NFL Draft 2016: Complete 1st-Round Order and Mock Draft

Much grasps at the attention of NFL fans this time of year.

Retirements step into the forefront of the picture, with many wondering whether Calvin Johnson will hang up the cleats. So, too, do free agents, a class headlined by notable guys such as quarterback Kirk Cousins and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller.

The draft demands the biggest swath of attention, though.

With the Senior Bowl already in the books and regional scouting combines firing up before the real thing, now is the time to get acquainted with the 2016 class, their stock and the official order and needs of the proceeding.

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	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio 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

Analyzing Potential Surprises of 1st Round

7. San Francisco 49ers: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It would still come as a surprise if the San Francisco 49ers decided to skip on a quarterback. Conventional wisdom might suggest the organization's bringing on of new head coach Chip Kelly as a way to salvage things between the team and Colin Kaepernick, but that same wisdom suggests they will take a top prospect, too.

Not in this scenario. With California's Jared Goff off the board, the 49ers would have to choose from Memphis unknown Paxton Lynch and North Dakota State project Carson Wentz. 

Another year with a veteran quarterback doesn't sound much different, does it? 

No, the 49ers might be looking the league's roughest rebuild in the face, so grabbing the best player available is the way to go. At No. 7, it is Myles Jack out of UCLA, a plug-and-play linebacker who can rush the passer, bottle up the run and drop into coverage with the best in the class. 

Comcast SportsNet's Dylan DeSimone provided context surrounding San Francisco's situation, keying on the health of NaVorro Bowman:

The prospect of worrying about the team's best player for the long term isn't a fun one. Jack doesn't massage those concerns on his own, but he's quite the versatile defensive centerpiece the 49ers can build around for years to come.

Quarterbacks will come. This is a weak class, so looking elsewhere, no matter how unpopular, might be the best possible move.

17. Atlanta Falcons: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons need help in getting to opposing passers.

Ohio State's Darron Lee isn't a household name by any means, but the more scouts see of him and the more weight he puts on, the better his chances are of sticking in the first round.

Lee is small, which is why most have overlooked him to this point. Coming in at 6'2" and 228 pounds makes some think of a safety, not a linebacker. But elite athleticism and the right scheme could pair to make him one of the best rushers in the league in time.

As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller pointed out, Lee already might be a candidate to come off the board before the Falcons even walk to the podium:

It really just depends on how the league feels about Lee's size. If he falls, the Falcons won't hesitate to pull the trigger.

Look at it this way: The Falcons managed just 19 sacks last year. Vic Beasley couldn't do it all on his own, and casual observers would be hard-pressed to even name another rusher on the team.

Lee lets the Falcons have a new starter on the weak side in place of O'Brien Schofield. While he might struggle in coverage and opposing offenses will target him, what Lee brings to the table as a rusher in most situations will help the unit as a whole.

22. Houston Texans: Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss

On a team with J.J. Watt, the last thing many would expect the Houston Texans to take is help along the defensive line.

It might be wise to get used to the idea, though.

This is the team that ignored the quarterback position for years (which is something it can address in free agency this year) in favor of a best-player-available approach. Fine, but in this scenario, the best is easily Robert Nkemdiche out of Ole Miss.

Off-field issues have hurt Nkemdiche's stock since near the end of the season, prompting his fall. He can regain stock in workouts, but as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein summarized, those issues figure to chase him for a long time:

"

Considered the top­-rated prospect in the nation when he signed with Ole Miss, the 3-­technique tackle is considered one of the key cogs in turning around the Ole Miss program. His talent and frame are worthy of an early selection, but his lack of high-­end production and character concerns could cause him to slide. With that said, he has the talent to be an impact starter in the league.

"

Houston has to believe it has the right environment for Nkemdiche. Watt is an incredible leader, and there are few better tackle mentors than Vince Wilfork, who is 34 years old.

On paper, Nkemdiche has the potential to be one of the most disruptive players in the league. As a rookie, he'd settle into a rotational role on the same line as Watt backed by linebacker rushers such as Jadeveon Clowney.

A few years later, if not earlier, he could become an every-down starter on the unit alongside those other core pieces. In hindsight, this move wouldn't look so shocking at all.

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