NFL Draft Predictions 2016: Projections for 1st-Round Teams and Prospects

The 2016 NFL draft is probably going to feature a handful of first-round surprises because the prospects are so tightly grouped at most positions. It's also a situation that creates ample depth, which is good news for teams picking at the back end of Round 1 and early in Round 2.

Safety Jalen Ramsey, inside linebacker Reggie Ragland and running back Ezekiel Elliott are the clear No. 1 prospects at their positions. But they are the exception more than the rule this year. For example, every front office may have the same top six or seven receivers but rank them quite differently.

So it should make for an entertaining first round, and there will likely be an active trade market after Day 1 as teams look to target players who slipped through the cracks. With that in mind, let's check out a complete mock draft of the opening round and a breakdown of some tricky decisions.

1st-Round Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Los Angeles Rams (from TEN)	Jared Goff, QB, Cal
2	Philadelphia Eagles (from CLE)	Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3	San Diego Chargers	Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
4	Dallas Cowboys	Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
6	Baltimore Ravens	DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
7	San Francisco 49ers	Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
8	Cleveland Browns (from MIA via PHI)	Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
10	New York Giants	Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
11	Chicago Bears	Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
12	New Orleans Saints	Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
13	Miami Dolphins (from PHI)	Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
14	Oakland Raiders	Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
15	Tennessee Titans (from LA)	Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
16	Detroit Lions	Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
17	Atlanta Falcons	Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
18	Indianapolis Colts	A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
19	Buffalo Bills	Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
20	New York Jets	Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
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	William Jackson III, CB, Houston
26	Seattle Seahawks	Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
27	Green Bay Packers	Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
28	Kansas City Chiefs	Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
29	Arizona Cardinals	Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
30	Carolina Panthers	Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
31	Denver Broncos	Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Toughest Calls

3. San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

There are two ways to view the trading frenzy from the Chargers' perspective. On one hand, they would have probably preferred to get involved in the action given the high prices paid to get the first two selections by the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.

The good news is that those moves likely lock in the first two picks as quarterbacks, which isn't a current need for San Diego. Instead, the front office will have its choice of any other prospect in the class. And it's still possible to demand a king's ransom if another team wants to move up, too.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com provided some background info about the latter option:

It won't be an easy choice if the Chargers stand pat, though. They need upgrades along both the offensive and defensive lines—two areas with several top prospects—and safety is a position that could also benefit from a high-profile addition.

Ultimately, it'd be difficult to pass up on Tunsil, who's the best overall prospect in the class. Investing a high pick on an offensive tackle isn't the most exciting move, but finding somebody who's got the potential to lock down the blindside for a decade or more is worth the investment.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Based on this mock scenario, the Jaguars will have their choice of the top edge-rushers. Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Myles Jack are a step ahead of the rest, but the competition between them is quite fierce, and it's doubtful a clear leader will emerge before the draft.

Jack has been in the spotlight as of late due to concerns over his knee. Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News reported an NFL source thinks the situation is a "time bomb." The UCLA standout's agent quickly took exception to the anonymous information (h/t Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports).

When healthy, Jack is the most explosive edge-rusher in the class, but the medical situation could be enough to get teams to look elsewhere. Bosa represents the safest choice of the trio and is confident in himself, as noted by Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today.

"I do believe I'm the best player in the draft," Bosa said. "There is, of course, a lot of amazing players in the draft. But I think as a player if you don't believe that then there's kind of something wrong."

The Ohio State product is a do-it-all lineman capable of attacking the passer or setting the edge in the run game. That all-around ability would be welcome on a defense that finished 15th in run defense and 20th in sacks last season.

22. Houston Texans: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

The Texans' choice could become more straightforward if the second wave of wideouts start coming off the board before they're on the clock. If not, the front office will have its choice of several receivers capable of stepping in to make an immediate impact.

Doctson is the one Houston should know the most about. He played high school football in Texas and spent the last three years at TCU after starting his collegiate career at Wyoming. He's also generating a lot of buzz late in the process, as Cian Fahey of Pre-Snap Reads pointed out:

"

Josh Doctson and Vernon Adams appear to be the two guys who are most highly-thought of by NFL guys who get to prospects late in process.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) April 16, 2016"

He put up 79 catches for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final college season. What he lacks in straight-line speed, he makes up for with acceleration, small-area quickness and the ability to high-point a pass in traffic.

The total package probably gives him a slight edge over the likes of Corey Coleman, Will Fuller, Michael Thomas and Tyler Boyd. But whether it's Doctson or one of those alternatives, the Texans should emerge from Round 1 with another weapon for new quarterback Brock Osweiler.