2016 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects After Wild Card Round

With the first week of playoff football in the books, the NFL draft order has four more teams locked into position. 

Following their loss Sunday, the Washington Redskins locked up the top spot among the playoff teams and will own the 21st selection in the draft. They'll be followed by the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. 

Picks No. 25 through 28 will be set next weekend—unless the New England Patriots are among the losers. As a result of their Deflategate punishments, the Patriots do not own a first-round pick.

Based on the updated order, here's a look at the latest first-round projections. 

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

Notable Picks

2. Cleveland Browns: Joey Bosa

By hiring executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, the Browns have made a commitment to the use of analytics. 

It remains to be seen exactly how this will affect the team's draft strategy, but there is a good chance it decreases the likelihood the team gambles on one of the top quarterbacks in this class. 

On a very elementary level, analytics are used to eliminate some of the guesswork involved in the decision-making process. And with no clear consensus around the quarterbacks in this class, the Browns' new approach will likely send them in the direction of a safer bet, such as Ohio State pass-rusher Joey Bosa. 

With his combination of size and athleticism, Bosa is a fit in every defensive scheme and should be able to develop into a perennial Pro Bowler in Cleveland.  

3. San Diego Chargers: Ronnie Stanley

Norm Hall/Getty Images

As quarterback Philip Rivers ages and loses mobility, protecting their franchise quarterback becomes even more important for the Chargers. 

In his recent mock draft, Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune also awarded Ronnie Stanley to the Chargers, reasoning that he would "[step] in as the starting right tackle day one, and would eventually transition into Philip Rivers’ blindside protector."

Current right tackle Joe Barksdale, who started 16 games for the Chargers in 2015, is a free agent, creating an obvious opening for Stanley in San Diego. 

15. St. Louis Rams: Carson Wentz

David K Purdy/Getty Images

After missing the majority of the season with a broken wrist, North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz made a triumphant return to the field just in time to lead the Bison to the FCS national championship on Saturday. 

Wentz's impressive performance restarted the hype machine, and potentially solidified his position as a first-round pick. 

NFL Network's Mike Mayock even floated the idea of Wentz as the top quarterback in the draft:

"

I'm saying he's in the conversation to be the 1st qb taken...if he checks all the intangible boxes- watch out ! https://t.co/X48iTx5HgV

— Mike Mayock (@MikeMayock) January 9, 2016"

Jeff Fisher will be looking for a new franchise signal-caller in St. Louis (or wherever the Rams call home in 2016) after suffering through a season of Nick Foles and Case Keenum.  

19. Buffalo Bills: Robert Nkemdiche

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche is a difficult prospect to place due to his recent arrest for marijuana possession. 

The arrest added to the rumors that Nkemdiche is a bit of a wild card off the field. Before the arrest in early December, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, quoted a scout as describing Nkemdiche as "really a different kid. He may scare some people. He's strange strange."

The scout is right to assume certain teams will be turned off by Nkemdiche during the interview process, especially following his arrest. But there are also some outside-the-box thinkers in the league who will embrace Nkemdiche's personality and fall in love with his production on the field.

So who better to gamble on a "strange" prospect than Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who is a bit of a wild card off the field himself.

Follow Ryan McCrystal on Twitter for more NFL and college football analysis.

Follow @Ryan_McCrystal