2016 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Round 1

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After the Rams traded a king’s ransom for the Titan’s #1 overall pick, it’s pretty clear that they will pick a QB first overall. It’s not a lock who they will take but since their current starting QB is Case Keenum, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be quarterback. Which one is the question and I’ll make my best guess below.

The combine and most of the pro days are over so at this point its just going to be private workouts that decide who goes where in the draft. It’s less than two weeks until draft day, so most teams already have their draft boards in place and I’ll make some educated guesses on who gets picked where below.

Mock Draft 3.0: Round 1

1.) St. Louis Rams: QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota St (6’5 | 237 | 4.65)

This is a tough choice for the Rams, but they gave up their next two draft classes to get the #1 overall pick and I think they are going with the higher upside play which is Carson Wentz. He has the size, athleticism, and arm strength to be a top QB in the league.

Wentz is not as NFL ready as Jared Goff, but his ceiling is higher. Rams coach Jeff Fischer had a lot of success with small school QB Steve McNair and I think he sees a lot of similarities in Wentz, with the size and power to run when needed but with even more arm upside.

2.) Cleveland Browns – QB Jared Goff, California (6’4 | 215 | 4.75)

I’m not sold on Hue Jackson as a “QB Whisperer” like some sites have mentioned but I don’t think Goff needs a lot of work. Goff might have enough talent to succeed despite Jackson and the rest of the Browns incompetent organization. The Browns let their best receiver, Travis Benjamin, go in the off-season, but hopefully they can surround Goff with at least a few legitimate offensive weapons to give him a chance at success.

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3.) San Diego Chargers – OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss (6’5 | 310 | 5.23)

Philip Rivers got crushed last year for the majority of the season, taking more hits than any other QB in the NFL (53). A quality DE like DeForest Buckner would be tempting here, but with Rivers nearing the end of his prolific career and no viable back-up in place, the Bolts need to do whatever they can to protect old man Rivers. Tunsil is the best left tackle prospect in this draft and him dropping to three is a gift that the Chargers shouldn’t pass up.

4.) Dallas Cowboys – DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida St (6’1 | 209 | 4,37)

I could see the Cowboys going a few different directions with this pick. Joey Bosa fills a need and has the attitude that would seem to endear him to eclectic owner Jerry Jones, but the Cowboys have drafted better since Jerry’s son has taken a bigger role in the draft process. Most reports have Ramsey listed as the top player on the Cowboys draft board and he could team with last year’s first round pick DB Byron Jones to give the Cowboys the makings off a dynamic young secondary.

5.) Jacksonville Jaguars – LB Myles Jack, UCLA (6’1 | 245 | 4.56)

Perhaps no team had a better off-season than the Jags and they are looking to make the leap from laughingstock to respectability this year. The addition of an explosive athlete like Jack in the middle of the Jags defense would add some much needed speed and sideline-to-sideline range that they just didn’t get from the aging Paul Posluszny. If healthy Jack should be an asset in pass coverage as well as a dangerous blitzer from anywhere he lines up. The addition of Jack (or Ramsey, Bosa, Buckner) could make the Jags my sleeper playoff team in 2016.

Next: Picks 6-10

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