We’re less than a month away from the NFL Draft, so now is a good time as any to make our mock predictions for the first five teams on the clock.
The 2016 draft class has a wide selection of elite emerging talents form various positions. Luckily for the top five clubs, a glaring need in their respective rosters will be duly addressed with either one of the nation’s top-caliber prospects.
Let’s get down to our mock draft for the first- to fifth-overall picks about to take place in Chicago beginning April 28. And if you’re looking for some sweet betting action to kick-start the month, head on over to our NCAA Tournament Final Four previews for Villanova vs. Oklahoma and North Carolina vs. Syracuse right after this.
An argument can be made that FSU’s Jalen Ramsey is the best-overall talent on the board and that the Tennessee Titans with their porous secondary sure could use the defensive back’s services.
However, Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil is the most ideal fit for this Titans club, bar none. As we saw last season, Music City’s newly-minted franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota showed flashes of brilliance, but only when he was healthy. Mariota badly needs help in the O-line for him to scramble more freely and make better decisions in the pocket, and obviously the 310-pounder addresses all of the above.
One glaring concern about Tunsil is that he never played a full season in college. Nevertheless, his raw talent at left tackle is hard to ignore, and the Titans would rue the day that they skipped on the best prospect that could protect Mariota’s blind side.
2. Cleveland Browns
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
It’s no secret that the Cleveland Browns are in dire need of a quarterback. Heck, that’s been the story about this floundering franchise for over a decade now.
The Browns will be torn between either Carson Wentz of North Dakota State or Cal’s Jared Goff as the team’s possible play-caller. Although newly-acquired Robert Griffin III can still rebound from a couple of bad seasons with the Redskins, the team would definitely want a backup plan should RG3 fail to impress, and the best choice off the board here would be Wentz.
The Bismarck native has a more refined skill-set as well as the physical and mental attributes that most pro-ready QBs have compared to Goff. Not only that, but apparently Hue Jackson was the only head coach who appeared at Wentz’s pro day a week ago, so it seems that Cleveland has its crosshairs already locked-in on the 6-foot-5 Wentz.
3. San Diego Chargers
Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
The San Diego Chargers have a pair of young defensive backs in Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward, but could still add another key piece to its secondary, especially with disgruntled safety Eric Weddle set to leave SoCal after a tumultuous spat with the San Diego management last season.
Luckily for the Chargers, Florida State standout Jalen Ramsey will still be available from the pool of draftees. Ramsey is the rare breed of downfield defender than can play cornerback or safety equally well, though his lithe frame may be overmatched by the bigger and taller receivers in the NFL.
Still, the All-American has time to hulk up and adjust to his new physique in order to suit what the pro level demands of him. Ramsey’s one of the best corners in recent draft history, so much so that there’s still a high chance that Titans grab him with their No. 1 pick. As such, San Diego would be extremely fortunate if indeed Ramsay still ends up on team’s lap.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
After what we saw last year, the Dallas Cowboys might really be in need of a replacement under center already, given how Tony Romo’s shoulder injury could have major implications for the often-derided quarterback’s passing form. They could take Goff with their first pick of the draft, yet defense remains the greater problem for America’s Favorite Team.
Enter Joey Bosa – the coveted defensive lineman from Ohio State that has drawn early comparisons to the likes of J.J. Watt and Jared Allen in his prime. The Buckeye bruiser’s as explosive as they come in despite lacking some quickness off the edge, but his sheer athleticism and willingness to put in the work puts him above another similar top-end DE in Oregon’s DeForest Buckner.
Bosa had some undisclosed off-field issues with his alma mater that warranted a four-game suspension, so his personal character may raise a red flag. Then again, Jerry Jones would still love to have such a magnetic personality on his beloved team, so it’s ultimately up to the Cowboys’ coaching staff to set Bosa down the right path and dominate the trenches for years to come.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
This could be the year that we can finally take the Jacksonville Jaguars seriously based on what the team had done in the free agency market. The Jags also have the luxury of holding the fifth-overall pick, and they’ve made it clear that they plan to overhaul the defense even further at the draft.
Jacksonville managed to sign defensive tackle Malik Jackson and safety Tashaun Gipson in the offseason, so it’s about time that the team does something about its maligned corps of linebackers. UCLA’s Myles Jack appears to be a solid fit as a strong enforcer both in run protection and in coverage.
However, the 20-year-old dynamo suffered a torn meniscus last September and has been rehabilitating from his injury since, which should’ve hit his draft stock hard. Then again, St. Louis’ breakout rookie running back last season, Todd Gurley, had about the same predicament as Jack, and look how that eventually turned out for the Rams.
With that in mind, the Jags will still likely take the risk of drafting Jack to even out their improvements on D.
