2016 NFL Mock Draft: Latest 1st-Round Predictions Before Free Agency

With the start of free agency officially set for March 9, NFL teams will soon begin their efforts to improve for the 2016 season and beyond, but much of that won't take place until April's draft.

While pro days still remain, the NFL Scouting Combine and 2015 college football season have come to an end, which means much of the information organizations need to set their draft boards and make their selections is already out in the open.

Draft plans figure to change over the next several weeks depending upon how free agency plays out, but most teams have multiple needs to address through one of those channels.

Prior to the chaos of NFL free agency, here is a full list of first-round predictions for the 2016 NFL draft, along with a closer look at some of the top skill-position players to keep an eye on early in the proceedings.

1st-Round Mock Draft

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

Breaking Down Top Skill-Position Players

Laquon Treadwell

Wide receivers have managed to make an instant impact as rookies in recent years, and Laquon Treadwell has a great opportunity to continue that trend in 2016.

The former Ole Miss standout had a great junior season in 2015 with 82 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he appears to be in line to get selected first among pass-catchers.

The 6'2", 221-pounder didn't do much at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he still made a great impression, especially with catches such as the one seen in this Vine courtesy of NFL Network:

After watching him work out and run through some of the receiving drills, a coach present at the combine paid him a major compliment, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today:

In addition to that, Treadwell gained the respect of his peers over the course of the 2015 campaign with his elite level of play.

According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, top-flight cornerback prospect Vernon Hargreaves III heaped a great deal of praise on the Crete, Illinois, native:

Several teams would benefit from an impact receiver earlier in the draft, but perhaps nobody more so than the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7.

Veteran Anquan Boldin is set to hit free agency, and Torrey Smith's first season with the Niners was a major disappointment, so receiver is a huge need.

It is also unclear who will be under center for San Francisco in 2016 and beyond since Colin Kaepernick's future is up in the air, but Treadwell would be a huge help to whoever is throwing passes.

Head coach Chip Kelly needs playmakers for his offense, and Treadwell is arguably the best the 2016 class has to offer in that regard.

Ezekiel Elliott

The value of running backs in the NFL draft seemed to rebound last year with both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon coming off the board in the first round, and Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott has a chance to build upon that momentum.

Elliott enjoyed a remarkable collegiate career with the Buckeyes. He posted back-to-back 1,800-yard rushing seasons in 2014 and 2015 to go along with 41 total touchdowns during that time frame.

He helped lead OSU to a national title and lost just two games in his final two seasons at the school.

The St. Louis native made head coach Urban Meyer's transition to Ohio State a smooth one, and the well-respected coach paid Elliott a massive compliment with that in mind, according to NFL Network:

Elliott impresses when it comes to the measurables, too, as he showed an uncommon combination of size and speed at the combine, per NFL.com's Gil Brandt:

Along with his physical skills, ESPN's Louis Riddick heard from many that Elliott's mind for the game is almost unprecedented at the running back position:

Gurley made an instant impact last season for the Rams despite coming off a serious knee injury, so it seems likely that a team will bank on Elliott doing the same as a first-round pick.

The New York Jets appear to be an especially logical option at No. 20 since their top three running backs in Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and Stevan Ridley are all set to hit free agency.

Elliott is a far more complete and electric talent than any of them, though, and he would give New York a huge weapon in the running game to go along with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker through the air.

Gang Green needs more playmakers in order to close the gap on the New England Patriots in the AFC East, and Elliott is precisely that.

Corey Coleman

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The wide receiver position is extremely deep in this year's draft, and while it can be argued that no prospect has stepped up and seized a first-round spot aside from Treadwell, Baylor's Corey Coleman may do that by the time April 28 rolls around.

Coleman doesn't have great size at 5'11" and 194 pounds, but he is as dynamic as any pass-catcher in the entire draft, as evidenced by these stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus' Jeff Ratcliffe:

While Coleman couldn't run the 40-yard dash at the combine after undergoing sports hernia surgery, he took part in several other drills and posted some fantastic numbers despite being at less than 100 percent, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

Coleman was arguably the best receiver in all of college football this past season with 74 receptions for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 111 yards and 22 carries and was the unquestioned top weapon on a potent Bears offense.

The Richardson, Texas, native also has no shortage of confidence in his own ability, per PFF College:

That bodes well for a team in need of an alpha dog in the receiving corps, and the Minnesota Vikings certainly qualify.

While Stefon Diggs showed flashes last season as a rookie, Charles Johnson took a big step back, and the acquisition of Mike Wallace didn't pay immediate dividends.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs more quality options in the passing game in order to continue his development, and Coleman would be a massive help.

While the Vikes could use a big-bodied receiver Bridgewater can throw jump balls toward, Coleman's electric, after-the-catch skills still make him a great fit within a Minnesota offense that sets up the pass with running back Adrian Peterson on the ground.

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