Buy or Sell Potential Top Picks in 2016 NFL Draft
College football will be back in a little over a month from now. It’s been a long wait since Ohio State won the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship against the Oregon Ducks. A new season filled with hope and drama is right around the corner, though.
Whether an NFL draft enthusiast, college football fanatic or just someone who loves football, much is at stake for the best collegiate football players. Those with NFL aspirations must turn in a season filled with more bright spots than bad, and prove they have the physical and mental fortitude to succeed at the next level.
The 2016 NFL draft class is shaping up to be deep and filled with potential franchise players. These things are very fluid, but there are nine players who have earned a great amount of hype for the 2015 season. We’ll buy or sell whether each of these players can be a potential top pick in the 2016 draft.
To have good draft stock, it’s important to show consistent growth over the course of two or three years. That’s a major part of what we’re looking for. Inconsistent players are less likely to be considered for the top overall pick.
Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
1 of 9
The 6’4”, 234-pound quarterback from Happy Valley is surely atop the watch lists for most NFL and media evaluators. Christian Hackenberg has earned much intrigue and interest because of the volatile nature of his play the past two years. A strong 2015 season could reinforce the thought that he’s a bona fide star quarterback.
Under Bill O’Brien’s tutelage as a freshman, Hackenberg was able to flaunt his terrific arm strength and athleticism. He was efficient enough to deserve legitimate future No. 1 pick hype. To compare, he was similar to former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.
But his sophomore season was uninspiring, to say the least. New head coach James Franklin’s offensive system was less friendly than O’Brien’s, but Hackenberg struggled to make accurate throws when faced with pressure. That’s a huge concern entering his third season.
Hackenberg has much to prove in 2015. If he repeats his 2014 performance, he will prove to be unworthy of the top overall pick in the draft. Since that’s the lasting impression still present, Hackenberg’s stock is on the decline.
Buy or sell: sell
Jared Goff, Cal
2 of 9
One of the more intriguing quarterback prospects that will be eligible for the 2016 NFL draft is California’s Jared Goff. Despite being listed at 6’4”, 210 pounds, Goff reportedly played his sophomore season at just 180 pounds. He was also coming off shoulder surgery at the beginning of the 2014 campaign.
Goff’s passing prowess is extremely enticing. His anticipation, accuracy and throwing mechanics are well advanced for a collegiate quarterback. There are numerous throws each game that will make your jaw drop.
The numbers for Goff are absurd in Cal’s high-octane system. He runs the system to perfection, despite having a horrible offensive line in front of him. Goff posted 3,973 yards, 35 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2014.
The big question for Goff is his size. He must get up to at least 215 pounds to be considered a top quarterback prospect. The added size should also help his average arm strength and durability outlook. After a full offseason to train and gain, we’ll buy Goff’s stock because his on-field talent is so good.
Buy or sell: buy
Cardale Jones, Ohio State
3 of 9
Even with only three games as a starter under his belt, Cardale Jones’ status as a potential top overall pick for 2016 is absolutely serious. Jones was able to show more in his first three starts than most quarterbacks show in their three best contests over the course of a career. Not to mention, the competition that Jones dominated was elite.
There’s no guarantee that Jones even wins the Ohio State starting job in 2015. Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer could opt for the more efficient J.T. Barrett, or the more explosive Braxton Miller. But even if Jones doesn’t start, he’s a viable prospect.
It’s hard to imagine Meyer will pick someone other than Jones, though. The Buckeyes rushing attack was at an all-time best with him at the helm. Jones’ competition simply lacks the vertical prowess that he brings to the table. We’ll continue to ride the Cardale train until further notice.
Buy or sell: buy
Joey Bosa, Ohio State
4 of 9
Ohio State boasts one of the deepest and most talented rosters we’ve seen in recent history, and defensive end Joey Bosa is the best player on the team. Bosa’s dominance through his first two seasons as a strong-side defensive end has generated well-deserved hype for his NFL draft stock.
