NFL Mock Draft 2016: 1st-Round Projections, Latest Top Prospects' Stock Watch

Welcome to silly season when it comes to NFL draft stock.

This close to the draft, smokescreens, changes of heart and motives ranging from pure to questionable and beyond influence the perception of a prospect's stock moreso than any other period of the draft process.

It is interesting because the NFL has years and years of film for most prospects. The league has interviewed most players and seen them work out multiple times, so sudden stock changes seem unrealistic.

In reality, such changes are just public perception beginning to catch up with how the NFL actually feels. With this lesson in mind, here's a look at the most recent mock draft and the latest buzz around notable stock "movers."

2016 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Los Angeles Rams	Jared Goff	QB	California
2	Philadelphia Eagles	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	Cleveland Browns	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	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
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	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
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	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
30	Carolina Panthers	Kendall Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
31	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana

Latest Top Prospects' Stock Watch

No Change: 4. Dallas Cowboys: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

One can tell something big is about to happen around Myles Jack. 

Whether he goes first overall or becomes the subject of a big trade, it is impossible to predict. But so much noise around a guy who really doesn't have moving stock makes him the most interesting prospect to watch on draft day.

The skinny: Jack is a freak athlete. At 6'1", 245 pounds, he can drop into coverage quite well. He also has the mental side of it down to the point that he's a monster from a sideline-to-sideline standpoint, making him one of the most complete 'backers to come out in years.

The problem: Les Bowen of the Philadelphia News shared a negative report about Jack's knee:

It's a valid concern, as one has to wonder how well the knee will hold up over time. Many responded to the report with mixed feelings, with his agent John Thornton downright angry and criticizing the many conflicting reports surrounding his client.

Experts such as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, though, attempted to cut through the fog:

Sticking to the guns is what will work here. Every player is at risk of getting hurt. Knee injuries aren't as serious as they used to be, and with a talent like Jack, a team cannot afford to pass because of the risk.

Take the Dallas Cowboys, for example. The team hasn't had a reliable linebacking corps in years, and leaning on erratic players like Sean Lee and Rolando McClain won't continue to work. Jack, whose stock really hasn't changed much, is the best possible move.

Stock Down: 25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

See, noise around a prospect like Jack is fine. Many teams want him, so reports will fly. 

Silence around a prospect? That's a problem. A big one.

Clemson Tigers' Mackensie Alexander entered the draft process as one of the most hyped corners in the class, but since, it's been mostly radio silence while others such as Houston's William Jackson III and Ohio State's Eli Apple have gained ground.

The problems are many. Alexander is smaller at 5'10" and 190 pounds. While he didn't allow a ton of big plays, he didn't make many, either.

As NFL.com's Chad Reuter noted, Alexander didn't offer much in the way of film:

"

There's no doubt that Alexander has talent. And I'm guessing that he ends up a solid NFL starter who plays for a long time. But he did not display above-average ball skills in college, and he only gave teams two years of film to evaluate by coming out as a redshirt sophomore.

"

Alexander is still a first-round pick based on upside and the fact that smaller corners aren't a problem with how many teams keep a nickel guy on the field at all times.

Think of a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers. The unit ranked 30th against the pass last year, so a guy who can come in and keep up with speedster deep threats and dismiss big-play attempts is a must.

But Alexander remains a far cry from the top 10, where his stock resided at one point.

Stock Up: 30. Carolina Panthers: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Sometimes all a prospect needs is to pass a medical check with flying colors to enter the first-round conversation. 

Such is the case with Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller, the fourth Fuller brother to enter the pros out of the program.

Fuller got a green light after a re-check on his knee, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

So, the stock soars.

Fuller has the background of an NFL player, obviously. He also played on a respected defense and did well, boasting decent size at 5'11" and 187 pounds to boot.

In fact, after the check, Rapoport noted that the Tennessee Titans—owners of the 15th pick—scheduled a visit with Fuller.

That might be a tad high, but most teams in the first round wouldn't mind getting their hands on a healthy, quick-twitch corner who displayed superb awareness and ball skills in college.

In this scenario, Fuller falls to the Carolina Panthers, a team that wouldn't mind adding more depth in the secondary to complement Josh Norman. He's an ideal schematic fit, too, meaning both parties benefit right out of the gates.

Stats are courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 20. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.