Post 29 - 2016 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Hello! And Welcome to my corner!

Football has been gone for 19 days now, and next season seems to be a lifetime away. However, that doesn't mean there aren't things to look forward to.

At 2pm GMT (9am ET) yesterday, the on-field drills begin for the NFL Scouting Combine, and thus begins Draft season. Nearly two months of research and analyses into hundreds of NFL hopefulls, all culminating in the 2016 NFL Draft, starting Thursday April 28th and ending on Saturday April 30th.

In that time, analyst will be churning out endless mock drafts predicting which teams will pick who, fantasising about what teams can do with their sparkly new toys so I figured I'd follow suit.

With that, the Tennessee Titans are now on the clock!

1. Tennessee Titans – Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss – The Titans have their quarterback, so it’s time to build around him. Taylor Lewan has been fine as a left tackle, but he is much better suited to the right side. By bringing in Tunsil, the Titans give Mariota an excellent blind side protector and allow Lewan to move to his better position. With a few more offensive pieces throughout the draft, the Titans could be cooking something pretty tasty.
2. Cleveland Browns – Jared Goff, QB, Cal – Another draft, another high Cleveland Browns draft pick and another QB for Browns fans to latch onto. The most important position in football is this team’s biggest need, and though Goff may not have as high an upside as Paxton Lynch or Carson Wentz, he is definitely the most pro-ready of the three.
3. San Diego Chargers – Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State – The Chargers are losing long-time leader and star safety Eric Weddle so why not replace him with the best player in the draft. Ramsey is a top-5 pick whether he plays corner or safety so he’ll be able to help this Chargers defense immediately in multiple spots. They need help on the offensive line but Ramsey is too good to pass up.
4. Dallas Cowboys – Myles Jack, LB, UCLA – Sean Lee is an excellent player but can he be trusted to say healthy? I’m not so sure. Furthermore, Rolando McClain is a free agent so there is no guarantee he is around next year. However, even if he stays, adding a player like Myles Jack to the mix would give the Cowboys one of the better linebacker corps in the NFL. Jack is so athletic, is excellent in space and has very good cover skills – he could also play a little running back if the Cowboys needed it.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State – The Jags offense has a hell of a lot of young pieces who started coming together last season, but the defense isn’t quite as good. Add Bosa to the defensive line – opposite a healthy Dante Fowler – and this defense could have the start of one of the better pass rushing duos in the NFL.
6. Baltimore Ravens – Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame – The Ravens haven’t had a chance to draft in the top-10 since 2003 when they picked Terrell Suggs. Though I’d love to see the Ravens draft a defensive back, pass rusher or receiver, the Ravens have a long history of drafting the best player available. In Stanley, not only is he one of the best players in the draft, but he fills a huge need at the same time.
7. San Francisco 49ers – Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame – The 49ers were ravaged by retirements, particularly at linebacker – they lost Patrick Willis and Chris Borland – so adding Smith could be huge for the 49ers. Smith has the ability to play any linebacker position in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, which has to make the pairing of him and Navarro Bowman almost irresistible.
8. Miami Dolphins – Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida – Outside of Rashad Jones and Brent Grimes, the Dolphins secondary needs some help, especially if Louis Delmas leaves in free agency. Vernon Hargreaves would be exactly that. At Florida, Hargreaves thrived on an island against the opposition’s top receiver, but thanks to Grimes, he wouldn’t be expected to take the number 1 guy. He is great in man coverage and has excellent ball skills so would be a great addition to this team’s defensive backfield.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson – Lawson was one of many stars on the Clemson defense and the Buccaneers desperately need someone who can provide an edge rush. That can be Lawson. Though there are better pure pass rushers in this draft than Lawson, he is more likely to make more of an impact straight away, so pairing him with Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander and the Bucs have a very nice core of defensive players.
10. New York Giants – Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky – Spence is possibly the best pure pass rusher in this draft and a pass rush is something the Giants desperately need. Outside of Pierre-Paul, who may never be more than he was following his injury, the Giants don’t have anyone who can really get after the passer, Spence will be that man. Though he has had some off-field concerns, he has avoided any more trouble since transferring so I think the Giants will be able to put up with his history.
