McShay's 2016 NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Trades shake up Round 1
— -- We're officially seven days from Round 1 of the draft. With two major trades going down since my last mock draft, there has been quite the shake up in the top half of the first round.
So it's the perfect time to run through how I see the picks 1-31 playing out. As a reminder: This is my prediction of what will happen, not how I'd make the picks if I were the GM for each team.
Let's dive into my projections before another blockbuster deal throws everything into a tailspin.
1. Los Angeles Rams*
Jared Goff, QB, Cal
After making the move from No. 15 all the way up to No. 1, it seems the worst-kept secret in the world that L.A. is going to pick Goff. The Rams are an ideal landing spot for the Cal product. With a great defense and run-first offense, Goff won't be asked to carry the team from day one.
*Acquired in trade with Titans.
2. Philadelphia Eagles*
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
The Eagles traded up from No. 8 to No. 2 with the goal of getting whichever quarterback Los Angeles passes on. All signs point to that being Wentz. Big, strong and athletic, he'll face a steep learning curve coming from the FCS, but he has a high ceiling if developed properly. Pairing him with QB guru Doug Pederson would be a great fit.
*Acquired in trade with Browns.
3. San Diego Chargers
Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
Protecting Philip Rivers would seem like the bigger priority, so Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley are distinct possibilities. But I keep hearing Ramsey. Is he a safety? Is he a corner? I don't really care. One of the best pure football players in this class, Ramsey is a true difference-maker. The Chargers have a need at safety, which he could fill, while also contributing as a corner.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
I've heard three names all along with Dallas: Elliott, Ramsey and Joey Bosa. It'd be tough for the Cowboys to pass on Bosa, my No. 1 overall player, but Elliott is a perfect fit to play behind Dallas' elite offensive line. He has the skill set to be an every-down RB from day one.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
This defense needs a lot of work, and Bosa has the technique and tenacity to be a difference maker in Gus Bradley's scheme. He's a versatile 4-3 base DE who can kick inside and rush the passer in sub-package situations.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Some teams are cooling a little bit on Laremy Tunsil. He could go as high as No. 3, but he also could slide a bit within the top-10. Can you rely on him after he missed time in each of his three college seasons because of injury and suspension? Stanley is the safer prospect in some eyes. His long arms (35½ inches) and athletic skill set bode well for his eventual development into an NFL left tackle.
7. San Francisco 49ers
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi
If San Diego passes on Tunsil at No. 3 -- which I'm hearing is a distinct possibility -- it's not out of the question that he could slide this far down the board. The 49ers could try to trade back in this situation, but Chip Kelly loves athletic offensive lineman, and Tunsil is a twitchy 310-pounder who excels in pass protection.
8. Cleveland Browns*
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
This would be a perfect fit for the Browns. Buckner has some versatility, but he's best suited to play 3-4 DE, which just so happens to be one of Cleveland's biggest needs. Buckner is disruptive against the run and plays with a great motor.
*Acquired in trade with Eagles.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
Look out for a trade at this spot. Tennessee could move up from No. 15 to get a tackle like Conklin to protect Marcus Mariota. Even if Tampa Bay slides down the draft board, the Bucs could still get Vernon Hargreaves III (more on him later).
10. New York Giants
Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
The Giants spent big in the offseason to improve their front four and secondary, but they still need to get a few more linebackers who can cover and get sideline-to-sideline against the run. It would mark the first time since Carl Banks in 1984 that the Giants drafted a LB in Round 1. Lee has been blessed with an elite combination of speed (4.47 40-yard dash) and athleticism.
11. Chicago Bears
Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
Floyd is one of the hottest players in the draft right now. Oakland would love him at No. 14, and the Giants could take him at No. 10. With upper-tier athleticism for the position, Floyd would give the Bears a high-ceiling pass-rusher off the edge.
12. New Orleans Saints
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Getting stronger along the front four should be the Saints' biggest priority in this draft. Enter Rankins, who has very good quickness and lower-body explosiveness. An exceptional run defender, he flashed as a pass-rusher in his final two college seasons (14.0 sacks).
13. Miami Dolphins*
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Hargreaves could be another option here, but I went with Lawson, who led the FBS last season with 25.5 tackles for loss, playing with a good mixture of relentlessness, technique and discipline. He does his best work against the run and would be a perfect fit for Miami's 4-3 scheme.
*Acquired in trade with Eagles.
14. Oakland Raiders
Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Raiders need to get tougher up the middle of their defense. Other than having some limitations in coverage, Ragland is a complete football player who has the size, speed, power and toughness to thrive as the middle linebacker in a 4-3.
15. Tennessee Titans
Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
If stuck at No. 15 overall, Hargreaves would certainly make sense for Tennessee, filling a position of need with a good value selection. But like I mentioned earlier, I think there's a chance Tennessee could make a deal with Tampa Bay at No. 9 to move back into the top 10. In which case, Hargreaves -- who has the best man-to-man cover skills in this class -- would provide an immediate boost to the Bucs' secondary.
