2016 NFL Mock Draft: 7-Round Predictions at the Start of Free Agency

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The terms "NFL" and "offseason" make about as much sense together as "peaceful" and "election season."

The off-field circus comes to one of the league's most important events this week, as free agency marks the official beginning of the NFL league year. So, why not celebrate with a full mock draft?

Many teams will do their best to fill their biggest needs with promising young talents and battle-tested veterans over the coming days and weeks, but before they do, let's take a big-picture look at how the entire 2016 NFL draft could shake out.

Whether you click, swipe or scroll, get those fingers warmed up. Here's your seven-round appetizer to get you primed for the coming year.

*Note: The New England Patriots do not have a first-round selection due to the Deflategate scandal.

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Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil was already becoming the favorite for the top overall pick before the combine, and his performance there cemented his status as one of the most talented prospects in the entire draft. His rare blend of athleticism and strength were on full display, as he looked like a tight end moving through his drills.

The Tennessee Titans have plenty of options with this pick, but protecting their investment in quarterback Marcus Mariota should be their top priority. Grabbing Tunsil to plug in at left tackle would allow Taylor Lewan to move to the right side, giving Mariota two young, talented bookends to keep him safe for years to come.

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There's just no getting around it: The Browns simply have to take a quarterback with this pick. Unfortunately for new head coach Hue Jackson and company, there's no Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota in this year's crop of signal-callers, but they're likely to take the best of what's available to them.

North Dakota State's Carson Wentz has looked impressive all offseason long, from the Senior Bowl to the NFL Scouting Combine. He's got plenty of risk to him, though, with a limited amount of starting experience against FCS competition, but he's got the physical tools and leadership capabilities to get the Browns to take a swing on him with this pick.

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The San Diego Chargers have a few different needs, but in this scenario, arguably the best overall player in the draft falls to them here and addresses one of their most glaring needs.

With star safety Eric Weddle heading for free agency, the Bolts could use a big-time playmaker to replace him on the back end. Ramsey has the versatility to play either safety or corner, but he's best suited for the former. There, he can use his rare combination of athleticism and instincts to make plays in space.

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With Greg Hardy moving on after a one-year deal and Randy Gregory back in trouble again with a failed drug test and subsequent four-game suspension, the Dallas Cowboys need more talent and stability at defensive end.

The comparisons between Ohio State's Joey Bosa and Houston Texans star J.J. Watt are far-fetched, but Bosa is a complete, well-rounded player who can rush the passer effectively while using his power and functional strength to be a force against the run.

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With needs at both levels of the secondary, the Jacksonville Jaguars would love to have Florida State's Jalen Ramsey fall to them here. That's highly unlikely, but in this scenario, head coach Gus Bradley still ends up with a dynamic, versatile player who can make an impact in many different ways on defense.

Arguably the most impressive natural athlete in the entire draft, UCLA's Myles Jack was a star on both sides of the ball for the Bruins until a knee injury ended his 2015 season prematurely. He left early for the draft anyway, and despite spending time missing out on much of the predraft workout process, he's still easily worth a top-five pick.

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Much like the Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens' biggest needs are in the secondary, but the value at either corner or safety just isn't there in this scenario. Instead, general manager Ozzie Newsome could balance value with need by taking one of the safest prospects in this year's draft in Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.

Even if Eugene Monroe returns, his play last year was less than thrilling. The Ravens could easily choose to go younger at the position, grabbing a polished pass protector in Stanley who could start on Joe Flacco's blind side from day one.

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The quarterback situation under Chip Kelly's watch as the San Francisco 49ers' head coach is already off to a rocky start, with Colin Kaepernick reportedly seeking a trade, per NFL Network's Rand Getlin. It wouldn't be surprising for Kelly to want to handpick his new signal-caller, and he might not have to look outside the state of California to find his man.

While North Dakota State's Carson Wentz may have more upside, California's Jared Goff is the more polished quarterback in this year's class. He's not a finished product by any means, but he has the physical tools and intangibles to be far more ready to start early in his career.

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The Dolphins need an infusion of young talent at corner, and in this scenario, they get their pick of the litter at the position.

