Early 2016 NFL Draft Big Board
One year ago at this time we were talking about Marcus Mariota (my preseason No. 1 overall player), the question mark of Jameis Winston's off-field issues and the huge potential of Brett Hundley at UCLA. We knew that Mariota and Winston were special, but a post-draft 2015 big board was missing names like Kevin White (WR, West Virginia), Maxx Williams (TE, Minnesota), Ereck Flowers (T, Miami), Bud Dupree (EDGE, Kentucky) and Marcus Peters (CB, Washington).
A big board this early isn't about accuracy or where players will be drafted; it's about how good they are right now and how high their potential is. For example, Hundley last year showed high potential but regressed in his final season before becoming a fifth-round pick. But this board can be your summer watch list and a basic guide for where players are ranked heading into the season.
A lot can change. A lot will change. But that's just football.
Ready for 2016? You should be. Early indications are this will be a loaded class.
Top 50 Overall
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Here are the top 50 players overall for the 2016 NFL draft.
| Rank | Player | School | Pos |
| 1 | Robert Nkemdiche | Ole Miss | EDGE |
| 2 | Christian Hackenberg | Penn State | QB |
| 3 | Joey Bosa | Ohio State | EDGE |
| 4 | Ronnie Stanley | Notre Dame | T |
| 5 | DeForest Buckner | Oregon | DL |
| 6 | Ezekiel Elliott | Ohio State | RB |
| 7 | Laremy Tunsil | Ole Miss | T |
| 8 | Jaylon Smith | Notre Dame | LB |
| 9 | Jalen Ramsey | Florida State | S |
| 10 | Laquon Treadwell | Ole Miss | WR |
| 11 | Vernon Hargreaves | Florida | CB |
| 12 | Cardale Jones | Ohio State | QB |
| 13 | Connor Cook | Michigan State | QB |
| 14 | Jack Conklin | Michigan State | T |
| 15 | Derrick Henry | Alabama | RB |
| 16 | Emmanuel Ogbah | Oklahoma State | EDGE |
| 17 | Kendall Fuller | Virginia Tech | CB |
| 18 | Sheldon Day | Notre Dame | DL |
| 19 | Su'a Cravens | USC | S |
| 20 | Shawn Oakman | Baylor | DL |
| 21 | A'Shawn Robinson | Alabama | DL |
| 22 | Corey Robinson | Notre Dame | WR |
| 23 | Tyler Boyd | Pitt | WR |
| 24 | Shilique Calhoun | Michigan State | EDGE |
| 25 | Reggie Ragland | Alabama | LB |
| 26 | James Conner | Pitt | RB |
| 27 | Cam Sutton | Tennessee | CB |
| 28 | KeiVarae Russell | Notre Dame | CB |
| 29 | Leonard Floyd | Georgia | EDGE |
| 30 | Darron Lee | Ohio State | EDGE |
| 31 | Duke Williams | Auburn | WR |
| 32 | Myles Jack | UCLA | LB |
| 33 | Adolphus Washington | Ohio State | DL |
| 34 | Scooby Wright | Arizona | LB |
| 35 | Taylor Decker | Ohio State | T |
| 36 | Noah Spence | Eastern Kentucky | EDGE |
| 37 | Eric Striker | Oklahoma | EDGE |
| 38 | Wayne Lyons | Stanford | CB |
| 39 | Charles Tapper | Oklahoma | DL |
| 40 | O.J. Howard | Alabama | TE |
| 41 | Jared Goff | California | QB |
| 42 | Jalen Mills | LSU | FS |
| 43 | Devontae Booker | Utah | RB |
| 44 | Spencer Drango | Baylor | T |
| 45 | Karl Joseph | West Virginia | SS |
| 46 | Reggie Northrup | Florida State | LB |
| 47 | Vadal Alexander | LSU | G |
| 48 | Terrance Smith | Florida State | EDGE |
| 49 | Byron Marshall | Oregon | RB |
| 50 | Tyler Johnstone | Oregon | T |
Quarterbacks
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Most NFL-Ready: Christian Hackenberg
