2016 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Predictions, Landing Spots for Top Prospects

College football bowl season has arrived, which means NFL draft chatter is starting to kick into high gear. 

And while we're still months away from the most dramatic moving and shaking draft season has to offer, there's plenty to break down as prospects solidify their first-round status. 

So with the NFL regular season winding down, here's a look at how the first round of the 2016 draft could shake out.

As a housekeeping note, keep in mind the projected order used below is based on records entering Week 14 of the NFL season. Furthermore, the following projections are limited to 31 teams after the New England Patriots had their first-round pick stripped as a result of the Deflategate scandal. 

Draft Slot	Team	Projected Pick/Position	School
1	Cleveland Browns	Paxton Lynch, QB	Memphis
2	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil, OT	Ole Miss
3	San Diego Chargers	Ronnie Stanley, OT	Notre Dame
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jaylon Smith, LB	Notre Dame
5	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Ramsey, CB	Florida State
6	New Orleans Saints	Vernon Hargreaves, CB	Florida
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff, QB	California
8	Dallas Cowboys	Joey Bosa, DE/OLB	Ohio State
9	Detroit Lions	Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT	Ole Miss
10	St. Louis Rams	Laquon Treadwell, WR	Ole Miss
11	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Lawson, DE	Clemson
12	New York Giants	Myles Jack, LB	UCLA
13	Oakland Raiders	Emmanuel Ogbah, DE	Oklahoma State
14	Philadelphia Eagles	Mackensie Alexander, CB	Clemson
15	Chicago Bears	DeForest Buckner, DE/DT	Oregon
16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Leonard Floyd, LB	Georgia
17	Atlanta Falcons	Michael Thomas, WR	Ohio State
18	Houston Texans	Ezekiel Elliott, RB	Ohio State
19	Buffalo Bills	A'Shawn Robinson, DE	Alabama
20	Pittsburgh Steelers	Eli Apple, CB	Ohio State
21	Washington Redskins	Su'a Cravens, LB	USC
22	Indianapolis Colts	Reggie Ragland, LB	Alabama
23	New York Jets	Shon Coleman, OT	Auburn
24	Seattle Seahawks	Adolphus Washington, DE/DT	Ohio State
25	Kansas City Chiefs	Josh Doctson, WR	TCU
26	Minnesota Vikings	Andrew Billings, DT	Baylor
27	Green Bay Packers	Taylor Decker, OT	Ohio State
28	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathan Allen, DE/DT	Alabama
29	Cincinnati Bengals	Jayron Kearse, S	Clemson
30	Denver Broncos	Jarran Reed, DT	Alabama
31	Carolina Panthers	Corey Coleman, WR	Baylor

Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns desperately need a franchise quarterback, and Memphis' Paxton Lynch could be just that. 

Listed at 6'7'' and 245 pounds, Lynch fits the prototypical mold of an NFL quarterback from a pure measurement standpoint. However, the junior has so much more to offer than stellar physical qualities.

During the 2015 season, Lynch completed a career-high 69 percent of his passes for 3,670 yards, 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Lynch also rushed 82 times for a respectable 240 yards and two touchdowns a year after scampering for 13 scores. 

"Despite his outstanding foot quickness, athleticism and ability to gain yards as a runner, Lynch's instinct seems aligned with making his living from the pocket," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote. "Lynch's offensive line isn't all-world by any stretch, but he doesn't seem overly anxious when the pocket begins to constrict and he is showing an ability to slide inside the pocket and buy time."

Considering the Browns have been battling inconsistency at quarterback for years now, it's time they settled down and pinpointed the best possible option to lead the franchise back to the playoffs.

California's Jared Goff remains an intriguing option, but Lynch has all the physical qualities Cleveland could ever want in an offensive centerpiece.

The desire to give Johnny Manziel another crack at the starting job after a full offseason preparing for the role could be enticing, but at this rate the controversial signal-caller may be better suited for backup duties.  

Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

No NFL team has more holes to fill on offense than the St. Louis Rams. 

Rookie running back Todd Gurley corrected some of the team's problems this season, but the Rams are still largely a mess. Defenses have started stacking the box to stop the run, and as a result, St. Louis has sputtered terribly despite Gurley's best efforts. 

Entering Week 14, the Rams rank last in passing yards per game (178.0) and passing touchdowns (eight). In fact, Rams quarterbacks have tossed more interceptions (10) than touchdowns so far this season. 

One of the issues—outside of instability under center—has to do with St. Louis' underwhelming receiving corps. Tavon Austin has been explosive in spots, but he has nearly as many touchdowns on the ground (three) as he does through the air (four). 

And beyond Austin, the Rams are working with Kenny Britt and tight end Jared Cook as their primary receiving options. 

Enter Laquon Treadwell. 

The Ole Miss receiver has been a dominant force on the outside all season long, catching 76 passes for 1,082 yards and eight touchdowns. 

"He’s the best I’ve ever coached," Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said, per the Clarion-Ledger's Daniel Paulling. "I believe that. Donte [Moncrief] was really, really good. Mike Wallace was good. Quon is probably the most complete. Donte was really close. If Donte had stayed his senior year, it would probably be tit for tat with those two. I’d have to say [Treadwell's] the most talented I’ve coached."

The Rams sorely need a primary passing option who can take pressure off Gurley and keep defenses honest, and Treadwell looks like he could be that kind of high-usage player at the next level. 

Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State

Like the Rams, the Atlanta Falcons are searching for ways to become more well-rounded on offense.

Julio Jones is arguably the most talented receiver the NFL has to offer, but he needs a counterpart on the other side of the offense to help stabilize Matt Ryan's offerings.

While Jones is already safely over 1,300 yards receiving this season, the team's second- and third-leading pass-catchers from a yardage perspective are tight end Jacob Tamme and running back Devonta Freeman.  

And with Roddy White's effectiveness waning by the week, it's clear the Falcons need an injection of young blood at receiver.

With that established, Ohio State's Michael Thomas could be a perfect fit.

Since the Falcons already have Jones trying to blow the top off opposing defenses, Thomas is the kind of precise underneath route runner who could step in and act as a perfect complement. The junior also boasts stellar run-after-catch credentials. 

TCU's Josh Doctson and Baylor's Corey Coleman should be in the conversation, but the Falcons could use Thomas' strong hands and possession-receiving skills to help buoy the passing game.