2016 NFL Mock Draft Part 3: Picks #1-10
By jonfox
Sep 12, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; University of South Florida Bulls wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson (81) cannot catch a pass as it is defended by Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) during the first half of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
5. San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, DB FSU
This is a “save money” draft pick for the LA Chargers, I mean San Diego Chargers. Eric Weddle is apparently going to hit free agency and walk unless he’s misjudged the market for himself. The Chargers aren’t serious about giving him a big contract that he’s asking for and don’t appear inclined to franchise tag him either.
Ramsey is almost certainly going to be the better NFL player at FS. It would hide his hip turn issues and allow him to see the field much better.
The Chargers just need talent(which is why they shouldn’t let Weddle walk). They have a team that is a marginal 8 win team when completely healthy but they can’t stay healthy. Even if they anticipate full health for most of the season, they need playmakers-especially young one-like Ramsey.
The concern with Ramsey is that he’s a product of having a ton of talent around him at FSU. Thats a fair concern but when you put on the tape, he’s rarely making a mistake even when he’s not an active part of the play.
Oct 31, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to throw a pass against the Southern California Trojans in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Bears 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
4. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, Qb California
You almost have to feel sorry for Goff. He doesn’t deserve this. He deserves a functional franchise that makes good solid decisions. And who knows: Cleveland could clean house and be that franchise again. For right now, as long as the power structure in Cleveland is unchanged, Goff is walking into a situation that many other QBs have.
He’s being asked to be so good that he rises the team above the problems that the Browns give themselves. As a prospect, this might not be a great fit. Goff has arm talent but not the cannon arm that cold weather QBs need for rainy/windy games.
Sep 26, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) lines up versus the Western Michigan Broncos at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 38-12. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
3. Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, DL Ohio State
That defense lost it’s sting when Suggs when down and Ngata left town. Years of drafting guys has netted them some good players, but they also have had a number of misses. Bosa is arguably the most talented player in the draft and he fills a direct need for them.
He probably isn’t the pure pass rusher/attacker that Suggs has been, but he could fill the role that Arthur Jones and Cory Redding had been doing for them. They still need guys like Bosa, who can make the opponent give help blocking to so that Suggs and blitzers like Upshaw won’t have to fight through double teams.
Thats what Jones/Redding gave them for years.
Baltimore hasn’t blinked at off the field troubles unless they involved an elevator, so Bosa’s issues shouldn’t concern them.
Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) blocks Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman (2) during the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Bears 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2. Tennessee Titans: Jack Conklin, OT Michigan State
This shouldn’t be a surprise.
Conklin has been playing lights out football for Sparty. Ronnie Stanley hasn’t for the Fighting Irish. The Titans are going to end up having RG3 2.0 on their hands if they can’t protect Mariota. And right now, they might have the worst offensive line in the NFL.
Conklin is less a “could blossom into something much more” prospect and is more a “you’re getting a quality player right now” type. He should allow the team to shuffle Lewan back to his natural RT spot and give the help blocking inside more.
Oct 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (78) during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels beat Texas A&M Aggies 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
1. Detroit Lions: Laremy Tunsil, OL Ole Miss
It’s possible that Detroit dumps Stafford and starts anew. It doesn’t seem particularly likely however. What does seem most likely is that the Riley Reiff experiment at LT is over one way or another.With so much flux in the entire franchise, it comes to down to as Cormac McCarthy once wrote “the bones of things.”
Getting a quality left tackle is improving the bones of things for the Lions.
Tunsil might not be a Tony Boselli cornerstone type guy. But he’s not an Eric Fisher/Luke Joeckel lemon. He’s a guy with amazing tools. Joey Bosa could be the pick here, but unless they’re switching up defenses to maximize Ngata‘s contributions, why bother? They would still have QB who runs for his life far too often.