2016 Mock draft

1. Los Angeles Rams – Carson Wentz – QB– North Dakota State

                While taking the local Cali-boy makes a ton of sense from a marketing perspective, there’s just too much about Wentz that fits with what Jeff Fisher likes to do. Wentz is big, athletic and was a very productive senior form a smaller school. Sound like anyone we associate with Jeff Fisher? (Steve McNair) I see them putting Wentz in the same backfield and Todd Gurley and letting him grow in the same way Ben Roethlisberger grew, leaning on a great running game and a strong defense.

2. Philadelphia Eagles – Jared Goff – QB– California

                Eagles fans will most likely have mixed feelings on having Goff slip to them at two. But given what happened the last time they took a QB with the second overall pick, they needn’t be. Goff is a perfect fit into Doug Pederson’s version of the west coast offense and should settle the QB questions that have been plaguing the Eagles wince Donovan McNabb was traded away following the 2009 season.

3. San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil – OT – Ole Miss

                Philip Rivers has been sacked 155 times since Marcus McNeil left after the 2011 season. Their success is tied to being able to keep the aging Rivers productive and upright. Tunsil gives them a stud offensive tackle who can do that. As much a defensive prospect such as Jalen Ramsey or Joey Bosa will be tempting here, the Chargers aren’t going to be fielding a top-five defense next year.

4. Dallas Cowboys – Jalen Ramsey – FS – Florida State

                While the Cowboys have ranked 31^st in sacks each of the last two years, the athletic prowess of Ramsey is going to impossible to pass up. The Cowboys have been searching for an elite free safety since the days of Ken Hamlin and find one sliding to them in Ramsey. Strengthening the defensive backfield will also help give the pass rush a few more seconds to find the QB.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Myles Jack – LB – ULCA

                We’ve seen enough players recover from Torn ACLs in recent years for me to dismiss it as a major problem. Jack might not fit any specific need for the Jags, but they are in need of talent more than anything. Jack will provide them with the type of impact sideline-to-sideline defender that keyed the 2000s Ravens and 2002 Bucs defense.

6. Baltimore Ravens – DeForest Buckner – DE – Oregon

                While Bosa remains on the board, Ozzie Newsome knows what works in his defense and sticks to his board and gut here. Buckner has a lot of the same traits as Cardinals DE Calaias Campbell, which in a great defensive organization like the Ravens means he’ll quickly become an impact player along the Ravens defense.

7. San Francisco 49ers – Ronnie Stanley – OT – Norte Dame

                Popular opinion is that the 49ers will go after a QB. Chip Kelly is many things, but beholden to public opinion is not one of them. I could easily see him grabbing a lineman like Stanley and plugging him in at the right tackle spot (and shipping Anthony Davis to another team that values a run-grating right tackle). While Stanley learns to handle NFL defenders, he can anchor the right side much like Chip Kelly’s first ever draft pick, Lane Johnson.

8. Cleveland Browns – Vernon Hargreaves – CB– Florida

                The Browns jump at the chance to pair a Joe Haden clone with his progenitor and make up for the other 2014 bust, Justin Gilbert.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State

                Bosa has a dozen small problems with his game, but the Bucs are still happy to have someone of his talent level slip to them at nine. Pairing him with Gerald McCoy could give the Bucs the type of pass rush they’ve lacked since the days of Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp.

10. New York Giants – Ezekiel Elliot – RB – Ohio State

                While offensive line problems and defensive depth may still be at the top of the Giants draft priorities list, Elliot is the type of rusher any team would be happy to snatch up. The Giants put him in place and watch teams try to decide whether to roll safeties to OBJ or stack the box.

11. Chicago Bears – Leonard Floyd – OLB – Georgia

                While I personally have concerns about Floyd’s readiness for the NFL, some team is going to take a chance on his raw talent. The Bears make sense to gamble on him, given their need for an elite, Von Miller-type pass rusher. Floyd may never turn into Miller, but he could be the next best thing at this point in the draft.  

12. New Orleans Saints – Shaq Lawson – DE – Clemson

                Lawson is my favorite defensive end prospect to come out this year. While his upside isn’t quite to the level of Bosa or Buckner, he looks like the guy most likely to turn into a long term contributor. The Saints are ecstatic to get an edge rusher to pair with Cameron Jordan.

13. Miami Dolphins – Eli Apple – CB – Ohio State

                The Dolphins trading for Byron Maxwell somehow made it all the more obvious how much they need in the secondary. Apple is the best corner left on the board and while he’s still a bit raw, he doesn’t have the pressure of being the best corner right away. They can let Maxwell take the heat for that while Apple gets better.

14. Oakland Raiders – Reggie Ragland – MLB – Alabama

                The Raiders take the next step to making their defense one of the best in football by bringing in a young thumper to take over the middle of the defense. He won’t be a great pass-coverage linebacker but he can set the tone for the rest of the defense and keep opposing offenses from getting into 3^rd and short situations. Corner could also be an option here.

15. Tennessee Titans – Laquan Treadwell – WR – Ole Miss

                I don’t buy into the Titans taking a tackle. Right tackle is something that can be addressed later in the draft. Here, I see the Titans giving their young quarterback a big, sure-handed playmaker to compliment the quicker Kendall Wright and the inconsistent Dorial Green-Beckham and Justin Hunter. Laquan Treadwell has a lot of traits of Brandon Marshall; Amazing hands. Great high point ability. Strength to break tackles and make plays after the catch.

