Here is my second edition of my 2016 NFL Mock Draft. Sorry I haven't done one in a while and so much has changed with the top two picks being traded and free agency going on.
1. Los Angeles Rams (via Tennessee Titans)- Jared Goff, Quarterback, California: The Rams badly need a franchise quarterback and they hope either Goff or Carson Wentz could be the answer. Before they left St. Louis, the Rams built quite a framework – nasty defense, young offensive line, offensive rookie of the year Todd Gurley– capable of supporting a young quarterback. All indications point to Goff moving down the road to L.A. and assuming that job. His decision making and accuracy could vault him past incumbent starter Case Keenum by the time Week 1 arrives.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (via Cleveland Browns)- Carson Wentz, Quarterback, North Dakota State: The Eagles trading up to this spot is a clear indicator that they want to draft a quarterback. Wentz has the luxury of being able to sit for a year or two behind Sam Bradford and/or Chase Daniel. Not that those particular guys have much to teach him, but he does need some time before he's ready.
3. San Diego Chargers- Laremy Tunsil, Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss: The Bolts could certainly opt for defense – they ranked 20th last year – but they're probably better served bolstering a pocket QB Philip Rivers is virtually incapable of escaping (more so than ever) at age 34. O-line issues plagued the Chargers in 2015, Rivers has been sacked an average of 39 times a year since 2012, and a blue-chip blocker like Tunsil should surely improve the AFC's worst ground game.
4. Dallas Cowboys- Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback/Safety, Florida State: The Eagles' trade puts to rest the notion Dallas will take a quarterback here, but it also ensures Jerry Jones and Co. will have an elite position player fall to them. Given how disappointing (and expensive) corners Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne have been, plus the fact nickelback Orlando Scandrick is trying to come back from two torn knee ligaments, the gifted Ramsey makes perfect sense, especially given he can play anywhere in the secondary.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Joey Bosa, Defensive End, Ohio State: The Jags allowed the most points in the AFC last season, so defense is clearly their primary need. They also managed just 36 sacks, not enough in a division suddenly flush with young, athletic quarterbacks. Enter Bosa, a high-effort, every-down player who would form a nice long-term edge tandem with 2015 first-round defensive end Dante Fowler, who's coming off a torn ACL.
6. Baltimore Ravens- DeForest Buckner, Defensive End, Oregon: He's a snug fit from a schematic and talent perspective for a defense that surrendered 401 points in 2015 and needs to reload with younger players.
7. San Francisco 49ers- Myles Jack, Linebacker, UCLA: Without getting an inside glimpse at all 32 teams’ draft boards, it is going to be impossible to pin down the exact fallout from Jack’s recent, reportedly disappointing medical recheck. While the 49ers can ill afford another injury redshirt or shortened career, they also are shy on defensive playmakers. Assuming Jack’s methodical recovery has him ready for 2016, landing him at No. 7 would be a steal.
8. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins)- Ronnie Stanley, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame: Do they have another deal in the works? Might they be targeting Lynch with the idea of sitting him behind Robert Griffin III for the next year or two? But assuming the Browns stick at No. 8, Stanley makes a whole lot of sense since protection for RG3 (or whomever is under center) is of paramount concern, there's a gaping hole at right tackle after Mitchell Schwartz left town, and Stanley's natural position of left tackle might make the long-rumored trade of Joe Thomas more palatable for a team that clearly wants to hoard draft picks and cap space for future years.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Vernon Hargreaves III, Cornerback, Florida: The Bucs would love a pass rusher, but they won't turn down adding one of the top corners in the draft. He will make plenty of plays on the ball, and he tackles, as well.
10. New York Giants- Shaq Lawson, Defensive End, Clemson: Lawson would be a great fit on Big Blue's revamped defensive line. He, Olivier Vernon, and Jason Pierre-Paul would form a great trio on that defensive line.
11. Chicago Bears- Leonard Floyd, Linebacker, Georgia: The Bears need some speed off the edge, and that's exactly what Floyd brings to the table.
12. New Orleans Saints- Sheldon Rankins, Defensive Tackle, Louisville: Rankins is an interior destroyer that should help the Saints against both the run and the pass. There are few teams more in need of help along their defensive front.
13. Miami Dolphins (via Philadelphia Eagles)- Ezequiel Elliott, Running Back, Ohio State: The Dolphins tried and failed to find a running back elsewhere, and would luck out with Elliott falling to No. 13 here. Hopefully they trust him enough to feed him the ball more often than they did Lamar Miller.
