and 12 in 2013. A record 19 deals were consummated in 2012.

Perhaps the best overall talent in the 2015 draft is Southern Cal junior defensive tackle Leonard Williams. He is projected as a pure three-technique tackle and if the Buccaneers and Gerald McCoy weren’t just months removed from a $100 million contract extension, Williams might be the headliner in the pre-draft buildup, too.

After the Jaguars come four consecutive teams who employ a 3-4 defense and might not see Williams as a perfect fit as a five-technique defensive end despite comparisons to Houston Texans All-Pro J.J. Watt.

The Seattle Seahawks parlayed their first-round pick into tight end Jimmy Graham in a March trade with the New Orleans Saints but could still be heard from with 11 total picks.

The Saints have two first-round picks as do the Cleveland Browns — No. 12 is their own, and 19th overall via 2014 draft-day trade with Buffalo — two teams who have been linked to Mariota.

Super Bowl champion New England picks 32nd in the first round with several spots where youth would be welcomed after nose tackle Vince Wilfork (released) and cornerback Darrelle Revis (Jets, free agency) moved on in the offseason.

A team to watch could be the Minnesota Vikings. Picking 11th overall, the Vikings could turn to a receiver or offensive lineman, but given the uncertainty surrounding the future of running back Adrian Peterson, Gurley or Gordon wouldn’t be surprised. It’s not beyond general manager Rick Spielman to make a splash in the first round. He had multiple first-round picks in three straight drafts, including three in 2013 and a pair last year, when the Vikings welcomed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (32nd overall).

NOTES: Florida State QB Jameis Winston would be the 16th underclassman — and 10th quarterback — drafted No. 1 overall since 1990. … The first time quarterbacks went 1-2 in the modern draft era was 1967. Jim Plunkett went No. 1 to New England before Archie Manning was selected by the New Orleans Saints. … In three of the past five drafts, 18 defensive players and 14 offensive players were among the 32 total first-round picks (2010, 2013, 2014). … Auburn, Notre Dame and USC are tied for the most top picks all-time with five No. 1 overall picks each. … The draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994. The first AFL-NFL combined draft in 1967 had 17 rounds. In 1977, that was reduced to 12.