2016 Official Draft Thread

[Formula 21]

Watt really needs to step up. I have no idea where they can get a starting quality C this offseason if he doesn't.

[Millionaire Wussy]

Goldfish have continuity, swimming in the water they shit in. I want wins!

haha


Is there a lesson there?

[QSmokey]

Telesco put heavy emphasis on the score of nine of our losses. Saying that they were within a score and he suggested we are simply 1 or 2 play-makers away. Im assuming hes talking offensive playmakers. Were they ever really big on drafting trenches in Indy? I cant remember but i always thought they were skill position heavy drafts based off of recent memory.

Treadwell could be an option at #3. Then again it will most likely be a 2nd round prospect drafted #3 overall. lol

1. Bosa
2. Tunsil
3. Ramsay
4. Treadwell
5. Stanley

How do you spell Telesco? 'C-L-U-E-L-E-S-S'.

[Formula 21]

Mel Kiper Jr.
Football analyst
Welcome to another draft season. I've been ranking this class officially on the site since May, but I know many of you don't consider draft season officially underway until mock drafts start popping up.

EDITOR'S PICKS
ESPN First Draft Podcast
NFL DRAFT
A few reminders at this (very) early stage in the game. For one, NFL personnel folks are still really early in their evaluations. Nobody has a draft board yet, and we still have postseason all-star games, combine testing, medicals and individual workouts to get through. Drafting for need isn't a great idea in most cases -- GMs really do mean it most of the time when they say, "We took the best player available" -- and I'm especially leery of making need the big issue here. Every team has at least a dozen roster moves to make (and for some, twice that), and there's also free agency. "Need" isn't a clear term yet. Lastly, there could still be an underclassmen or two who decides to jump into the draft. That said, off we go.

A player with an asterisk next to his name has a year of eligibility remaining. Two asterisks implies two years.


1. Tennessee Titans

*Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio St.

Getting the best defensive lineman in any draft really transcends need. Every team wants great D-linemen, and Bosa has the upside of a star. He's a dominant pass-rusher who piled up 51.0 tackles for loss over three seasons despite running into a steady supply of double-teams, and he's also outstanding against the run. You can move him around on the line at will. The son of a former first-round pick, he comes in ready to contribute.


2. Cleveland Browns

*Jared Goff, QB, Cal

It goes without saying the Browns need to take a hard look at quarterbacks, and Hue Jackson should have the chance to start fresh with someone other than Johnny Manziel. Goff has tremendous talent and upside. He has shown off an NFL arm since he arrived at Cal and has a great mind for the game. He has also shown how resilient he can be, growing with and leading that team at Cal, which would be a great trait in Cleveland.


3. San Diego Chargers

*Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

Ken Whisenhunt is back at offensive coordinator for the Chargers, and the immediate need for this team is going to be figuring out a way to keep Philip Rivers upright. Injuries have decimated the Chargers' offensive line, and adding Tunsil means they get an immediate starter. This kid is a flat-out gifted left tackle prospect, the kind of player who could go No. 1 overall to Tennessee. Get him here and you'll be pleased.


4. Dallas Cowboys

DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

It's rare to find a team picking No. 4 overall that can genuinely say, "We're in win-now mode." But the Cowboys get a healthy Tony Romo back, so that's a fair statement. If Greg Hardy isn't back, Buckner is a great fit. You get a 6-foot-7, 290-pound defensive end who can put a tackle on skates right into his own quarterback. The No. 1 thing you love about Buckner: major motor. He plays hard. He could have been taken relatively early last year, but came back and put an exclamation point on it.


5. Jacksonville Jaguars

*Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida St.

The best player available here, Ramsey is a great corner or a great safety, a fit in any secondary given his skill set and incredible athleticism. Those athlete credentials? Well, consider that he's long-jumping at roughly an Olympic level in, essentially, a second sport that he really can't commit to full-time. A worthy top-five talent in the secondary.