Best Arm: Cardale Jones
Best Runner: Dak Prescott
Best Potential: Cardale Jones
Biggest Question Mark: J.T. Barrett
Biggest Sleeper: Jeremy Johnson
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Christian Hackenberg | Penn State | 6'4" | 234 |
| 2 | Cardale Jones | Ohio State | 6'5" | 250 |
| 3 | Connor Cook | Michigan State | 6'4" | 220 |
| 4 | Jared Goff | California | 6'4" | 210 |
| 5 | Cody Kessler | USC | 6'1" | 210 |
| 6 | Gunner Kiel | Cincinnati | 6'4" | 208 |
| 7 | J.T. Barrett | Ohio State | 6'1" | 225 |
| 8 | Dak Prescott | Miss. State | 6'1" | 230 |
| 9 | Trevone Boykin | TCU | 6'1" | 208 |
| 10 | Jeremy Johnson | Auburn | 6'5" | 241 |
Running Backs
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Most NFL-Ready: Ezekiel Elliott
Best Third-Down Back: Byron Marshall
Best Speed: Byron Marshall
Best Power: Derrick Henry
Best Potential: Ezekiel Elliott
Biggest Question Mark: Corey Clement
Biggest Sleeper: Corey Clement
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Ezekiel Elliott | Ohio State | 6'0" | 225 |
| 2 | Derrick Henry | Alabama | 6'2" | 241 |
| 3 | James Conner | Pitt | 6'2" | 250 |
| 4 | Devontae Booker | Utah | 5'11" | 209 |
| 5 | Byron Marshall | Oregon | 5'9" | 201 |
| 6 | Jonathan Williams | Arkansas | 5'11" | 223 |
| 7 | Tra Carson | Texas A&M | 5'11" | 230 |
| 8 | Corey Clement | Wisconsin | 5'11" | 210 |
| 9 | D.J. Foster | Arizona State | 5'11" | 205 |
| 10 | Brandon Wilds | South Carolina | 6'1" | 222 |
Wide Receivers
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Most NFL-Ready: Laquon Treadwell
Best Boundary Receiver: Laquon Treadwell
Best Slot Receiver: Tyler Boyd
Best Hands: Laquon Treadwell
Best Route-Runner: Tyler Boyd
Best Potential: Corey Robinson
Biggest Question Mark: Laquon Treadwell
Biggest Sleeper: Chris Brown
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Laquon Treadwell | Ole Miss | 6'2" | 229 |
| 2 | Corey Robinson | Notre Dame | 6'5" | 205 |
| 3 | Tyler Boyd | Pitt | 6'2" | 185 |
| 4 | Duke Williams | Auburn | 6'2" | 216 |
| 5 | Ricky Seals-Jones | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 225 |
| 6 | Chris Brown | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 195 |
| 7 | Travin Dural | LSU | 6'2" | 192 |
| 8 | Pharoh Cooper | South Carolina | 5'11" | 201 |
| 9 | Michael Thomas | Ohio State | 6'3" | 203 |
| 10 | Mike Williams | Clemson | 6'3" | 205 |
Tight Ends
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Most NFL-Ready: O.J. Howard
Best Slot Tight End: Kyle Carter
Best Hands: O.J. Howard
Best Route-Runner: O.J. Howard
Best Blocker: Dillon Gordon
Best Power: Dillon Gordon
Biggest Question Mark: Kyle Carter
Biggest Sleeper: Nick Vannett
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | O.J. Howard | Alabama | 6'6" | 242 |
| 2 | Kyle Carter | Penn State | 6'3" | 241 |
| 3 | Austin Hooper | Stanford | 6'4" | 254 |
| 4 | Hunter Henry | Arkansas | 6'5" | 250 |
| 5 | Dillon Gordon | LSU | 6'4" | 295 |
| 6 | Jay Rome | Georgia | 6'6" | 250 |
| 7 | Nick Vannett | Ohio State | 6'6" | 260 |
| 8 | Darion Griswold | Arkansas State | 6'5" | 264 |
| 9 | Jake McGee | Florida | 6'6" | 255 |
| 10 | Jeremy Liggins | Ole Miss | 6'3" | 296 |
Tackles
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Most NFL-Ready: Ronnie Stanley
Best Run-Blocker: Jack Conklin
