2016 NFL Mock Draft – Overreaction

Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
2016 NFL Mock DRAFT – WALT’S | CHARLIE’S
Charlie Campbell was a senior writer at PewterReport.com.
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Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
The Titans have a good young left tackle in Taylor Lewan, but Tennessee’s offensive line as a unit could be improved to protect Marcus Mariota. If the Titans took Tunsil, they could move Lewan to the right side and have the best young tackle tandem in the NFL to protect their franchise quarterback.

This season, Tunsil demonstrated his phenomenal quickness, athleticism and abilities to bend and mirror. He has a ton of natural talent to be a blind-side protector. Tunsil was dominant in 2014 and arguably the best left tackle in the nation. Not only did he shut down pass-rushers, he achieved movement in the ground game.

After being suspended for seven games to start 2015, Tunsil returned to the field impressively for Ole Miss against Texas A&M and speed rusher Myles Garrett. Tunsil had some issues with Auburn’s Carl Lawson in his second game back, but still was solid. He was excellent against LSU.

Tunsil (6-5, 305) was one of the top recruits in the nation coming out of high school. As a freshman, he validated the hype when he broke into the starting lineup and became an All-SEC Second-Team selection by the AP. The conference’s coaches had him as an All-Freshman performer, and he was also named a Freshman All-American according to many media outlets.

Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, California
Obviously, Cleveland needs a franchise quarterback. The Browns also have cleaned house in the front office and coaching staff, and new regimes mean new quarterbacks. Goff is the more pro-ready signal-caller of the top-two options.

In 2015, Goff completed 64 percent of his passes for 4,719 yards with 43 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He has a quality, accurate arm as well as field vision. Goff also has functional mobility to avoid rushers and pick up some yards on the ground. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder is lanky and could use more weight. He also could have some issues with getting rattled and handling the rush in the NFL. Holding up against the pass rush at California led to him having some mechanical issues that he’s working on fixing.

Goff enjoyed a breakout 2014 season. The sophomore completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,973 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He displayed real pocket-passing potential while playing with a less-than-ideal supporting cast. Goff became the starter as a freshman in 2013 and completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Philadelphia Eagles: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
TRADE! Obviously, the Eagles need a franchise quarterback. Sam Bradford isn’t good enough to be the long-term starter, and the new head coach will want his own guy to build around.

To me, Lynch looks like a mix of Blake Bortles and Brock Osweiler as a prospect in terms of athletic skill set. Lynch completed 67 percent of his passes this season for 3,778 yards with 28 touchdowns and three interceptions. His arm can make all the throws for the pro game, and he also has flashed the ability to pass accurately and beat good coverage with precise completions into tight windows. Additionally, Lynch has the athleticism to make plays with his feet and throw on the run.

However, he is a project for the NFL. Lynch has a great skill set, but needs work as a pocket passer with developing his field vision.

Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The Cowboys may not keep Greg Hardy around for the long term and could use a bigger defensive end considering Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence are undersized for a 4-3 defense.

Since missing the 2015 season opener with a suspension, Bosa totaled 51 tackles with 16 for a loss and five sacks. While he didn’t play poorly, he wasn’t been as tenacious as he was in 2014, despite seeing single-block pass-rushing opportunities. Bosa looked better as a run defender. He managed to put pressure on quarterbacks, but wasn’t prolific in the pass rush. Sources say that Bosa is like another Ryan Kerrigan for the NFL and has been overhyped by the media.

During 2014, Bosa recorded 55 tackles with 13.5 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and a pass defended. He simply lived in opponents’ backfields. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder has some speed to go with natural strength. He possesses a burst off the snap and can turn the corner, but isn’t a true speed demon off the edge. As a sophomore, Bosa also showed good hands to shed blocks while working upfield. He racked up 44 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble that season.

Jacksonville Jaguars: DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
The Jaguars need to improve their offensive line and pass defense. On the other side from Dante Fowler Jr., Buckner would be an excellent end to get after quarterbacks.

In 2015, Buckner totaled 76 tackles with 16 for a loss, 9.5 sacks and five passes batted. He recorded 81 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, four sacks and four passes broken up in 2014.

Buckner has a serious combination of strength, speed and size. The 6-foot-7, 290-pounder has a similar skill set to former teammate Arik Armstead. Buckner displayed shown more pass-rushing skills this season and looks like he could be an impact-making defender at the next level.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
TRADE! The Buccaneers have to improve their pass defense this offseason, so they move up with Baltimore to get an upgrade. This isn’t a deep class of pass-rushers, so Tampa Bay jumps in front of a few teams that could take a pass-rusher after Bosa and Buckner go off the board.

The Bucs have to get better at pressuring the quarterback off the edge and covering receivers downfield. In the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, taking Ogbah would make a lot of sense. He is a sturdy base end for a 4-3 defense and would be a perfect fit in Lovie Smith’s version of the Tampa 2.

