Most NFL-Ready Draft Prospects in 2016

Evaluating prospects for the NFL draft is a balancing act. 

Teams have to compare prospects with raw skills but elite upside against those with fewer physical gifts but more polished skills. It's a tough task, which is why we end up with first-round busts and late-round superstars. 

It's still early in the evaluation process, but some of the easier prospects to evaluate are those who have already polished their skills and appear ready to step into an immediate role in the NFL. 

Here's a brief breakdown of seven of those prospects who should be able to make an impact as rookies. 

These prospects range from top-10 talents and potential superstars to likely Day 2 selections who may only be role players. But all seven prospects have the skills necessary to make an immediate impact on Sundays. 

Joey Bosa, Ohio State

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Joey Bosa is a rare athlete who is physically mature beyond his years. 

As a freshman at Ohio State in 2013, he was already the most dangerous weapon on the Buckeyes defensive line—a position at which true freshman rarely make an immediate impact. 

What makes Bosa so special is his ability to win with speed and strength. 

Early in his career, Bosa become a dangerous pass-rush threat due to his explosion off the edge, but as opponents began to better game-plan for him, his technique was forced to change. 

Here's an example shared by Luke Zimmermann of Land-Grant Holy Land in which Bosa fights through a designed triple-team by Illinois. 

With his combination of speed and powerful upper-body strength, Bosa can win from multiple areas and in any defensive scheme. 

Kevin Dodd, Clemson

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Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson received much of the hype throughout the 2015 season, but his teammate, defensive end Kevin Dodd, may actually be in position to make a smoother transition to the NFL. 

Dodd is an attractive option for NFL teams for many of the same reasons Bosa is an elite prospect. 

Listed at 6'5", 275 pounds, Dodd clearly has the size to hold up on the edge at the next level, but he stands out due to his rare explosiveness for a man that size. 

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah ranks Dodd as his No. 22 overall prospect, praising him for his "explosive get-off, an array of hand moves and the ability to bend/wrap the edge."

So many young pass-rushers enter the NFL having relied on pure speed and athleticism to feast on weaker competition in college, which is why teams get excited about more well-rounded prospects like Bosa and Dodd. 

Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

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Running backs are often among the most NFL-ready prospects, but Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott is in a class of his own. 

College football fans are well-aware of Elliott's skills as a runner, as he's been among the most productive players in the nation over the past two seasons. But what sets him apart as a prospect are his skills in pass protection. 

Many running backs in the NFL are no longer three-down backs due to their limited skill sets. Teams often employ third-down backs who are better receivers and blockers in the backfield. 

Elliott, however, never needs to come off the field for strategic purposes. 

Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton has documented Elliott's incredibly well-rounded skill set, praising his ability to use "leverage and his hands as well as any prospect I’ve evaluated in five years."

Every year, running backs are included on the list of NFL-ready prospects. But Elliott is a rare example of a prospect who can immediately contribute in every aspect of the game. 

Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh's Tyler Boyd isn't the most talented receiver in this year's class, but he does have a chance to make the most immediate impact, depending on the situation in which he lands. 

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler has compared Boyd to Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry, and a similar role in the NFL could make Boyd an immediate star. 

Like Landry, Boyd doesn't have game-changing speed, but he is extremely effective in the slot on short and intermediate routes. 

With many NFL teams almost exclusively lining up in three-receiver sets these days, the value of a slot receiver like Boyd has skyrocketed. 

Twenty years ago, the third receiver on an NFL roster was often the third-most-skilled player at that position. In recent years, however, the game has changed and the slot receiver role now requires a specific skill set, which Boyd possesses. 

Boyd's ability to create separation in tight spaces and make plays after the catch will make him a weapon at the next level. 

A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama

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You can't teach size.

That adage has long been referenced in the months leading up to the NFL draft, and it certainly applies to Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson. 

What makes Robinson particularly effective, however, is his combination of size and agility. 

While Robinson certainly has the ability to eat up space as a nose tackle, he's surprisingly quick and can shoot gaps into the backfield with regularity. 

Any team in need of a nose tackle should have Robinson high on its list, but he shouldn't be pigeonholed into that position. Robinson is far more versatile than the average nose tackle and could play multiple positions along the defensive line. 

That versatility is what makes him such an intriguing prospect—and a candidate to find immediate success—especially if he lands in a hybrid defensive scheme with a coach willing to maximize his impact. 

Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

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Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil isn't the most gifted offensive lineman in this class in terms of all-around athletic ability. 

The fact that he is a polished prospect, however, is what has him solidly atop most draft boards at the position. Jeremiah succinctly describes Tunsil as a " ... Day 1 starting left tackle, and he should quickly emerge as one of the top players at his position."

What makes Tunsil most equipped to handle a transition to the NFL is his quick footwork. 

Many young offensive linemen struggle to adjust to the speed of NFL edge-rushers, but Tunsil has proven that he can slide out and effectively mirror talented edge-rushers, such as Texas A&M's Myles Garrett. 

Nick Martin, Notre Dame

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It's tough to find a prospect with a more impressive resume than Notre Dame center Nick Martin. 

Martin is the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys lineman Zack Martin, a two-time team captain at Notre Dame and a three-year starter with experience at guard and center. 

Much like his brother Zack in 2014, Martin enters the draft process with relatively little hype. However, there are few prospects as polished in this year's draft class. According to CFB Film Room, Martin was exceptionally productive in pass protection, allowing just seven quarterback pressures in 2015. 

Greg Gabriel of the National Football Post praised Martin's ability in the run game, saying he has "better than average bend" and "he consistently does a good job getting from the first block to the second."

While Martin may lack elite upside due to his modest athleticism, his well-rounded skill set should make him an immediate asset in the NFL.