2016 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Projections for Top-Tier Prospects

NFL draft discussions are always more interesting when there's a legitimate debate about the top quarterback in the draft.

The Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota debate was intriguing in 2015, and we should have a similar situation this year with the North Dakota State Bison's Carson Wentz vs. the California Golden Bears' Jared Goff.

Wentz over Goff

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Unless he stumbles mightily at the NFL Scouting Combine, Wentz should be the first signal-caller taken in the 2016 NFL draft.

NDSU isn't the type of program that usually produces first-round picks—let alone franchise quarterbacks—but nothing about Wentz seems like the usual. He has the ideal size at 6'5" and 232 pounds, solid arm strength, decent athleticism and excellent intangibles.

Had he played in the SEC, Pac-12 or Big Ten, he probably would have won the Heisman Trophy, and he wouldn't have had to come almost out of nowhere in the last two months to garner national attention.

If the Tennessee Titans trade the top pick, there's even a chance Wentz goes No. 1 to the team that decides to mortgage multiple picks in an effort to leap to the top spot. There will be some who like Goff more than Wentz.

It's understandable.

Goff's excellence came against competition that most fans hold in high regard. In this instance, it won't matter. Wentz will be the true franchise quarterback out of the 2016 class. He has the "it" factor, and the Cleveland Browns should take him at No. 2 if he's available or package their No. 2 with another selection to move up to No. 1 if need be.

That snakebitten franchise may not get another opportunity to draft a QB who can help turn things around for another 30 years. As for Goff, he should be right at home if the San Francisco 49ers do the right thing and take him with the No. 7 pick.

Here's a look at the latest mock draft. Just after the table is a breakdown of two more top-tier prospects.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota St.
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	Jared Goff	QB	Cal
8	Miami Dolphins	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
10	New York Giants	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
11	Chicago Bears	Leonard Floyd	OLB	Georgia
12	New Orleans Saints	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
13	Philadelphia Eagles	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
14	Oakland Raiders	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB	Florida
15	Los Angeles Rams	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
16	Detroit Lions	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
18	Indianapolis Colts	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
19	Buffalo Bills	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
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	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
30	Carolina Panthers	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
31	Denver Broncos	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana

Ezekiel Elliott Is Just What Andrew Luck Needs

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts offense need a franchise running back who can get 25 touches per game and presents a legitimate threat on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. With all due respect to future Hall of Famer Frank Gore (yes, I said that) at 32 years old, he can no longer be that guy.

The Ohio State Buckeyes' Ezekiel Elliott has the vision, power and speed to be the workhorse back who takes pressure off Luck and the passing game.

There's a chance a team could try and swoop in to take Elliott before the Colts pick at No. 18. If that happens, it would be foolish to move up to take him. The more sensible option would be to look at a running back like the Utah Utes' Devontae Booker in the second or third round.

However, if Elliott is still on the board, drafting him should be an easy decision for the Colts.

Ramsey Would Energize Jags Secondary

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It will seem like the Jacksonville Jaguars had two first-round picks in 2016. Last year's first-round pick, Dante Fowler, didn't play in 2015 because of a knee injury. He'll be making his NFL debut this season along with the player the Jags draft with the fifth pick.

There's a few directions Jacksonville could go. Wide receiver is an option, but the best selection would be Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey. More than anything, Ramsey offers a prospective team versatility. 

He could play safety in the NFL, but he figures to have more of an impact at corner. At 6'1" and 202 pounds, he has the size to match up with big receivers. His 40-inch vertical leap proves that he can elevate to create even more length to defend passes.

Plugging Ramsey in at corner in Jacksonville could potentially give the Jags a game-changer on two levels of their defense.