Well, here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for. Finally, after a year, an exciting season, a crazy offseason that just got weirder with Deflate-Gate coming back, the 2016 NFL Draft is almost upon us. There have been crazy trades which have caused me to pull out some of my hair and redo my mock twice. All of the drama may be gone with the first two picks now that the Rams and Eagles have said they will take quarterbacks. The rest of the Draft, however, is up in the air completely. This is my best attempt to prognosticate what may happen, and is the first part of a full 7 Round Mock Draft. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope there are no more trades. To be clear, I do not project any trades in this mock, though I'd really like to. For example, I'd love to say that Sam Bradford gets traded to the 49ers, or that Colin Kaepernick gets traded to the Broncos. But I cannot, because that would just make my life harder. So, this is what you get. Thank you so much for reading. Here we go. With the 1st pick in the 2016 NFL Draft....
1. Los Angeles Rams- Jared Goff, QB, Cal
It seems to be the worst kept secret in the league right now. The Rams gave up a hefty ransom to move up and select a QB. The feel like they can win right now if they get consistent QB play, which they haven't gotten from Nick Foles or Case Keenum. Goff provides the experience that Carson Wentz does not have, and will be ready to go sooner. He should be the starter by Week 5, if not right out of the gate.
2. Philadelphia Eagles- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
The Eagles say they are happy with whoever the Rams don't take. I hope that is true, because while Wentz is talented, he is not that experienced. It is a move that makes some sense when you are willing to sit him for more of the first year, if not all of it, while Doug Pederson teaches Wentz how to be a NFL QB. However, with Sam Bradford demanding a trade today, it is possible Wentz will be thrown to the fire earlier than expected.
3. San Diego Chargers- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
This pick makes so much sense to me it isn't even funny. Yes, they have a need in the secondary, but the Chargers have committed to Phillip Rivers long term. They need to keep him upright and get the most out of their rapidly closing window. Tunsil has the biggest upside, moves fluidly, and can dominate the line of scrimmage. If any questions about his motor prove to be unfounded, then the Chargers may have the foundation of their O-line for the next decade.
4. Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Greg Hardy gone. Randy Gregory suspended. Why is anyone in Dallas talking about taking a running back? Yes, I think Ezekiel Elliot will be a great player. But I think that the Cowboys have a bigger need along that defensive line. Bosa is a safe pick who could give Eli, Kirk, and Wentz fits for years. You have to take him if he is there.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
The Jags had a massive offseason, adding Malik Jackson, Chris Ivory, Tashaun Gipson, and Prince Amukamara. They are looking to solidify a mediocre defense so that they can compete in a division with Andrew Luck, Marcus Mariota, and Houston's shiny new toy, Brock Osweiler. Ramsey can play either safety or corner, and has excellent cover skills, even if he doesn't always pick the ball off. Adding him could be the final piece in an overhaul that bring Jacksonville back to the playoffs.
6. Baltimore Ravens- DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
I had Ronnie Stanley hear in each of my first two mocks. I think he is the right pick. However, Baltimore gave Eugene Monroe a bunch of money to play left tackle. Plus Stanley may not transition to right tackle well. And hey, its the Ravens. They are defined by defense. DeForest Buckner is a physical freak, super athletic, and will fit right in with that culture in the Ravens locker room.
7. San Francisco 49ers- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
So, you know how I said Stanley may not be a great right tackle? Don't tell Chip Kelly that. Chip will play him wherever he wants to. I do think there is something very special about Stanley, who is more of a finesse tackle that Tunsil is. However, as he matures, and Joe Staley gets older, the move may be to switch Staley over to the right side. Which ever way they choose to play it, the 49ers should have solid bookend tackles protecting whoever the hell is playing QB for them.
8. Cleveland Browns- Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Browns got a nice haul of picks from the Eagles, and are able to take a little bit of a risk here. There is some concern about Jack's knee, but if the Browns doctor approves, then they could get the best overall player in the draft. Jack can go sideline to sideline, tackle, and rush the passer. He would be the heart of that Browns defense.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
The Buccaneers main need is in the secondary. If Ramsey falls this far (he won't), he would be the obvious pick. Here, they take the best pure corner that can start right away. With Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan in the same conference, the Bucs need someone to stop the pass just as much as they need Jameis Winston to go out there and sling it.
