NFL Draft 2016: Latest Expert Mocks and Predictions for Round 1

Connor Cook ending up a first-round pick? Myles Jack almost falling out of the top 10?

These scenarios and more headline the latest 2016 NFL mock draft offerings from experts around the globe.

There's nothing too unbelievable at this point in the draft process, either. With the countdown clock turning from days to hours, this is the stretch where the world really begins to catch up with how the NFL actually views the prospects in this year's class.

Let's look at some of the most recent notable offerings from around the web. View these as tools, a way to see prospect value, order and team need. We'll also mention some notable selections as a way to open your mind to the unexpected, because that's usually what happens during the first round anyway.

NFL Nation Reporters, ESPN.com
No. 3. San Diego Chargers: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

Presuming quarterbacks come off the board with the first two selections, it seems the most common picks for the San Diego Chargers at No. 3 are Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack.

But what about Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner? 

ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams picked Buckner when all 32 teams' NFL Nation reporters got together for a mock draft:

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The Chargers allowed 2,000 rushing yards for the first time since 2003 last season, and gave up at least 17 rushing touchdowns for the first time since 1985, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. San Diego needs a run-stuffer and interior pass-rusher, and Buckner fills both needs perfectly.

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It's a nice wrinkle, and one ringing with plenty of sense. Buckner is a great upgrade along a line that only tallied 32 sacks last year. His rushing ability paired with Melvin Ingram coming off the edge would make for a great one-two punch.

At 6'7" and 291 pounds, Buckner has steadily climbed up draft boards for months. This is the peak, and maybe it's about time everyone caught up with how the NFL feels about his stock compared to that of guys like Joey Bosa.

Pete Prisco, CBSSSports.com
No. 7. San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

For a while it seemed folks had given up on the idea of the San Francisco 49ers taking a quarterback. Chatter about Colin Kaepernick seemed to die down, and hey, Blaine Gabbert is a workable veteran.

For a while, anyway.

The notion that new 49ers coach Chip Kelly wants a potential franchise quarterback to call his own is alive and well again thanks to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com. While explaining the pick, he offers an interesting comparison between Paxton Lynch and Carson Wentz: "They have to get a franchise passer. What they have doesn't qualify. I don't think there's much difference between Wentz and Lynch."

It's safe to say that Jared Goff and Wentz will be the first two quarterbacks off the board on draft day, which will pump up Lynch's value and prevent a fall. The slotting with Kelly and the 49ers certainly makes sense, even if some view it as a tad too high for a project player.

Lynch is a project player in the best way possible. He's huge at 6'7" with a strong arm and can extend plays with his feet if the pocket breaks down or by design, though he needs work when it comes to anticipation and reading defenses.

Which is fine in San Francisco, one of the better locales Lynch could land. Kelly can keep it simple with his new gunslinger while helping him adapt, even using the rookie's skill set to compensate for a lacking supporting cast.

Crazier things can (and probably will) happen in the top 10.

Mark Maske, Washington Post
No. 31. Denver Broncos: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

Here's a doozy.

Not in a bad way, either, as observers should have a pretty open mind to anything at this point.

While not widely considered a first-round prospect, the aforementioned Cook gets a nod here with the Denver Broncos at the end of the first round thanks to Mark Maske of the Washington Post: "Denver gets its quarterback of the future, and perhaps of the present."

This might have been John Elway's plan all along after letting Brock Osweiler make big cash on the open market. Mark Sanchez can act as a starter with an incredible supporting cast around him while a prospect learns from the sidelines.

With the love for the top three quarterbacks so well understood now, it isn't too much of a shock to think Cook could sneak his way into the first round. Heck, it doesn't sound like Cook himself would be too surprised, as captured by Paul Pabst of NBC Sports Radio:

Cook looks the part at 6'4" and 217 pounds and was a four-year starter, an attractive nugget for a team like the Broncos, who sure wouldn't mind if a rookie came in and pushed for the starting gig.

While there's still a steep learning curve for Cook at the next level and the Broncos arguably have greater needs, this looks like the perfect scenario for both parties, given the importance of the position and the state of this year's quarterback class.

Stats are courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 27. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.