Todd McShay NFL Mock Draft 2016: Notable Picks from ESPN Guru's 1st Mock

The 2016 NFL draft doesn't take place until May, but ESPN guru Todd McShay has already released his first mock of the opening round Wednesday.

Two quarterbacks come off the board in the top five picks, but a certain defensive star takes initial No. 1 overall pick honors in McShay's initial projections.

Check out the complete list of 31 picks below. Bear in mind the New England Patriots don't own a first-round pick because of the Deflategate scandal. 

Pick	Team	Player
1	Tennessee Titans	Joey Bosa, DE/OLB, Ohio State
2	Cleveland Browns	Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
3	San Diego Chargers	Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
4	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
5	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff, QB, California
6	Dallas Cowboys	Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame
7	Detroit Lions	Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
8	Miami Dolphins	Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
9	Jacksonville Jaguars	Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
10	St. Louis Rams	Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
11	New Orleans Saints	Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
12	Chicago Bears	DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
13	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
14	Atlanta Falcons	Miles Jack, LB, UCLA
15	Oakland Raiders	Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
16	Washington Redskins	Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
17	New York Giants	Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
18	Buffalo Bills	Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
19	Houston Texans	A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
21	Indianapolis Colts	Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
22	New York Jets	Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
23	Minnesota Vikings	Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee
25	Kansas City Chiefs	Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
26	Seattle Seahawks	Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska
27	Green Bay Packers	Su'a Cravens, OLB, USC
28	Denver Broncos	Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
29	Cincinnati Bengals	Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
30	Arizona Cardinals	Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
31	Carolina Panthers	Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

Bosa Fits Titans Regardless of Future Power Structure

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Joey Bosa is off the board first, largely because of his ability to function well as a 4-3 defensive end or as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Quarterback isn't a need for Tennessee with Marcus Mariota aboard, so upgrading the defense makes sense.

The Ohio State star offers an exceptional blend of size and athleticism—and McShay even alludes to how Bosa can slide inside to play defensive tackle and thrive as a pass-rusher.

For those who believe Bosa is the second coming of J.J. Watt, though, a Big Ten area scout dispelled that notion, per NFL.com's Charles Davis, Daniel Jeremiah and Lance Zierlein:

"

There are going to be comparisons to J.J. Watt because they are both athletic white guys from the Big Ten, but (Joey) Bosa isn't in that same league no matter how hard people will try to push that come draft time. They both have good motors but Watt was much bigger and much stronger. Bosa doesn't overwhelm guys with pure strength like Watt does.

"

Bosa compares more to Jared Allen, according to CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler. That's not a bad consolation prize. Allen is a two-time sack champion and five-time Pro Bowler.

Titans fans should be excited about a playmaker like Bosa who can play on the edge regardless of the team's base defensive alignment. With head coach Ken Whisenhunt getting fired during the 2015 campaign and uncertainty surrounding the future, Tennessee plays it safe in McShay's initial outlook. 

Browns Fish for Yet Another Quarterback

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Apparently, the potential Johnny Manziel has flashed in six starts—not to mention productive veteran Josh McCown being under contract for two more years—isn't enough for the Browns to pass up Paxton Lynch.

The Memphis star has obvious physical traits to be excited about, notably a 6'7", 245-pound frame. Yes, Lynch can make all the throws required of a pro quarterback, but so can Manziel.

Is Cleveland really ready for a 25th different starter under center since 1999 without seeing through at least one full season of Johnny Football?

What may go a long way in determining the answer to that question is what owner Jimmy Haslam decides to do this winter. General manager Ray Farmer's tenure has been mostly disastrous, while Mike Pettine has seen his team collapse after a promising 7-4 start last year.

McShay says Lynch has the physical tools to become a "good" starting QB. The final three games will be tough for Manziel (at Seattle, at Kansas City, home versus Pittsburgh), but regardless of how those turn out, the former Heisman Trophy winner has made a case he too can be "good."

Best Early 1st-Round Bargains

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida (No. 9, Jacksonville Jaguars)

For the second straight year, the Jags stay within the Sunshine State and go after a Gators stud.

Unfortunately, Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL and missed all of his rookie year, but Hargreaves represents a chance at draft redemption. He is a three-year starter at Florida who is magnificent in zone and man coverage and can support the run well. McShay calls Hargreaves "the best pure cover corner in this class."

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller alludes to the one area Hargreaves is lacking in that may cause his stock to slip ever so slightly:

But McShay reassures any doubters Hargreaves doesn't allow his slighter stature to hinder his ability to play press coverage.

Jacksonville has prioritized surrounding Bortles with weapons for the most part but would do well to bring premier defenders aboard to aid head coach Gus Bradley's area of expertise.

DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (No. 12, Chicago Bears)

What a grab this would be for Bears GM Ryan Pace. After Pace saw his maiden first-round pick, receiver Kevin White, sit out with injuries in 2015, Buckner could well be an instant-impact player on Chicago's front seven.

Placing Buckner alongside 2015 second-rounder Eddie Goldman in the trenches would make defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's unit all the more dynamic. Chicago is already armed with an elite pass-rusher in Pernell McPhee and an underrated secondary, and Buckner would add a new dimension.

The Oregon product is listed at 300 pounds and has enough finesse to his game to drop in coverage on occasion, which would increase Fangio's schematic flexibility.

McShay highlights Buckner's ability to stop the run—an area Chicago must improve in light of its 26th-ranked rush defense.