2016 NFL Mock Draft 4.0

Draft season is in full swing. The hype trains have left the stations and the rumor mill is already pumping. All is quiet at the top for now, but things can change in a hurry -- especially after this month's combine. Carson Wentz capitalized in the spotlight last week at the Senior Bowl and now Jared Goff will get his shot in Indianapolis. Will the Browns, Cowboys, 49ers or Rams fall in love with one of them? We'll see. For now, this is how I see it playing out in Chicago.

1. Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, LT, Ole Miss

Protecting Marcus Mariota has been the focus since Ken Whisenhunt was fired.  That shouldn't change now. Tunsil is the best player available for my money and would provide the most immediate help for Mariota. I know everyone is frustrated with the return on investment from previous offensive line acquistions, but that doesn't mean that you quit trying. Let's fix this line once and for all.

I know everyone will look at the Super Bowl results and want to build the pass rush, but let's be clear -- there is not a Von Miller in this draft class.  Joey Bosa isn't Von Miller and he isn't J.J. Watt.  He's a 4-3, hand in the dirt end -- a position that the Titans don't have in their 3-4 base front.

Look at the other side of the scenario, too. Carolina's line was exposed and Cam Newton paid the price. I'd rather take the better fit (Tunsil) rather than forcing Joey Bosa to play out of position.

2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, California

Pretty simple here. Johnny is out and the Browns are once again in need of a quarterback. This could very easily end up being Lynch or Wentz, but I think Goff has the best tape out there and is probably the closest to game-ready.

3. San Diego Chargers: DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon

The Chargers struggled up front all season long and land a true five tech defender here.  Buckner is a length/strength type player that I think has a chance to be dominant if he lands in the right spot.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State

There's a lot of momentum here for Carson Wentz, but I'm thinking that the Cowboys will want a more immediate impact.  Tony Romo will be back healthy next season, but that window is closing.  Ramsey is a chess piece that can be used all over the secondary, providing Dallas with plenty of versatility.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Best player available here.  Bosa would add to a pass rush that gets back Dante Fowler, forming a potentially potent duo.

6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

The Ravens need help up front, so why not take the best lineman left on the board? Stanley will help protect Joe Flacco, who will be coming back off of an ACL tear.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

I'm betting Chip Kelly would love to hand pick his next quarterback. Colin Kaepernick has been rumored to be on the trade market while Blaine Gabbert isn't a long term answer.  In steps one of the draft's most talked about prospects, Carson Wentz.  Wentz has the arm and athletic ability to be a really intriguing player at the next level. I don't know if he's a perfect fit for Chip, but the 49ers have to do something to address the quarterback situation.

8. Miami Dolphins: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

The Dolphins must address the center of their front seven early on.  Myles Jack is a truly special and dynamic athlete that could play a number of different roles for Miami.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

There are bigger needs, but why not pair the twitchy, athletic Nkemdiche inside with Gerald McCoy? Nkemdiche has an electric burst, but he must get more consistent with his hands to be dominant.  The tools are all there, however.

10. New York Giants: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame

The Giants haven't drafted a linebacker in the first round in ages, but Smith is special enough to change that.  He's long, fluid and quick. If his knee checks out, he should be in play for a top ten pick.

11. Chicago Bears: Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky

Spence probably made the most money of anyone at the Senior Bowl.  The former Buckeye could rise as high as number six overall before it's all said and done.

12. New Orleans Saints: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Anyone that saw Brandon Browner play last season won't argue this selection. Alexander and Delvin Breaux would be a nice combo.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

The Eagles secondary was routinely torched last season. With a decent front seven already in place for Schwartz, look for the Eagles to add to the secondary early and often.

14. Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama

A bit of a surprise here, but the Raiders missed the boat on the secondary help.  Ragland fills a need and would bring a leader to a promising defense.

15. Los Angeles Rams: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

The Rams have to do something different under center next year.  If Lynch gets to them, I would expect them to jump all over him.  Look for the Rams to get into some trade talks, armed with two second round picks in the 40s.

16. Detroit Lions: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

I just don't think Treadwell will test all that well at the combine, which will confirm some concerns many saw on tape. Separation issues could doom him to the teens this spring. This would be an ideal scenario for the Lions, who have appeared to lose Calvin Johnson.

17. Atlanta Falcons: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

Dan Quinn added pass rush last season, but if his past is any indication, he isn't done. Lawson really stepped up and filled the shoes that Vic Beasley left last year at Clemson.

