This Mock Draft was released on April 26th, 2016.
Now, once upon a time this blog used to really focus on sports. I wrote about soccer, football, and even the Tour de France. Basically, however, this blog has become centered around movies and television, and that is the way I like it. However, sometimes I feel like writing an opinion piece or two on soccer or football, and one thing I always love to do is to talk about the National Football League Draft. Starting with 2013, I’ve released at least one mock draft a year, and, today, allow me to point out how I think the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft will go.
If you search the Web for various mock drafts, then you should notice that people normally write multiple mock drafts. In preparation for this post, I actually made a total of ten mock drafts (the first four of those were put together prior to the Philadelphia Eagles-Cleveland Browns trade in late April 2016).
Now, remember, the New England Patriots lost their first round pick due to the deflategate-scandal, therefore the first round only contains 31 players this year. This is the final mock draft that I’ll put together in preparation for the 2016 NFL Draft. So, without further ado, let’s get to it!
1st Overall Pick – Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff (QB)
The Rams are really going all-in here. They need their new franchise quarterback, and I feel pretty confident in saying that guy will be Jared Goff. Goff is my favorite quarterback in this draft class, and with a franchise quarterback Jeff Fisher can take this team far. The only other option here – seeing as they traded up to get a franchise quarterback – is Carson Wentz.
2nd Overall Pick – Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz (QB)
The Eagles didn’t really need to trade up to get a quarterback, but they needed to trade up to make sure they got one of the top two QB options in this draft class. This has to be Carson Wentz or Jared Goff.
3rd Overall Pick – San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil (OT)
Honestly, I feel like San Diego definitely should trade down and get more picks in the draft. Miami might want to trade up to secure Ezekiel Elliott, and, who knows, maybe the Jets feel like they should trade up to make sure they get Paxton Lynch. Perhaps the Titans might want to trade back up in the draft to get the offensive tackle they prefer.
Now, if the Chargers stay at no. 3, then it could go a number of ways. They could take Jalen Ramsey, one of the best players in the entire draft, or they could take DeForest Buckner. But I think Laremy Tunsil makes the most sense here. Then again, maybe they prefer Stanley.
4th Overall Pick – Dallas Cowboys – Ezekiel Elliott (RB)
Jalen Ramsey would make sense, and Joey Bosa definitely makes sense. But there’s just something about Ezekiel Elliott. Ezekiel Elliott is my favorite player in this draft class. Elliott is the complete package, and if you put him as Romo’s running back behind Dallas’ solid O-Line, then the Dallas Cowboys could be a very dangerous team to take on in 2016.
5th Overall Pick – Jacksonville Jaguars – Joey Bosa (DE)
The Jacksonville Jaguars can take whichever defensive star they want here – they’re all there: Ramsey, Bosa, Buckner, Jack, Lawson, Floyd. This was a tough one for me, and it ultimately became a choice between either Myles Jack or Joey Bosa.
6th Overall Pick – Baltimore Ravens – Jalen Ramsey (DB)
Ramsey is a top player, and the Ravens would love to have him. Ronnie Stanley and DeForest Buckner could also be options here.
7th Overall Pick – San Francisco 49ers – Ronnie Stanley (OT)
Might be the best player available at this point in the draft, maybe they need a new quarterback, but they should wait to take one later.
8th Overall Pick – Cleveland Browns – Myles Jack (OLB)
There are some injury questions here, but Myles Jack is one of the best players in the draft class. The Browns might trade down, but they’d be lucky to have Myles Jack.
9th Overall Pick – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves III (DB)
Hargreaves makes a lot of sense here, but I would not be surprised if they took Buckner here (if he is available).
10th Overall Pick – New York Giants – Jack Conklin (OT)
Giants fans might not jump for joy with this pick, but Jack Conklin would be a good pick here. If they go with a defensive player, then they might go for Leonard Floyd.
11th Overall Pick – Chicago Bears – DeForest Buckner (DE)
How did this happen? There was always a chance that a great player would fall to my Chicago Bears. Hargreaves and Elliott could very well be here for the Bears to take. My favorite player in the draft (Ezekiel Elliott) has already been taken in this mock draft, but I would jump for joy if my team, the Chicago Bears, somehow got DeForest Buckner.