14. Oakland Raiders- William Jackson III, Cornerback, Houston: Jackson helps round out a secondary that has been a work in progress all offseason. The Raiders signed Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson to help fill out the defensive backfield, but another body would really help turn a weakness into a strength.
15. Tennessee Titans (via Los Angeles Rams)- Jack Conklin, Tackle, Michigan State: Don't be surprised if GM Jon Robinson brokers yet another deal to get into position for Tunsil or Stanley. But Conklin could be a very good fallback given his ability to plug in on the right side (allowing Taylor Lewan to remain at left tackle) while upgrading the blocking for QB Marcus Mariota and new RB DeMmarco Murray.
16. Detroit Lions- Taylor Decker, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State: With wideout Calvin Johnson retired, the Lions must recalibrate their offense. That means better protection for Matthew Stafford, sacked 89 times over the last two seasons, and a revival of the league's worst rushing attack, which should be better given the presence of talented running back Ammer Abdulah.
17. Atlanta Falcons- Darron Lee, Linebacker, Ohio State: Arguably more than anything else, the Falcons need some athleticism on their defense. Drafting Vic Beasley last year was a start. Adding Lee would be a good next step.
18. Indianapolis Colts- Reggie Ragland, Linebacker, Alabama: The Colts are lacking youth in their linebacking corps. The value for a pass rusher is not there, so they secure the middle of their defense with the addition of Ragland.
19. Buffalo Bills- Laquon Treadquell, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss: Buffalo needs more playmakers in the passing game, and Treadwell makes for a good fit with Sammy Watkins on the outside. Tryod Taylor should have fun throwing to those two.
20. New York Jets- Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Memphis: What will the next week bring for the Jets, as it pertains to their QB spot? Ryan Fitzpatrick’s return? Brian Hoyer’s arrival? No matter the outcome, they’re scrambling for 2016 and in limbo for 2017.
21. Washington Redskins- Jarran Reed, Defensive Tackle, Alabama: Losing Terrance Knighton hurts Washington's front line. Reed will collapse the pocket more often on pass plays than "Pot Roast" did.
22. Houston Texans- Josh Docston, Wide Receiver, TCU: DeAndre Hopkins working every route in the book on one side of the field, while Doctson stretches the field vertically? Sounds like a recipe for offensive success for new quarterback Brock Osweiler.
23. Minnesota Vikings- Will Fuller, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame: With Fuller and Stefon Diggs, the Vikes have the start of a real wide receiver corps for the first time in a while. It helps that they'll have Adrian Peterson running behind an improved offensive line to give Teddy Bridgewater some better lanes through which to throw.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Corey Coleman, Wide Receiver, Baylor: Cincinnati lost both Muhammed Sanu and Marvin Jones in free agency and now they have a void at receiver. Coleman would fill that void and fit nicely with AJ Green.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mackensie Alexander, Cornerback, Clemson: Alexander was at one point considered arguably the top corner on the board, but he's been falling in recent weeks. If he makes it this far, the Steelers should pounce.
26. Seattle Seahawks- Ryan Kelly, Center, Alabama: This team sorely missed center Max Unger in 2015 and has fresh holes to fill on its offensive line.
27. Green Bay Packers- Chris Jones, Defensive End, Mississippi State: Jones is versatile enough to play inside or outside in the Packers' scheme. He should be an effective part of the team's rotation up front immediately, which Dom Capers needs due to the departure of nose tackle BJ Raji.
28. Kansas City Chiefs- Artie Burns, Cornerback, Miami (FL): Burns is a late-rising prospect like former Miami teammates Ereck Flowers and Phillip Dorsett last year. Call it the Al Golden effect. He's not the most technically sound corner, but he's a playmaker. He'd make a fun partner for Marcus Peters.
29. Arizona Cardinals- TJ Green, Safety, Clemson: Don't be surprised if Green leapfrogs his former teammate, Mackensie Alexander, in this draft. Last year, Byron Jones rode good film and a great workout into a late first-round selection (27th overall to Dallas). Green Bay also selected a safety to convert him to corner. Green has the athleticism to make the move outside, freeing up veteran Tyvon Branch and stud defender Tyrann Mathieu to work inside.
30. Carolina Panthers- Eli Apple, Cornerback, Ohio State: Now that the Panthers took the franchise tag off Josh Norman, he is now an unrestricted free agent. Apple would be a quality replacement for Norman in the secondary.
31. Denver Broncos- Robert Nkemdiche, Defensive End, Ole Miss: Nkemdiche will cause more problems for opposing quarterbacks than for himself if he winds up with the Broncos. He'll replace Malik Jackson on that defensive line.
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