Bosa is often compared to Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, but that’s not fair. He’s not the elite athlete like Watt. But that doesn’t mean Bosa won’t be excellent in the NFL.
At 6’5” and 278 pounds, Bosa is either busy demanding double teams or destroying linemen on a weekly basis. He’s equally dangerous against the pass and run. There is no doubt here that he’s worthy of a top-five pick at worst.
Buy or sell: buy
Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
5 of 9
The first of two prominent Notre Dame athletes on this list, left tackle Ronnie Stanley is one of the best linemen prospects in the country. At 6’5” and 315 pounds, Stanley has the elite size and enough athleticism to be considered worthy of the top overall pick in 2016.
It’ll be a fierce battle between Stanley and Laremy Tunsil for who is best tackle entering the NFL. But they’re stylistically different, which could help decide who is chosen first. Stanley is more powerful than athletic, which will fit gap teams better than Tunsil will.
Since Stanley is a top-flight left tackle, he’ll be considered a premium prospect at a highly valuable position. That alone will make him worthy of No. 1 overall consideration.
Buy or sell: buy
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
6 of 9
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish also have one of the top defensive prospects in the country in linebacker Jaylon Smith. The versatile playmaker has the prowess to be an impact run defender from sideline to sideline, and also an ideal coverage talent against backs and tight ends.
Smith’s 6’2”, 235-pound frame and athleticism clearly separate him from the pack of recent linebacker prospects. He’s able to make any play on the field. His 112 tackles in 2014 help illustrate just how good he is at getting to the ball.
It would be unprecedented to see a linebacker go No. 1 overall, though. It’s not considered a premium position, historically. Smith may be worth the top selection in 2016, but don’t bet on him being the actual pick a year from now.
Buy or sell: sell
Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
7 of 9
Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil is another top left tackle prospect for the 2016 class. Similar to Ronnie Stanley, Tunsil is 6’5” and 315 pounds. Tunsil is a much more explosive athlete at the position and has the ability to fit the zone scheme better than Stanley.
Despite breaking his leg in the Peach Bowl last season, Tunsil is expected to start Week 1 this year. The broken leg shouldn’t be a long-term issue since he had no ligament tears. Assuming he’s back 100 percent, expect Tunsil to be at the forefront of the top prospect discussion all season long.
The areas in which Tunsil can improve are his lower body strength and overall leverage use. He’s very athletic and shows good power, but his consistency being the lower man leaves room for desire. Still, he’s a high-upside prospect that could become a top NFL tackle.
Buy or sell: buy
Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
8 of 9
Finding standout safeties is one of the hardest tasks to do nowadays. Despite the success and importance of safeties like Eric Weddle, Earl Thomas and Devin McCourty, the best playmakers aren’t gravitating toward the position in college. Jalen Ramsey has the talent to be the next elite NFL safety, though.
Even while playing on an impressive roster like Florida State’s, Ramsey is the clear star of the unit. He’s able to play safety and cornerback, but his best value comes as a roaming safety like Troy Polamalu once was for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At the end of the day, like linebacker, it would be unprecedented to see a defensive back go No. 1 overall. Ramsey has the talent to make it a tough discussion, especially if the crop of quarterbacks falls off. His impact in a secondary could help transform an entire defensive unit.
Buy or sell: buy
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
9 of 9
One of the biggest names in college football entering the season is Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche only posted two sacks in each of his previous two years, but his explosiveness and size off the snap make evaluators drool at what he could become. Plus, the value of pass-rushers continues to stay extremely high.
At 6’4” and 296 pounds, Nkemdiche fits best as a 3-4 end. But he is often used as an interior defensive lineman for Ole Miss, which leads to him getting washed out of plays by bigger blockers. His usage in college could hurt his NFL stock.
It’ll be very difficult for Nkemdiche to overcome Bosa based on Bosa’s resume. Nkemdiche simply doesn’t have a concrete position to play, and his production is very weak right now. He may become a top prospect, but he is far from one right now.
Buy or sell: sell
All stats used are from sports-reference.com.
Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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