NFL Draft Prospects 2016: Where Top Players Land in 1st-Round Mock Draft

Although the playoff race remains at the forefront around the NFL, several fanbases have already been forced to start looking ahead to next season. Adding what front offices hope will be a high-impact player through the draft is always a key part of the offseason.

As a whole, the 2016 class shapes up as a pretty average incoming group, though the outlook won't be fully clear until the underclassmen deadline next month. For now, it looks like it could be a defense-heavy opening round.

So let's check a complete mock draft for the first round at this early stage of the process. That's followed by a closer look at the top trio of selections.

2016 1st-Round Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
3	Baltimore Ravens	Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
4	San Diego Chargers	Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
5	Dallas Cowboys	Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame
6	Detroit Lions	DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff, QB, Cal
8	Miami Dolphins	Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
9	Jacksonville Jaguars	Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
10	Chicago Bears	Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
11	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
12	Oakland Raiders	Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
13	New York Giants	Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
14	Philadelphia Eagles	Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
15	New Orleans Saints	A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
16	Buffalo Bills	Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
17	St. Louis Rams	Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
18	Indianapolis Colts	Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
19	Atlanta Falcons	Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
20	New York Jets	Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
21	Washington Redskins	Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
22	Houston Texans	Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
23	Pittsburgh Steelers	TreDavious White, CB, LSU
24	Minnesota Vikings	Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
25	Kansas City Chiefs	Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
26	Seattle Seahawks	Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
27	Green Bay Packers	Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
28	Denver Broncos	Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
29	Cincinnati Bengals	Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
30	Arizona Cardinals	Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
31	New England Patriots	Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
32	Carolina Panthers	Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

Breaking Down Top Picks

1. Tennessee Titans: OT Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss)

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

The Titans hope they've found the long-term answer at quarterback in Marcus Mariota. Their continued struggles show there's still a lot of work to do in terms of building around him, though. Upgrading the offensive line should certainly be on the agenda.

Tunsil has all the tools to eventually become a top-tier left tackle in the NFL. He possesses the quickness and athleticism to deal with speed-rushers and the raw power to deal with bull-rushers. As a result, Jeff Risdon of RealGM loves the lineman's upside:

His technique could still use more polish, and it will take time to adjust to the more complex ways opposing defenses will attack him at the next level. Those are both common issues for incoming tackles, though, which is why many start on the right side before shifting to the crucial left tackle spot.

Tunsil's arrival would not only help protect Mariota better, but it would be a crucial step in improving a lackluster rushing attack. While finding a more dynamic option for the backfield would still be necessary, the blocking must improve, too.

2. Cleveland Browns: DE Joey Bosa (Ohio State)

If the Browns become convinced any of the quarterbacks available in the class are legitimate face-of-the-franchise material, that player will likely be the pick. Otherwise, they will stick with the best player available, which is Bosa.

The Ohio State standout is a force along the defensive line. His strength makes him a constant presence in the opposing backfield, even when he's not racking up sacks. He's also got enough versatility to move around the line to create the optimal matchup.

Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has been impressed with how Bosa has improved during his time in Columbus—not only in terms of his on-field impact but also the type of leader he's become in the locker room, which wasn't always the case, as relayed by Austin Ward of ESPN.com.

"He's never been a bad guy," Meyer said. "Always been a great kid, but he really wasn't a leader—kind of a guy in the back of the room. Now he's in the front of the room, and it's night and day different. He's here all day long."

That's what teams always like to see from top picks. Somebody who's willing to put in the daily work comes with far less risk than a prospect who relies more heavily on natural talent to get them by. Bosa is the type of player who can help spearhead Cleveland's long-awaited resurgence.

3. Baltimore Ravens: CB Jalen Ramsey (Florida State)

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

It turned into a lost season relatively quickly for Baltimore. Injury woes paired with some close losses caused them to fade from the playoff picture. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, because now a team with a solid core should get a high pick to bolster the roster.

One of the main conversations surrounding Ramsey leading up to the draft will be whether teams view him as a cornerback or a safety. The bottom line is that he's got the skill set necessary to play either position at a high level, so it's not like he's a player without a position—he has two.

His most eye-popping attribute is his range. He covers a lot of ground thanks to a long stride and uses that both as a ball hawk and a willing tackler in the run support. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network liked what he saw on tape:

The Ravens head into Week 16 with just four interceptions on the season, which is two fewer than any other team in the league. That showcases their need for more playmakers in the secondary. Ramsey fits the bill, regardless of what position he eventually calls home.