Leonard Floyd, Jarran Reed, and Shaq Lawson would also be great players to take here, but if Buckner falls to us, then we have to take him.
12th Overall Pick – New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins (DT)
Let’s help the New Orleans defense a bit.
13th Overall Pick – Miami Dolphins – William Jackson III (DB)
Miami would love to get Ezekiel Elliott, but if they fail to get him, then Jackson would be a strong pick. I still think there’s a big chance they make a deal with either the 49ers or Browns in order to grab Ezekiel Elliott (if the Cowboys don’t take him).
14th Overall Pick – Oakland Raiders – Leonard Floyd (OLB)
I considered both Nkemdiche and Ragland here, but, ultimately, the Raiders take one of the more polarizing first round talents.
15th Overall Pick – Tennessee Titans – Taylor Decker (OT)
If the Titans hadn’t traded back/down in the draft, then they probably would’ve grabbed either Stanley or Tunsil, but while they don’t end up getting the top offensive lineman in the draft class, Decker is a pretty safe choice here.
16th Overall Pick – Detroit Lions – Jarran Reed (DT)
They need either an offensive or defensive lineman here, and, ultimately, it makes the most sense to look to the defensive side of the ball here.
17th Overall Pick – Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee (OLB)
Atlanta would love a speedy linebacker. Here you go.
18th Overall Pick – Indianapolis Colts – Shaq Lawson (DE)
Noah Spence or Shaq Lawson. I’m not an expert on Lawson or the defensive scheme of the Indianapolis Colts, but I’m not sure Lawson is the best fit. However, if he fell to the Colts, then they should consider taking him. Noah Spence might be the best fit of the two players, but the off-the-field issues may force the Colts to take Lawson here.
19th Overall Pick – Buffalo Bills – Noah Spence (DE)
Again. Noah Spence or Shaq Lawson.
20th Overall Pick – New York Jets – Paxton Lynch (QB)
Ian Rapoport reported that the Saints might consider taking Lynch earlier in the draft, but I just don’t see it. I don’t think the Browns or the 49ers should take him in the top 10. But the Jets need a quarterback in case Fitzpatrick doesn’t return to the team.
21st Overall Pick – Washington Redskins – Ryan Kelly (C)
I’m sure Bill Callahan, their O-Line coach, would be jumping for joy if they got Kelly here.
22nd Overall Pick – Houston Texans – Corey Coleman (WR)
Let’s give Brock Osweiler a new weapon!
23rd Overall Pick – Minnesota Vikings – Laquon Treadwell (WR)
Let’s give Teddy Bridgewater a new weapon!
24th Overall Pick – Cincinnati Bengals – Will Fuller (WR)
Let’s give Andy Dalton a new weapon!
25th Overall Pick – Pittsburgh Steelers – Eli Apple (DB)
The Steelers need secondary help to deal with A.J. Green and Steve Smith.
26th Overall Pick – Seattle Seahawks – Robert Nkemdiche (DT)
Perfect spot for this player.
27th Overall Pick – Green Bay Packers – Reggie Ragland (LB)
I’m a Bears fan, but I’m sure Packers fans would love to get Ragland. Their defense would get better as a result…
28th Overall Pick – Kansas City Chiefs – Kevin Dodd (DE)
Somehow Dodd falls to the Chiefs.
29th Overall Pick – Arizona Cardinals – T. J. Green (DB)
Let’s add to their secondary. Either T. J. Green, Mackensie Alexander, or Artie Burns.
30th Overall Pick – Carolina Panthers – Artie Burns (DB)
The Panthers replace Josh Norman with this pick.
31st Overall Pick – Denver Broncos – Chris Jones (DT)
The Denver Broncos add to their defensive line.
Now, there were no trades in my mock draft, but I think we’ll see some teams swap position when draft day comes around. However, this draft was made based on the draft order on the morning of April 26th.
Enjoy the draft!
– I’m Jeffrey Rex
I'm Jeffrey Rex 