NFL Draft 2016: 1st-Round Order and Projections for Underrated Prospects

Remember this time last year when, say, cornerback Marcus Peters didn't get enough love?

Peters has been a key cog of the Kansas City Chiefs, a team on a 10-win tear going into the postseason with eight interceptions to his name, slaughtering the notion cornerbacks have the roughest transition to the pros.

Underrated prospects reach that territory for many reasons. For Peters, an odd split with the Washington program pushed him down boards. This year, the early qualifiers look like guys lost in the spotlight of others and some just not receiving the attention they deserve.

Below, let's look at the entire first round and identify some of the most underrated prospects of the moment.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Joey Bosa	DL	Ohio State
3	San Diego Chargers	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
4	Dallas Cowboys	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jalen Ramsey	CB/S	Florida State
6	Baltimore Ravens	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff	QB	California
8	Miami Dolphins	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
10	New York Giants	Leonard Floyd	LB	Georgia
11	Chicago Bears	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
12	New Orleans Saints	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
13	Philadelphia Eagles	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
14	Oakland Raiders	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB	Florida
15	St. Louis Rams	Connor Cook	QB	Michigan State
16	Detroit Lions	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
18	Indianapolis Colts	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
19	Buffalo Bills	Jarran Reed	DL	Alabama
20	New York Jets	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
21	Pittsburgh Steelers	Tre'Davious White	CB	LSU
22	Seattle Seahawks	Noah Spence	DE/LB	Eastern Kentucky
23	Green Bay Packers	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
24	Kansas City Chiefs	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
25	Washington	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
26	Houston Texans	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
27	Minnesota Vikings	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
28	Cincinnati Bengals	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
29	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
30	Arizona Cardinals	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
31	Carolina Panthers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State

Projections for Underrated Prospects

19. Buffalo Bills: Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

When one thinks of the Alabama defensive line, it's mostly A'Shawn Robinson who comes to mind.

Robinson's earned his due, but so has Jarran Reed. He's the 6'4", 313-pound monster of an anchor who helps those around him pop in the way they do on film. What Reed does won't show up on highlight reels, but it's an integral part of a defense at any level.

For some, such as Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus, Reed outshined his more popular counterpart:

A team like the Buffalo Bills won't have a problem pulling the trigger in this range.

Buffalo might make changes to the line this offseason, but one of the notable adjustments is getting a better tandem player next to Marcell Dareus in the middle. Reed looks like the perfect fit as a guy who could anchor the line and let Dareus pin his ears back and go at quarterbacks.

In hindsight, Reed coming off the board at No. 19 might end up looking like a steal.

22. Seattle Seahawks: Noah Spence, DE/LB, Eastern Kentucky

David Stephenson/Associated Press

Remember Noah Spence? 

Spence left Ohio State via transfer after the Big Ten indefinitely suspended him for positive drug tests and denied his appeal for reinstatement before last season.

As expected, Spence went on to dominate the lesser competition of Eastern Kentucky, showcasing the elite edge abilities, both as a rusher and pass defender, that had him on an Urban Meyer defense in the first place. 

In fact, while all the hype goes to his former teammate Joey Bosa, Spence isn't often far behind in the conversation, as CBS Sports' Dane Brugler noted:

A contender already loaded with talent won't have a problem taking a gamble on a player who looks like a risk.

Look at the Seattle Seahawks. Adding another situational rusher to go with Bruce Irvin and others only makes the unit more dangerous. Also keep in mind the old adage that a 4-3 team such as Seattle wouldn't grab a 3-4 rusher doesn't hold up anymore as the league transitions more and more toward hybrid units.

Spence has one of the longest paths to the draft of any player. The league has every right to make it so after his wild journey. Right now, though, he's flying under the radar.

29. Denver Broncos: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Jason Spriggs won't get a ton of hype on the path to the draft.

For one, he's an offensive lineman. Two, he played at Indiana.

Of course, NFL scouts don't give a hoot about either of those factors. What they see is a 6'7", 305-pound former tight end who stole a job on the edge with the Hoosiers and made the absolute most of it, looking like the model of consistency once he had the slot on the depth chart.

Scott Bischoff of Football Guys is one of many ready to see Spriggs' insane athleticism push the needle on his stock:

Still, Spriggs has more of a niche skill set only certain teams will look at, as Brugler and Rob Rang combined to explain on his scouting report:

"

Scouts looking for tackles to play in a zone blocking scheme will certainly want to check out Spriggs, a former tight end who has maintained his athleticism while getting bigger and stronger to start the past four years at left tackle for the Hoosiers. Quick and agile, Spriggs is very effective blocking on the move and has the length and balance to mirror in pass protection. He's not particularly stout, however, and may struggle acclimating to the power he'll face in the NFL.

"

In other words, he's the perfect fit for the zone-blocking ways of the Denver Broncos.

The zone-blocking scheme Denver employs helps mask individual deficiencies, so any hiccups Spriggs might have as a rookie get smoothed over if the team needs him to start right away.

Drafting for scheme is never a bad idea. An insane athlete on the board this late at a position of need might have the Broncos rushing to the podium.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of January 8. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.