2016 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Most Tantalizing Early-Round Prospects

In a loaded NFL draft like this one, teams are going to do whatever they can to get their hands on the top players in the 2016 class.

There are never sure things in a draft, but this class has a number of players with tons of upside who can be difference-makers at the next level. This could lead to some important decisions from the teams at the top as well as some aggressive trade offers from those squads just out of range.

Here are predictions for the entire first round as well as a breakdown of a few players who will be especially coveted in the early part.

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	Leonard Floyd	OLB	Georgia
12	New Orleans Saints	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
13	Miami Dolphins	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
14	Oakland Raiders	William Jackson III	CB	Houston
15	Los Angeles Rams	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
16	Detroit Lions	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
18	Indianapolis Colts	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
19	Buffalo Bills	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
20	New York Jets	Darron Lee	OLB	Ohio State
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	Jarran Reed	DT	Alabama
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
29	Arizona Cardinals	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
30	Carolina Panthers	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
31	Denver Broncos	Robert Nkemdiche	DT	Ole Miss

Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

One of the themes for this draft class is versatility. Florida State's Jalen Ramsey is in contention to be the top overall pick because of his ability to excel at either cornerback or safety. Myles Jack is almost as impressive with his versatility with the skill set to be a star wherever he is on the field.

The linebacker could be a pass-rusher on the edge or step back into coverage on passing plays. The San Diego Chargers have even said he could be a safety if they draft him, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

This all-around play is a big reason Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has Jack listed as his No. 2 overall player in the draft behind only Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, especially noting his work in pass coverage "where he can mirror tight ends, running backs and even wide receivers."

Considering Jack also spent time at running back for UCLA, you get an idea of what kind of athlete he is on the field.

This could create a perfect situation for the Jacksonville Jaguars—picking at No. 5—if Jack falls to this point. He'd provide immediate help for a team that allowed the second-most points in the NFL this past season.

DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Ohio State's Joey Bosa is the safer pick for teams looking for a defensive lineman, but DeForest Buckner might have as much upside as anyone in the class.

The Oregon defensive end has incredible size at 6'7" with the strength (291 lbs) to outmuscle most opponents on the defensive line. Of course, he also has plenty of athleticism that allows him to get into the backfield and disrupt the offensive game plan.

Once again, Buckner provides versatility for any team looking to draft him, as he recently explained.

"I personally feel like I can play in any scheme, play in any spot," Buckner said, per Rob Phillips of the Dallas Cowboys' official website. "Even though we were a 3-4 team at Oregon, I played all the different techniques on the defensive line. I feel like personally whatever scheme I’m put in, I’ll fit right in."

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com noted the teams are the ones who should adapt:

Any organization would love to get a talent like this in the draft, although the Baltimore Ravens seem like the best fit with a need to add some pass-rushing specialists to a struggling defense.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Fans and front offices have started to question the strategy of drafting a running back early. They have seen first-round picks like Trent Richardson struggle, while a player like Thomas Rawls can go from being undrafted to a legitimate starter.

On the other hand, the truly elite running backs are worth the draft pick, and Ezekiel Elliott is on this list. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus (via NFL on ESPN) had especially high praise for the Ohio State star:

Elliott's skills go beyond just getting the ball and finding a hole. Sure, he can break long gains and be a workhorse on running downs. However, he also knows how to make plays as a receiver out of the backfield as well as pass block for the quarterback. Few players at the position enter the NFL as advanced as he would be, making him a prime candidate to be a three-down player from Day 1.

The Philadelphia Eagles need a go-to option at running back after the DeMarco Murray signing turned out to be a massive mistake. Considering there are still question marks elsewhere on offense, adding a game-changer like Elliott would go a long way.

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Cornerback is a position that is sometimes tough to evaluate, especially when you put too much emphasis on size. Vernon Hargreaves III is just 5'10" and 204 pounds, but he is an explosive player with the instincts necessary to be an elite cover corner at the next level.

Some even rate him favorably to Ramsey heading into the draft.

"I do think he's the best corner," one scout said of Hargreaves, per Mark Eckel of NJ.com. "He's not as athletic as Ramsey, but he's a smoother cover guy than Ramsey. Only thing he lacks is Ramsey's size [6'1", 209 lbs]."

If you look around the NFL, it's not bigger and faster players who end up becoming the best cornerbacks. Some of them just know how to play the position, and Hargreaves is in this category. He can stick with almost any receiver and make a play on the ball when it's in the air.

Considering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed the second-highest passer rating to opposing quarterbacks in the NFL last season, they need a cornerback like Hargreaves right away.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.