2016 NFL Draft: Predictions for This Year's Star Prospects

It's been a long time coming, but finally the light at the end of the tunnel is visible: The 2016 NFL draft is mere days away.

By this point, you've probably already waded through a sea of mock drafts and watched more highlights of Jared Goff and Joey Bosa than you can count. You know all the red flags in this class, and you know which players are most likely to come off the board in the first 10 picks of Day 1. 

What else is there left to do? Not much, except make final predictions for the top prospects in this year's class.

Where will Goff land? Will Myles Jack really fall? First, refresh your knowledge of the first-round order for Thursday, and then keep reading to find out. 

Pick	Team
1	Los Angeles Rams (TEN)
2	Philadelphia Eagles (CLE)
3	San Diego Chargers
4	Dallas Cowboys
5	Jacksonville Jaguars
6	Baltimore Ravens
7	San Francisco 49ers
8	Cleveland Browns (PHI)
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10	New York Giants
11	Chicago Bears
12	New Orleans Saints
13	Miami Dolphins (PHI)
14	Oakland Raiders
15	Tennessee Titans (LA)
16	Detroit Lions
17	Atlanta Falcons
18	Indianapolis Colts
19	Buffalo Bills
20	New York Jets
21	Washington
22	Houston Texans
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Cincinnati Bengals
25	Pittsburgh Steelers
26	Seattle Seahawks
27	Green Bay Packers
28	Kansas City Chiefs
29	New England Patriots (forfeited)
30	Arizona Cardinals
31	Carolina Panthers
32	Denver Broncos

Predictions for Star Prospects 

Philadelphia Eagles end up with QB Jared Goff

If you believe most NFL insiders, the Los Angeles Rams traded up into the No. 1 overall pick so they could draft California quarterback Jared Goff.

In fact, NJ.com's Jordan Raanan shared that he heard Goff is almost surely going to be the choice and that the whole league knows it:

But reports can be wrong, especially if multiple analysts speak to one source who didn't have their facts straight. While it's no more certain that the Rams will take Carson Wentz, for the purposes of this prediction we'll go bold: The Eagles, not the Rams, will walk away with Goff.

First, there's the obvious fact that Wentz is a much better fit than Goff for the Rams' run-first offense. Goff operated almost exclusively in the shotgun at California; that doesn't jibe well with L.A.'s system.

Wentz also played in a pro-style offense at North Dakota State and is arguably more prepared to learn and execute the Rams' playbook right away. 

Reports aside, until the Rams call out their selection on Thursday, Goff could still land in Philadelphia, where he could take his time learning the offense behind Sam Bradford—assuming he's there, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday he asked for a trade—and Chase Daniels. It could make for a better NFL transition for the California signal-caller. 

OLB Myles Jack comes off the board by No. 8

Recent news concerning UCLA linebacker Myles Jack's knee injury could make some teams skittish about drafting him early in Round 1. 

NFL Network's Albert Breer reported Sunday more specifics than we had known previously about the exact issue with Jack's knee: 

However, he has enough upside and enough teams in the top 10 need help at the position that it seems likely the Cleveland Browns will draft him with their selection at No. 8 overall. 

The Browns specifically are a likely landing spot for Jack. Now that Cleveland has traded out of the No. 2 spot, it can address a need other than quarterback with its first selection. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars, at No. 5 overall, may have been a consensus destination for Jack prior to news about his knee.

However, it's possible Ohio State defensive end Bosa may be available at that spot now, given it's all but guaranteed quarterbacks will go first and second overall. 

RB Ezekiel Elliott's floor is No. 13

One of the biggest wild cards in the first round is where Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will be drafted. 

Being the consensus best player available at a position that isn't as highly valued in the first round as it used to be, Elliott could have a high ceiling—perhaps the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4. 

However, Elliott's floor doesn't fall too far. It's hard to see him getting past the Miami Dolphins at No. 13 overall if he's still on the board at that time. 

Of course, if even one running back-needy team trades down in the first round, Elliott's floor could also go down as a result. 

So many teams who select early in the draft need defensive help, but Elliott is the type of player around whom you can build an offense. With that being the case, he's bound to be near the top of many teams' big boards.