10. New York Giants- Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
If Elliot is here at 10, the Dolphins will do almost anything to trade up and take him. But like I said, I don't project trades. Plus, the Giants could use Elliot too. The running back by committee that the Giants have now isn't bad, but they have the chance to draft the clear #1 RB on the board, as well as the best player available. Pair him with Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr? As as fan of the Washington football team, I know I don't want to see that twice a year.
11. Chicago Bears- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
The Bears used to be defined by their defense. Now they cannot stop anyone. Lee is the best pass rusher available, only a hair below Myles Jack, and ahead of him if Jack's knee turns out to be a problem. He'd come in and give O-linemen fits. This is the first step in getting the Bears back to being the Monsters of the Midway.
12. New Orleans Saints- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
I've got to say, this is the most consistent pick in all the mock drafts I have seen outside of the the QBs at the top. The Saints just couldn't stop anyone. Rankins can stuff the run and be a mainstay on their defensive line for years. Of course, this is the Saints, so if they don't take a defensive lineman, I am sure they'd just take another weapon for Drew Brees.
13. Miami Dolphins- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
No Elliot, and the Dolphins are crushed. They need guys that can play everywhere except for at DT. So, why not go with a guy in the secondary from possibly the most talented team in college last year? Eli Apple is a bit raw, but has the size and speed that projects well to the next level. He was already a 2nd team All Big Ten corner as a red shirt sophomore, and can develop into a true shutdown corner at the NFL level.
14. Oakland Raiders- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Oakland Raiders have made some big strides recently. They have a franchise QB in Derek Carr. They have a go-to WR in Amari Cooper. They signed some key free agents in Kelichi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, and Sean Smith. Now, they can draft a franchise left (or right) tackle to keep their QB upright and competing. The last thing they want is for Derek to get shell-shocked like his older brother David was in Houston from taking too many sacks. Conklin is rising up draft boards fast, and could be taken before Stanley in the Top 10.
15. Tennessee Titans- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
The Titans may trade back up to get Stanley, Tunsil, or Conklin. But if they stay at 15 and still land Decker, they they will have already won the draft with 1 pick. Like the Raiders, the Titans have a young franchise QB that they need to keep healthy. Marcus Mariota got hit way too much last season. Plug in Decker on the opposite side of Taylor Lewan, and he should be upright for much longer.
16. Detroit Lions- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Let's see, what happened to the Lions this offseason... Oh yeah, their best player decided to retire. No more Megatron. That leaves a pretty damn big hole on the outside. Treadwell doesn't have the elite speed that Calvin Johnson did coming out of college, but he is a playmaker. He can pair well with Matt Stafford, who frankly needs all the help he can get in that division. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones cannot do it by themselves. Treadwell would compliment their speed with his hands and size.
17. Atlanta Falcons- Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
According to ESPN's draft gurus Todd McShay and the king, Mel Kiper Jr, seeing Floyd around this late would be a massive surprise. I am not one to disagree with them often, but I just don't see Top 10 in this guy. I think that the Falcons would be a great spot for him. They could pair him with Vic Beasley on the opposite side to get after those great QBs in the NFC South. Plus, it never hurts to sell season tickets to a new stadium in Atlanta opening in 2017 then with a former Georgia Bulldog as a defensive star.
18. Indianapolis Colts- Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
The Colts need to draft offensive linemen. They need to draft a lot of offensive linemen. They may need to draft an entire new offensive line. Unless they trade up to take one of the Top 4 tackles, or trade back to get one of the second tier guys, they will be stuck without an option at tackle. Ryan Kelly is an option, but they need guards just as much (if not moreso) than a center. Whitehair is the #1 guard on the board, and fits a need. Think Zach Martin or Brandon Scherff- plug in, play, and be happy you don't hear his name for mistakes often.
19. Buffalo Bills- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
The Bills are a Rex Ryan team. They will be built around defense. Depending on who you talk to, Reed is even better than Sheldon Rankins, who went to the Saints at 12. He could stuff the run and anchor the defensive line for Rex. Yes, they have Marcel Dareus, but Kyle Williams is older, and is coming back from a knee injury. Another option? The guy that is taken next.
