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2016 NFL Mock Draft: Bosa to the Bucs
The Sports Xchange
It was a rough season opener for Tampa Bay as Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans steamrolled the Bucs, 42-14. Mariota outplayed fellow rookie Jameis Winston, but there were more glaring issues for Tampa than the quarterback position, specifically on defense. The Bucs are missing an impact pass rusher, but the addition of Ohio State star Joey Bosa would immediately address that issue next spring.
Regarding the 2016 NFL Draft, we know the when (April 28-30, 2016) – and the where (Chicago), but the “who” and “why” are two questions we’ll be debating via mock drafts over the next eight months. A mock draft this early in the process isn’t about accuracy, but rather it’s more about scenarios and potential outcomes, matching prospects with possible teams based on what we know right now.
1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-1) – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: The Bucs invested heavily on the offensive side in last spring’s draft, but that theme should switch to defense in the 2016 class. After missing the opener due to suspension, Bosa was active all day vs. Hawaii, showing power, quickness and veteran savvy few 20 year olds possess.
2. OAKLAND RAIDERS (0-1) – Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss: Oakland has some momentum as a team on the rise, and a big reason for that is the promise of recent first round picks Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. Can the Raiders nail the first round three straight years? Tunsil is a plug-and-play left tackle with tremendous body control for a player his size.
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1) – Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss: The Jaguars’ coaching staff and front office value versatility on the defensive line and Nkemdiche offers just that with his athletic ability to line up inside as a three technique or outside at end. He isn’t yet a polished product, but his potential is enticing.
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1) – Jared Goff, QB, California: Until Johnny Manziel shows the Browns that he can be the long-term solution, the quarterback position is a need area in Cleveland. The 2016 class of quarterbacks lacks a no-brainer top pick, but Goff might be the cleanest option with his smarts, anticipation and arm talent.
5. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-1) – Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State: The Redskins will be in the market for a quarterback with this pick, but they also need help at other positions on the roster, including adding an impact defender in the secondary. Ramsey is a hybrid defensive back with a very high football ceiling.
6. NY JETS (1-0) – Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are suitable short-term options, but Jets GM Mike Maccagnan will be on the lookout for an upgrade through the draft. Cook is far from a flawless passer, but he has the physical skillset and confidence that NFL teams will want to develop.
7. TENNESSEE TITANS (1-0) – Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: Time will tell if rookie Jeremiah Poutasi is the long-term answer at right tackle, but he is ideally-suited inside at guard. Stanley needs some mechanical work, but he is a dancing bear with excellent athleticism for his size.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS (0-0) – Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame: A twitched-up athlete, Smith is an explosive player with a do-it-all skillset at linebacker, showing the ability to be an effective blitzer, run defender and cover man. He would give Falcons head coach Dan Quinn a versatile option in his multiple scheme, probably best suited on the weak side.
9. ST. LOUIS RAMS (1-0) – Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida: The Rams currently have two former Florida Gators on the cornerback depth chart (Janoris Jenkins, Marcus Roberson) – so why not one more? Hargreaves is a sticky cover man with the toughness to match up as a run defender and play above his measureables.
10. BUFFALO BILLS (1-0) – Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State: Buffalo’s quarterback situation has been a mess for quite some time and the combination of Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel and E.J. Manuel isn’t the answer. Jones is raw, but will be an attractive prospect to NFL teams because of his physical tools.
11. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0) – DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: The Chiefs have built one of the top front-seven defenses in the NFL, but that won’t stop the front office from getting bigger and stronger in the trenches. Buckner has a lot of untapped potential and should be one of the first seniors drafted in April.
12. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1) – Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: The Saints swung and missed on 2014 second rounder Stanley Jean-Baptiste and there is limited depth or youth at the cornerback depth chart behind Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner. Fuller is a good-sized athlete with the instincts and physicality to see the field early in the NFL.
13. NY GIANTS (0-1) – Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA: The Giants have been mixing and matching linebackers throughout the Tom Coughlin regime and while it would be out of character for the Giants to draft a linebacker so early (last time New York drafted a linebacker first round was 1984), it would be worth breaking tradition for a playmaker like Jack.
14. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (0-0) – Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU: The 49ers have more than a few holes to fill on the roster next offseason, including at cornerback. White doesn’t receive the amount of national attention as the three cornerback prospects already drafted in this mock, but he has just as much impact potential.
15. HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1) – Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor: While Shawn Oakman receives most of the attention, Billings will be graded higher by some NFL teams next spring. With Vince Wilfork turning 34 old this season, the Texans will be looking to add depth behind him, making sense for Houston to keep the Waco product in the state of Texas.