Best Pass-Blocker: Ronnie Stanley
Best Potential: Germain Ifedi
Biggest Question Mark: Spencer Drango
Biggest Sleeper: Tyler Johnstone
Lowest Risk: Ronnie Stanley
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Ronnie Stanley | Notre Dame | 6'6" | 318 |
| 2 | Laremy Tunsil | Ole Miss | 6'5" | 305 |
| 3 | Jack Conklin | Michigan State | 6'6" | 317 |
| 4 | Jerald Hawkins | LSU | 6'6" | 309 |
| 5 | Taylor Decker | Ohio State | 6'7" | 315 |
| 6 | Spencer Drango | Baylor | 6'5" | 315 |
| 7 | Tyler Johnstone | Oregon | 6'6" | 295 |
| 8 | Le'Raven Clark | Texas Tech | 6'5" | 320 |
| 9 | Germain Ifedi | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 320 |
| 10 | Tyler Marz | Wisconsin | 6'5" | 321 |
Guards
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Most NFL-Ready: Vadal Alexander
Best Run-Blocker: Vadal Alexander
Best Pass-Blocker: Jordan Simmons
Biggest Upside: Landon Turner
Biggest Question Mark: Aaron Morris
Biggest Sleeper: Jordan Rigsbee
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Vadal Alexander | LSU | 6'6" | 320 |
| 2 | Pat Elflein | Ohio State | 6'3" | 300 |
| 3 | Jordan Simmons | USC | 6'4" | 350 |
| 4 | Cody Whitehair | Kansas State | 6'4" | 309 |
| 5 | Landon Turner | North Carolina | 6'4" | 320 |
| 6 | Justin Bell | Ole Miss | 6'2" | 352 |
| 7 | Aaron Morris | Ole Miss | 6'5" | 345 |
| 8 | Christian Westerman | Arizona State | 6'4" | 305 |
| 9 | Jordan Rigsbee | California | 6'4" | 315 |
| 10 | John Gruenschlaeger | Kentucky | 6'11" | 364 |
Centers
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Most NFL-Ready: Max Tuerk
Best Run-Blocker: Mike Matthews
Best Pass-Blocker: Max Tuerk
Best Upside: Isaac Seumalo
Biggest Question Mark: Isaac Seumalo
Biggest Sleeper: Hunter Long
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Max Tuerk | USC | 6'6" | 285 |
| 2 | Isaac Seumalo | Oregon State | 6'4" | 298 |
| 3 | Mike Matthews | Texas A&M | 6'2" | 285 |
| 4 | Mitch Smothers | Arkansas | 6'3" | 315 |
| 5 | Jack Allen | Michigan State | 6'2" | 300 |
| 6 | Jake Brendel | UCLA | 6'4" | 285 |
| 7 | Hunter Long | Georgia | 6'3" | 302 |
| 8 | Ryan Kelly | Alabama | 6'4" | 296 |
| 9 | Mack Crowder | Tennessee | 6'3" | 295 |
| 10 | Ben Still | Ole Miss | 6'3" | 298 |
Edge Defenders
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Most NFL-Ready: Joey Bosa
Best Run-Stopper: Joey Bosa
Best 4-3 Defensive End: Robert Nkemdiche
Best 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Emmanuel Ogbah
Best Pass-Rusher: Robert Nkemdiche
Best Potential: Robert Nkemdiche
Biggest Question Mark: Noah Spence
Biggest Sleeper: Darron Lee
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Robert Nkemdiche | Ole Miss |
| 2 | Joey Bosa | Ohio State |
| 3 | Emmanuel Ogbah | Oklahoma State |
| 4 | Shilique Calhoun | Michigan State |
| 5 | Leonard Floyd | Georgia |
| 6 | Jordan Jenkins | Georgia |
| 7 | Darron Lee | Ohio State |
| 8 | Jonathan Bullard | Florida |
| 9 | Daeshon Hall | Texas A&M |
| 10 | Noah Spence | Eastern Kentucky |
Defensive Linemen
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Most NFL-Ready: DeForest Buckner
Best Run-Stopper: Sheldon Day
Best Nose Tackle: Sheldon Day
Best 3-4 Defensive End: DeForest Buckner
Best 3-Technique: DeForest Buckner
Best Pass-Rusher: DeForest Buckner
