2016 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Every Team Ahead of Super Bowl

North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz is the hottest name in NFL draft circles. The 6'5" 232-pounder didn't attend a Division I school, but most talent evaluators believe he has the goods to be a franchise quarterback. 

Here's what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote about Wentz:

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With a body type that is as prototypical as they come and a background in reading the entire field and working through progressions, Wentz will immediately check a couple of boxes that many college quarterbacks won’t be able to check. While his arm strength is OK, he can still make all the throws and he can make them with accuracy.

His ability to escape pressure and pick up first downs with his feet will be yet another check mark in his favor. Wentz is still in a developmental phase after just two years at an FBS program, but has the mental and physical building blocks of a future, franchise quarterback.

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Based on that talent evaluation, and similar ones from other draft prognosticators, it would be a shock if Wentz doesn't hear his name called within the first eight picks. Here's the latest first-round mock draft with a predicted landing spot for Wentz and the other top prospects available.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota St.
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	Jared Goff	QB	Cal
8	Miami Dolphins	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
10	New York Giants	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
11	Chicago Bears	Leonard Floyd	OLB	Georgia
12	New Orleans Saints	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
13	Philadelphia Eagles	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
14	Oakland Raiders	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB	Florida
15	Los Angeles Rams	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
16	Detroit Lions	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
18	Indianapolis Colts	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
19	Buffalo Bills	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
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	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
30	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
31	Carolina Panthers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State

Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz

Many draft experts are having a hard time determining whether the California Golden Bears quarterback prospect Jared Goff or Wentz is the top prospect at the position. It could be a case of six in one hand and half-a-dozen in the other.

Because the two teams with the biggest need for a QB within the top 10 picks have very different climates in their home states, the ability to produce in the cold could be the determining factor. Wentz played his college career in the blustery winds of North Dakota in high school. There's no doubt he's accustomed to operating in cold temperatures.

Goff is a California kid who may be able to make the switch, a la Aaron Rodgers—who also came from Cal and has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Green Bay Packers.

If you're the Cleveland Browns, the safer bet would be Wentz. As Zierlein indicated, Wentz passes all of the eye tests and he has the characteristics of a natural leader. Thus, the predicted spot for him is Cleveland.

Goff is a little slighter than Wentz, and everything about him says West Coast QB. At 6'4" 215 pounds, he's a little thin, but there's no reason to believe he can't bulk up for the NFL grind. His Cali roots would make him a popular selection for the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7.

His ability to run a fast-paced offense might make him an ideal candidate to run new head coach Chip Kelly's system.

Leonard Floyd

Brett Davis/Associated Press

The Chicago Bears have several needs, the biggest are at cornerback and safety. There won't be a player worthy of the No. 11 pick available. Because of that, Chicago should look at filling another need on the defensive side of the ball.

A pass-rusher to accompany Pernell McPhee would be a welcomed addition. After Ohio State's Joey Bosa is off the board within the top three picks, the next best option is 3-4 outside linebacker Leonard Floyd from the Georgia Bulldogs.

At 6'4" 231 pounds, Floyd is thinner than most defensive coordinators would prefer, but he has freakish athleticism. He's so quick and rangy, that he looks like a player who could develop into a double-digit sack producer if he's coached properly and gains a little muscle.

Ezekiel Elliott

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The top running back prospect in the draft looks to be the Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott. There's a few teams that could use a workhorse back like Elliott, but which will be willing to make him a first-round pick?

Expect that to be the Indianapolis Colts at No. 18. 

Andrew Luck needs a ton of help on offense, and a dependable back would be a big asset. Elliott has the size and power to be an instant force in the NFL. At 6'0" 225 pounds, he's already built like an NFL back. He possesses excellent vision and enough breakaway speed to hit the occasional home run if he's given the room.

He'd be a great fit in the Colts backfield.