NFL Draft 2016: Latest 1st-Round Mock Draft for Marquee Prospects

For a process so important to players and organizations, it's dizzying to consider the ripple effect one move had on the 2016 NFL draft.

Last week, the Tennessee Titans scoffed at anyone who spent precious time deliberating over their choices with the No. 1 pick. Rather than wait to execute a draft-day deal, they traded the first pick to the Los Angeles Rams for a smorgasbord of current and future picks. 

After selecting Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 pick last year, the Titans weren't in the market for a passer. But unless the Rams put Kevin Costner in charge, they didn't mortgage a bounty of assets to snag anyone besides a quarterback. 

As a result, every meticulously researched mock draft assembled before the deal immediately became outdated.

This updated Round 1 simulation could follow older ones in the dumpster by April 28. According to NFL Network's Jeff Darlington, the Cleveland Browns may necessitate more change at the top:

The done deal and rumored move directly impact quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, but both going Nos. 1 and 2 overall, respectively, would also alter the landing spots for most premier prospects.

Let's see where other top-10 players could fall following the Rams' ascent up the order.

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

Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Formerly the main No. 1-pick candidate, Laremy Tunsil is no longer a top-five lock. 

The Ole Miss offensive tackle lost a padded landing spot at Tennessee, which endured a league-worst 54 sacks last season. The Rams, conversely, relinquished a league-low 18 sacks and need a quarterback who can convert protection into big plays. Even though the Browns surrendered 53 sacks and rated No. 22 in rushing offense, they look poised to snag a passer or trade down.

Fortunately for Tunsil, the San Diego Chargers need offensive line help. As noted by Pro Football Focus' Jeff Dooley, the Chargers rated last in the site's pass-blocking grade and second-last when it came to blocking runs. Despite spending a first-round pick on running back Melvin Gordon last year, they averaged a league-worst 3.5 yards per carry.

Their battered line also struggled to provide Philip Rivers with a clean pocket. Per Pro Football Focus' Twitter page, Tunsil excelled on both fronts during his junior season:

Tunsil doesn't have to worry too much about tumbling down the draft board. If San Diego passes, the Baltimore Ravens should jump at the chance to take him at No. 6 after losing Kelechi Osemele in free agency. He'll likely call San Diego or Baltimore home next year, but the Chargers shouldn't pass him up.

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

Any franchises who value self-confidence should award Jalen Ramsey some bonus points. Once the Rams-Titans trade went down, he didn't express any concern about falling out of the top-pick discussion, per ESPN.com's Todd Archer. 

“I still feel like I’m the best player in the draft," Ramsey said, "I didn’t realize the Rams like me that much. So if they want the best player in the draft, then they'll get him.”

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, a couple of organizations agree with Ramsey's ranking:

Even if Los Angeles, Cleveland and/or San Diego rate him accordingly, positional needs have them primed to look elsewhere. The same could apply to the Dallas Cowboys, who pick at No. 4. In a radio interview on 105.3 The Fan earlier this week (h/t the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Drew Davison), executive vice-president Stephen Jones clarified his primary area of interest.

"At the end of the day, our defensive front is still a position that we keep our eye on in terms of always trying to get better there,” Jones said. “Ultimately we want to find a dominant type of pass-rusher. Obviously that’s easier said than done.”

Then again, Dallas also needs secondary help after relinquishing a 65.2 completion percentage and 7.6 yards per pass attempt last season. The versatile Ramsey offers an immediate and long-term coverage upgrade at cornerback or safety. 

Along with potentially representing the best player available, he also fills an area of great need, even if it's not the one Jones identified.

DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

There's one player with a vested interest who doesn't agree with the Tunsil-Chargers pairing. According to ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams, Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett prefers Oregon pass-rusher DeForest Buckner:

"

To keep it real—damn—I want Buckner, that’s who I want. I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve watched him on film, and that’s when I was at TCU and I went back there for their pro day. I went in the film room and watched him in our bowl game, because TCU played Oregon in the bowl game. So I went and watched that, and that’s the type of player I like.

"

Buckner is one of many candidates for the Chargers, whose decision will greatly dictate the selections directly after them. He also faces added uncertainty due to the crowded crop of front seven talent led by him and Ohio State's Joey Bosa.

The ferocious defensive end, listed at 6'7" and 291 pounds on NFL.com, could conceivably end up on any team in the Nos. 2-10 range. Given the premium placed on explosive athletes who can provide pressure, any squad can make the case for snagging one early.

If the San Francisco 49ers aren't desperate to end their quarterback drama, assuming Wentz and Goff are both off the board, they should take Buckner if available at No. 7. They have lost a handful of defensive playmakers over the years to unexpected retirements and off-field issues. 

However, they might get antsy to give new head coach Chip Kelly a potential franchise passer, even if it means reaching for Paxton Lynch. That opens the door for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to possibly steal a high-upside value pick at No. 9.