20. New York Jets- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Yes, Shaq would also be a smart choice for Buffalo, what with the departure of Mario Williams. But he fits in with the Jets too. They need a solid pass rusher on the opposite side of last year's #1 pick, Leonard Williams. They could be a dominant force in the AFC if they are able to come together. Now if they only had a quarterback.
21. Washington Redskins- Ryan Kelly, OC, Alabama
The surprise signing of Josh Norman means that corner isn't a top need. The free agent signing of Kendall Reyes added depth along the D-line, though they cold still draft there. But the reason the Redskins were able to succeed last year was because Kirk Cousins played well. Getting Ryan Kelly to anchor that offensive line would be the perfect pick to help in his development. Plug him in next to Brandon Scherff. Rebuild the Hogs. Do it!
22. Houston Texans- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
The Texans have a truly great playmaking wideout in DeAndre Hopkins. They also have a new QB in Brock Osweiler. But they don't have a great second option to stretch the field. This is why Will Fuller is the perfect pick. He is a speedster than help take advantage of Brock's big arm. He will also force safeties to play deeper, taking the double team off Hopkins and opening up the middle of the field for intermediate routes by tight ends. He dropped some easy balls with the Irish, but Bill O'Brien should be able to coach him up into a true threat.
23. Minnesota Vikings- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
The Vikings may get the best all around wideout in the draft. He is an excellent route runner, though he wasn't asked to do it that much in TCU's spread offense. He has great hands, good speed, and would compliment Stefon Diggs well. Teddy Bridgewater would be a very happy man with those two WRs.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
When you play in the same division with the Steelers and Ravens, you are going to have to stop the run. Billings is a super athlete for his size, who can stop the run and even get to the passer on the inside. He also has elite power to collapse the pocket from the middle. The Bengals don't really have a glaring need that fits with the player available, and the thought of Billings next to Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap should make Marvin Lewis grin.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson
All players in the NFL draft have the ability to make it in the NFL. Not everyone has the confidence. This does not apply to Alexander. To say his self-confidence is high would be an understatement. He has the right ability and the right swagger to fit in with the Steelers, who are in desperate need for secondary help.
26. Seattle Seahawks- A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
The Seahawks lost Brandon Mebane in free agency. If Robinson falls to them, they get his immediate replacement. Robinson is a big body in the middle, with one scout saying his proportion was "beautiful for an interior lineman". Nick Saban has made some pretty good guys on both the O and D lines. Robinson could be another in that long list.
27. Green Bay Packers- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Packers are doing backflips with this pick. Ragland was one of the leaders of that National Championship defense. and will start immediately in the middle of that Packers defense. Plus, his addition would mean they cold move Clay Matthews back to an outside rusher, creating the havoc he became known for a few years ago.
28. Kansas City Chiefs- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
The Chiefs can never have enough pass rushers, and Tamba Hali isn't a spring chicken. This is a pick for depth with a quality player in Dodd. He had three sacks in the National Championship game against Alabama, and has been compared to Michael Bennett. It would be foolish of a team like the Chiefs to pass on that kind of talent this late in the 1st round.
29. Arizona Cardinals- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Yes, a 3rd QB in Round 1. I am sure someone is going to trade back into the 1st Round to take him and he won't be there for Arizona, but the Cardinals are certainly the best fit for Lynch. Taking his raw talent, size, and ability, letting him sit behind Carson Palmer, and learn under Bruce Arians? Cardinals fans should be doing cartwheels if he is the pick.
30. Carolina Panthers- Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
Michael Oher was fine during the regular season last year. Then the Super Bowl happened, and Cam got knocked around. The Panthers need to develop another tackle if they want to stay on top of the NFC. Ifedi is raw, but super-talented.
31. Denver Broncos- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
If it wasn't for some character questions, Nkemdiche would be a Top 5 pick, maybe even #1 overall before trades. I think that Denver and John Elway know how to win a title with defense, and see a top talent available at 31. They will take a chance on him being behaved, because if he is, he is the steal of the draft. Plug him in to replace Malik Jackson, sit back, and worry about the offense.
There is Round 1! I will update it if there are any massive trades before Thursday. I really hope there aren't. The next few rounds will not have as much of a breakdown, though will highlight important picks or players with few words. I hope you enjoy. Keep an eye out for the rest of the mock this week!
