NFL Mock Draft 2016: Latest 1st-Round Projections for Top College Prospects

It isn't hard to see the influence the draft has on the NFL title picture.

Look at the teams left standing. Only one sports a quarterback that wasn't taken No. 1 in a class, some guy named Tom Brady being the exception. One game even features a showdown between Heisman Trophy winners when Cam Newton squares off with Carson Palmer.

The playoffs have come a long way from starters such as Brian Hoyer and AJ McCarron.

Not everyone can hit it out of the park like the four remaining teams did, nor will each have access to surefire quarterbacks. But it's a clear indication that franchise building blocks come from the draft, and like those before it, the 2016 class has plenty to offer.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Jared Goff	QB	California
3	San Diego Chargers	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
4	Dallas Cowboys	Joey Bosa	DL	Ohio State
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jalen Ramsey	CB/S	Florida State
6	Baltimore Ravens	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
7	San Francisco 49ers	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
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	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota 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	Washington	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
22	Houston Texans	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
23	Minnesota Vikings	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
25	Green Bay Packers	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
26	Kansas City Chiefs	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
27	Pittsburgh Steelers	Tre'Davious White	CB	LSU
28	Seattle Seahawks	Noah Spence	DE/LB	Eastern Kentucky
29	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
30	Arizona Cardinals	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
31	Carolina Panthers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State

6. Baltimore Ravens: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Grabbing a cornerback early in the draft might not be the most attractive move a team could make, especially given how rough some defenders can have it while trying to adapt to the pass-happy NFL.

Mackensie Alexander out of Clemson might have similar issues, but from a long-term standpoint he's exactly what a team like the Baltimore Ravens needs.

At 5'10" and 190 pounds, Alexander has enough foot quickness to meet the demands of press coverage in the NFL. It's not like he doesn't know a thing or two about facing strong passing offenses, either, thanks to daily practice at Clemson.

As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller pointed out, Alexander finished college with quite the resume:

Baltimore has a few needs on the defensive side of the ball. The unit wound up ranked 10th against the pass but allowed 25.1 points per game.

Adding a leader such as Alexander to the mix to grow with Matt Elam while helping improve on Lardarius Webb and lackluster depth makes sense. There's no such thing as too many good defensive backs on a roster, especially when someone such as Alexander has a chance at being one of the best in the league based on his upside.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

San Francisco's plans might have gotten somewhat ruined with the Cleveland Browns hiring Hue Jackson as head coach, a move suggesting the team will take the top available passer. 

Maybe San Francisco never wanted to take a quarterback and is somehow ready to repair the relationship with Colin Kaepernick now that head coach Chip Kelly is on board.

With a spot freed, the 49ers can grab a top-tier prospect such as Myles Jack out of UCLA.

Jack's coming off season-ending knee surgery, but it's not something that will hurt his stock barring an unexpected development. He might be the draft's most impressive player from an athletic standpoint after shining in college as a running back and linebacker.

As CBS Sports' Rob Rang broke down, few prospects can do what Jack can against the pass:

"

Jack is well-suited to today's pass-happy NFL as he combines rare agility and speed with awareness in coverage. He has the fluidity to cover backs and tight ends step for step and anticipates routes well, breaking free from his assignment to close quickly on the ball. Jack's ability in coverage make him ideally suited to playing outside in a 4-3 scheme, where his lack of ideal size is mitigated.

"

This makes Jack invaluable in any base defense, really, but especially one that loves multiple looks like the 49ers do.

Jack next to NaVorro Bowman sounds like a pipe dream. In reality, it's a gigantic step in the right direction for a franchise that might think it has solved its offensive issues and needs a prospect to help lead the turnaround on the opposite side.

12. New Orleans Saints: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Remember how Blake Bortles wasn't the most heralded quarterback prospect because he didn't play in a major conference but wound up in the right situation and excelled? 

It could be a similar path here for Paxton Lynch out of Memphis. The junior is imposing at 6'7" and 245 pounds, and this past season seemed to take the NFL-ready leap by completing 66.8 percent of his passes with 3,776 yards and 28 touchdowns to four interceptions.

Lynch didn't play the best competition, and the Memphis offense loved its quick-hitting screens and such, but all that says is the high-upside quarterback could use a place where he can learn for a year or more before fighting for a starting gig.

Like New Orleans.

Look, the Saints drafted Garrett Grayson in the third round last year, the first signal-caller taken after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Fine. But Lynch offers just as much upside, and in this iteration of the NFL, a team like the Saints isn't in a position to pass on a potential franchise player at the most important position of all.

New Orleans can go get defensive help in free agency and other rounds of the draft. The unit changed coordinators and will be healthier next year, anyway. With Drew Brees aging, doing whatever it takes to find his successor becomes the priority.

Lynch fits and can take his time learning. It won't be the most attractive move by any means, but if this year is any sign, a team without a quality starter exits the first round of the postseason—at best.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of January 18. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.