[Bearded14YourPleasure]

I'm interested in what TT does if Tunsil/Bosa go 1-2 and he can't find a trade down partner or decides to stay put at 3. Treadwell is the top WR in the draft and while not the highest need on the roster it is an area that needs an infusion of big play potential. Also I don't think many of us would be too surprised to see TT continue to add talent around Philip despite the need to address the trenches. Ramsey would help solidify the back end of the D, taking over for Weddle at S most likely, again not the biggest need but a flashier pick. If TT does decide to go to the trenches I think Stanley at LT out of ND is the consensus #2 OL in the draft, another plug and play LT but without the tremendous upside of Tunsil. Buckner is my choice at DE if Bosa is gone and we go that route. I always admit my bias towards Ducks, but I honestly think Buckner could end up having a better career than Bosa. He would need to add on some weight but he is a guy who got better every single year at Oregon. His senior season was by far his best, and thats after the Oregon D lost Armstead (#17 overall pick) on the other side of the DL as well as their entire starting back 4 (the dropoff in DB play allowed QBs to get the ball out a lot quicker this year). He finished the year with 17 TFL and 10.5 sacks, 16 TFL and 5 sacks this year for Bosa, as a 3-4 DE while seeing double and triple teams all year.

[Bearded14YourPleasure]

Also want to put in my annual plug for a couple of Ducks I want to see in Bolts later in the draft. Bralon Addison and Byron Marshall in the 5/6 round area would both be great fits as slot WR as well as returners. Addison is a bit more explosive in the return game, both punts and kicks, but Marshall was very effective returning kicks (23.6 ypr). Marshall actually made the move to WR after posting a 1000 yard season as a RB, hitting 1000 rec. yards his first season as a WR in a primarily slot role. Both have experience running every route in the route tree, as well as some injury concern. Addison missed the '14-'15 season with a torn ACL, Marshall only played 4 games this season after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed lower leg injury.

[CTrout]

Let's hope one of these QB'S get overhyped and moves to the top. That way Tunsil or Bosa are there.
Although Ramsey wouldn't disappoint me.

[Bolt-O]

Hue Jackson made it a condition of being hired by the Browns that he doesn't have to use Manziel as his QB. Unless they sign a FA QB, I see no way they don't pick a QB with their first pick. They could trade down though if they think they can grab the 2nd best QB, who ever that is. Kelly in SF might want to take the challenge with Kaepernick instead of going Goff as well, because of ego blindness.

[Bearded14YourPleasure]

I find it humorous that Mel mentions Goff's resiliency at Cal for why he would fit in Cleveland. He needed to be resilient because of how inconsistent his own play was and didn't show any marked improvement, not what you want in a rookie QB you're going to force to start right away. Goff would definitely benefit from sitting a year, especially on a roster that devoid of talent. Of course I think that about the vast majority of QBs coming out of college. The NFL is just too cerebral for most QBs to pick up in a matter of months, usually the QBs that have instant success have strong defenses, are more athletic, and work with a limited playbook. Personally I think Lynch is the first QB to go, but both will go before they should.

[Formula 21]

I'm not convinced that Rivers will play out his contract here after Gates is gone. So it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a qb at 3.

Besides, Rivers is a star and the Bolts make it their practice to shit on their stars.

[Mister Hoarse]

I'm not convinced that Rivers will play out his contract here after Gates is gone. So it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a qb at 3.

Besides, Rivers is a star and the Bolts make it their practice to shit on their stars.

He should call his Agent after today's OL Coach hire.

[Boltjolt]

I'm not convinced that Rivers will play out his contract here after Gates is gone. So it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a qb at 3.

Besides, Rivers is a star and the Bolts make it their practice to shit on their stars.

Id think there is no way we take a QB at #3. Rivers signed knowing Gates might not be here and may only be here one more year. He knew Weddle wasnt coming back as well.