The 2016 NFL Draft marks a new beginning for young players and the teams that are about to draft them.
And it’s close.
Teams are finalizing their big boards right around this time in order to nail down their top prospects for this upcoming draft.
Unlike what we’ve seen in years past, there isn’t a true No. 1 player in the class at quarterback. It’s also a weak class as a whole. Only 22 players made a first-round grade in my book.
With each pick, I’ll give the prospect a grade based on film, athleticism and projection to the NFL. The grade is based on where I would personally take the player depending on the evaluation I’ve done. Anything with a top 25 or better grade is a solid first-round pick. Anything with top 30-top 40 is a fringe first rounder.
1. LB Myles Jack, UCLA: Top 5
Myles Jack is definitely the best player in this year’s draft. After watching film on the entire class, there’s not a single player that combines his versatility, athleticism and leadership in this draft. Jack can man-up on a wide receiver. He can play a zone effectively. He can stack and shed versus the run with the best of them. The only true holes in his profile come from his injury history.
2. S/CB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State: Top 10
Jalen Ramsey in any other draft is a top 5-10 talent and not the second-best player. He’s someone who can play the deep third effectively the way any NFL free safety needs to. Ramsey also has the ability to drop down to the nickel as a third cornerback and give teams a headache when he’s moving around in formations. He’s like Tyrann Mathieu with better size and less off-field concerns coming into the NFL.
3. OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss: Top 10
Arguably the most athletic left tackle to come out of the draft in a long time, Laremy Tunsil has great footwork to match. His game lacks the power that most top tackles would have, but he is still effective in the run game. He should also be able to provide great pass protection early on as long as he doesn’t lapse in his technique. Tunsil could be a dark-horse for the No. 1 overall pick despite not being a finished product.
4. CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida: Top 10
There’s something to be said about the power of film. If it was just based on athletic numbers, Hargreaves might be considered a mid-first round prospect. But his film shows someone who can be a shut-down cornerback. He makes plays in both the run game and the passing game. If he had performed better at the combine, he would easily have earned a top-5 grade.
5. DL Joey Bosa, Ohio State: Top 10
Joey Bosa at No. 5?! Yes. Because while he’s a great pass rusher and one of the best players in this class, he’s not a game-changing talent and sure as hell isn’t the next J.J. Watt. He doesn’t have the power that Watt has. What Bosa does have is the ability to be one of the best strong-side ends in a 4-3 in the NFL. The only thing that could derail his career is getting drafted into a 3-4.
6. EDGE Shaq Lawson, Clemson: Top 10
Unlike most, I don’t see much difference between Shaq Lawson and Joey Bosa. Both players are exceptional pass rushers, good against the run and have great NFL-sized frames that should allow the transition into the league to be much easier for them than for most. Lawson and Bosa both are also leaders from squads that played in national championship games.
7. OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame: Top 15
Ronnie Stanley is a guy who didn’t time well at the combine, but don’t let that fool you. He utilizes great footwork and understands how to use angles to his advantage in pass protection. LeCharles Bentley loves to say that it’s more about intelligence and technique on the line than brute power or overall athleticism. Stanley is the ideal example of that. He should contribute at left tackle from day one.
8. EDGE Leonard Floyd, Georgia: Top 15
As much as I like Leonard Floyd, this is the only class in the last five years that he would be ranked above No. 20. His positives come from his pass-rushing prowess and versatility within schemes. He’ll have a role in the NFL where he’s asked to do a lot of things well, even if he doesn’t have one thing that he does exceptionally well.
9. QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: Top 15
When in comes to quarterbacks, the bigger, stronger, more mobile ones will score higher for me than most. It’s about tools here with Carson Wentz. He’s got a bigger frame and a good arm. He’s mobile and can attack defenses in multiple ways. Honestly, the difference between Wentz and Blake Bortles coming out isn’t too much, and Bortles had a top-15 grade for me.
10. DL DeForest Buckner, Oregon: Top 15
Taller, longer, more athletic defensive ends and tackles with basketball backgrounds seems to be the goal for quite a bit of teams out there. Guys like DeForest Buckner even three or four years ago would normally be coming out of the draft as offensive tackles. However, Buckner, with his frame, takes double teams well and can create pass rush at a position normally reserved for space eating.
11. OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State: Top 20
When it comes to being a good offensive tackle in the NFL, pass-blocking skills are paramount. Taylor Decker would come into the league already competent as a pass blocker, but his run blocking needs to be improved. That’s a matter of leverage, though. And at 6’7”, 315 pounds, he will struggle with that until he refines his overall technique.
12. CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson: Top 20
Marcus Peters showed last year that athleticism isn’t the end-all, be-all at cornerback. Mackensie Alexander is a Peters clone who looks like a guy who will make a big impact early on. He’s effective in man coverage and equally as solid in zone. His biggest issue comes from his technique. But as Desmond Trufant showed when he came out, Alexander can improve that early on and turn into a top corner quickly.
13. QB Jared Goff, California: Top 20
Some players have skill sets that just drive opponents nuts due to how unique they are. Drew Brees is one that drove the Atlanta Falcons crazy for years with his ability to make pinpoint throws after evading pressure that he seemingly felt out of nowhere. Jared Goff has a unique similarity to Brees in that he can do similar things while under pressure.
14. DL Sheldon Rankins, Louisville: Top 20
Aaron Donald and Geno Atkins opened the door for people to want to start looking at first-round undersized defensive tackles like Sheldon Rankins. However, Rankins isn’t as talented as either guy — as an athlete or as a pass rusher. What he does provide is a much more well-rounded game that those to didn’t show until their second and third seasons, respectively.
15. WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss: Top 20
While wide receiver is very weak in this class, there are a pair of coveted gems. Laquon Treadwell isn’t a great athlete at the position, but he does a couple things well that translate into success at the NFL level. Sometimes, if a guy is technically sound, has great hands and a good head on his shoulders, he sees success. Anquan Boldin is proof of that.
16. LB Darron Lee, Ohio State: Top 20
Athleticism at linebacker is an important trait. Darron Lee has that in spades. However, he doesn’t have the requisite experience or physicality to be on the same level as Myles Jack on the field. Lee should be a good contributor long term, but he may never be more than an above-average linebacker in the NFL.
17. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State: Top 25
Ezekiel Elliott is arguably the best running back outside of Todd Gurley to come out since Adrian Peterson. However, he’s still playing a position in which his success is a function of the offensive players around him. Elliott should be extremely impactful as a rookie in terms of stats and what he brings to a team. But does that translate to wins?
18. QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis: Top 25
Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and if you can show similarities to someone who has had success in the past, it makes your value in the draft that much higher. Paxton Lynch has similarities to Joe Flacco, but he seems to be a better athlete with worse deep ball accuracy coming out.
19. DL Andrew Billings, Baylor: Top 25
Nose tackle is a position that is normally very easy to replace in the NFL. Andrew Billings brings a value that most nose tackles don’t have, though. Considering most nose tackles play just 30-40 percent of a team’s snaps, endurance is important for one that needs to get drafted high. Billings has an endurance and a skill-set that should keep him on the field for 60-65 percent of the snaps.
20. DL Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State: Top 25
Emmanuel Ogbah is a fun player to watch, because he’ll produce a ton of stats and impact a game. However, his consistency issues are maddening. He possesses the potential and athleticism to be a top NFL pass rusher. His consistency and technique has to improve drastically for him to make that kind of impact, though.
21. WR Corey Coleman, Baylor: Top 25
Corey Coleman is a bit of a Steve Smith clone. He’s got better size than the long-time Panther and Raven, but his game play and style is very similar. If Smith was in the draft today, he’d be given a similar grade.
22. EDGE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky: Top 25
On-field play and off-field issues don’t seem to match up for Noah Spence. He’s got all the talent in the world, but off-field questions and average athleticism for the position make him tough to project.
23. DL Jonathan Bullard, Florida: Top 30
Jonathan Bullard’s biggest issue is his fit within schemes. While he’s a very good overall player, he’s only really a great fit as a 3-technique in the 4-3 scheme, similar to Jonathan Babineaux of the Atlanta Falcons.
24. OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana: Top 30
Athleticism is the name of the game for Jason Spriggs. He’s still extremely raw on the field technically, but teams should fall in love with how quickly he can get his massive body moving. He projects best as a left tackle.
25. LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama: Top 30
Reggie Ragland is a tremendous run defender. He can stack and shed and read running plays better than pretty much anyone else in this class. But athletically and in coverage, Ragland shows weaknesses. His best comparison is Curtis Lofton.