NFL Mock Draft 2016: Early Outlook and Predictions for Entire 1st Round

Much can change on the road to the NFL draft, especially before Super Bowl season gives way to the combine.

This time last year, folks didn't hesitate to mock Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory as a top-five pick. He wound up going 60th for various reasons.

To be fair, much can also stay the same, with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota battling for the top two slots well before the New England Patriots raised the Lombardi Trophy.

Let's take the temperature of pre-Super Bowl mock draft season by outlining one below and singling out some of the most notable selections.

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	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
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	Los Angeles 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	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
23	Minnesota Vikings	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	Kendall Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
26	Seattle Seahawks	Noah Spence	DE/LB	Eastern Kentucky
27	Green Bay Packers	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
29	Arizona Cardinals	Leonard Floyd	LB	Georgia
30	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
31	Carolina Panthers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State

Early Notable Picks 

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

It's especially difficult to figure out what in the world the San Francisco 49ers will do in the top 10, with the future of Colin Kaepernick and whether the team would nab a quarterback the most pressing question. 

For now, one has to presume this isn't the most attractive quarterback class for a team looking to start over. It is, however, a great time to load up on high-upside players who can change other units.

One such guy would be Myles Jack out of UCLA, a freakishly athletic sideline-to-sideline enforcer with strong coverage skills and perhaps the draft's best combination of instincts and athleticism.

Some will balk at Jack due to a knee injury he suffered, but Bleacher Report's Matt Miller provided a positive update recently: "Talking to sources close to linebacker Myles Jack, he is reportedly one month ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn meniscus that ended his 2015 season. Jack has rare ability to move in space and could very well be a top-five pick in April."

This does nothing short of solidify Jack's stock. The 49ers ranked 27th against the pass and 29th against the run in 2015 and could certainly use a player who can rush off the edge, enforce against the run or drop into coverage.

If it sounds like Jack is a can't-miss prototype, that's because he is.

16. Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Without much in the way of a warning, the Detroit Lions could have a serious offensive crisis on their hands if rumblings about wide receiver Calvin Johnson hanging up the cleats turn out to be true. 

Megatron walking away from the game would leave the Lions with Golden Tate as a No. 1 wideout and Ameer Abdullah as the lead back.

While the team drafted Abdullah and he flashed potential with 143 carries for 597 yards and a pair of touchdowns, his 5'8", 203-pound frame wouldn't hold up in a workhorse role, especially not with the run suddenly becoming more important if Johnson retires.

Drafting Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott doesn't sound like such a ridiculous idea now. Folks know the deal—Elliott was easily the nation's top back last season and the surefire reason another running back would come off the board in the first round after taking 289 carries for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns.

What most don't realize about Elliott is that he isn't one-dimensional. Last year alone he displayed great hands, catching 27 passes for 206 yards.

The Lions might need a new centerpiece to the offense. A versatile back who won't have a problem transitioning to the NFL seems like a great idea, especially with the iffy nature of the wideout spot this year. And if Megatron does come back, Detroit's all the more dangerous in one of the toughest divisions around.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Kansas City Chiefs did quite well to end the running joke that was their wideout corps this year with Jeremy Maclin catching eight touchdowns. 

Now it's time to build the position further.

Actually getting a wideout to catch a touchdown is one thing. Getting head coach Andy Reid as much talent as possible to execute his offense is another. Taking an Andy Dalton approach to Alex Smith and surrounding him with weapon after weapon isn't a terrible idea, either. 

This late in the round, Baylor's Corey Coleman sounds like a steal. He's arguably the best big-play threat in the class at 5'11" and 190 pounds. Though some might argue the numbers won't translate, Coleman caught 74 passes for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns last year.

Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBSSports.com are two experts who would argue that the numbers might translate:

"

The NFL has yet to see a wide receiver from Baylor coach Art Briles' system translate and produce similar numbers in the pro game, but Coleman could break that streak. He has an athletic skillset at all levels of the field. Coleman is one of the best deep threats in the country with above average tracking and adjustment skills to make tough catches look easy, playing above the rim. 

"

After Maclin, the Chiefs don't have anyone as reliable as Coleman on the depth chart. Tight end Travis Kelce can make major plays, of course, but he's not going to stretch the field in the same way Coleman can.

While Coleman is a guy who could rise if he grabs the attention of the globe at the combine, he's a nice fit here with Reid and an offense much in need of his help.

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