Many moves in the past couple of weeks regarding the first two picks have created havoc for mock draft producers and lovers. With all the fireworks yet to be ignited – expecting Tennessee to move back into the top 10 and a team moving higher to select quarterback Paxton Lynch – here’s my current expectation of how the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft will pan out Thursday night.
By: Christian Page
- Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, California, Quarterback
General Manager Les Snead and, the now, Los Angeles Rams made the deal with Tennessee to leap over the quarterback needy Cleveland Browns to select their future. Sticking with the California connection, Goff could serve as a great piece for the Rams to finally get over that habitual hump.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz, North Dakota State, Quarterback
Wentz may not be the number one quarterback on its board, but Philadelphia, knowing it may lose out on its top rated pocket passer, seems to be content in settling for either Goff or Wentz at their new spot.
- San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State, Defensive Back
Having the option to choose between Ramsey and the top player in the draft in Laremy Tunsil is a nice but difficult decision. With the departure of Charger great Eric Weddle, Ramsey has the potential to carry the torch for a long time in San Diego.
- Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa, Ohio State, Defensive End
Needing some kind of explosive element on defense, Bosa would supply just that. The Cowboys’ pass rush production has dipped and Bosa could help bring back a current lacking piece for Dallas.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, UCLA, Outside Linebacker
The offense has made strides, but the defense still has some holes to fill. Hoping to see a resurgence from 2015 first round pick Dante Fowler Jr., the Jaguars could add fuel to the fire here creating an explosive edge on defense.
- Baltimore Ravens: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss, Offensive Tackle
Knowing that General Manager Ozzie Newsome is always in favor of taking best player of available, this would be the easiest choice of his career. Having a need at left tackle with Eugene Monroe’s constant injuries, Tunsil would make a lot of sense here.
- San Francisco 49ers: Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame, Offensive Tackle
Just missing out on the best offensive tackle in this draft class, San Francisco will have to settle for the second best with Stanley. The Niners are obviously in a rebuilding mode and taking Stanley here would be a nice building block going forward at either the left or right tackle position.
- Cleveland Browns: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State, Running Back
Trading back from the second spot to select the best skill player in the draft would create some good vibes in the Cleveland draft room Thursday night. Cleveland lacks that explosive playmaking element on offense and Elliott should be able to provide that immediately.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, Cornerback
Still needing another player on the outside to pair with receiver Mike Evans, the ninth spot is too high to take a receiver. Having some struggles in the secondary the past few seasons, Hargreaves would be a great addition to the defensive backfield with his playmaking skills and gritty play.
- New York Giants: Leonard Floyd, Georgia, Outside Linebacker
The player with the most buzz at the moment is Floyd and, as of now, there seems to be no chance he gets out of the top 10 picks. Providing some heat off the edge with the ability to make some noise in coverage, Floyd would make a lot sense in New York.
- Chicago Bears: DeForest Buckner, Oregon, Defensive End
The Bears need help upfront on both sides of the ball and though I could see them going offensive tackle here as well, Buckner would provide a much-needed presence as a 3-4 defensive end.
- New Orleans Saints: Shaq Lawson, Clemson, Defensive End
The Saints need some help in the defensive trench to complement with Cameron Jordan. Lawson would serve as a great power rusher to chase after the heavily talented quarterbacks in the NFC South.
- Miami Dolphins: Eli Apple, Ohio State, Cornerback
Rookie cornerback Bobby McCain provided a bigger spark than expected for the Dolphins last season, but a running mate would be nice to add in the first round. Apple isn’t as polished as other cornerbacks in this class but has the ceiling to be a respected corner in the league in a few years.
- Oakland Raiders: Darron Lee, Ohio State, Outside Linebacker
A tremendous outside presence to make plays in the backfield while also being effective in coverage, Lee could be another defensive foundation piece for the surging Raiders.
- Tennessee Titans: Taylor Decker, Ohio State, Offensive Tackle
Adding help upfront to protect its first round quarterback investment from 2015, Marcus Mariota, is a primary goal for Tennessee heading into the draft. Not having to worry about shifting left tackle Taylor Lewan over to the right side, Decker played some right tackle for the Buckeyes in his 54-game career and would fit in nicely.
- Detroit Lions: Sheldon Rankins, Louisville, Defensive Tackle
Detroit could go many different ways here, but going with Rankins would make for a pass rushing interior presence. Pairing with Ziggy Ansah and the still effective Haloti Ngata, this selection would give Detroit an attractive defensive line.
- Atlanta Falcons: Reggie Ragland, Alabama, Inside Linebacker
Needing a defensive playmaker outside of Desmond Trufant, Atlanta should turn to Ragland to supply a potential centerpiece for Dan Quinn’s defense. If available, in this case not, Darron Lee would make for a smart selection.
- Indianapolis Colts: Jack Conklin, Michigan State, Offensive Tackle
Indianapolis will continue to add pieces to protect Andrew Luck. Conklin would provide the appropriate pass protection while also being a grinder in the run game. Safe pick and smart pick.
- Buffalo Bills: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss, Wide Receiver
Attempting to talk Rex Ryan out of selecting a defensive player in the first round, Treadwell would be a nice fit trying to balance out the Bills’ offense. If Tyrod Taylor isn’t the answer at quarterback, Paxton Lynch will be thrown into the mix.
- New York Jets: Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky, Defensive End
Excusing the red flags, Spence should be considered a top 10 talent in this year’s crop. The rich gets richer with this pick with an already stout front seven. Like Buffalo, quarterback could be an option here as well.
- Washington Redskins: A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama, Defensive Tackle
A versatile lineman across a 3-4 defensive scheme, Robinson would be a Day One plug in play player.
- Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, Baylor, Wide Receiver
Needing a deep threat to complement with DeAndre Hopkins, Coleman would provide a spark for new quarterback Brock Osweiler.
- Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, TCU, Wide Receiver
The Minnesota offense could be something special if Teddy Bridgewater had more pieces to work with on the receiving end. Cordarrelle Patterson has been a bust and Mike Wallace leaves after an underwhelming stint. With Doctson’s potential as a number one receiver, selecting him at 23 could be regarded as a steal in two to three years.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Will Fuller, Notre Dame, Wide Receiver
The Bengals have to quickly fill the void of Marvin Jones and Mohammad Sanu and Will Fuller could ease the pain of the losses. Fuller’s big play ability as a vertical threat would suit well for gunslinger Andy Dalton.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, Houston, Cornerback
Pittsburgh has struggled to find and keep pieces in the secondary since the string of departures of the all-pro caliber players. Jackson has the ability to be a lockdown corner at the next level with some added height and bulk that the Steelers definitely need in the back end.
- Seattle Seahawks: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, Defensive Tackle
Historically, Seattle has no problem taking questionable players. Nkemdiche could excel as a physical presence in the defensive interior. Once viewed as a top five talent before off-the-field incidents, Seattle may not see this pick as much of a risk as we would expect.
- Green Bay Packers: Jarran Reed, Alabama, Defensive Tackle
BJ Raji decided to hang up his NFL career and that void on the defensive line will need to be directly addressed in the first round. Baylor’s Andrew Billings would be a coveted option here as a nose tackle, but Reed supplies that run stuffing ability that every good nose tackle has as well.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin Dodd, Clemson, Defensive End
Dodd may be the best player available at this time and the Chiefs wouldn’t mind at all to add another pass rusher. Losing cornerback Sean Smith in free agency Kansas City could also looked toward the secondary at possibly Miami’s Artie Burns or Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander.
- Arizona Cardinals: Paxton Lynch, Memphis, Quarterback
The Cardinals find Carson Palmer’s protégé, though, I project a team will trade up into the top 12 to select Lynch.
- Carolina Panthers: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, Cornerback
Not having many shocking selections so far, Fuller would make one regarding his knee injury and only participating in three games in 2015. Carolina and Josh Norman could not agree to terms, so addressing the pressing need at cornerback initially would be a good idea for Carolina.
- Denver Broncos: Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M, Offensive Tackle
The injury-plagued Ryan Clady has moved to New York and the Broncos needed help at tackle regardless of Clady’s status. Ifedi is an ideal right tackle (or guard) with a massive build and good movement skills. Don’t sleep on the idea of defensive tackles Andrew Billings, Baylor, or Chris Jones, Mississippi State, here.
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