NFL Mock Draft 2016: Projections for Top Prospects in Anticipated 1st Round

A deep class of prospects could make the 2016 NFL draft an important one for every team involved. The right picks in the first few rounds could transform a struggling franchise or put a middling squad over the top.

While only one team can pick No. 1 overall, the entire first round could feature game-changing talent at various positions. The class is especially loaded with defensive linemen and pass-rushers, which could help organizations try to replicate the success the Denver Broncos had this past season. Of course, there are also plenty of skill players capable of turning heads on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

The only question is where will all of this talent end up next season. The draft process is always changing, but here is a look at the latest projections for the first round of the NFL draft.

No.	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Tennessee Titans	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Cleveland Browns	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota State
3	San Diego Chargers	Jalen Ramsey	CB	Florida State
4	Dallas Cowboys	Joey Bosa	DE	Ohio State
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Myles Jack	OLB	UCLA
6	Baltimore Ravens	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff	QB	California
8	Philadelphia Eagles	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB	Florida
10	New York Giants	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
11	Chicago Bears	Jarran Reed	DT	Alabama
12	New Orleans Saints	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
13	Miami Dolphins	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
14	Oakland Raiders	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
15	Los Angeles Rams	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
16	Detroit Lions	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
17	Atlanta Falcons	Darron Lee	OLB	Ohio State
18	Indianapolis Colts	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
19	Buffalo Bills	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
20	New York Jets	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
21	Washington Redskins	Reggie Ragland	ILB	Alabama
22	Houston Texans	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
23	Minnesota Vikings	Will Fuller	WR	Notre Dame
24	Cincinnati Bengals	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
26	Seattle Seahawks	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
27	Green Bay Packers	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Leonard Floyd	OLB	Georgia
29	Arizona Cardinals	Robert Nkemdiche	DT	Ole Miss
30	Carolina Panthers	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
31	Denver Broncos	Cody Whitehair	OG	Kansas State

Notable Picks

San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

While defensive backs aren't usually taken with the first few picks, Jalen Ramsey has a realistic chance of being the top overall selection in the draft. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller explained why the Florida State star is the best player in the class:

Perhaps the most impressive part of Ramsey's game is his versatility. He has excelled throughout his college career as a cornerback, a safety and even at the hybrid "star" position.

Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated gave high praise for the versatile player:

Pretty much any team in the NFL could use either of these studs on their defense, let alone someone who is a combination of both. Whoever drafts him will have the option of where to place him, although the San Diego Chargers might be best off penciling him in at safety to replace Eric Weddle.

Assuming the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns go for need with the first two picks (not to say Laremy Tunsil and Carson Wentz aren't also elite players), Ramsey would represent a perfect fit for the Chargers at No. 3.

San Francisco 49ers: Jared Goff

Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

The quarterback situation with the San Francisco 49ers is a confusing one. Colin Kaepernick had been in limbo, but his contract was guaranteed for the 2016 season after passing Thursday's automatic deadline, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. Then again, that doesn't prevent him from being traded, and the Denver Broncos are one team still interested, per Mike Klis of KUSA.

In any case, it's important to remember while Kaepernick possesses plenty of upside, he is still a major risk to count on after being benched last season.

San Francisco would be wise to go after a potential franchise quarterback in the draft if one is available, and the coaching staff is already intrigued by Jared Goff, per Matt Maiocco of CSN:

Meanwhile, general manager Trent Baalke remained cautious about putting any quarterback under center right away, per Cam Inman of the Mercury News:

"

There’s some good prospects. I don’t know that there’s anyone that’s going to come in and be a dominant player from Day 1. But that’s most drafts. It’s the hardest position in all of sports to play and one that takes some seasoning, especially with the way the college game is different from the NFL game.

"

The 49ers could draft Goff and bring him along slowly while seeing what Kaepernick could do in Chip Kelly's offense. This would be a win-win for a team that needs stability at the position.

Detroit Lions: Laquon Treadwell

It's certainly possible Laquon Treadwell is long off the board by this point. Many consider him the top receiver in the class with the playmaking ability to be a No. 1 option at the next level.

On the other hand, a slow 40-yard dash time of 4.63 seconds at his pro day raised concerns about his lack of speed. With solid but not elite size (6'2", 221 pounds), there is plenty of doubt about his ability to replicate the success he had in college.

Despite the concerns, the Detroit Lions need a new option at receiver who can go up in the air and win a jump ball over a defender. Treadwell can do that as well as anyone in the class, which alone could make him a big-time threat in the end zone.

The Ole Miss product is clearly not going to simply replace Calvin Johnson, but he could be Matthew Stafford's new best friend in the Lions offense.

Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Decker 

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Only two quarterbacks in the NFL were sacked more times last season than Russell Wilson. The Seattle Seahawks have dealt with an inconsistent offensive line throughout the past few seasons and yet the offensive line has gotten worse in the offseason.

Jason Fitzgerald of Sporting News broke down the lack of resources the team has put into the unit:

"

Seattle isn’t shy about spending money...unless it’s on the offensive line. The Seahawks always seem to let their linemen walk, and this year, they lost Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy. They now have just $8.7 million allocated to their entire offensive line, about $5 million less than the next-lowest team and $16 million less than the NFL average.

"

Garry Gilliam and Bradley Sowell will be difficult to trust at the tackle spots this year. Fortunately, a player like Taylor Decker could represent an immediate upgrade at the position.

Decker is a physically imposing player at 6'7", 310 pounds with the frame to be a force on the offensive line. He fits right into Seattle's style as a mauling run-blocker who could clear up lanes for whoever is in the backfield next season. While he will likely start as a right tackle, there is certainly a possibility he moves to the left side once he improves as a pass-blocker.

If the Ohio State star does fall to this point, the Seahawks would be getting a steal.

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