11. Chicago Bears – DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon – Since the John Fox hire he Bears have switched from as base 4-3 front to a base 3-4 front, which made a lot of the Bears defensive players found themselves a bit out of place. So, if a player of Buckner’s quality falls to the Bears they would be insane not to pick him. He will be able to slot in perfectly as a 3-4 defensive end and be a playmaker on all three downs thanks to his size, strength and length. He could even play in a 4-3 scheme, so he’ll fit any look the Bears roll out.
12. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankings, DT, Louisville – The Saints’ biggest need is an interior defensive lineman, particularly someone who can get after the passer. Rankings could do that. Rankings shot into the spotlight with a great showing at Senior Bowl practices and following Aaron Donald’s success as an ‘undersized’ DT, Rankings seems to be in a great spot to be drafted high. He’ll be huge step to improving a putrid defense.
13. Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State – This pick is somewhat dependant on whether the Eagles retain Sam Bradford or not, nevertheless, this would be a good pick. Wentz has incredible physical gifts and has shown improvement every year that he has played. However, he does need time to develop before starting in the NFL, and the Eagles could give him that whether Sam Bradford stays or not, as Mark Sanchez has shown he is somewhat capable of running an offense. Either way, the Eagles would have their quarterback of the future.
14. Oakland Raiders – Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson – DJ Hayden hasn’t played out as the Raiders hoped and they have lost Charles Woodson to retirement. They can’t replace Woodson at this spot but Alexander would be huge for this secondary. Though his stats aren’t exactly impressive, they are a testament to his cover skills. In two years he has barely been thrown to, that’s impressive. He can sit on an island and take a receiver out of the game, exactly what the Raiders need.
15. Los Angeles Rams – Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss – Treadwell is the best receiver in the draft and I kinda surprised myself when I saw I hadn’t had him selected yet, and I assume the Rams would be too. So surprised that they’ll leap at the opportunity to get him. The Rams need a true number 1 receiver to go with Tavon Austin and Todd Gurley. They still need a QB and some more o-linemen, but those 3 would be one hell of an offensive corps to build around.
16. Detroit Lions – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State – The Lions have several big needs but perhaps the biggest is offensive line.  Matt Stafford has shown that he can be a very productive quarterback, but to be one he has to be on his feet. Jack Conklin was basically the only part of the Michigan State team that didn’t crumble against Alabama in the College Football Playoff. He would immediately upgrade their line and allow Reiff to move over to the right or inside to guard. 
17. Atlanta Falcons – Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama – Ragland was the centre piece of a truly dominant Alabama front-7 and the leader of the entire defense. The Falcons could use that. They could very easily go after another pass rusher to accompany Vic Beasley coming around the edge but I don’t see them going in that direction two years in a row when a player like Ragland is available. Though he isn’t the same type of player as CJ Mosely was when he came out, there is nothing stopping him from having the same impact with a team like the Falcons.
18. Indianapolis Colts – Leonard Floyd, EDGE, Georgia – At this point we don’t know what Robert Mathis will be able to offer, Trent Cole is a possible candidate to be cut to save cap room and Bjoern Werner is yet to really take off. The Colts pass rush needs help. Floyd would be that help. In his three years at Georgia, Floyd was a starter and an impact player for the Bulldogs. He would be great for the Colts to reinvigorate their pass rush.
19. Buffalo Bills – Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson – The Bills are going to lose Mario Williams this offseason, that’s a pretty big hole that needs to be filled. In his one year of starting at Clemson, Dodd was in Shaq Lawson’s shadow almost the entire time, until the College Football Playoff. Lawson was injured and Dodd exploded onto the scene, he had 4 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in those two games. He has a great build and can play standing up or in a 3-point stance, he would be a great addition to this defence.
20. New York Jets – Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State – Lee isn’t exactly the pass rusher the Jets might want, but he is an uber-talented and athletic outside linebacker who was an effective blitzer for the Buckeyes. Though his best fit may be as a 4-3 OLB, Todd Bowles isn’t opposed to rolling out hybrid looks and extravagant blitzes. In all likelihood, Lee could play a number of spots for the Jets to sure up the middle of their defense.
21. Washington Redskins – Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama – Reed was yet another stand out from the Crimson Tide defense and stands a good chance of being the same for the Redskins. Terrence Knighton is a free agent and the Redskins could really do with an interior pass rush to go alongside the edge rush from players like Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. He would also be a force against the run.
