NFL Mock Draft 2016: Latest Projections for 1st-Round Prospects Entering Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine is a major opportunity for players who are projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft to cement their status as top prospects.

While most of the hard work has been done by players such as Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, Florida State free safety Jalen Ramsey and Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, there is still plenty of pressure.

The players who have established their draft status through their play in the 2015 college football season still have to answer questions from NFL executives and coaches, and they have to go through the drills at the combine.

The top players have to show off their athleticism, and they can't embarrass themselves with their workouts, their off-the-field activities or their answers to questions.

It's interesting to note that defensive end Joey Bosa's draft status has slipped a bit since the start of the offseason.

NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang once rated Bosa as the No. 1 prospect in the draft, yet he has Bosa going fifth to the Jacksonville Jaguars in his latest mock draft.

Pick	Team	Player
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3	San Diego Chargers	Jalen Ramsey, S/CB, Florida State
4	Dallas Cowboys	DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State
6	Baltimore Ravens	Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff, QB, California
8	Miami Dolphins	Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
10	New York Giants	Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
11	Chicago Bears	Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
12	New Orleans Saints	Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
13	Philadelphia Eagles	Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
14	Oakland Raiders	Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
15	Los Angeles Rams	Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
16	Detroit Lions	Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
18	Indianapolis Colts	A'Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama
19	Buffalo Bills	Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
20	New York Jets	Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
21	Washington	Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
22	Houston Texans	Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
23	Minnesota Vikings	Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
26	Seattle Seahawks	Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
27	Green Bay Packers	Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
29	Arizona Cardinals	Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
30	Carolina Panthers	Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
31	Denver Broncos	Eli Apple, CB Ohio State

Some mock drafts have seen Bosa slip further than that. Bosa is a natural pass-rusher who made his reputation at Ohio State by coming through with sacks and tackles for loss at the biggest moment. He proved as much as he could during his college career, and he has the physical tools at 6'5" and 275 pounds to be a game-changer at the next level.

If Bosa can come through with a relentless showing at the combine and also comes across well in his interview sessions, general managers at the top of the draft may rethink their positions. They may stop overthinking and decide Bosa is the kind of defensive player a team can build around, so he could move up to one of the top three spots in the draft.

Carson Wentz has already had a winning offseason, and he appears likely to be the first quarterback to come off the board. Even though he was relatively unknown throughout the majority of the college football season because he played at North Dakota State, Wentz seems likely to go to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

Wentz has a strong arm, a quick release and excellent accuracy. When he had a chance to compete against the top college players in the nation during the Senior Bowl, he excelled in the Mobile, Alabama, showpiece. He also comes across as a sharp and confident quarterback who has the demeanor and leadership qualities to succeed at the next level.

However, nobody truly knows that much about Wentz. He needs to have a strong showing in all aspects of the combine, especially during the interview sessions. Wentz proved plenty during the Senior Bowl, but he will face significant questions when he speaks with NFL executives.

It's never easy to face that kind of scrutiny, especially when Wentz knows millions of dollars are at stake.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press/Associated Press

Eastern Kentucky linebacker Noah Spence appears to be the kind of player NFL teams crave. He has explosive speed when he comes around the corner, and he knows how to close on the quarterback and register key sacks.

Spence did not start out at Eastern Kentucky. He was one of Urban Meyer's prized recruits at Ohio State. However, Spence failed multiple drug tests while he was with the Buckeyes, and according to NFLDraftScout.com, he admitted to having a problem with the drug ecstasy.

While Meyer helped Spence, he was no longer able to play with the Buckeyes. He appeared to turn things around this year at Eastern Kentucky, registering 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, but he is going to have a tough examination in his question-and-answer sessions.

He has already admitted he had a problem and has to prove he has put it behind him. 

If he can't, his expected first-round status could be in jeopardy.