NFL Draft 2016: Breaking Down Updated Mock Draft and Deepest Positions

The 2016 NFL draft is one of the deepest in recent memory at key positions.

While offensive line doesn't seem impressive at first glance and quarterback seems top heavy, there is a bevy of talented defenders set to take the league by storm. Offensive coordinators for all teams will be putting in extra work this offseason.

There's versatile talent in the trenches, one of the best defensive backs to come out in the past decade (Jalen Ramsey) and a can't-miss linebacker (Myles Jack), all of which headline strong positions.

Here's an updated look at a mock draft based on team need and prospect value.

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

The Los Angeles Rams traded up to No. 1 for their quarterback, so any buzz about the team still being undecided about who goes first, isn't realistic.

A team like the Rams doesn't sell the farm and still not have a decision in mind. Odds are that the league benefits from the top pick remaining a question mark—that's what the hype machine says—but the Rams have to like the instant-starter capabilities of California's Jared Goff.

It gets trickier at No. 2, with the Cleveland Browns potentially shopping the pick, according to NFL Network's Jeff Darlington:

Presuming nobody bites, expect new Cleveland  head coach Hue Jackson to get himself a developmental quarterback like North Dakota State's Carson Wentz. The position is too valuable to pass on if stuck with the second pick, and grooming quarterbacks has worked out well for Jackson in the past (see: Andy Dalton).

At No. 3, it doesn't make sense for the San Diego Chargers to pass on Ramsey, with cornerback Jason Verrett needing help. At No. 4, the Dallas Cowboys finally have to get their hands on a top linebacking prospect with Jack. Fifth, the Jacksonville Jaguars can grab the draft's top pure corner Vernon Hargreaves III, complementing nicely the return of defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. in the trenches.

The rest of the draft creates a domino effect in this scenario and screams one thing from the rooftops: The deepest positions in this draft are defensive line and linebacker.

In the trenches, defensive end Joey Bosa out of Ohio State headlines the action with Oregon Ducks' DeForest Buckner not far behind.

Defensive line has it all, especially after the top two. There's a wild card like Noah Spence, whose off-field issues forced him from Ohio State. He's an elite rusher, though, and has rehabbed his stock, as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted:

There are pass-rushing tackles who look like clones of Cincinnati Bengals' Geno Atkins, namely, Louisville Cardinals' Sheldon Rankins.

Rankins is far from a household name for one reason or another, but his versatility and constant motor have him a lock for the first round. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote a summary saying it all:

"

Everything about Rankins' game screams winning football player. He has been extremely productive as a bull­rusher and edge rusher, and he can hold the point of attack or play in gaps. Rankins is a ball of power with rare foot quickness, a great motor and outstanding feel for his position. With so many teams playing in sub­packages now, I would expect both 4-­3 and 3-­4 teams to consider him for an interior spot despite his shorter stature.

"

Want monsters on the inside? Alabama Crimson Tide's Jarran Reed and A'Shawn Robinson come to mind. How about a do-it-all guy, though, down from a stock standpoint, but simply needing the right situation? Try Ole Miss Rebels' Robert Nkemdiche.

Linebacker is a doozy too. 

Jack leads the way, but don't forget about Ohio State's Darron Lee, a criminally underrated player until the draft process began. Few can cover the pass like he does, but he can also rush the passer with the best in the class.

He doesn't lack for confidence, either, as captured by SiriusXM NFL Radio:

Talking about rushing the passer goes on and on. The Clemson Tigers have a dynamic duo with Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, while the Georgia Bulldogs brings an elite prospect to the table with Leonard Floyd.

In a more traditional role, Reggie Ragland out of Alabama has remained in the first-round conversation as a guy who acts as an anchor with superb pre-snap reads and leadership skills.

Oh, and don't forget about Notre Dame Fighting Irish's Jaylon Smith lurking in the background. One of the best linebacker prospects of the past 10 or more years, Smith suffered a serious injury in his team's bowl game. His football future remains up in the air, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Still, Smith can and will find an NFL home at some point. While he'd rather be leading the deep position, he's now a key component of its depth on draft day, making it the top position to watch.

Given the above, it seems the year of the defender has arrived. Always playing catch up to how offenses innovate, the league is about to get one epic counterpunch in the form of the 2016 class.

All that remains is to see how the board shuffles the names on draft day.

Stats are courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 19. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.