2016 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects Entering Offseason

The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 because their defense dominated the supposedly superior Carolina Panthers.

Defense may also be the signature of the offseason, at least when it comes to the NFL draft. Defensive players, led by Ohio State's Joey Bosa, may dominate the first round.

Here's our mock draft and a closer look at four likely first-round players who should have an impact in their rookie seasons.

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	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB	Florida
4	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Ramsey	DB	Florida State
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Noah Spence	LB	Eastern Kentucky
6	Baltimore Ravens	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
7	San Francisco 49ers	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
8	Miami Dolphins	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DeForest Buckner	DL	Oregon
10	New York Giants	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
11	Chicago Bears	Jared Goff	QB	California
12	New Orleans Saints	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
13	Philadelphia Eagles	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota State
14	Oakland Raiders	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
15	Los Angeles Rams	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
16	Detroit Lions	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
17	Atlanta Falcons	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
18	Indianapolis Colts	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
19	Buffalo Bills	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
20	New York Jets	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio State
21	Washington Redskins	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
22	Houston Texans	Connor Cook	QB	Michigan State
23	Minnesota Vikings	Vernon Butler	DT	Louisiana Tech
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
26	Seattle Seahawks	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
27	Green Bay Packers	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Leonard Floyd	LB	Georgia
29	Arizona Cardinals	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
30	Carolina Panthers	Shon Coleman	OT	Auburn
31	Denver Broncos	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis

DE Joey Bosa, Cleveland Browns, No. 2 pick

Joey Bosa may not be another J.J. Watt, but the Ohio State stud has many of the same explosive characteristics as the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner.

Bosa has a mean streak and is hungry to get after the passer at all times. He is single-minded in his determination, and he has the physical strength and first-step quickness to become an immediate impact player in 2016.

He says the NFL player he would like to emulate is Kansas City's Tamba Hali.

"

Top prospect Joey Bosa of @OhioStAthletics tells @nflnetwork he patterns his game after @Chiefs' Tamba Hali. Good guy to emulate.

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 5, 2016"

Bosa is as solid against the run as he is when it comes to rushing the passer, and he is not going to let many running backs slip through his grasp.

He has the core strength that makes it very difficult for opposing blockers to handle him in one-on-one situations. 

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer explained to Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports why Bosa is so difficult to block. 

"He had the unique combination of just incredible power and strength and speed," Meyer said, "but also, I call it getting skinny. He was able to turn sideways, and the offensive line had such a hard time blocking him."

Bosa has the ability to give the Browns the kind of defensive identity that would excite their long-suffering fans.

NELL REDMOND/Associated Press

FS Jalen Ramsey, Dallas Cowboys, No. 4 pick

This is the position that can turn a good defense into a dominating unit.

Free safety is one of the most instinctive positions on the field, and Florida State's Jalen Ramsey has the kind of instincts that can impress the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff from the early days of training camp.

Ramsey has the ability to cover receivers like a top cornerback, but there is so much more to his game than that.

"

Jalen Ramsey's versatility makes him a top NFL prospect. @PFF_Sam https://t.co/LfYzfQlCba pic.twitter.com/gVbOciKXE0

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 9, 2016"

He is smart and has the kind of feel for the game that enables him to realize what the offense is trying to do. As a result, he is often in the right place at the right time.

The adjustment period for Ramsey should be short and sweet. He has the confidence that the position requires, and he is likely to play head games with receivers very early on. That fits in with the Cowboys, who like players with swagger.

He also has the talent to back up that kind of behavior. Ramsey should be a game-changer early in his career.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

ILB Reggie Ragland, New York Giants, No. 10 pick

The defense paved the way for the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the national championship, and few players did more to help Nick Saban's team pick up the title than Reggie Ragland.

Ragland is a powerful hitter at 6'1" and 259 pounds, and while he may not have the speed to go from sideline to sideline, he can read the play, throw off the blocker and make the tackle.

He does his job on a consistent basis. He had 102 tackles to lead the Crimson Tide, and that included 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Ragland was voted the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year.

The New York Giants need tremendous help on defense after getting beaten badly on that side of the ball last year.

He may be the ideal inside backer for them since the Giants need consistent productivity.

"

Reggie Ragland Highlight Mix https://t.co/rc1LDpPSD8

— Lil Miller (@head9hunter) February 2, 2016"

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 13 pick

In a class that does not have many top quarterback prospects, Wentz has emerged as a signal-caller with all the tools needed to be successful in the NFL.

Look for the Philadelphia Eagles to draft him and give rookie head coach Doug Pederson a quarterback with special talents.

Whether he can put those talents to use is a legitimate question because he did not face the level of competition that many scouts want to see. It's somewhat of a gamble for scouts to recommend using a first-round draft choice on a player from a smaller school.

Wentz has the size and arm strength that NFL teams are looking for, as he checks in at 6'5" and 233 pounds, and he has enough velocity to be successful. Wentz is a tough competitor who came back five days after his broken wrist had healed and led his team to a 37-10 playoff victory with a TD pass and two more on the ground.

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With Manziel on his way out, which QB could be attractive for the #Browns with the No. 2 pick? Updated mock draft: https://t.co/Zx8v7dcpvd

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 2, 2016"

Wentz faced a major test with the upgrade in competition at the Senior Bowl, and he showed his competitive fire and talent, and was one of the more impressive players in Mobile, Alabama.

He also has a clean background, and that could help teams that may be on the fence about the lower level of competition he faced during his college career. It's clear that Wentz has much to prove as draft season picks up in intensity.

"

Personnel exec: "There is no way I would draft Carson Wentz in the first round."

--> https://t.co/u87krNqKOk pic.twitter.com/pBqv95AhgI

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) February 5, 2016 "

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All measurements and stats are from CBS Sports unless otherwise noted.