Ogbah totaled 64 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, three forced fumbles and 13 sacks in 2015. He was a consistent force in the pass rush while also being solid in run defense. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder broke out for the Cowboys in 2014 with 11 sacks, 49 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and five passes batted.

Ogbah has speed to go with size. While he isn’t a blinding speed rusher, he has a decent first-step with enough quickness to win around the corner. Ogbah also has the power to beat tackles with a bull rush or a strong rip move. He had a consistent and steady career at Oklahoma State.

San Francisco 49ers: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
San Francisco has nose tackle Ian Williams entering free agency and could use an upgrade over him anyway.

In 2015, Robinson recorded 43 tackles with seven for a loss and three sacks. He totaled 49 tackles with 7.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and two passes batted in his sophomore season. In 2013 as a freshman, Robinson was too good to keep on the sideline. He was an impressive defender for the Crimson Tide with 38 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks.

Robinson is a stout defender at the point of attack who can get after the quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder’s quick for his size and very strong. He is the best defensive lineman Alabama has produced since Marcel Dareus.

Miami Dolphins: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
As Odell Beckham Jr. illustrated, the Dolphins need a No. 1 corner. They would be fortunate to land Vernon Hargreaves or Kendall Fuller. Miami also needs to upgrade its safeties. Jalen Ramsey could fill a void at safety or be a press-man corner for the Dolphins. Any of those three defensive backs would make sense for Miami.

This year, Hargreaves totaled 33 tackles, four pass broken up, four interceptions and a forced fumble – off Leonard Fournette. He was having a good year before a late-season slump. Sources feel that Hargreaves can get bumped around and out-physicaled. He could stand to improve on that and his deep speed for the NFL.

Hargreaves was excellent as a cover corner over his career. He totaled 50 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes broken up in 2014. Hargreaves went toe to toe with Amari Cooper that season and held his own. Both players showcased their elite skills and proved to be top prospects for the NFL. Cooper made some catches over Hargreaves, but unlike other defensive backs, Cooper wasn’t getting separation or burning the Gator cover corner.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Hargreaves has natural cover skills to run with wideouts and not allow separation. Sources have said that Hargreaves is a star off the field as well as a good teammate, worker and citizen. As a true freshman in 2013, he recorded interceptions in his first three college games while totaling 11 pass breakups and 38 tackles for the year.

Baltimore Ravens: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
TRADE! After moving down with Tampa Bay, the Ravens gets a pass-rusher for their 3-4 scheme. They need a young edge rusher to be the long-term replacement for either Terrell Suggs or Elvis Dumervil.

Floyd notched 74 tackles with 10.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks this season. He is a speedy defender who is just scratching the surface of his potential. Floyd is a natural pass-rusher with agility and a knack for getting to the quarterback. His ability to bend around the corner is extremely rare.

In 2014, the sophomore had 55 tackles with six sacks, two forced fumbles and 8.5 tackles for a loss. Floyd’s run defense was a liability, and it caused him to get benched for a short time. Floyd totaled 55 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks in 2013. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder played at Hargrave Military Academy for a season after high school.

New York Giants: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
The Giants have needed a play-maker at linebacker for years, and that was exposed on Sunday once again. DeMarco Murray had a 54-yard touchdown run, while Zach Ertz caught nine passes for 152 yards. Ryan Mathews also had 54 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns out of the backfield. New York would land an instant upgrade in Smith.

Smith has the skills to cover in the passing game and make a big impact against the run. In 2015, the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder has totaled 115 tackles, nine for a loss, one sack, four passes broken up and one forced fumble (he was robbed of one by the official scorer). Smith suffered an injury in his bowl game, so he could be available here for the Giants.

In 2014, Smith was all over the field for the Fighting Irish with 112 tackles with nine tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks and two passes defended. Smith has speed and athleticism in the middle of the field with the ability to start on the inside or the outside.

Chicago Bears: Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
The Bears look to rebuild their defense with a linebacker who could restore the great tradition in Chicago.

Jack notched 15 tackles, one interception and a pass broken up in his shortened 2015 season. He also had two carries for seven yards and a touchdown on offense. The junior suffered a knee injury in practice that ended his year in only September. He withdrew from UCLA early to prepare for the 2016 NFL Draft.

As a sophomore, Jack racked up 87 tackles with eight tackles for a loss, seven passes broken up, one interception and one forced fumble. While only a freshman starter in 2013, Jack became a superstar who was named the Pac-12’s Offensive AND Defensive Freshman of the Year. On the defensive side of the ball, he recorded 75 tackles with 11 passes broken up and two interceptions. His pass-coverage skills for a freshman were outstanding. Jack ran for 267 yards on 38 carries (7.0 average) with seven touchdowns, too.

