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Justin Bales | Archive | Email |
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NFL Mock Draft: Version 3.0
4/25/16

Version 1.0 - 3/7/16
Version 2.0 - 4/3/16


Editor's note: Predict the top ten picks of the NFL Draft for a chance to win FFToday prizes. Enter our NFL Draft Contest now.

Jared Goff

Quarterbacks are expected to go 1-2 with the first two picks now in the hands of the Rams and Eagles.


1. Los Angeles Rams (from TEN) – Jared Goff, QB, California

The Los Angeles Rams gave up quite the package to get to this pick. It’s essentially a guarantee that they select a quarterback, either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. Goff is seen as the most NFL ready in the draft, and he’s a bit safer than Wentz. The Rams have a ton of question marks surrounding the quarterback position, and taking a franchise(?) signal caller in this draft would be a great way to kickoff off their era in LA.

Previous Pick: Tennessee - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi

2. Philadelphia Eagles (from CLE) – Carson Wentz, QB, N. Dakota St.

The Eagles also traded up in the draft, and they stated it was for a quarterback. Wentz is the obvious pick, as he and Goff have separated themselves from the rest of the quarterbacks since the NFL Combine. This is a bit surprising because the Eagles recently invested quite a bit of money in Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, but there are reports that the Eagles are enamored with Wentz. If Philadelphia opts to go in a different direction than quarterback, Ezekiel Elliott is in play, but ultimately Wentz is the logical pick.

Previous Pick: Cleveland - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

3. San Diego Chargers – Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

Ramsey’s chances of going No.1 are virtually non-existent, but he shouldn’t fall far. He’s a big cornerback with good speed and incredible athleticism, which could allow him to become a playmaker in the NFL for years to come. The Chargers don’t have a huge need at cornerback, but they do have a major need at safety, which is a position Ramsey can also play. He is the type of player that has the potential to shut down elite wide receivers or he can provide run support. He also dominated at the Combine, which has solidified his spot among the top-five picks in the draft.

Previous Pick: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

4. Dallas Cowboys – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

There has been plenty of talk about Ezekiel Elloitt jumping into the top-5, and the Cowboys would be the likeliest destination. With that being said, it’s tough to imagine they would pass on someone as talented as Joey Bosa. Reports are saying Bosa is currently sliding down draft boards, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas stopped his fall. Bosa is an NFL ready player, and with the clock ticking on Tony Romo, the Cowboys are looking to make a Super Bowl run now. Dallas is likely going to completely part ways with Greg Hardy, while Randy Gregory has also been a troubled player. Bosa would fill a need and upgrade the Cowboys defense immediately in their hopes to win a Super Bowl in the Romo era.

Previous Pick: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

Gus Bradley is a head coach that enjoys upgrading his defense any time he can, which will be the case with this pick. There are reports that Jack recently went through a private work out for the Jags and Bradley believes he fits their scheme extremely well. It is important to take reports with a grain of salt, but Jack should be going around this pick and he is athletic enough to fit any scheme. He played running back and linebacker at an elite level for UCLA, and Jack will be a key piece to the Jags up and coming defense for the next 10 years.

Previous Pick: DeForest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon

6. Baltimore Ravens – Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi

Tunsil is seen as the best prospect in the draft, but he’s set for a free fall on draft day because of the recent trades at the top of the draft. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone traded up for Tunsil either. He would be a major upgrade for the Ravens at tackle, as their offensive line struggled at times last season. Tunsil possesses a great combination of finesse and power and he would be one of the biggest steals in the draft at this pick.

Previous Pick: Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

7. San Francisco 49ers – DeForest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon

The 49ers have holes all over their team, and they may opt to use the “best player available” strategy with this pick. It also wouldn’t be surprising if they trade down, as they are in rebuild mode. Buckner is the best player available here, as he can play multiple positions for San Francisco. He has the speed to play defensive end, but he also has the power to play defensive tackle. He also plays with a ton of emotion and hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his true potential.

Previous Pick: Jared Goff, QB, California

8. Cleveland Browns (from PHI)– Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

The Browns are one of the hardest teams to project in this draft, as there are a few options that would make a lot of sense here. Ultimately, I chose Stanely, who is the second best tackle in the draft. He has the ability to excel at both pass and run blocking, which is a rare trait for rookies. The Browns have a need at tackle, as Austin Pasztor is far from a reliable option. Stanley will benefit from playing right tackle for the Browns, as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL and will take over as the Browns starting left tackle later in his career.

Previous Pick: Philadelphia - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

The Bucs recently signed Brent Grimes, but they still have a below average secondary. On top of that, a few of their corners are aging and on the decline. They face three elite passing offenses twice a season, and cornerback is one of the most important positions in the NFC South. Hargreaves posted a less than ideal 40-yard dash time, but he has an elite vertical jump, which helps him make plays on contested balls. He has the ability to play press, off, or zone coverage, and he also isn’t afraid to help in the run game. He should immediately help the Bucs secondary.

