2016 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 17-32

Last update: Friday, April 15, 2016. Major changes for the Rams-Titans trade.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2016 NFL Mock Draft based on the current NFL Draft Order.

NFL Draft Recent Links:

2024 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 Other 2024 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /April Fools Mock (3/31)
2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 7/23): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (7/22)
2026 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 7/24): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2026 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (7/17)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)

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Atlanta Falcons: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The Falcons finished at the bottom of the NFL in sacks. Something obviously has to be done about this, so I could see them pulling the trigger on a pass-rusher in the first couple of rounds. Shaq Lawson has some lingering injury concerns that could prompt him to fall, but if the Falcons are OK with them, they won’t hesitate to snatch him up here. Lawson is exactly the sort of prospect Atlanta covets.

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Pick change; previously Emmanuel Ogbah, DE
Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
The Colts need to stop screwing around and fix Andrew Luck’s offensive line, which has been an abomination for far too long. Its performance throughout this past season has been an embarrassment. An upgrade in the interior is needed in addition to right tackle, and Ryan Kelly, whom I’ve been underrating, is expected to go much earlier than I initially believed.

Pick change; previously Kevin Dodd, DE
Buffalo Bills: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
The Bills generally did not have quality play from their linebacking corps this past season. Manny Lawson was just OK, while Nigel Bradham struggled in Rex Ryan’s scheme. Bradham went on to sign with the Eagles this offseason, so a replacement is needed. Darron Lee, one of the top players available, projects well to Ryan’s scheme.

New York Jets: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
Like their in-state, divisional counterparts, the Jets lost an underwhelming linebacker in free agency. I thought Demario Davis had to be upgraded anyway, so Reggie Ragland being selected here made sense even prior to the start of the new league year.
Washington Redskins: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
Terrance Knighton signed with the Patriots, but the Redskins wanted a better, long-term option anyway, so here it is. I’ve been mocking Kendall Fuller here for quite some time, but he’s likely to be chosen in Round 2 now, given the concerns of his Combine medical (as first reported by Charlie Campbell in the NFL Draft Rumor Mill page.)
Houston Texans: William Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
William Fuller is chosen over Laquon Treadwell in this mock draft. That may have not seemed possible a month ago, but based on what I’m hearing, Fuller is getting some serious buzz from some of the teams in the latter stages of the first round, and he makes more sense for the Texans than Treadwell because the team needs a deep threat to complement DeAndre Hopkins.

Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
The Vikings, on the other hand, would love a possession receiver, so Laquon Treadwell fits more what they are looking for. Some expect Treadwell to go as high as No. 10, but all of the teams we’ve spoken to believe he’ll be chosen in the high teens or early 20s, as is the case here.
Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
The Bengals lost their Nos. 2 and 3 receivers in free agency, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu. Thus, they’ll be looking for help at the position early and often in the 2016 NFL Draft. They were one selection away from landing Laquon Treadwell in this mock, but the very athletic Josh Doctson would be quite appealing to them as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A’Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama
The Steelers typically use their first-round selection on a high-rated prospect who happens to fall to them, like Bud Dupree, Jarvis Jones, David DeCastro, etc. I’ve been trying to figure out who that would be this year, and I’m beginning to think it’s A’Shawn Robinson. The Alabama lineman is talented, but he’s had some sketchy interviews. He doesn’t have character concerns, but he has said some strange things and has shown a lack of interest for football. Thus, he could fall, and if he does, Pittsburgh will scoop him up in order to have a great defensive line rotation.

Pick change; previously William Jackson, CB

Seattle Seahawks: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
The “Legion of Boom” wasn’t as effective in 2015 as it was in previous years. Some will point to the absence of Byron Maxwell, but the greater issue was the mediocre pass rush, which produced 37 sacks. Making matters worse, Bruce Irvin is gone. It sounds like Frank Clark will be a factor in replacing him, but Seattle could still use another player or two who can get to the quarterback.

Pick change; previously Jonathan Bullard, DE/DT
Green Bay Packers: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
The need for a defensive lineman isn’t exactly dire for the Packers, but it’s an area that should be addressed now in the wake of B.J. Raji’s unexpected retirement. The Packers do have a number of options at this spot, however, so I can almost guarantee that there will be a different selection here in the final edition of my mock draft.

Pick change; previously Chris Jones, DE/DT
Kansas City Chiefs: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Whoa! There aren’t many mock drafts that have this happening, and probably for good reason. It’s still a possibility, however, if history is any sort of indication.

Alex Smith is 31. That’s not old for a quarterback by any means, but Donovan McNabb was 31 as well when Andy Reid spent the 36th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft on Kevin Kolb. And according to my nifty Windows 10 calculator, that’s just eight selections later than this one. Could history repeat itself, especially if Reid likes Lynch and is shocked to see him fall like this? Absolutely! I’m not saying it will happen, but it definitely could. It helps that the Chiefs have met with Lynch on multiple occasions.

Arizona Cardinals: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
One team we spoke to that covets Keanu Neal in the second round is afraid that he’ll be chosen Thursday night. The Cardinals are a likely candidate for that; they need safety help after their two starters embarrassed themselves in the NFC Championship.
Carolina Panthers: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Defensive end isn’t a huge current need for the Panthers, but that doesn’t matter too much because they’ll take the best player available. It seems like that would be Kevin Dodd. It’s also worth noting that Dodd could start in 2017 and beyond if Charles Johnson isn’t re-signed next offseason after he’s done his 1-year deal.

Pick change; previously Su’a Cravens, S
Denver Broncos: Jonathan Bullard, DE/DT, Florida
The Broncos had a nice pair of starting defensive ends in Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson, but the latter has signed elsewhere. Robert Nkemdiche was an interesting name here that I mocked last week, and I think he could still be an option. However, Jonathan Bullard is a much safer prospect at the same position.