22. Houston Texans – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State – The Texans have multiple needs but I think offensive line is probably their best option – they won’t be reaching for a prospect. Duane Brown suffered a serious injury at the end of the year last year and doesn’t exactly have the friendliest cap number, nor is he getting any younger. Even if he is around next year, Decker will be able to help this team immediately and improve going forward.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State – Whitehair is the best offensive guard in the draft and he has reportedly been approached by NFL teams about playing center. That versatility and his talent will make him a very appealing prospect to an o-line needy team like the Vikings.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor – Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones are both set to be free agents, and though they have their number one receiver in AJ Green and they have a great, ascending tight end in Tyler Eifert, they could do with a receiver to work alongside AJ Green. Coleman can be the electric playmaker who can turn any play into a homerun and stretch the defense. Coleman was a great big play threat for the Bears and would be huge for a loaded offense. He’d be a great asset to an already loaded offense.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State – The Steelers had the potential to be one of the best teams in the NFL this season but they had one big weakness, their secondary. Eli Apple has been overshadowed by Jalen Ramsey, Vernon Hargreaves and Mackensie Alexander but he is no slouch. The Steelers need their next Ike Taylor to shut down opposing number one receivers, Apple could be that.
26. Seattle Seahawks – A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama – There aren’t too many glaring holes for the Seahawks and they’re a team that will either go best player available or look to trade down for more picks, seeing as I won’t be doing trades in any mocks, I think Robinson will fill both a potential need and be a good value pick for the bottom of the 1^st round. Robinson is a space eater and would be huge for the middle of the Seahawks d-line. Not only would he make plays, but he’d free up the rest of the defense to make plays. The ‘Hawks defense would be even scarier with Robinson in the middle.
27. Green Bay Packers – Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech – Like Sheldon Rankings, Butler saw a boost in his stock following an impressive Senior Bowl week. The Packers defense could do with a true inside linebacker but I don’t see them going that way in this spot. However, BJ Raji is getting on a little and Mike Daniels could do with a partner on the interior d-line, Butler would be that. He can line up all over the d-line and he is effective against the run and the pass.
28. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh – The Chiefs are really not very far off being one of the most complete rosters, but one area they still need help is receiver. Maclin was very good, he helped a lot. Kelce is ascending. But as far as receivers go, that’s all they have, add Boyd to the mix and you have an excellent number two option to Maclin. He is the best route runner in the draft and has incredibly good hands; he’s the perfect possession receiver for this offense. People may think this is a bit of a reach, but he didn’t have any help in the Pitt offense and his numbers and tape from previous years had him as the number one receiver prospect heading into this season.
29. Arizona Cardinals – Kamalei Correa, EDGE, Boise State – The Cardinals biggest flaw this season was their pass rush, for a lot of the season they struggled to really get after the quarterback if they weren’t blitzing an extra man or two, Correa could come in as a rookie and immediately play as a situational pass rusher, bringing an excellent motor to the edge of the defense. He is raw, but over time he could develop into a more versatile player thanks to his traits.
30. Carolina Panthers – Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE, Oklahoma State – What the Panthers really need here is an offensive tackle, but I don’t have any rated high enough that are still available, I actually think that the Panthers could trade down if they found themselves in this position. Nevertheless, having seen what the Broncos did to them with a deadly pass rush, they may not oppose the idea of improving theirs. Ogbah is raw – he hasn’t played football for very long – but he is ultra-athletic and was very disruptive for the Cowboys. He could fill in Jared Allen’s role as a situational pass rusher as he develops.
31. Denver Broncos – Germain Ifedi, OG, Texas A&M – The streak of Texas A&M lineman picked in the first round continues. The Broncos biggest weakness this season – apart from Peyton Manning – was their offensive line. With various injuries wreaking havoc the o-line was in pieces early on. Furthermore, Evan Mathis is not getting younger so adding a player like Ifedi at this point would not only give them a guard for the future but probably an instant contributor along the offensive line.

Like who I think your team is taking? Think they should be taking someone else? Let me know in the comments below.