NFL Mock Draft 2016: Pre-Regional Combine Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

With the Senior Bowl out of the way, the next steps on the path to the 2016 NFL draft are the five regional combines the league hosts around the country. 

Call it a supplement to the actual NFL Scouting Combine, as Houston kicks off the weeks of regional showcases on Saturday. The events give eligible prospects a place to work out in front of scouts and teams to help solidify their stock. 

Ahead of this warm-up for the NFL Scouting Combine, let's take a look at an updated mock based on team need and prospect positioning and emphasize a few lesser-known prospects who will make the cut in the first round this year. 

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	Noah Spence	DE/LB	Eastern Kentucky
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	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
26	Seattle Seahawks	Shaq Lawson	DE/LB	Clemson
27	Green Bay Packers	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
29	Arizona Cardinals	Leonard Floyd	LB	Georgia
30	Carolina Panthers	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
31	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana

Underrated Prospects' Best Fits

23. Minnesota Vikings: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

This early in the process, wideouts haven't really shaken out a solid hierarchy just yet.

Still, when one thinks of this draft class, the names that come to mind first and foremost range from Laquon Treadwell to Corey Coleman to Josh Doctson.

But, don't forget about Ohio State's Michael Thomas.

Thomas took a backseat to Ezekiel Elliott and others when it came to attention within Ohio State's offense, and maybe rightfully so. But a wideout who comes in at 6'3" and 210 pounds and caught 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns last season isn't one to ignore.

Long story short, Thomas is a big-bodied wideout who has sure hands and can keep the chains moving, as CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler summarized:

"

Thomas isn't the fastest or most explosive, but he is a good-sized athlete and detailed route-runner with little wasted movements to create spacing at the stem. Although he will need time to adapt to a NFL playbook, he projects as an ideal No. 2 wide receiver at the next level due to his savvy footwork, body control and ball-skills to be a reliable possession target.

"

Minnesota is the obvious fit given Thomas's stock. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs help in the form of sure-handed receivers. He already has guys like Stefon Diggs and Mike Wallace to stretch the field but needs someone to move the chains.

Thomas would find success in the Minnesota offense given its current construction. While perhaps not the most hyped at his position, he'd wind up looking like a steal at this slot.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Other than a healthy thumb of one Andy Dalton, the Cincinnati Bengals don't appear to have any emergency needs going into the draft. 

Finding a rotational pass-rusher to supplant Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson with Wallace Gilberry headed to free agency wouldn't hurt, though.

While he gets zero headlines right now, Emmanuel Ogbah out of Oklahoma State looks like a nice value and fit at the spot. He has great size at 6'4" and 275 pounds and can set the edge against the run or apply pressure.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein hinted at strong upside when detailing Ogbah's strengths and weaknesses:

"

Upon first glance, Ogbah appears unimpressive because he doesn't play with the quickness or athleticism expected of productive pass rushers, but eventually, his translatable qualities avail themselves. Ogbah's power will serve him well against the run, but he will have to become more skilled as a pass rusher. He can play 3­-4 outside linebacker or 4­-3 defensive end, and he might have value inside in sub­packages. 

"

It sounds like Ogbah needs a strong learning environment that lets him help every now and then.

Cincinnati would be perfect. With Johnson and Dunlap already bullying tackles and opposing offensive lines having to give so much respect to defensive tackle Geno Atkins, Ogbah could go to town while working on his intangibles and becoming the well-rounded player he could be based on his first-round potential.

With Cincinnati possibly losing Gilberry and having seemingly whiffed on Margus Hunt, drafting another high-upside defensive end isn't such a bad idea.

27. Green Bay Packers: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins serves as the perfect example of what a workout in front of NFL representatives can do for a player's stock.

Rankins hit the Senior Bowl quite a long way from being the biggest name in attendance. When he left, well, he was the name.

This isn't to say nobody knew what Rankins could do. But anchoring a defensive line at Louisville and showing quality traits is one thing—showcasing sheer dominance against the best seniors in the nation is another conversation entirely.

It's not hard to see the impact. ESPN.com's Todd McShay boosted Rankins all the way up to No. 10 to the New York Giants in his latest mock draft: "We've been on Rankins' bandwagon for quite some time, as his combination of quickness and power popped off the screen whenever we turned on the film. After having a terrific week of practices at the Senior Bowl, the versatile D-lineman is shooting up draft boards."

Opinions will vary on where Rankins should rank right now. But somewhere around No. 27 makes sense until he can potentially put on a show at the combine and individual workouts.

The Green Bay Packers sure wouldn't mind if he continued to hover near that area. The Packers hit the draft after ranking 21st against the rush and might want to get an upgrade on the inside over the Mike Daniels-B.J. Raji combo.

Even if Rankins only sees the field on a rotational basis, the coaches won't be able to keep him off it for extended periods. He'll make a difference right away, which near the end of the draft is exactly what a team should look for at a weak point.

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