2016 NFL Mock Draft

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? That is, if you’re a football-starved fan needing your NFL fix as the calendar turns to spring. With that in mind, Robert Waugh provides DraftAmerica with his analysis of the 2016 NFL Draft, a mock list that not only includes projected picks, but possible trades and compensation as well.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

By Robert Waugh

Special to DraftAmerica

(*-See below for further analysis/official trade compensation)

Round 1

#   Team                                                     Player

1    Los Angeles (from TEN)                   Jared Goff, QB, Cal

2   Philadelphia (from CLE)                   Carson Wentz, QB, ND St.

3   San Diego                                             Jalen Ramsey, DB, FSU

4   Dallas                                                    Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

5   Jacksonville                                         Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

6   Baltimore                                             Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

7   San Francisco                                      Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

8  Chicago (from CLE via PHI/MIA)*  Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

9  Tampa Bay                                            DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

10 New York Giants                                 Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama

11 Cleveland (from CHI)*                       Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

12 New Orleans                                        Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

13 Miami (from PHI)                              Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

14 Oakland                                                Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan St.

15 Tennessee (from LA)                         Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

16 Detroit                                                  William Jackson III, CB, Houston

17 Atlanta                                                  Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

18 Indianapolis                                        Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio St.

19 Buffalo                                                  A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

20 New York Jets                                     Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio St.

21 Cincinnati (from WSH)*                   Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

22 Houston                                               Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

23 Minnesota                                           Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

24 Washington (from CIN)*                  Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

25 Pittsburgh                                           Eli Apple, CB, Ohio St.

26 Seattle                                                  Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas St.

27 Green Bay                                            Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

28 Kansas City                                         Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

29 Arizona                                                Noah Spence, DE, E. Kentucky

30 Carolina                                               Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

31 New England (from DEN)*              Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

*Bears acquire the 8th and 176th overall picks for Elliott. They have been the dark horse team linked to Elliott. As the Giants are also interested, the Bears need to leapfrog New York and find a more physical version of Matt Forte who can carry the mail for years to come.

*Browns get the 11th and 72nd picks from Chicago.

*Receiver is arguably the biggest need for the Bengals. Houston and Minnesota could both be looking for WRs, so Cincinnati jumps both to get its man.

*Washington, which gets picks 122 and 199, is still able to fill its biggest need despite dropping three spots.

*The Patriots rarely trade up, but they also don’t often have the NFL taking away draft picks. New England hops into the first round to grab a player at a position of need, but mostly so they can pull one over on the NFL. Take that, Roger Goodell! (Denver receives picks 60, 61, and 204.)