Jack’s natural pass-coverage skills are extremely impressive. NFL evaluators are going to love what he can do in the passing game. Don’t be surprised if the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder improves annually with his huge upside.

New Orleans Saints: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
After setting a record for touchdown passes allowed, the Saints need to improve their pass defense. Here is a No. 1 corner for New Orleans.

Some sources have said that if Fuller had stayed healthy and played like he did in 2014, he would be the top cornerback prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. Because of that, don’t be surprised if the junior steadily rises in the lead-up to the draft. Some teams have higher draft grades on Fuller than Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey.

Fuller had a rough start to 2015 when he was beaten by Michael Thomas for a touchdown, but aside from that play, Fuller was solid against a very talented Ohio State team. He only ended up playing in two games before going out for the year due to knee surgery. Fuller recorded seven tackles, one sack and a pass broken up in his shortened season.

Fuller played at a very high level in 2014, racking up 17 passes broken up, two interceptions, 50 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss. He shut down East Carolina’s Justin Hardy in their matchup. Pittsburgh’s Tyler Boyd was a challenge for Fuller, but Fuller held his own.

The younger brother of Chicago 2014 NFL Draft first-round pick Kyle Fuller, Kendall Fuller saw the field immediately as a freshman. He was a Freshman All-American and the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Fuller is quick and instinctive, just like his older brother. Kendall Fuller had six interceptions and 58 tackles in his debut season.

San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, S/CB, Florida State
TRADE! After moving down with the Eagles, the Chargers land a replacement for Eric Weddle. It has become crystal clear that Weddle is leaving San Diego.

In 2015, Ramsey totaled 50 tackles, 10 passes broken up, zero interceptions and a fumble returned for a touchdown. Sources say that they feel that Ramsey is more special at safety and prefer him there to cornerback. Ramsey was a force at safety, but spent 2015 at cornerback. He showed that he can he be a press-man corner, but isn’t great in off-man or zone. Ramsey struggles to prevent separation from speed receivers and sudden route-runners. The game tapes against South Florida and Miami, among others, illustrate those issues. Ramsey’s okay at corner, but a special player at safety.

Ramsey (6-1, 204) was one of Florida State’s best defenders in 2014, notching a lot of clutch tackles. He totaled 79 stops, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 12 passes broken up, two interceptions and two forced fumbles on the year. As a freshman in 2013, Ramsey started on the Seminoles’ National Championship team at safety and cornerback. He recorded 49 tackles and an interception that season.

Oakland Raiders: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Oakland could stand to improve its offensive tackles to give Derek Carr better protection. Stanley could be the long-term replacement Donald Penn.

Stanley is athletic and quick. He possesses good length to him and sustains his blocks pretty well. Stanley has the speed and agility to mirror speed rushers and is a skilled blind-side protector. His significant athleticism allows him to hit blocks downfield as well.

However, Stanley needs to add more power and play with more mean streak, and he has to improve his ability to avoid mental mistakes with penalties. Stanley can struggle with physical defensive linemen (see Clemson and Shaq Lawson). He could stand to add some strength for the NFL.

Stanley (6-5, 315) generated a ton of late-season buzz in 2014, and he put an exclamation point on it by getting the better of the top 2015 NFL Draft-eligible defensive lineman in USC’s Leonard Williams in limited plays against each other. In 2013, Stanley started at right tackle and was part of a line that allowed only eight sacks on the season.

St. Louis Rams: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
The Rams could use a big receiver to pair with Tavon Austin. They need an upgrade over Kenny Britt, while Brian Quick hasn’t panned out. Here’s a receiver who could help improve the passing offense for St. Louis. Treadwell would also help the team’s blocking for Todd Gurley.

The 6-foot-2, 229-pound Treadwell is a natural receiver who is good at winning 50-50 passes and running after the catch. However, he lacks the speed to separate from a lot of defensive backs. The big wideout also is a phenomenal blocker.

In 2015, Treadwell had 82 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He recorded 48 receptions for 632 yards and five touchdowns in 2014 before an ugly injury ended his season. Treadwell caught 72 receptions for 608 yards with five scores in 2013.

Detroit Lions: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
The Lions grab a nose tackle to cause disruption next to Ziggy Ansah. Billings has more talent and upside than any offensive lineman available.

Billings totaled 39 tackles with 14 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 2015. The numbers don’t tell the whole story as he is extremely powerful with some serious quickness. Billings can be overwhelming in the ground game and contribute to the pass rush. He causes a lot of disruption at the point of attack by using his power and explosion to fire into the backfield. Billings totaled 37 tackles with 11.5 for a loss and two sacks in 2014. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder is also known as a weight-room champion.

Go to Overreaction 2016 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-31

Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.

Other 2016 NFL Mock Drafts:

2016 NFL Mock Draft – Walt’s

Charlie Campbell’s 2016 NFL Mock Draft

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