The NFL draft is creeping closing which is why it’s always a fun exercise to predict the 2016 NFL Draft order.
As the season progresses, we get a clearer picture on who’s in the running for the No. 1 overall pick. The leaders in the clubhouse are the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns. Teams like the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers are also in the mix.
This predicted draft order is based on the updated ESPN power rankings with a playoff scenario mixed in.
Cleveland Browns (2-8)- It’ll be interesting to see how Johnny Manziel looks after getting all the first-team reps over the bye week. His development will play a huge role in Browns offseason plans.
Tennessee Titans (2-8)- The Titans just don’t have the overall talent to consistently win games. Marcus Mariota is developing nicely, but he still needs a lot of work on his deep ball.
Baltimore Ravens (3-7)- Joe Flacco’s injury doesn’t really impact the rest of this season but does factor in for next year. It’ll be interesting to see if he misses any time early next as he works his way back from a major knee injury.
San Francisco 49ers (3-7)-The Seattle Seahawks racking up a ton of rushing yards isn’t a surprise, but when its Thomas Rawls and not Marshawn Lynch it’s a problem. San Francisco didn’t play with toughness or passion this past weekend.
San Diego Chargers (2-8)- The Chargers have no running game and the defense can’t get off the field. This is the exact opposite of what it takes to win in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6)- Blake Bortles needs to start leveling off his play as the up and down performances are hurting his team. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal so it’s on him to take the next step in his development.
New Orleans Saints (4-6)- Dennis Allen was a highly regarded defensive mind when he landed the Oakland Raiders head coaching job. The Saints are now hoping he can coax a level of respectability out of this defense.
Philadelphia Eagles
(4-6)- Things are starting to spin out of control in Philadelphia and Chip Kelly could be on the hot seat. This is his team, players and system that are failing to meet expectations.
Detroit Lions (3-7)- Detroit’s defense is starting to resemble the unit that was so effective last season. They were able to shutdown an emerging Raiders offense this past weekend.
Miami Dolphins (4-6)- Miami’s offense just doesn’t have a rhythm and lacks an identity. Their inability to establish a running attack against the Cowboys really brought the offense to a halt.
St. Louis Rams (4-6)- Jeff Fisher’s job status gets less stable each week. The Rams are severely under performing and have failed to improve under Fisher’s supervision.
Dallas Cowboys (3-7)- It was a hard-fought game but the Cowboys were able to walk away with a win over the Dolphins in Tony Romo’s return. They still have an up-hill climb to get back in the playoff race, but there’s some reason for optimism.
Washington Redskins (4-6)- It’s obvious that there’s a major separation in talent between the Redskins and Carolina Panthers. Washington needs to put this loss behind them and prepare for a huge game against the New York Giants.
Chicago Bears (4-6)- Jay Cutler continues to shine despite being surrounded by backups at wide receiver and running back. Alshon Jeffery’s injury issues are becoming a major concern and could impact his contract discussions.
Oakland Raiders (4-6)-The Raiders are going through a rough stretch and need a spark to get back on track. During this losing streak, the offense just hasn’t been as explosive as it was early in the season.
Houston Texas (5-5)- The Texans are showing small improvements each week and appear like a legitimate threat to unseat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
New York Jets (5-5)- Todd Bowles needs to get his defense fixed as it’s unacceptable to allow TJ Yates to throw for 229 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets are at a critical part of their season as their playoff chances begin to fade.
Buffalo Bills (5-5)- Buffalo doesn’t have time to stew in the heart-breaking loss to the Patriots. They are still in the playoff picture but need to get back on the winning track.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)- The Buccaneers are surprising a lot of people and are firmly in the playoff hunt. Jameis Winston’s 5-touchdown performance against the Eagles shows the type of potential he brings to the field.
Atlanta Falcons (6-4)- Matt Ryan is making too many poor decisions and it’s costing his team wins. This is a bit of a head scratcher because he is known for his ability to avoid mistakes.
New York Giants (5-5)- The heat is getting turned up with Tony Romo back for the Dallas Cowboys. New York needs to find some consistency and avoid a letdown against the Washington Redskins.
Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)- I’ll be the first to admit that the Kansas City offense has been a major surprise. Alex Smith is spreading it around to all his targets and as usual protecting the football.
Indianapolis Colts (5-5)-It wasn’t pretty but beating Atlanta on the road was a huge win. Indianapolis will look to build some momentum and get their season back on track.
Seattle Seahawks (5-5)- Marshawn Lynch’s health is a real concern, but Thomas Rawls has provided a spark. His quickness and burst is a big change from the power running style of Lynch.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)- The bye week came at a perfect time because it gave Ben Roethlisberger extra rest. Pittsburgh needs a fully healthy Roethlisberger if they hope to make the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings (7-3)-Minnesota’s issues protecting the quarterback has a chance to derail their playoff hopes. This is the second time this year that they’ve allowed 6 sacks or more in a game.
Green Bay Packers (7-3)- The pass rush and return of the running game helped the Packers get back on track. They are again in 1st place in the NFC North and hoping to build off this win.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-2)- The loss to the Arizona Cardinals is tough to swallow but there are some positives. Cincinnati went on the road and hung with a really talented Arizona team.
Arizona Cardinals (8-2)- Carson Palmer continues to build his MVP resume with an impressive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was able to shake off two early interceptions and lead his team to victory.
Denver Broncos (8-2)- Denver squeaked by the Chicago Bears in what was an unimpressive performance. Brock Osweiler had his ups and downs, but it was the running game that kept the chains moving.
Carolina Panthers (10-0)- The Panthers physical style of play really takes a toll on their opponents. They seem to be gaining more confidence as the wins pile up.