Previous Pick: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

10. New York Giants – Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

The Giants have a major need at linebacker and Floyd could fill that void. He’s an extremely athletic edge rusher that blew up the NFL Combine. Floyd isn’t quite an NFL ready prospect, as he needs to put on weight, but he could be one of the best players in this draft five years down the road. He has tremendous upside and he has the ability to be a premier pass rusher for the next 10 years. The Giants won their two most recent Super Bowls because of their defense, and Floyd would be a great addition if they are trying to get back to that formula.

Previous Pick: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

11. Chicago Bears – Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

Lawson’s stock was dropping in recent weeks, but he received great medical news and it appears he’s likely to climb his way back up to the top-15 picks. He was an extremely talented run stopper at Clemson, but he also flashed a consistent pass rush ability. The Bears need help along their defensive line, and Lawson would make a great fit. He could be a role player this season before becoming a starter next year.

Previous Pick: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

12. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

The Saints need help along the defensive line, and I believe that they will address that weakness early in the draft. Rankins has loads of upside, but he may take a few years to blossom into the Pro Bowler he has the potential to become. He’s an explosive athlete, who has elite quickness for his position. He could add weight to his frame, which will help him in the run game. Even though the Saints only have a few years left with Drew Brees, Rankins has shown enough potential for the Saints to take a chance on him here.

Previous Pick: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

13. Miami Dolphins – Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

The Dolphins have struck out this offseason on their attempt to sign quality running backs. They claim to be comfortable with Jay Ajayi as their starter, but it’s hard to believe they would pass up on Elliott if he is available here. Elliott is one of the best running back prospects in recent years, and he’s the type of player that can lead a team to the playoffs by himself. It wouldn’t be shocking if he were taken in the top-10 or if the Dolphins opted to trade up for him. This would be a place that Elliott could immediately contribute and the Dolphins are certainly in the running back market.

Previous Pick: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

14. Oakland Raiders – Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

Reed is working his way up draft boards at the right time. The Raiders are in need of help on the defensive line, and Reed could help Oakland immediately. He was a part of the best defense in the NCAA last season, and the SEC tends to produce more NFL ready players than other conferences. As a big body, Reed is a run specialist, and he will be hard for interior linemen to move. Oakland could go with a few different players here, but Reed makes the most sense.

Previous Pick: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

15. Tennessee Titans (from LA) – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

The Titans were expected to draft a tackle with the first overall pick, and that will likely be the case here. They need to protect their franchise quarterback, and Conklin would make a great pair with Taylor Lewan. Conklin plays to the whistle and has great technique, which is a great combination for a right tackle. If the Titans can land their tackle for the future here, they made a great trade as they compiled quite a few picks trading out of the No.1 spot.

Previous Pick: Los Angeles - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi

16. Detroit Lions – Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

The Lions have a few needs, and linebacker is certainly one of them. They could use a middle linebacker and Lee is the type of player that could play in the middle or the outside depending on the situation. He’s an exceptional athlete, and his potential is out of this world. In a few years, Lee has the chance to be one of the best players coming out of this draft, which could be great for a Lions team that is stuck in the middle of the NFC North.

Previous Pick: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

17. Atlanta Falcons – Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

The Falcons clearly need to focus on defense in this draft, and inside linebacker is one of the biggest needs. Ragland solidified his spot in the first round, as he led an elite Alabama defense and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this last season. He is a tremendous run stopper, and the Falcons allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL last season. Ragland would immediately be an upgrade to their linebackers, and he could eventually become the leader of the Atlanta defense.

Previous Pick: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

18. Indianapolis Colts – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

This might be a bit high for Decker, but the Colts need to address their offensive line and he’s the best available lineman on the board. Indianapolis has their franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck, but it’s impossible for him to win the game if he’s consistently being hit, which causes injuries. Decker is talented enough to start at right tackle from day one, and he has shown a great ability to pass block in college. He was a leader for one of the best teams in the nation last season, and he plays with a team mentality, as he returned for his senior year even though he would have been a first round pick in last years draft.

Previous Pick: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

19. Buffalo Bills – A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

The Bills need serious help along the front seven and Robinson is the best player available in that aspect. He’s an NFL ready prospect, as he was one of the leaders on the best defense in the NCAA last season. He’s an extremely powerful lineman, who will be able to impact the run game at an elite level from day one. He also has the ability to get after the quarterback on passing downs. Robinson is an extremely safe pick this late in the draft.

Previous Pick: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

20. New York Jets – Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

The top tier tackles have already been selected, and it’s very possible that the Jets trade up for one of them. With that being said, Jason Spriggs’ stock is on the rise, and there is word buzzing that the Jets love him. Spriggs displayed great athleticism at the Combine, as he tested well in essentially every category he participated in. This likely isn’t the ideal pick for the Jets, but they are in desperate need of an offensive tackle and Spriggs is high on potential.

Previous Pick: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

21. Washington Redskins – Laquan Treadwell, WR, Mississippi

Treadwell is likely to fall a bit after the trades at the top of the draft, and the Redskins would absolutely love if he were available here. He’s a talented wide receiver, who would likely be a top-10 pick is he were a bit faster. The Redskins have lacked a true number one receiver for quite some time, and Treadwell would give them a top target for the next 10 years.

