Here’s my current top 20 prospects for the 2016 NFL draft in order and an explanation of why they’re ranked as high as they are. I’ve also included my red list: who I’ve red flagged, think is overrated and I’ve explained why. You probably won’t agree with this list, but that’s okay. I hope it challenges your perceptions and make you reconsider your rankings.
20. Jonathan Bullard, DL Florida.
One of the best lineman to come out of the Will Muschamp era at Florida, Bullard have good physical tools, rush skills and versatility. He could be a fit in just about any defensive front. He might not develop into a perennial pro bowler, but it seems like he could be another Stephon Tuitt.
19. Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss
He has undeniable talent as a natural pass catcher. Amazing hands, route running and body control. But he struggles when pressed and won’t outrun many NFL defensive backs. You have to understand that you’re probably not getting a top flight receiver here unless he suddenly finds new levels of speed/quickness.
18. Ryan Kelly, OL Alabama.
The best center prospect in this draft, Kelly hasn’t let up a sack since 2013. The only concern is that he gets too aggressive at times. Otherwise, you’re getting a starting caliber center who knew how to destroy opposing blitz packages with his blocking calls.
17. Sheldon Rankins, DL Louisville.
He was absolutely unblockable at the Senior bowl and in a lot of games in 2015(Vs Florida State for instance). He’ll remind you of Kawann Short: a fast 3 tech lineman who uses a combination of size, speed and handwork to get through blockers with ease. His skills would often go to waste when he would stand up during a play and give up all leverage.
16. Mackensie Alexander, DB Clemson
A pure man corner who uses his quickness and speed to blanket any opposing wideouts. Opposing teams rarely tested him, which is why he never got an interception in his career. There is some worry that he doesn’t know how to play zone well.
15. Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas.
Eric Ebron 2.0 potentially: he has a huge NFL level body and physical tools, but struggles as a blocker. He has to go to a team that wants to use the Tight End split out a lot(which means the team uses a lot of 2 tight end sets and one is a dedicated blocker) to create match up issues.
14. William Jackson III, DB Houston.
He has great cover skills and some film nerds have him ahead of Hargreaves as a corner prospect. That seems like a stretch, but he should be the 2nd corner taken. The only concern is if he’s not as smooth in his hip work as Hargreaves has shown.
13. Josh Doctson, WR TCU.
While he has sloppy intangibles(route running, hands, etc) he’s a very hard worker on and off the field. If a team drafts him, they have to realize that they’re drafting a quick/fast Y Wideout who you need to teach route running and concentration to in order for him to bloom. He rates this high purely due to potential. On sheer potential, he’s probably a top 4 prospect in this draft.
12. Adolphus Washington, DL Ohio State.
Another prospect that you’re drafting on potential. Ignore his stupid prostitution arrest, he hasn’t has any other problems before or since. He’s a raw(er) prospect than his teammate Bosa and he tends to hesitate more than attack which means he’s more reactive than he should be. If a team has a good defensive line coach, Washington could be an All-Pro quickly. If New England somehow ends up with him, watch out.
11. DeForest Buckner, DL Oregon.
He’s much rawer than his teammate and 1st round pick in 2015 Arik Armstead. However, Buckner’s physical gifts make him a better NFL prospect in my eyes. He can play more than the 5 tech spot, he played the 5, 4, 6, 3 and 0 for the Oregon 3-4 defense. In the NFL, he’s probably going to move between the 5 and the 0. He’s a monster of a player who’s still learning the skills for his position.
10. Andrew Billings, DL Baylor.
Potential, potential, potential. A team who drafts him has to play a defense that needs a penetrating, undersized defensive tackle(a Cover-2 for instance). However, when you watch the tape of his you’ll see why he could be a top 10 pick. He’s small, fast, quick and powerful. It’s hard for opposing blockers to do anything other than hold or cut block him. Warren Sapp isn’t a terrible comparison for him potential-wise.
9. Derrick Henry, RB Alabama.
Henry is not Eddie Lacy. While he’s as big as Lacy was, Henry is a real athlete who can be as fast in the open field as any running back in college football. Combine this with his pure power and he should be going much higher than currently is perceived.
8. Laremy Tunsil, OL Ole Miss.
He’s often compared to Trent Williams, but I just don’t see it. Tunsil is undersized(6-5 300) like Williams and quick like Williams is but what has made Williams into a multiple pro bowler is his nasty attitude on the field. He also get flagged far too often for false starts. And yet he might be the #1 overall pick.
7. Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Oklahoma State.
He should be the 2nd defensive lineman off the board, he probably won’t be and could drop into the late 1st. Ogbah is the real deal if a team is looking for a weakside defensive end for a 4-3 defense. He’s very raw and still learning the position, but his physical tools made up for this in college. He needs a team who has a good defensive staff to teach him pass rush moves and how to not bite on fakes as much.
6. Jaylon Smith, LB Notre Dame.
A team drafting him has to realize that he probably won’t play in 2016 and probably wont be 100% until 2017 at the earliest. And he’s far from a perfect prospect: he doesn’t have great strength for his position and tends to overrun plays. However, he could be a pro bowler at literally any linebacker spot in either the 4-3 or 3-4 defenses. He has potential greatness, and for any number of teams that could be enough to wait on.
5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State.
Elliot is an elite prospect who finished up his college career torching a well coached Notre Dame defense for 149 yards and 4 touchdowns. The only holes in his game are as a receiver(mostly because the Ohio State offense rarely uses the backs as receivers) and pass blocking. Other than that, Elliott could be a very special player in the NFL who anchors the offense for the team he’s on.
4. Jared Goff, QB California.
He’s not a blue chip prospect along the lines of Andrew Luck. He is a prospect who does bring a lot of good to the table. He has a live arm, some mobility and the mental makeup to only try throwing into windows that he can make it to. He did throw a lot of INTs in 2015, but a fair portion of them were great plays by a defensive back or tipped balls that the defenders got to first. He needs to go to a team with quality on the offensive line, or he’ll struggle. Pressure was a problem for him.
3. Vernon Hargreaves III, DB Florida.
One of the best corner prospect to come out in years, Hargreaves’ only flaw is that he’s not particularly big for a corner. Other than that, it would appear that whomever takes him will be getting the total cover corner package. As with all college corners, you need to give them a season or two to get up to NFL speed because they will be tested.
2. Jalen Ramsey, DB FSU
Some team in the 2-6 range will take Ramsey and think that they won this draft. And they’re probably going to be right. Ramsey looks like a 10 year starter at free safety in the NFL. While he might not be Ed Reed, he doesn’t have to be. He looks to be best used in a single high safety look and you give him the freedom to cover the slot wideout.
1. Joey Bosa, DL Ohio State.
Far and away the top prospect in this draft. He can be a force for any NFL team regardless of what style of defense that they run. You’ll be getting a player that you can move around a defensive formation and use him as the anchor in which the rest of the defense could be built around.
Next: Who's off the board or red flagged?