18. Indianapolis Colts: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

The Colts need pass rushers and pass protectors. Same story every year, it seems. The tackle group falls off after Tunsil and Stanley, but it there are plenty of interesting options here, starting with Conklin.

19. Buffalo Bills: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

The Bills have yet to find an answer at right tackle. Neither Kouandjio or Henderson has worked out, so time to try again with the long and athletic Jason Spriggs.

20. New York Jets: Cody Whitehair, OL, Kansas State

The Jets have a few potential holes up front to fill.  Whitehair played at left tackle for Kansas State, but is projected inside at the next level.  He's a versatile piece that should be a valuable commodity on day one.

21. Washington Redskins: Darian Thompson, S, Boise State

Thompson was another big winner in Mobile.  His aggressive style and impressive instincts could find him a home on day one.

22. Houston Texans: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Arian Foster's time in Houston is done and the Texans have nothing left behind him.  Elliott is a complete back who does a little bit of everything.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

Stefon Diggs was quite a find late last year, but he can't do it alone. Time to keep building.  Doctson would give Teddy a ridiculous vertical and redzone threat.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

The Bengals got younger on the offensive line last year, time to do the same this season on the defensive front. Reed overshadowed the bigger name at Alabama (A'Shawn Robinson) all year long in 2015.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

Weird spot for Pittsburgh here. Kind of in between corner tiers, but they'll reach a little to grab Apple. He'll need to get better in run support, but he has the size at 6-1 that you're looking for.

26. Seattle Seahawks: Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville

Seattle continues to add to the front. Rankins really stood out in one on one drills at the Senior Bowl, vaulting him into the back-half of the first round.

27. Green Bay Packers: A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama

B.J. Raji's time in Green Bay may be done, but luckily for the Packers there are plenty of defensive line prospects to choose from in this range.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

Coleman just seems like an Andy Reid receiver, right? He's small, but aggressive and electric. He'll have to learn a lot quickly, but his athletic ability should allow him to grow into a productive player.

29. Arizona Cardinals: Leonard Floyd, EDGE, Georgia

The Cardinals' pass rush is an aging group and could use an infusion of youth.  Floyd is a little light in the trunk, but could grow into a full time player within a year or so.

30. Carolina Panthers: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

If you need an explanation for this pick, just watch the Super Bowl one more time. Mike Remmers and Michael Oher got worked.

31. Denver Broncos: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State

Denver is set to lose a couple of pieces out of that front seven, so we could see linebacker be the pick here over offensive line, despite that being a bigger need.

Round 2

32. Cleveland Browns: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State

33. Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

While I'm not in love with this pick (Only because I love the RB crop next year), it just makes a lot of sense with the way the board fell.  There really isn't a corner or safety worth taking at this spot and receiver is plenty deep to hold off another round.  I think this is where you'll see Jon Robinson trade down, rather than pick number one.

Henry would give Mularkey his "bell-cow" and should send a jolt into what was a stagnant rushing attack last season. The additions of Tunsil and Henry back to back would hopefully give Marcus Mariota a decent start to a run game that he didn't have his rookie season.

34. Dallas Cowboys: Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA

35. San Diego Chargers: Von Bell, S, Ohio State

36. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Dodd, EDGE, Clemson

37. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh

38. Jacksonville Jaguars: William Jackson, CB, Houston

39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

40. New York Giants: Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas

41. Chicago Bears: Su'a Craves, S, USC

42. Miami Dolphins: Shilique Calhoun, EDGE, Michigan State

43. Los Angeles Rams: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State

44. Oakland Raiders: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford

45. Los Angeles Rams: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

46. Detroit Lions: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

47. New Orleans Saints: Adolphus Washinton, DL, Ohio State

48. Indianapolis Colts: Jon Bullard, DL, Florida

49. Buffalo Bills: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

50. Atlanta Falcons: Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers

51. New York Jets: Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech

52. Houston Texans: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State

53. Washington Redskins: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

54. Minnesota Vikings: Vadal Alexander, OL, LSU

55. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

56. Seattle Seahawks: Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa

57. Green Bay Packers: Jeremy Cash, SS, Duke

58. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendall Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech

59. Kansas City Chiefs: Bronson Kaufusi, DL, BYU

60. New England Patriots: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech

61. Arizona Cardinals: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

62. Carolina Panthers: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah

63. Denver Broncos: Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn

Bonus Pick

64. Tennessee Titans: Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor