NFL Mock Draft 2016: Post-Conference Championship 1st-Round Predictions

The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will meet in the 2016 Super Bowl, the perfect pairing for those who believe smart drafting is the key to success.

Peyton Manning and Cam Newton show different ways to hit the franchise-quarterback need out of the park. A risk on a rusher like Von Miller makes all the difference, too. Unearthing an unheralded guy like Kawann Short might lead to 11 sacks and a key piece of getting to the promised land.

Most of the league now turns its attention to the 2016 draft. Below, let's use some of the lessons learned in the conference championship games to point out a few notable picks from the full mock, which forms based on team need and prospect value.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

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

Highlighting Notable Predictions

4. Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa, DL, Ohio State

Miller, basically on his own, showed how and why so many teams are willing to forgo other positions and take a top-tier rusher in the early goings of drafts.

In the AFC Championship Game, Miller was all over the place and constantly applying pressure, helping Tom Brady to suffer four sacks and toss two interceptions while running for his life, leading his team in rushing with just 13 yards.

Teams drafting in the top five have to hope Ohio State's Joey Bosa can live up to the hype. Bosa's an elite rusher at 6'6" and 275 pounds who, when not being compared to J.J. Watt, gets his name thrown around with the likes of Jared Allen.

CollegeFootball 24/7 provided the perspective:

The Dallas Cowboys, after registering just 31 sacks this past season and a great unknown swirling around names such as Greg Hardy, won't be able to take a pass.

In theory, Tony Romo and the offense don't need much in the way of help, and an elite rusher such as Bosa could help mask issues in the secondary. At worst, he provides the Cowboys a building block for the future on a defense that hasn't looked much in the way of competent in years.

Miller showed just how important the spot can be, which only helps Bosa's stock and makes the decision for Dallas easier.

6. Baltimore Ravens: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

If Miller showed how valuable a pas rush can be this past weekend, Carolina's Josh Norman showed what a shutdown corner can do.

For teams picking in the top 10, one of the top names is Clemson's Mackensie Alexander, a 5'10", 190-pound press corner with great instincts and plenty of raw upside.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recently touched on how some view Alexander in comparison to the rest of the class: "For example, I've spoken with seven teams (scouts, coaches or general managers) that have Mackensie Alexander over Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey at defensive back."

Figuring out and drafting the right defensive back so high in the draft is never easy. But for the Baltimore Ravens, it classifies as a necessary evil if the once-proud defense wants to sniff at a chance of getting back to its former glory. 

The Ravens allowed 25.1 points per game on average last season. The AFC North isn't shying away from the pass-first approach anytime soon, not with Andy Dalton slinging well in Cincinnati, Ben Roethlisberger still in Pittsburgh and Cleveland likely taking another high-profile rookie quarterback.

Baltimore has to pin its hope on the idea Alexander will pan out and contribute out of the gates while providing a strong building block for the secondary in future years.

8. Miami Dolphins: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama

See, folks might decry grabbing an inside linebacker in the top 10. It's a position that, if the guy isn't athletic enough, will come off the field in passing situations such as on third down. 

Fine, but ask the Panthers how taking Luke Kuechly at No. 9 in 2012 worked out.

There are exceptions to every rule. Heck, there are oversimplifications of an entire position. Alabama's Reggie Ragland is an elite athlete who, while classifying as an inside linebacker, has elite athleticism and won't come off the field.

Miller explained the situation around the Alabama product well:

Versatility, an ability to cover the pass and an elite nose for the football will woo the Miami Dolphins at No. 8.

What good is Ndamukong Suh and others in the trenches if the linebackers play a huge role in the unit finishing last season ranked 21st against the pass, 28th against the rush and 19th in scoring defense?

It's not. The Dolphins need a field general for the unit, a sideline-to-sideline presence who will shut down the run and won't be exploited in coverage. A guy who can let the defensive line pin its ears back and get after quarterbacks while properly manning the gaps left in its wake.

The guy is Ragland, who will receive flak for his position but figures to make a difference at the pro level right away.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of January 25. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.