2016 NFL Mock Draft
Jalen Ramsey (DB - Florida State) has been rated by many as the best prospect in the draft
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
IT'S DRAFT DAY! I love draft season, and one of my favorite parts of the draft is mock drafts. I read all of them, and every year I make my own. Shoutout to all the people on TV and major websites that do all the dirty work so people like me can read the scouting reports and make our own mocks. I'll also give my own commentary on some of the picks. Now let's see how wrong I'll be.
2016 NFL Mock Draft
#1. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff - QB - California
#2. Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz - QB - North Dakota State
#3. San Diego Chargers: Ronnie Stanley - OT - Notre Dame
The Chargers will no doubt be tempted by Jalen Ramsey, and Tunsil is the best offensive lineman on the board and the Chargers o-line is awful, but word is that they prefer Ronnie Stanley because he is a better run blocker. Either way, I think an offensive lineman will be the pick here to make their franchise quarterback and 2nd year running back happy.
#4. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey - DB - Florida State
We've all heard about the rumors that the Cowboys love Ezekiel Elliott. They had the #8 rushing attack this year with Darren McFadden and they just signed Alfred Morris. Take a guy that can immediately help your awful secondary and grab a guy like Derrick Henry or Devontae Booker in the 2nd round.
#5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack - LB - UCLA
The Jaguars helped their defense in free agency with the signings of Malik Jacskson and Prince Amukamara, now they can take a do it all linebacker that can play inside or outside.
#6. Baltimore Ravens: Laremy Tunsil - OT - Ole Miss
Joe Flacco is coming off ACL surgery, and their best offensive lineman left for Oakland in free agency. Tunsil is viewed by most teams and scouts as the best tackle in the draft, and with the depth of this defensive class they can fill those needs later in the draft.
The size of DeForest Buckner has him drawing comparisons to Cardinals All-Pro Calais Campbell
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
#7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest Buckner - DE - Oregon
This makes too much sense. A huge guy that can play all over the line, and he's got the Oregon connection. This would put two 6'7'' guys on their defensive line and they could end up being a force in a few years.
#8. Cleveland Browns: Joey Bosa - DE - Ohio State
The Browns are a prime candidate to trade back and accumulate more draft picks, but if they stay at 8, I think Bosa will be the pick. An Ohio kid stays in Ohio, and they could use just about everything so they take the best player available.
#9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves - CB - Florida
#10. New York Giants: Leonard Floyd - LB - Georgia
#11. Chicago Bears: Shaq Lawson - DE - Clemson
Chicago needs pass rushing and this is the best one on the board. He made a name for himself this past season at Clemson and almost helped them win a national title. He can step in day one and pressure the other top quarterbacks within the NFC North.
Will the Saints draft Paxton Lynch as their QB of the future? Or will he fall?
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
#12. New Orleans Saints: Paxton Lynch - QB - Memphis
Not a pick for need obviously since they have Drew Brees, but they've been looking for a QB of the future for a long time now, and Brees is 37 so this is the year they have to do it. Lynch could very well be the best QB of this class but just needs development. He can do that sitting behind Drew Brees for 2-3 years.
#13. Miami Dolphins: Ezekiel Elliott - RB - Ohio State
If anyone is going to trade up to take Elliott, I think it's the Dolphins. They're desperate for a running back now that they lost Lamar Miller to Houston and swung and missed on CJ Anderson. Cleveland is looking to trade back so I'd expect a trade by Miami to jump up to 8. Elliott is a game breaking back, but I don't think he's a top 5 pick like many suggest.
#14. Oakland Raiders: Kevin Dodd - DE - Clemson
#15. Tennessee Titans: Jack Conklin - OT - Michigan State
#16. Detroit Lions: Reggie Ragland - LB - Alabama
#17. Atlanta Falcos: Darron Lee - LB - Ohio State
He's undersized for a pass rushing linebacker, but his 4.40 speed and his ability to go from sideline to sideline will get him drafted high. And for a team that needs all the help it can get rushing the passer, it'd be a great fit.
#18. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly - C - Alabama
The Colts offensive line has been atrocious the last few years. Kelly is far away the best center prospect in a very weak class, so he's projected to be overdrafted. Regardless, Kelly was the smartest player on that Alabama offense the last few years, and he could end up being the Colts next Jeff Saturday.
#19. Buffalo Bills: Noah Spence - DE - Eastern Kentucky
Spence got kicked out of Ohio State because of character issues, but all signs show that he's cleaned all of that up. He recently sent his last 20 drug tests to every single NFL team. So if people still have questions about his character he may fall, but I think that would make him a perfect fit for Rex Ryan's defense. They could use a pass rusher after losing Mario Williams in free agency.
#20. New York Jets: Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio State
#21. Washington Redskins: Josh Doctson - WR - TCU
#22. Houston Texans: Corey Coleman - WR - Baylor
#23. Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell - WR - Ole Miss
When you look at the Vikings they're set just about everywhere, except wide receiver. They were able to get one of the steals of the draft in Stefon Diggs in the 5th round last year, and they can do it again if Treadwell falls. I think he's the best receiver in this draft, but teams will stupidly let him fall because of his below average 40 time.
#24. Cincinnati Bengals: Sheldon Rankins - DT - Louisville
#25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple - CB - Ohio State
#26. Seattle Seahawks: Germaine Ifedi - OT - Texas A&M
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
#27. Green Bay Packers: A'Shawn Robinson - DT - Alabama
Ted Thompson takes another Alabama player that has all-pro potential. With the sudden retirement of BJ Raji, and letting Mike Neal walk in free agency, d-line automatically became a need. If Robinson is here at 27 he'd be a steal because of his ability against the run, as well as his leadership on the field.
#28. Kansas City Chiefs: William Jackson III - CB - Houston
#29. Arizona Cardinals: Su'a Cravens - LB - USC
#30. Carolina Panthers: Cody Whitehair - G - Kansas State
#31. Denver Broncos: Connor Cook - QB - Michigan State
