2016 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions, Landing Spots for Top Prospects

The 2016 NFL draft is loaded with both supremely talented and enigmatic prospects, and while some superstars will undoubtedly emerge from this class, it has all the makings of a boom-or-bust first round due to the lack of consensus top players.

There is also a great deal of uncertainty when it comes to what the teams selecting near the top of the first round will do. Organizations like the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns have a ton of holes to fill, so they could just as easily trade back as stay put and make a pick.

Although the draft outlook could still change significantly in the weeks leading up to it, here is a full rundown of first-round predictions, along with a closer look at where some of the top names in the draft could ultimately land.

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Los Angeles Rams (via TEN)	Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
2	Cleveland Browns	Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
3	San Diego Chargers	Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
4	Dallas Cowboys	Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
6	Baltimore Ravens	Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
7	San Francisco 49ers	Jared Goff, QB, California
8	Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA)	Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
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	Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
13	Miami Dolphins (via PHI)	Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
14	Oakland Raiders	Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
15	Tennessee Titans (via LA)	Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
16	Detroit Lions	Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
17	Atlanta Falcons	Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
18	Indianapolis Colts	Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame
19	Buffalo Bills	Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
20	New York Jets	A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
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	Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
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	Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
29	Arizona Cardinals	Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
30	Denver Broncos	Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
31	Carolina Panthers	Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

Carson Wentz

Several teams near the top of the draft could use a franchise quarterback, but with none of the signal-callers being viewed as surefire stars, there is a ton of risk involved with investing a top-five pick in one of them.

Despite that, the Los Angeles Rams may roll the dice at No. 2 overall. Los Angeles hasn't made the playoffs since 2004, and the lack of a reliable signal-caller has been the biggest culprit. It is unclear if that type of player exists in this draft, but North Dakota State's Carson Wentz could be the guy.

He seemingly has all the tools needed to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the NFL, and NFL Network's Mike Mayock (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com) believes he compares favorably to one of the league's top passers:

"

When I look at him, I see a kid that's as athletic or more athletic than [Indianapolis Colts quarterback] Andrew Luck. He's bigger than [Luck]. He's got arm strength comparable to [Luck]. He just doesn't have the experience that [Luck] had at a high level that Andrew had coming out of college. So I see a ceiling for this kid similar to [Luck]. That's why I believe in this kid so much. But it's going to take a little bit of time.

"

While that is a lofty standard for Wentz to reach, Benjamin Allbright of AM 1340 in Denver reported that the intrigue surrounding Wentz is significant:

The Rams sent a king's ransom to the Titans in order to move into the No. 1 slot, as they parted ways with six picks between 2016 and 2017, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com.

L.A. has a significant need under center with Case Keenum currently listed as the starter. Finding an answer at quarterback could be the one thing the Rams need to become perennial contenders.

Wentz and Jared Goff seem to be the likeliest options, but based on the buzz attached to Wentz's name and the fact that he has such a diverse skill set, he looks to have the upper hand heading toward draft night.

Myles Jack

After a spectacular collegiate career at UCLA which saw him excel both as a linebacker and running back, Myles Jack enters the NFL draft with a legitimate chance to be the top prospect to come out of the entire 2016 class.

The primary concern regarding Jack is the fact that he is still working his way back from a torn meniscus, which cost him much of the 2015 season with the Bruins.

Despite that, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported that he is almost fully recovered and a certainty to come off the board early in the first round:

Jack is a supreme athlete who appears to have the ability to play in any style of defense, which figures to make him an extremely attractive option to almost every team in need of linebacker help.

At least one NFL general manager believes Jack is similar to former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, although Jack isn't ready to put himself in that class until he proves it at the NFL level, per NFL Network:

One team that could use that type of player on the defensive side of the ball is the Dallas Cowboys, who will select No. 4 overall.

There has been a lot of talk regarding the Cowboys potentially taking a quarterback due to Tony Romo's injury issues last season, but Jack would have a far bigger immediate impact and could change the complexion of a defense that lacks playmakers.

Jack is a true playmaker in every sense of the term, and combining him with Sean Lee and Rolando McClain could suddenly give Dallas one of the NFL's top linebacker corps.

Ezekiel Elliott

Running backs are once again en vogue in the first round of the NFL draft thanks to the success Todd Gurley had as the No. 10 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams last year, and Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott has a chance to make a similar impact.

Elliott is far and away the top player at his position in the 2016 class on the heels of two consecutive 1,800-yard rushing seasons for the Buckeyes. In fact, Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus (via NFL on ESPN) believes he is in an elite class in terms of running backs to enter the draft over the past decade:

While it can be argued that quality running backs can be found in the mid-to-late rounds on a fairly regular basis, Elliott could be a game-changer in much the same way Gurley was last year or Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson has been throughout his career.

That could very well push him into the top 10, especially since teams like the Cowboys and New York Giants would benefit from a top-flight rusher.

Assuming they address other needs, though, it seems extremely unlikely that Elliott will fall past the Miami Dolphins at No. 13.

The Dolphins lost Lamar Miller in free agency and failed to reel in C.J. Anderson when the Denver Broncos matched their offer sheet, which leaves second-year man Jay Ajayi as their top option.

Ajayi showed flashes of brilliance and could be an excellent NFL back, but assuming he stays healthy, Elliott looks to be a sure thing due to his all-around skill set.

Because of that, look for Miami to pounce on Elliott if he is available at No. 13 and provide quarterback Ryan Tannehill with a ton of relief on offense.

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