Best Potential: Shawn Oakman
Biggest Question Mark: Charles Tapper
Biggest Sleeper: DeForest Buckner
Lowest Risk: Sheldon Day
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | DeForest Buckner | Oregon | 6'7" | 287 |
| 2 | Sheldon Day | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 290 |
| 3 | Shawn Oakman | Baylor | 6'9" | 280 |
| 4 | A'Shawn Robinson | Alabama | 6'3" | 320 |
| 5 | Adolphus Washington | Ohio State | 6'4" | 288 |
| 6 | Charles Tapper | Oklahoma | 6'4" | 283 |
| 7 | Francis Kallon | Georgia Tech | 6'4" | 296 |
| 8 | Isaac Rochell | Notre Dame | 6'4" | 287 |
| 9 | Anthony Zettel | Penn State | 6'4" | 274 |
| 10 | Adam Gotsis | Georgia Tech | 6'4" | 288 |
Linebackers
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Most NFL-Ready: Jaylon Smith
Best Weak-Side Linebacker: Jaylon Smith
Best Strong-Side Linebacker: Jaylon Smith
Best Inside Linebacker: Reggie Ragland
Best Run-Stopper: Scooby Wright
Best Pass-Rusher: Jaylon Smith
Best Pass Coverage: Jaylon Smith
Best Potential: Jaylon Smith
Biggest Question Mark: Myles Jack
Biggest Sleeper: Cassanova McKinzy
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Jaylon Smith | Notre Dame | 6'3" | 230 |
| 2 | Reggie Ragland | Alabama | 6'2" | 254 |
| 3 | Myles Jack | UCLA | 6'1" | 230 |
| 4 | Scooby Wright | Arizona | 6'1" | 246 |
| 5 | Reggie Carter | Georgia | 6'1" | 229 |
| 6 | Cassanova McKinzy | Auburn | 6'2" | 249 |
| 7 | Reggie Northrup | Florida State | 6'1" | 220 |
| 8 | Kris Frost | Auburn | 6'2" | 234 |
| 9 | Rodney Hardrick | Oregon | 6'1" | 245 |
| 10 | Kentrell Brothers | Missouri | 6'0" | 240 |
Cornerbacks
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Most NFL-Ready: Vernon Hargreaves
Best Slot Cornerback: Justin Coleman
Best Man Coverage: Vernon Hargreaves
Best Zone Coverage: Kendall Fuller
Best Potential: Vernon Hargreaves
Biggest Question Mark: KeiVarae Russell
Biggest Sleeper: Greg Allen
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Vernon Hargreaves | Florida | 5'11" | 194 |
| 2 | Kendall Fuller | Virginia Tech | 5'11" | 195 |
| 3 | Cam Sutton | Tennessee | 6'1" | 189 |
| 4 | KeiVarae Russell | Notre Dame | 5'11" | 190 |
| 5 | Wayne Lyons | Stanford | 6'1" | 196 |
| 6 | Zack Sanchez | Oklahoma | 5'11" | 180 |
| 7 | Eddie Jackson | Alabama | 6'0" | 188 |
| 8 | Fabian Moreau | UCLA | 6'0" | 200 |
| 9 | Taveze Calhoun | Miss. State | 6'0" | 185 |
| 10 | Greg Allen | Kansas | 5'11" | 210 |
Safeties
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Most NFL-Ready: Jalen Ramsey
Best Coverage: Jalen Ramsey
Best Strong Safety: Su'a Cravens
Best Free Safety: Jalen Ramsey
Best Run-Stopper: Su'a Cravens
Best Potential: Jalen Ramsey
Biggest Question Mark: Jalen Mills
Biggest Sleeper: Isaiah Johnson
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Jalen Ramsey | Florida State | 6'1" | 204 |
| 2 | Su'a Cravens | USC | 6'1" | 225 |
| 3 | Jalen Mills | LSU | 6'0" | 194 |
| 4 | Tony Conner | Ole Miss | 6'0" | 217 |
| 5 | Karl Joseph | West Virginia | 5'11" | 196 |
| 6 | Jeremy Cash | Duke | 6'1" | 210 |
| 7 | Kodi Whitfield | Stanford | 6'2" | 198 |
| 8 | Deon Bush | Miami (Fla.) | 6'1" | 198 |
| 9 | Michael Caputo | Wisconsin | 6'1" | 206 |
| 10 | Isaiah Johnson | Kansas | 6'1" | 210 |
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