16. Detroit Lions
A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
I'm not as high on Robinson as others -- ahem, Mel -- but he could go in the top 20, especially to a team like Detroit who needs to start planning for the future at defensive tackle. Though Robinson has tremendous raw ability, his motor runs a little too hot and cold for my liking.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
I'm still trying to get all of the info on Jack's medical reports, but right now, I'm not sure if teams in the top 10 are willing to take the risk on his knee. When healthy, there's no doubting Jack's ability. A true sideline-to-sideline defender, he excels in coverage and would fill a major need for Atlanta.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
After failing to protect Andrew Luck last season, the Colts must come out of this draft with a more solidified offensive line. Decker would be a great place to start. He's a perfect fit at right tackle, Indy's biggest need, and has one of the highest floors of anyone in this draft.
19. Buffalo Bills
Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
One of the ultimate boom/bust players in the 2016 class, Jones has the potential to develop into a highly disruptive inside presence if he remains focused. He has a rare combination of length, strength and athleticism. Another player to keep an eye on here: Kevin Dodd from Clemson. The Bills love ACC guys, and while this would be a too early for him based on my board, they do have a bigger need for a perimeter rusher.
20. New York Jets
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
There's lots of noise surrounding the Jets and Paxton Lynch. It might happen, but I think it'd be a huge mistake to take such a raw QB prospect this early. Apple has an outstanding size-speed combination; his 4.40 40-yard dash is the fourth-fastest by a DB 6 feet 1 or taller at the NFL combine since 2006. The Jets need a playmaker opposite Darrelle Revis.
21. Washington Redskins
Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
A physical tone-setter with a great motor, Reed would fit perfectly into the team Scot McCloughan is building. The Alabama product is the best interior run-stuffer in the draft, showing the strength and toughness to fight through double teams.
22. Houston Texans
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Speed, speed and more speed -- that's what QB Brock Osweiler needs from the wide receiver who ends up playing opposite of DeAndre Hopkins, which is why I opted for Coleman over Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell. Coleman has sub-4.4 wheels and the change-of-direction ability to create big plays after the catch.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
With outstanding hand-eye coordination and body control, Treadwell is highly effective on contested throws and jump balls. He'd give QB Teddy Bridgewater a receiver who can consistently win on short-to-intermediate throws. Great value at No. 23, too.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Doctson would look good lining up opposite of A.J. Green. The TCU product is a natural pass-catcher who shows the ability to contort his body in contested-catch situations. He's not a burner (4.50 40), but Doctson is fast enough to threaten when he gets a seam after the catch.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Jackson is coming off a highly productive senior campaign in which he led the FBS with 28 pass breakups, and had five interceptions. He has a good frame (6-0, 189 pounds) and elite speed (4.37 40), along with the work ethic to develop into a steady corner at the next level.
26. Seattle Seahawks
Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi
This would mark Seattle's first Round 1 selection since 2012, but it could be a spot where a QB-needy team looks to trade ahead of Kansas City, Arizona and Denver. If Seattle says put, I wouldn't be surprised to see them take a shot on Nkemdiche or OLB Noah Spence, two high- risk/high-reward defenders. Nkemdiche is a top-10 talent who fell this far because of inconsistent 2015 tape and behavioral concerns.
27. Green Bay Packers
Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
The Packers picked a good year to have one of their most glaring needs be a 3-4 nose tackle. Billings has an outstanding combination of quickness, athleticism and power, which helps him wreak havoc on the interior. He'd be a plug-and-play starter for the Packers, who are looking to find a difference-maker on the interior after B.J. Raji announced he's taking a hiatus from football.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Artie Burns, CB, Miami (FL)
Burns' stock continues to rise. With his extremely long arms (33¼ inches) and ability to play bump-and-run coverage, he'd be a perfect fit for Bob Sutton's defense, which is in need of a corner to play opposite defensive rookie of the year Marcus Peters after Sean Smith left in free agency.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
The top-ranked interior lineman on our board, Kelly has the frame, quickness, toughness and football intelligence to be a starter from day one in the NFL. There's a chance Arizona would think about drafting its QB of the future here, but center is the team's biggest need.
30. Carolina Panthers
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Yes, the Panthers suddenly have a glaring need at CB after rescinding Josh Norman's franchise tag, but with four CBs off the board, pass-rusher is a better value. Dodd has only one season of full-time starting experience, but he took advantage of his opportunity, posting 23.5 tackles for loss. That was second overall in the FBS and up from 2.5 the season before. He'd fill one of the Panthers' biggest holes and get a chance to develop along one of the most dominant defenses in the league.
31. Denver Broncos
Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
Ifedi needs to work on his technique, but the raw tools are there. He has the length (36-inch arms), quickness and balance to thrive in pass protection. He could develop into a solid right tackle or guard at the next level.
Note: There will be only 31 picks in the first round of the 2016 draft, with New England's first-round pick forfeited.
Five best players remaining
1. Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
2. Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
3. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
4. Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
5. Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas