This is the time of year where fan hope is at an all-time high, in the sense that a good draft today can turn a franchise around tomorrow (or in some cases, immediately), but it is also lying season in the NFL. Trust nothing you hear coming from “anonymous sources”, as most of these are smokescreens at this point in time. Now time for the Main Event, the 2016 Mock Draft (with added predictions at the end).
Mock Draft:
1. Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff – QB, Cal.
The Rams desperately need a quarterback, as evidenced by their trade with the Titans to move up to the #1 spot, Goff is more pro-ready than Carson Wentz, which the Rams need with a solid roster around the Quarterback position.
2. Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz – QB, North Dakota State
In a surprise move by both teams, the Browns and Eagles swapped first round picks (Although, the Browns got a nice haul in terms of picks), it appears that the Eagles are going to select their future face of the franchise, but will sit him for a year or two behind the likes of Sam Bradford (If he’s still there) and Chase Daniel. The last time the Eagles had the #2 pick, they also picked a QB: Donovan McNabb
3. San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil – OT, Ole Miss
Phillip Rivers would be the happiest man on the west coast if the Chargers select Tunsil, despite concerns over his functional strength at the pro level, and a recent lawsuit filed by his stepfather. Tunsil has huge potential as a blindside protector for Rivers, and as a lead blocker for Melvin Gordon, last year’s first round pick.
4. Dallas Cowboys – DeForest Buckner – DE, Oregon
Despite Jalen Ramsey still being on the board, and Jerry Jones pleading for Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys will be without DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory at the start of next season due to suspensions, and the Cowboys won’t be reaching out to Greg Hardy anytime soon, so Dallas must address a suddenly pressing need.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jalen Ramsey – CB, Florida State
The Jaguars (assuming they stay in this pick, more on that later) are elated to see their choice of Myles Jack or Jalen Ramsey fall to them at 5. Ramsey is the best player in this draft, is a chess piece that can be moved all around the defense, and can help reinforce what was an awful passing defense last year. EJ Manuel threw for almost 300 yards and 2 touchdowns last year, enough said.
6. Baltimore Ravens – Joey Bosa – DE, Ohio State
Has any player been picked apart more than Bosa during the whole draft process? Bosa comes to a Ravens team with 2 aging pass rushers in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumerville who can teach Bosa the ropes before he is depended on as a full time starter in this defense. The Ravens always seem to take a best player available approach, and in this case, Bosa is their guy.
7. San Francisco 49ers – Ronnie Stanley – OT, Notre Dame
I thought about Paxton Lynch here, but the 9ers are going to need help along their offensive line, there wasn’t much protection for the QBs last year, and there weren’t many holes for Carlos Hyde to run through, so why not get a guy who can do both in the form of Stanley? Chip Kelly needs good, tough linemen to run his scheme.
8. Cleveland Browns – LaQuon Treadwell – WR, Ole Miss
After trading back with the Falcons and Bills, who went on to take Julio Jones and Sammy Watkins, respectively (could you imagine if they had stayed in those picks?), this time, the Browns take the best receiver in the draft, Treadwell, and give RGIII someone to throw to other than Gary Barnidge.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves – CB, Florida
The Buccaneers need playmakers in their secondary, as evidenced by their signing of Brent Grimes this offseason, but Grimes alone will not fix a struggling secondary, 3-4 years ago, that’s a different story. Enter Hargreaves: who gives the Bucs a much needed playmaker at the cornerback position.
10. New York Giants – Ezekiel Elliott – RB, Ohio State
This is a no-brainer for the Giants brass, they have a huge need for a running back to be “the guy” rather than “just a guy”, and Elliott gives them a dynamic backfield presence, allowing for Eli Manning to have a more consistent ground game last year, combine Elliott’s skills as a runner to Shane Vereen’s skills as a receiver, and that will make for a dynamic backfield in New York.
11. Chicago Bears – Leonard Floyd – OLB, Georgia
Floyd is an athletic freak and has the potential to become a pass rushing phenom in the mold of a Javon Kearse. At 6’6″, 244 pounds, he ran the 40 yard dash in a blazing 4.6 seconds, which was among the fastest at the linebacker position. The Bears need an athletic rusher to help Vic Fangio’s vision for this defense become a reality, and to bring nightmares to Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Teddy Bridgewater. Floyd brings all of that.
12. New Orleans Saints – Kevin Dodd – DE, Clemson
It’s no secret that the Saints struggled on defense last year, it seems like they’ve been in the bottom half of the league since the 2010 season began. Kevin Dodd can help bring a pass rushing presence from the defensive end position opposite Cameron Jordan. Dodd would form a formidable duo with Jordan up front, allowing more space for the Saints young linebackers to work, and more 1 on 1 situations for 2nd year pass rusher Hau’oli Kikaha. Paxton Lynch here wouldn’t be a surprise though, Drew Brees won’t be playing forever.
13. Miami Dolphins – Eli Apple – CB, Ohio State
The Dolphins need help in their secondary, and even though I’d take Apple no earlier than the 20’s, need trumps best player available, but don’t be surprised if the Dolphins try to trade up for Ezekiel Elliott, or trade down with a team trying to get a falling Myles Jack, then get their guy later.
14. Oakland Raiders – Myles Jack – LB, UCLA
After a long wait, Jack finally hears his name called to wear the Silver and Black, and team up with Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, giving the Raiders one of the youngest and most athletic front 7’s in the league. Jack can be a sideline-to-sideline enforcer for the Raiders, knee issues or not, this is a nice fit, but if Jack is gone, then I’d expect the pick to be either Alabama’s Reggie Ragland or A’Shaun Robinson.