Previous Pick: William Jackson III, CB, Houston

22. Houston Texans – Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

The Texans are in desperate need of a quarterback but this may be a bit high for Paxton Lynch. Instead, Houston will need to look at finding a speedy wide receiver to stretch the field opposite DeAndre Hopkins. Will Fuller is the exact type of wide receiver to do that, as he may have worked his way into the first round with a ridiculous 4.32 40-yard dash at the Combine. He has the ability to take the top off of defenses, but he also can turn screens and short passes into huge gains. Fuller would be a lock for the top-20 if he didn’t struggle with drops, which is what caused him to fall to the Texans.

Previous Pick: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

23. Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

Minnesota is another team that is in need of a second receiver to pair opposite of Stefon Diggs. Doctson is big (6-2, 202 lbs) with unbelievably strong hands. He can high point the ball as well as anyone in this draft, and he’s the type of receiver that could easily develop into the number one option on a team for the next ten years. He’s coming off a tremendous performance at the Combine, in which he was the top performer in the vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle. He also ran a respectable 4.50 40-yard dash. He fell a little because of the system he played for in college, but he has more than enough talent to be a dominant force in the NFL.

Previous Pick: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

24. Cincinnati Bengals - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

The Bengals don’t have a major hole on their team, but they did see Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones leave via free agency. That means they will be in need of a wide receiver to take the pressure off of A.J. Green. Corey Coleman was a dominant force at Baylor, and he rarely saw single coverage on any given play. He has more than enough speed to take the top off of a defense, but he’s also quick enough to dominate on short and intermediate routes. He’s an electric player that would add another dimension to the Bengals offense.

Previous Pick: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

25. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

This pick came down to Eli Apple and William Jackson III, as the Steelers are in desperate need of help in their secondary. I like Apple slightly more than Jackson III, and he’ll make a great fit for the Steelers defense. Apple is an extremely fast cornerback, who continued to progress through each of his years at Ohio State. He has tremendous potential, as he likely hasn’t even scratched the surface of his talents yet. He’ll be a great young piece for a weak secondary in Pittsburgh.

Previous Pick: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

26. Seattle Seahawks – Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

The Seahawks love upgrading their defense in the draft, and this is a great class to do so. They need help along the defensive line, and Billings would make a great rotational player early in his career before taking on an every down role in a few years. He’s one of the most powerful players in the draft, which translates to a tremendous bull rush move. He is an NFL ready run defender, and has been improving his pass rush over the last couple of years.

Previous Pick: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky

27. Green Bay Packers – William Jackson III, CB, Houston

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay trade out of this pick, but if they don’t, Jackson III could be the option. He isn’t a major need, as the Packers drafted two defensive backs in the first two rounds last year, but they tend to stick to the “best player available” strategy, and WJ3 is the best player here. This pick would allow Green Bay to work Quinten Rollins more at safety, which is a more natural position for him. Green Bay believes that a team can never have too many defensive backs, especially when someone with the talent of Jackson III falls this far in the draft.

Previous Pick: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

28. Kansas City Chiefs – Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

There could be an argument made for Nkemdiche being the best player in this draft. He’s likely going to fall on draft day because of off the field issues. If you don’t know the story, Google search Nkemdiche and synthetic marijuana. The Chiefs are a team that don’t seem to care as much about off the field issues as some other teams in the NFL. He would fill a need while giving them essentially a top-five talent late in the draft. If he cleans up his act off the field, Nkemdiche will be one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL in a few years.

Previous Pick: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

29. Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

Arizona has a major need at center, which could result in Ryan Kelly being drafted in the first round. A.Q. Shipley is currently penciled in as the starter, and Kelly could immediately take over the starting job. He’s an extremely smart player, and he’ll be NFL ready, as he was a leader of the Alabama team last season. The last time we saw a center taken in the first round it worked out well for Dallas (C Travis Frederick), and he would certainly fill one of the Cardinals biggest needs.

Previous Pick: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

30. Carolina Panthers – Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State

Whitehair will likely move to guard in the NFL, but he played his last two season at Kansas State at left tackle. He’s a versatile player, which will give the Panthers a little flexibility with their o-line. He was a hard worker in college, and he’ll likely bring that mentality to the NFL. The Panthers don’t need to play him right away, so they can groom him into his position, or they could multi-train him at different positions as a sixth lineman until he’s ready to be a full time starter.

Previous Pick: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State

31. Denver Broncos – Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

The Broncos are in need of a quarterback, as Mark Sanchez is currently sitting atop their depth chart. They are trying to acquire Colin Kaepernick, but he is refusing to renegotiate his contract, and that trade looks unlikely. Paxton Lynch was recently in talks with Wentz and Goff as the best quarterback in the draft, but has since fallen out of that conversation. He has a powerful arm, but he tends to struggle with accuracy on occasion. He’s athletic and has the potential to be a future franchise player at the position.

Previous Pick: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Note: The Patriots do not have a first-round pick in the 2016 draft (or a third-round pick in the 2017 draft) thanks to Deflategate.