16. Detroit Lions – Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State

                At this point, there’s no great left tackles for the Lions to grab, but there’s Conklin. A big body who can slide into right tackle immediately and perhaps see time at left after several years to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

17. Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee – OLB – Ohio State

                The Falcons allowed far too many pass plays over the middle last season. Combined with having the worst pass rush since 2008, the defense has to be the top priority for the Falcons yet again. Lee can fix both problems, showing the athletic ability to both come off the edge and to run with backs and tight ends. In the same division and Greg Olsen and Cam Newton, Lee could become a major asset in shutting down the three-time defending division champions.

18. Indianapolis Colts – Artie Burns – CB – Miami (Fl.)

                After Vontae Davis, the Colts were a mess in the secondary. Burns brings all the physical tools one could want in a big time second corner, especially in press man.

19. Buffalo Bills – Robert Nkemdiche – DT – Ole Miss. 

                All the talk about taking a quarterback is a smokescreen. The Bills know what they have in Tyrod Taylor and aren’t going to replace him till they are certain that they will be getting an upgrade. So here, they grab a boom-or-bust big man who could help bring the sack back to the once dominant Bills defense.  There is a huge risk, but Rex Ryan has never been the type of coach to shy away from risk if it could make his defense better.

20. New York Jets –Kevin Dodd – DE/OLB – Clemson

                The Jets haven’t had a legitimate edge presence in years. With the futures of Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson till up in the air, I think the Jets go for a raw edge rusher who could be developed into a full-time star by the time both players leave, should the Jets be feeling stingy.

21. Washington Redskins – Sheldon Rankins – DT – Louisville

                The list of needs for the Redskins dwindles with each major signing. While they have a solid rusher form the outsider with Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith, the interior has been in flux of late. The retirement of Jason Hatcher brings the defensive front back into focus. I think the Redskins get a great gap penetrator in Rankins who should take some attention away from the edge.

22. Houston Texans – Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame

                Fuller as a receiver isn’t for everyone. His hands are inconsistent and he’s not great in fighting for contested balls. But he can fly. His rare speed makes him an asset to a team that doesn’t really need a big time starter, but more of a big play threat. Ideally, the Texans can line him up in the slot and force the opponent to roll coverage either to him or the bigger, if slower Jaelen Strong and leave single coverage on DeAndre Hopkins. I could see him sliding out of the first round entirely as well.

23. Minnesota Vikings – Corey Coleman – WR – Baylor

                The Vikings found a gem in Stefan Diggs later in the 2015 draft. Now they grab an explosive, if somewhat inconsistent Baylor Bear to compliment him. Norv Turner finds ways to make the best out of less than gifted receivers, so I could easily see Coleman being productive and pulling coverage so Diggs can make more big plays.

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Noah Spence – DE – Eastern Kentucky

                While the defensive backfield is the obvious need (lost two starters to free agency), the Bengals have been stocking up to address that issue for several years. Now they can grab the best edge rusher left, giving them a viable option behind Michael Johnson and potentially another piece to elevate their defense from sneaky good, to all-time great.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers – Josh Doctson – WR – TCU

                A lot of people wouldn’t think of this as a major need for the Steelers, but it’s becoming clear that they can’t rely on Martavis Bryant to stay on the field. I don’t think they so much need another big play threat as they do a big bodied possession receiver. A guy who can fill Bryant and the retired Heath Miller’s role in the end zone. Doctson might not be super-fast but he knows how to use his size to it's fullest.

26. Seattle Seahawks – Chris Jones – DT – Mississippi State

                The Seahawks have a clear need at left tackle, but no one left on the board can fill that need at the moment. So instead, they continue to boost their defensive line rotation, bring in Chris Jones to take the snaps former mainstay Brandon Mebane once took.

27. Green Bay Packers – Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio State

                The Packer’s offensive line has been a pretty consistent mess for years. Bringing in another tackle just makes sense, considering the entirety of the Packers success lays on the arm of Aaron Rodgers.

28. Kansas City Chiefs – William Jackson III – CB – Houston

                After the loss of Sean Smith, the chiefs hope to hit gold in the defensive backfield two years in a row. Jackson can get eaten up sometimes but is so physical at the point of attack I could see him playing as foil to the ball-hawking Marcus Peters.

29. Arizona Cardinals – Paxton Lynch – QB – Memphis

                I can only see Lynch going to a team with an established quarterback in place. With the Cardinals, he’ll have time to sit and really learn the system while Carson Palmer absorbs the hits the rookie would take. I think Lynch has the tools to succeed but really needs some time to learn a new system and adjust to the NFL style of play.

30. Carolina Panthers – Jason Spriggs – OT – Indiana

                The Panthers offensive line massively over-achieved this season. They can’t count on the offensive line to keep going with the talent they have. Spriggs brings a competition level and should be able to unseat at least the right tackle and bring some sense of semblance to the Super-Bowl runner-up.

31. Denver Broncos – Connor Cook – QB – Michigan State

                The Broncos are desperate for a new QB. That much is pretty obvious. At this point, most have the Broncos addressing other needs, but I don’t think John Elway is content with things the way they are. If he’s here, the Broncos will jump at the chance for an experienced thrower from a power conference. His decision-making is a bit f a question mark, but I read Elway as liking that kind of confidence.