15. Tennessee Titans – Jack Conklin – OT, Michigan State
The Titans need some toughness and some beef on their offensive line, Conklin has been described as “tougher than old beef jerky” so he fits the mold for the Titans. His power in the run game can give Demarco Murray more holes to run through, and help keep potential franchise QB Marcus Mariota upright and healthy.
16. Detroit Lions -Shaq Lawson – DE, Clemson
Pass rushers have become more important in today’s NFL than any other time in NFL history. The Lions need someone to pair with Ziggy Ansah to have a formidable pass rush in the rugged NFC North, Lawson can be that guy for the Lions.
17. Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee – LB, Ohio State
The Falcons defense was not good last year, it was an improvement, however, under first year head coach Dan Quinn, one of the biggest culprits for their struggles? A lack of coverage from the linebacker position. Darron Lee can help solve that problem, as he was a good coverage linebacker for the Buckeyes throughout his career. His strong performance in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama certainly opened some eyes as he had 7 tackes, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
18. Indianapolis Colts – Reggie Ragland – LB, Alabama
When the Colts lost Inside Linebacker Jurrell Freeman to the Bears in Free Agency, it opened up a huge hole in the middle of their defence, Ragland will add a physical tone and a solid run defender to the Colts defense.
19. Buffalo Bills – Sheldon Rankins – DL, Louisville
Between cutting Mario Williams and Kyle Williams coming off of knee injury, the Bills could use some help on the defensive line. Rankins can come in and push the pocket from a defensive end position in the Bills 3-4 defense.
20. New York Jets – Paxton Lynch – QB, Memphis
The Jets get their quarterback of the future in Paxton Lynch, even though he’s a rookie, he will be set up for success with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker on the outside and Matt Forte out of the backfield. Chan Gailey will have a gifted passer to coach up, and if they re-sign Fitzpatrick, the Jets would be able to sit Lynch for a year and learn before he’s the guy.
21. Washington Redskins – A’Shawn Robinson – DT, Alabama
After losing Terrence “Pot Roast” Knighton this offseason, the Redskins need a big body to man the middle of their defense, and who better than the man who was the centerpiece of the Alabama defense?
22. Houston Texans – Corey Coleman – WR, Baylor
The Texans have DeAndre Hopkins, but lack an explosive speedster to take the top off of a defense, enter Corey Coleman, who ran a 4.37 40-yard dash time at the combine. The reason I went with him over Will Fuller is that Coleman is more consistent catching the ball.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson – WR, TCU
It’s no secret that the Vikings need receivers not named Stefon Diggs to step up in a big way for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Doctson can be the guy, as he was accustomed to at TCU. Adding a dynamic receiver to this offense could help Bridgewater in his development, and help Adrian Peterson face fewer 8 in the box situations (When a safety comes down to the linebacker level from the secondary).
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Will Fuller – WR, Notre Dame
After losing Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones to free agency, the Bengals have a hole at wide receiver opposite of AJ Green currently being occupied by Brandon LaFell and Brandon Tate. Fuller gives this offense another dynamic playmaker to take pressure off of Green and tight end Tyler Eifert in the passing game, and gives Andy Dalton another target to throw to.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers – William Jackson III – CB, Houston
Jackson fits the mold for the tough, athletic corners the Steelers covet, and Pittsburgh is in desperate need of corners, as was evidenced by their porous pass defense last season. Jackson can come in and help stabilize the secondary.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Le’Raven Clark – OT, Texas Tech
Clark gives the Seahawks a potential franchise left tackle, with great height, arm length, foot quickness and technique, Clark could help protect Russell Wilson’s blind side. With proper coaching, he should be able to fix the inconsistencies in his footwork and help strengthen the offensive line.
27. Green Bay Packers – Robert Nkemdiche – DT, Mississippi
Extraordinary talent, high-potential player who fell in the draft due to character concerns and low production. Nkemdiche would be a high first round pick, but he was suspended from Ole Miss after an incident in an Atlanta hotel room. The Packers have a best player available philosophy, and Nkemdiche is the best available.
28. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyler Boyd – WR, Pittsburgh
In a surprise move, the Chiefs take Boyd after the run of receivers from 22-24, Boyd is seen as more of a 2nd day pick, but the need at the position and the fact Boyd projects to a Jarvis Landry type receiver, who can also excel in a play-action style offense, which is exactly what the Chiefs need.
29. Arizona Cardinals – Keanu Neal – S, Florida
The Cardinals currently have a strong secondary, however, outside of Tyrann Mathieu, the safety position is relatively thin after Deone Buchanon’s move to linebacker. Neal brings another playmaker to the desert, allowing them to continue to contend with the top teams in the NFC.
30. Carolina Panthers – Mackensie Alexander – CB, Clemson
If there was a tackle that was a good value here, I would have the Panthers taking a tackle, however, with the loss of Josh Norman, and Alexander being among the best players available, this pick makes sense for both sides, Alexander was a playmaker for the Clemson defense this past season.
31. Denver Broncos – Cody Whitehair – OG, Kansas State
Despite winning the Super Bowl, the Broncos have needs along the offensive line, after signing Russel Okung, the Broncos continue to rebuild with Whitehair, who is comparable to Cowboys guard Zack Martin, who is a 2 time Pro-Bowler and was voted as an All-Pro in 2014, good value to close out the first round.
Wild-Card Predictions:
- Jets trade Mohammed Wilkerson to move up in the draft for Paxton Lynch
- Chiefs move up for a wide-receiver
- Browns trade down to a team looking to take Ezekiel Elliott (I’m looking at you, Miami Dolphins
- Colin Kaepernick is traded before the end of the draft
- There will be at least 10 trades in the first round of the draft
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