16. DETROIT LIONS (0-1) – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: While Riley Rieff has one of the offensive tackle spots locked down for the Lions, the other side isn’t nearly as secure. Conklin isn’t a quick-twitch blocker, but he is a quick-thinker with the core strength that makes it impossible for rushers to go through him.
17. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-0) – Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss: With Malcolm Floyd set to retire after the 2015 season, the Chargers will have an open spot on the wide receiver depth chart opposite Keenan Allen. While the 2016 class might not have an elite talent at wide receiver, Treadwell is a notch below with his physical demeanor and attacking style reminiscent of Dez Bryant.
18. CHICAGO BEARS (0-1) – Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: With Matt Forte, who turns 30 years old in December, set to hit free agency after the 2015 season, the Bears could be looking for his replacement next offseason. Elliott has a fantastic blend of balance, vision and quickness for the position and is the rare running back prospect worth top 20 consideration.
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) – Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn: The Dolphins are set at pass rusher with Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, but at some point Miami has to prepare for life after Wake, who turns 34 in January. If he can prove durable, Lawson has attractive, scheme-versatile pass rush traits for the next level.
20. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-0) – Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State: The Minnesota coaching staff is the first to admit that the Vikings have issues on the offensive line, making the unit a possible target in next year’s first round. A four-year starter, Whitehair has a similar pedigree as Cowboys OG Zack Martin and offers the versatility to play several positions on the line.
21. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-0) – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State: The Panthers are relying on stopgap options like Michael Oher to protect Cam Newton, but Carolina can’t ignore offensive tackle much longer in the first round. Decker has his issues, mostly with pad level, but he moves well for the position with a physical demeanor to be a people-mover in the run game.
22. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (0-0) – Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia: The Marcus Smith experiment hasn’t worked in Philadelphia and Chip Kelly would love to add a dynamic pass rush threat to his defense. Although his functional power is a question mark, Floyd is constantly in the opponents’ backfield due to his athleticism and is a tough player for defenses to account for on every snap.
23. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-1) – Su’a Cravens, OLB, Southern California: Shamarko Thomas was the hand-picked replacement for Troy Polamalu, but that hasn’t quite worked out the way the Steelers hoped. A player in the Kam Chancellor mold, Cravens has played both safety and linebacker over his USC career and adapts well to coaching.
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0) – Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State: The Bengals finished dead-last in the NFL last season in team sacks (20) – and Cincinnati should be looking for upgrades next offseason at defensive end. Calhoun has shown improvement each of his seasons in East Lansing and could parlay a productive senior campaign into a top 32 draft pick.
25. ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-0) – A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: Besides Calais Campbell, the Cardinals’ defensive line is full of mediocrity and Arizona will likely be looking for upgrades next offseason. While still raw in several facets of the game, Robinson carries his weight well with developing vision and instincts to stand out vs. the run and pass.
26. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) – Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA: The Colts have invested a lot of money into the defensive line, but injuries have depleted the depth, keeping it a need area for Indianapolis. Clark is a stout run defender who carries his weight well to work up and down the line of scrimmage.
27. DENVER BRONCOS (1-0) – Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor: The Broncos have their pass rushers (Von Miller, Shane Ray), but need a strong run defender at left end who can also put pressure on the pocket. Oakman is the first player off the bus due to his physique, and his play has steadily improved so his bite matches his bark.
28. BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-1) – Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama: The Ravens brought back Justin Forsett and drafted mid-round running backs the past few seasons, but Henry might be too good to pass up for Baltimore. A battering ram with speed, Henry is a physical runner who is unafraid to attack the line of scrimmage, but also has the speed to eliminate pursuit angles by defenders.
29. DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0) – Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State: Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott are options for the Cowboys in the first round, but both are off the board in this scenario. The Cowboys were ready to draft Ryan Shazier in the 2014 NFL Draft before he was drafted the pick before so Lee, who replaced Shazier at SAM linebacker for the Buckeyes, will likely be high on Dallas’ draft board.
30. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-1) – Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State: With Jermaine Kearse and Ricardo Lockette hitting free agency after the 2015 season, Thomas would give the Seahawks a dependable X, Y and Z with Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and Thomas.
31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) – Selection forfeited per “Deflategate” penalties.
32. GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0) – Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State: Opposing rushers averaged 4.3 yards per carry against the Packers in 2014, which ranked near the bottom of the league. Washington is a stout run defender who has improved every season since he arrived in Columbus.
Dane Brugler is a Senior Analyst for www.NFLDraftScout.com, a property of The Sports Xchange distributed in partnership with CBSSports.com.
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