2016 NFL Mock Draft: Ideal 1st-Round Predictions for Top Prospects

A lot of NFL teams should walk away from the first round of this year's draft satisfied. That's because while there's a lack of top-end, high-profile prospects, there are plenty of players capable of stepping in to fill a void immediately.

One other thing the bunched-up nature of the class allows for is movement. There isn't a major divide between players currently projected to be selected in the middle of Round 1 and those on the fringe of the opening round, which places an emphasis on good workouts and interviews.

Let's check out a projection for how things currently stand with the college football season complete and the NFL within three rounds of crowning a champion. That's followed by a closer look at some players that land with teams where they are really needed.

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

Most Ideal Mock Prospect Fits

2. Cleveland Browns: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of any pass-rusher's game is determination. It takes a lot of effort and a major physical toll to get into the opponent's backfield on a consistent basis. Bosa showed during his time with the Buckeyes that he's willing to accept that challenge each time out.

Austin Ward of ESPN.com notes the talented defensive end does admit his college career could have been even better if he placed a greater emphasis on physical preparation and recovery early on. He's changed his approach and believes it will benefit him moving forward.

"I mean, who knows," Bosa said. "You never know. Maybe I would have made a few more plays if I had done this or did that, but you can't really tell. All I know is that I'm happy that I have a good mindset now and I can only look to get better in the future."

He's exactly the type of playmaker the Browns need to rejuvenate a defense that finished 27th in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed in 2015. Cleveland also ranked well below average in sacks (28th) and takeaways (22nd).

It's going to take more than one player to fix all of those issues. That said, there isn't anything more important on defense than a truly high-impact defensive end. Bosa is capable of reaching that level, and it shouldn't take too long for him to do it.

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

Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

Goff is not a can't-miss prospect who's clearly destined from greatness. If he was, he'd be going first overall with the Tennessee Titans likely holding a bidding war for the pick. But he's the top quarterback in the class and there are a lot of positive signs.

He's showcased consistent accuracy on short and intermediate throws with the arm strength necessary to make the downfield passes, though his consistency must improve on those attempts. He's also improved his pocket awareness over time, which is one reason Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton is bullish:

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Goff's talent level is significantly higher than anyone else's in the class, not only right now but also projecting forward. He wins with intangibles in the pocket and has the physical tools to match what his mind processes. There are risks with drafting Goff. Every quarterback has a "bust" factor, but the lack of great quarterback play across the league should have teams willing to invest into him.

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The 49ers' search for a quarterback is renewed with Colin Kaepernick failing to solidify himself as a franchise option over the past two seasons. Between Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert, the 49ers ranked 29th in passing yards per game in 2015.

Whether Goff will be available at No. 7 is still a question mark. There are several teams seeking an upgrade at the position, and they may look to trade into the top five to secure the draft's top QB. But if he's still on the board, San Francisco should take a chance on him.

15. St. Louis Rams: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

One of the areas this draft class isn't particularly deep at is wide receiver. That's good news for Treadwell, who's displayed the most impressive skill set in the group and could rise up the board as a result. For now, the middle of Round 1 is a conservative projection.

He's displayed terrific hands and an advanced ability to win one-on-one battles. He also sports the power to shake off tackles to gain extra yards. While he doesn't have high-end speed, Stephen Milewski of Big Blue View thinks expectations should be high:

The Rams have lacked a go-to receiver in recent years. They have a solid group of secondary targets, including Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin, but nobody a quarterback can count on in key situations. Treadwell can finally eliminate that need.

Again, only time will tell whether he'll be available at No. 15 when the draft rolls around, but as for now it represents terrific value for the Rams. Though the search for a franchise quarterback continues, Treadwell can slide right in as the team's top option.