At just 5'10", Vernon Hargreaves III lacks the ideal size NFL teams want in their corners, as the league's receivers continue to get bigger and more physical. That said, he has the ball skills, athleticism and competitiveness that are vital to being a successful corner. He may struggle with certain matchups, but he could make up for it with an otherwise well-rounded skill set.

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Tampa Bay needs plenty of overhaul on defense, and this year's draft class plays right into that need, especially along the defensive line. While their biggest need is for an impact edge-rusher, they could easily end up going a safer route than taking a chance on Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence.

New defensive coordinator Mike Smith will run multiple fronts and looks, which will put a premium on versatile playmakers. Oregon's DeForest Buckner has a massive frame at 6'7", 291 pounds, with rare athleticism to match, and his ability to line up anywhere on the defensive line would make him a valuable weapon to team up with All-Pro Gerald McCoy.

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The best New York Giants teams in recent memory have had a seemingly endless supply of talented pass-rushers at their disposal, but their depth at the position has dwindled over the past few seasons. This year's draft class is much deeper at defensive tackle than defensive end, but Clemson's Shaq Lawson is one of the few edge players worthy of a top-10 pick.

Tailor-made to be a 4-3 end, Lawson's performance at the combine only solidified his high draft status. He's a well-rounded defender who can set the edge and defend the run, as well as get after the passer. Fellow Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd has gotten plenty of buzz lately, but Lawson is still the more complete player and should come off the board first.

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The Chicago Bears are still trying to overhaul their personnel on defense to complete the transition to a 3-4 scheme, and the biggest thing they're missing at this point is an impact player in the middle who can fly around in every direction and make big plays.

Ohio State's Darron Lee may have looked like a reach just a couple of weeks ago, but his impressive showing at the combine—highlighted by a 4.47-second 40-yard dash—could get a team like the Bears to bite on his rare athleticism. He may be a bit undersized at 6'1", 232 pounds, but he's the kind of athlete NFL defensive coordinators are looking for at the second level, regardless of scheme.

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Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith might be the most difficult prospect to project right now. His knee injury in the final game of the 2015 season could keep him out for his entire rookie season, but as NFL Network's Mike Mayock puts it, Smith's talent would have him in the conversation for the top overall pick if he were fully healthy.

Some teams are likely to have Smith completely off their draft boards, but it only takes one team to take a chance on a rare talent, banking on him making a full recovery and reaching his lofty potential. The New Orleans Saints desperately need help at the linebacker spot, and they could get a steal by grabbing Smith this late, should he return to 100 percent whenever he does hit the field.

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Sam Bradford may have just signed a lucrative extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, but that shouldn't keep them from taking their potential quarterback of the future with this pick. Bradford has struggled with injuries and consistency throughout his career and could be viewed as the bridge to a younger signal-caller with a higher ceiling.

In this scenario, one of the draft's top three quarterbacks falls to them here, and they'd have a tough time passing him up. Memphis' Paxton Lynch is plenty rough around the edges, but he's got the physical tools to succeed at the next level. In Philly, he'd have the opportunity to sit and develop behind Bradford before taking the reins as the starter.

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The Oakland Raiders have their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr, an explosive playmaker at receiver in Amari Cooper and a dynamic pass-rusher in Khalil Mack, all of whom are 25 or younger. Why not add a powerful, explosive running back who can impact the game on all three downs?

Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott is easily the best running back in this year's class, and while spending a top-15 pick at that position might not seem like the best value, Elliott's skill set is well worth the selection. In a draft short on difference-makers on offense, Elliott will be a highly sought-after commodity, and the Raiders would be wise to add him to an already-promising young roster.

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As they make the move to the City of Angels, the Los Angeles Rams do so with a huge need for both a legitimate franchise quarterback and a true No. 1 receiver. In this scenario, there's no quarterback worth taking, which shifts their focus to taking the first receiver off the board in Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell.

Treadwell took some heat for not running the 40-yard dash at the combine, with many reports, including NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah (h/t NFL.com's Brooke Cersosimo), insinuating his times would have been slower than anticipated. But regardless of his timed speed, Treadwell gets the job done on tape as well as any receiver in this draft, and that's what truly matters. No matter who is throwing passes for the Rams in 2015 and beyond, they'll have a much easier time of it with Treadwell on the other end of their throws.

