NFL Draft 2016: Mock Draft and Potential Surprise 1st-Round Picks to Watch

After months of planning for the NFL draft, one major trade changed the way everyone should look at the first round.

The Los Angeles Rams acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Tennessee Titans in a trade that saw nine different picks change hands. This deal affects more than just these two teams with every squad in the top 10 and possibly beyond likely having different options to consider on draft day.

This trade was a relative surprise, although these shocking moments aren't going to stop any time soon. Fans should expect more moves leading up to April 28 but even if the order stays the same, there could be plenty of drama in the first round. Here is a look at Day 1 predictions and a breakdown of some picks who could be a bit of a surprise for fans.

No.	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Los Angeles Rams	Jared Goff	QB	California
2	Cleveland Browns	Carson Wentz	QB	North Dakota State
3	San Diego Chargers	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
4	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Ramsey	CB	Florida State
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Joey Bosa	DE	Ohio State
6	Baltimore Ravens	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
7	San Francisco 49ers	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
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	Tennessee Titans	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
16	Detroit Lions	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
17	Atlanta Falcons	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
18	Indianapolis Colts	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
19	Buffalo Bills	Reggie Ragland	ILB	Alabama
20	New York Jets	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
21	Washington Redskins	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
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	Darron Lee	OLB	Ohio State
26	Seattle Seahawks	Jarran Reed	DT	Alabama
27	Green Bay Packers	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
29	Arizona Cardinals	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
30	Carolina Panthers	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
31	Denver Broncos	Robert Nkemdiche	DT	Ole Miss

Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, QB, California

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The first instinct many had when the Rams traded for the No. 1 pick was Carson Wentz would be the target. He was considered the best quarterback in the class before the trade and a likely candidate to go to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2. Fortunately for the Browns, they might still have that option.

According to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, it's Jared Goff that is more likely to be the top pick going to the Rams:

ESPN's Adam Schefter agreed as of now, although he noted the decision has not yet been made:

"

Rams lean Jared Goff today, but one reason they made trade now was to get two weeks to debate top 2 QBs because "both are going to be good."

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2016"

This might be just to build some drama heading into the draft, although this is a choice that will be evaluated and possibly second-guessed for years. Goff seems to have a better feel for the game, although he doesn't have the prototypical size or arm strength for an NFL quarterback like Wentz.

Perhaps the most important factor, however, is the fact Wentz would likely need more time to adjust to the NFL after spending his career playing in FCS. Los Angeles has a team that could be competitive with the right quarterback, so sending Goff under center gives the squad a better chance to win right away. There will obviously be growing pains, but a strong defense and running game will help a lot.

Wentz might be the better option for some teams, but Goff is the clear choice for the Rams at No. 1.

Chicago Bears: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

David Goldman/Associated Press

Leonard Floyd is a player that has seemingly been all over the board when it comes to projections. The linebacker is an explosive athlete with great speed to attack the quarterback around the edge. However, he is also undersized and lacks the strength necessary to shed blockers when needed.

If you are getting pushed around, it doesn't matter how fast you are, you won't get to the ball-carrier on defense. It wouldn't be surprising to see many teams put Floyd well out of the first round on their draft boards.

On the other hand, one thing he doesn't lack is confidence, via the Atlanta Falcons Twitter account:

With a high work ethic, you can always get stronger and learn the technique necessary to succeed in the NFL. You can't find players with Floyd's athleticism every day.

This makes the linebacker a good fit for the Chicago Bears, a team that struggled against the pass last year while allowing an opposing passer rating of 99.3, good for 26th in the league. Floyd can generate some much-needed pass rush while also dropping into coverage at times, making this high draft pick worth the price.

Denver Broncos: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Denver Broncos clearly need a quarterback after losing both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler this offseason. Unfortunately, if Paxton Lynch doesn't drop to No. 31 and there are no trades, it's not worth reaching for someone like Connor Cook who is more of a question mark.

Meanwhile, Denver also needs to restock the defensive line after losing Malik Jackson to free agency. Robert Nkemdiche could legitimately be drafted almost anywhere in the first two rounds.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network summed up the defensive lineman's stock by describing his visits:

Any destination would probably be a surprise for Nkemdiche, although the odds might be that he is still around at this point. He has been inconsistent on the field and has been a distraction off the field, most notably an incident where he fell out of a hotel room and was charged for marijuana possession. 

So why would the Broncos want him? He still has as much upside as almost anyone in the draft.

Nkemdiche is a physically imposing player with the athleticism to get into the backfield almost at will. He can disrupt an opponent's game plan and free up space for teammates to make plays. Considering defense is what won a Super Bowl for Denver last year, keeping this unit strong should be a priority for this team in the draft and the former Ole Miss star could do that.

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