NFL Mock Draft 2016: 1st-Round Projections for Most Exalted Prospects

The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine list was released earlier this week, bringing us one step closer to April's NFL draft. 

Until the combine begins in late February, we'll have a bit of a lull in terms of NFL draft news. 

During this time, teams are going back over their evaluations of prospects to put together early versions of their draft boards. Then, the combine and the pro days that follow will help to finalize those evaluations. 

Based on where we stand now, before the combine and free agency shake things up again, here's a look at how the first round of the NFL draft could play out.  

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Joey Bosa	DE	Ohio State
3	San Diego Chargers	Jalen Ramsey	DB	Florida State
4	Dallas Cowboys	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
6	Baltimore Ravens	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff	QB	California
8	Miami Dolphins	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DeForest Buckner	DL	Oregon
10	New York Giants	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
11	Chicago Bears	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio State
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	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
16	Detroit Lions	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
17	Atlanta Falcons	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
18	Indianapolis Colts	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
19	Buffalo Bills	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
20	New York Jets	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
21	Washington Redskins	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
22	Houston Texans	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota State
23	Minnesota Vikings	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
26	Seattle Seahawks	Braxton Miller	WR	Ohio State
27	Green Bay Packers	Vernon Butler	DT	Louisiana Tech
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
29	Arizona Cardinals	Leonard Floyd	LB	Georgia
30	Carolina Panthers	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
31	Denver Broncos	Cody Whitehair	OG	Kansas State

Notable Picks

Jacksonville Jaguars: Noah Spence

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The Jaguars selected Dante Fowler Jr. in the first round last year, so another pass-rusher does not have to be high on their wish list. 

However, the potential of starting the 2016 season with two young, explosive edge-rushers has to tempt the Jaguars front office. Since Fowler missed the entire 2015 season due to injury, the Jaguars would effectively be adding two top-five picks to their defensive line. 

Noah Spence is a similar prospect to Fowler, and he will likely earn grades in the same range as the former Florida Gators pass-rusher. 

Jaguars defensive end Andre Branch is a free agent, so the addition of Spence would allow the Jaguars to start fresh with two new weapons on the defensive line in 2016.

Seattle Seahawks: Braxton Miller

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Seahawks have done little to address the wide receiver position throughout most of Pete Carroll's tenure in Seattle. However, the trade for Percy Harvin in 2013 did indicate an interest in adding a versatile weapon to the offense. 

Braxton Miller's dangerous playmaking ability after the catch gives him the potential to fill a role similar to the one Carroll envisioned for Harvin in Seattle. 

There's some risk in taking a raw prospect like Miller in the first round, but he should still be able to make an immediate impact. 

Adding a package of plays to get Miller the ball either in the backfield or on quick-strike throws would change the way defenses prepare for the Seahawks offense.

Carolina Panthers: Jason Spriggs

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

It's important not to overreact to one game, but the performance of Carolina's offensive line in Super Bowl 50 highlighted just how unprepared the Panthers are to compete with a dominant front seven. 

With that weakness now exposed, the Panthers should expect more teams to come after Cam Newton with a relentless pass rush in 2016, rather than sit back and react, as the Seahawks did in their loss in the divisional round. 

It's tough to predict exactly who will be on the board in the late first round, but the Panthers should target someone capable of taking over from Mike Remmers at right tackle. 

Indiana's Jason Spriggs is one of a handful of prospects who could be viewed as nice value in that range of the draft. 

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