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The Detroit Lions need help at a few different spots, which should allow them to let the draft come to them early, taking the best-available player at any of their biggest need areas. In this scenario, their best bet is to dip into this year's deep crop of defensive tackles and grab one of the most explosive ones in Louisville's Sheldon Rankins.

Though some might view him as undersized at 6'1", 299 pounds, Rankins puts his shorter frame to good use, taking advantage with effective pad level and generating consistent leverage on his opponents. He dominated during Senior Bowl practices this year, showing the same disruptive ability he displayed on film throughout his college career.

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Head coach Dan Quinn has a promising edge-rusher in last year's top pick, Vic Beasley, but he could use a running mate on the other side to give the Atlanta Falcons a young one-two punch at defensive end.

Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence could be in the mix here, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Falcons avoid any potential off-field issues by going in a difference direction. Ogbah went hot and cold at times in Stillwater, Oklahoma, but he backed up solid production with an impressive showing at the combine and would be a a great fit across the line from Beasley.

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It's pretty clear what should be at the top of the Indianapolis Colts' to-do list this offseason: keep Andrew Luck from getting battered like he did in 2015. The injuries Luck suffered last year were reminiscent of those normally suffered in a car accident, according to Dr. Lewis Jacobson, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (h/t Will Brinson of CBSSports.com), and the Colts simply can't let that happen again.

In this scenario, they don't have to look far to do it, grabbing in-state product Jason Spriggs. The Indiana Hoosier showed off his superb athleticism at the combine, backing up the performances he put on both on tape and at this year's Senior Bowl. He'd instantly upgrade a unit that gave up 37 sacks last season.

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With Mario Williams headed elsewhere in free agency, the Buffalo Bills need to find a dynamic edge-rusher who can make life difficult on opposing quarterbacks. Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence has top-10 talent, but off-field concerns could push him down the board on draft day.

Since being declared permanently ineligible by the Big Ten due to multiple failed drug tests, the former Ohio State Buckeye has kept himself out of the trouble off the field, while continuing to wreak havoc between the lines for the Colonels. If he can keep his head in the right place, he could end up being a huge steal this late.

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With the likes of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and last year's top pick, Leonard Williams, the New York Jets have one of the NFL's most impressive defensive line units. What they're missing is an explosive, athletic edge player who can make plays in the backfield against both the pass and the run.

Georgia's Leonard Floyd knew he needed to add bulk to his lanky frame, and he showed up to the combine well over his college playing weight at 6'6", 244 pounds. If he can retain his explosiveness and athleticism at that weight, he'd be a perfect fit for the Jets at this pick.

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Washington took care of its biggest need by slapping the franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins, which takes care of the most important position on the field or at least one more season. This should allow the team to focus on the trenches with its early draft picks, particularly by grabbing one of this year's many talented interior defenders.

A'Shawn Robinson was the massive force in the middle of Alabama's dominant defensive front, notching 7.5 tackles for loss in 2015. He's versatile enough to line up at multiple spots for Washington and will give them a disruptive anchor to build around for years to come.

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After a fantastic career that saw plenty of highs and lows, the oft-injured but beloved Arian Foster was released by the Texans last week. His departure leaves a huge void in the backfield for Houston, which could end up replacing him with Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.

With Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott off the board, Henry is the logical choice to be the next back off the board. Though some, including Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports, have concerns about his heavy workload in 2015, Henry is a ridiculous athlete who can wear down opposing defenses, seemingly getting stronger as the game goes on.

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Minnesota has a few important building blocks in place on offense—a promising young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, the league's best running back in Adrian Peterson and dynamic playmakers like Jerick McKinnon and Stefon Diggs—but there's still something missing.

That something is a true No. 1 receiver with the size and athleticism to create problems for opposing defenders. Ohio State's Michael Thomas has both at 6'3", 212 pounds, with the ball skills to be a red-zone threat and frequent chain-mover.

