2016 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Top Prospects Ahead of Week 17

As the NFL regular season and college football bowl season wind toward their conclusion, talk about the 2016 draft has started heating up. So, although there's still more steps in the process of player evaluation, a basic outlook for the first round has begun to take shape.

Of course, the position that's talked about most on an annual basis is quarterback. This year will be no different, with several teams still searching for a long-term answer at the position. Once again, however, the supply is unlikely to meet the demand.

Let's check a complete mock draft of the opening round before Week 17 gets underway. That's followed by a closer look at some of the top QBs in the class and where they may land.

1st-Round Mock Draft

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

Quarterback Breakdown

5. San Francisco 49ers: Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Goff came on strong down the stretch with 19 touchdowns and one interception over the Golden Bears' final four games. That included a 467-yard, six-TD performance against Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl to end the campaign on an extremely high note.

He's showcased an advanced understanding of the short and intermediate passing game, key traits in Cal's fast-paced spread offense. He also isn't afraid of contact, often standing tall in the pocket to deliver strikes in the face of pressure.

The biggest concerns are his deep-ball accuracy and his ability to make plays when flushed from the comfort of the pocket. Per Jeff Faraudo of the San Jose Mercury News, the quarterback stated the end result was a split decision between the first and second rounds from the NFL draft advisory board.

"I honestly looked at it for five seconds," Goff said. "It didn't really have much impact on my decision. I knew I was ready. That was a formality at that point."

49ers quarterbacks head into the season finale with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Colin Kaepernick, who for a time looked like a potential franchise option, continued to fade with six TDs and five picks. That means it's time to move forward with a new face under center like Goff.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Lynch finished the college season with an outing that was the polar opposite of Goff's. He never found a rhythm against a fast, aggressive Auburn defense that held him to 108 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the Birmingham Bowl.

Exactly how much that outing will impact his stock isn't yet clear. No single game can override an entire resume of work, but it will likely give front offices reason to take another long look at his previous game tape. He simply couldn't deliver the necessary throws into tight windows with the spotlight on him.

Previously Lynch had showcased the ability to hit a variety of different throws with a quick release. When paired with his 6'7" frame, it's easy to see why he carries plenty of intrigue. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network noted there's still the need for a lot more polish, though:

Ultimately, the poor bowl outing shouldn't cause his stock to plummet. It does place a greater importance on his workouts—whether that's individual work for teams, the combine or both—just to re-establish confidence that he can deliver passes quickly, crisply and in the right spots.

If he does that, the Eagles make for a good landing spot.

21. Houston Texans: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

Al Goldis/Associated Press

Cook has an impressive arm that allows him to make every throw and gained three years of starting experience at Michigan State. The jury is still out concerning whether he has enough talent to become a top-end passer at the next level, though.

His ability to read defenses pre-snap and his field awareness while the play is going on are the two areas where he must make major strides. Too often he'll lock into one receiver and then attempt to force the ball into tight coverage rather than going through his full progression.

That said, his touchdown and interception numbers are still impressive despite a completion percentage that's stayed below 60 percent throughout his collegiate career. Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports noted at least one high-profile defensive coach is a Cook believer:

The Texans have cycled through a handful of different quarterbacks this season, and none of them are likely to fill the position for the long haul. Given the value of a reliable QB, taking a chance on Cook at this stage of Round 1 would make sense.