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A.J. Green is one of the NFL's best receivers, but both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu appear headed for free agency, leaving a gaping hole at the Cincinnati Bengals' No. 2 spot. With few glaring needs elsewhere, the Bengals could afford to take a swing on an in-state playmaker in Ohio State's Braxton Miller.

A former quarterback, Miller is still growing into his new position as a pass-catcher. He looked more refined than expected at the Senior Bowl and has the explosiveness to give Cincinnati a dangerous home run threat to pair with Green and Tyler Eifert.

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It's no secret where the Pittsburgh Steelers' greatest needs lie, as they desperately need an infusion of young talent at both levels of the secondary. In this scenario, they choose to address the corner spot with one of the hottest names at the position in Houston's William Jackson III.

Jackson's film shows a big, athletic playmaker with great ball skills, and his size/speed combination will have NFL defensive coordinators drooling. At 6'0", 189 pounds, Jackson ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the combine, which should plant him firmly in the first-round conversation moving forward.

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The Seattle Seahawks need to upgrade their offensive line in a bad way, but that won't keep them from jumping on a rare talent if one happens to fall into their lap. That's exactly what happens here, as the Seahawks pull the trigger on Mississippi's Robert Nkemdiche.

Recent off-field questions have threatened to weaken Nkemdiche's draft stock, as he was once considered a potential top-five pick. His athleticism and versatility is well worth a pick that high, so if he falls this far, Seattle could have itself the steal of the draft if he can stay out of trouble off the field.

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General manager Ted Thompson could go in many different directions here, but the chance to put a physical leader in the middle of his defense shouldn't be passed up.

Though he may not have the flashy athleticism of Myles Jack or Jaylon Smith, Alabama's Reggie Ragland is an old-school thumper who can track plays all over the field and deliver a violent blow when he gets to the ball. He was one of the keystone's to the Tide's dominant defense in 2015 and would be an immediate impact player for Green Bay at a position of need.

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The jury is still out on former top overall pick Eric Fisher, but the Kansas City Chiefs could still use an upgrade at the other tackle spot. They luck out in this scenario, as one of the top tackles falls to them here in Ohio State's Taylor Decker.

Decker spent most of his time on the left side for the Buckeyes, but he might be a better fit at right tackle in the pros. This would work out just fine for the Chiefs, who could pair him with Fisher to give them two solid, young tackles to protect Alex Smith and plow the road for Jamaal Charles.

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The Arizona Cardinals have playmakers up front and plenty in the secondary, but they're missing that same presence off the edge, both in coverage and when it comes to getting after the quarterback. Boise State's Kamalei Correa could solve both problems.

In a draft class short on versatile edge players who would fit well in a 3-4 scheme, Correa's skill set could easily get him first-round consideration, and his film backs it up. He's got the perfect combination of athleticism and physicality to make a big impact on a Cardinals defense already teeming with talent.

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Tackle is by far the bigger issue for the Carolina Panthers, but they didn't get to the Super Bowl by reaching for need early in the draft. Instead, the defending NFC champions would be wise to grab a newer version of Ted Ginn in Baylor's Corey Coleman.

Arguably this draft's most explosive pass-catcher, Coleman is a big-play machine who does incredible things when given just a little bit of space to work with. With big targets like Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess on the outside and Greg Olsen at tight end, Coleman would be free to wreak havoc on opposing defenses from the slot.

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As the changing of the guard happens at quarterback, the Denver Broncos need to make sure whoever is taking the snaps gets much-better protection in 2016 and beyond. With needs across the entire offensive line unit, Denver would do well to grab a prospect like Kansas State's Cody Whitehair, who can play all of them.

Whitehair has experience at both guard and tackle, but could also slide down to center, if needed. He's not going to impress with brute strength or rare athleticism, but he's a well-rounded prospect with tons of experience who would be a plug-and-play starter.

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*An unknown number of compensatory selections will be awarded at the end of this round.

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*An unknown number of compensatory selections will be awarded at the end of this round.

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 *An unknown number of compensatory selections will be awarded at the end of this round.

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*An unknown number of compensatory selections will be awarded at the end of this round.

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*An unknown number of compensatory selections will be awarded at the end of this round.