2016 NFL Draft: Full 1st Round Mock Draft

All of the trades.

LA moves up to #1 from Tennessee. Philly swaps with Miami and then with Cleveland for #2. And that was all before the draft even started. This year may be one of the most exciting first rounds in history because of the groundwork already laid by the Rams and Eagles.

With the first two quarterbacks (expected to be) gone in the first two picks, the draft basically begins with San Diego at #3. Add in New England not having a first rounder and several teams holding a handful of picks and looking to deal, and it could be like children trading baseball cards on Thursday night.

Well, that’s what I think could happen. And since literally this is my website and no one ever gets these things right, I had some fun with it.

Quick Note: Don’t be too upset with me but there are 5 Buckeyes and 2 Spartans included.

Check out my full 2016 NFL 1st round mock draft:

Los Angles Rams (trade with TEN): Jared Goff, QB, Cal
- Seems like this is known by everyone though I think Wentz has a much higher ceiling.
Philadelphia Eagles (trade with CLE): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
- Solid pick for Philly though I think they would have been better off staying at 8 and taking Lynch.
San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
- Tunsil would have likely gone #1 overall if Tennessee would have kept the pick. So, with the true first unknown pick in the draft, San Diego shores up their offensive line with the talented tackle.
Dallas Cowboys: Deforest Buckner, DE, Oregon
- Most expect Dallas to take Elliott or Bosa but Buckner may be the better fit. The Cowboys are desperate for defensive line help and Buckner looks to be a much safer pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
- Jacksonville is building a really nice roster but is still in need of a couple game changers. That is why I’d imagine them running to the stage to enter the card for a DB like Ramsey.
Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
- While there’s questions about which tackle is the best, Baltimore would just be happy to land either player. In this scenario, Stanley is available and looks like a great fit to protect Flacco for years to come.
San Francisco 49ers: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
- Lawson is a prototypical defensive end and has one of the best first steps in the draft. Chip Kelly may want offensive help but taking a defensive talent like Lawson could help more than anything.
Tennesee Titans (trade with CLE via PHI): Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
- Tennessee traded out of the #1 spot for a King’s ransom. So, with all of those extra picks, they go up and get a guy they’re targeting more than anyone. Bosa has visited with the Titans on four different occasions.
Miami Dolphins (trade with TB): Ezekial Elliott, RB, Ohio State
- The Dolphins are desperate to get a running back after losing Lamar Miller. That’s why moving up for Elliott makes so much sense. He could really help take some weight off of Ryan Tannehill’s shoulders.
New York Giants: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
- After spending $200 million on defensive free agents and could add another defensive player here. However, Conklin is a monster and would be a fantastic pick for Detroit. So, obviously he goes before the Lions pick to help protect Eli.
Chicago Bears: Leonard Floyd, OLB/DE, Georgia
- The Bears are in a great spot as they get to just sit back and take the best player available after the top 10 plays out. In this scenario, adding a dynamic pass rusher like Floyd could really help that subpar defense.
New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
- Rankins has been the heavy favorite to go to New Orleans and I think it just fits too well. Though there are rumors they could take Paxton Lynch to learn from Brees, I think they go with the bigger need here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (trade with MIA): Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
- Tampa traded back with Miami as they moved up for their top target. Well, Tampa wins that trade as Hargreaves looks to be their top target and perfect fit. All they’re hoping for is that Jehu Chesson doesn’t end up in the NFC South in the 2017 Draft.
New York Jets (trade with OAK): Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
- Someone was going to trade up for Lynch. Why not New York? Ryan Fitzpatrick is looking for a huge deal so instead of paying the decent QB a huge contract, the front office moves up to get Lynch, who I think could end up being the best quarterback in this draft.
Cleveland Browns (trade with TEN via PHI): Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
- This is my first big reach of the mock as Cleveland takes the burner from Baylor after trading back twice. Some may think this doesn’t make sense but the Browns have visited with him three seperate times and desperately need an offensive playmaker for whoever their quarterback happens to be.
Cincinnati Bengals (trade with DET): Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
- With the first wide receiver going off the board at 15, Cincinnati has to make their move. There isn’t a team that needs the help more than the Bengals and Treadwell would be a fantastic fit along side AJ Green and Tyler Eifert.
Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
- Though the Falcons took a pass rusher last year in the 1st round, they still badly need help. And Dodd could be an amazing fit. I think he could be the best end to come out of this draft after a couple years, especially in Dan Quinn’s defense.
Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
- If Andrew Luck doesn’t get some offensive line help, he won’t make it through his next contract. Decker is the best available and should be a nice fit next to his former OSU teammate in Indy, Jack Mewhort.
Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
- Buffalo could go several different ways with this pick, including taking a big name like Robert Nkemdiche. However, I think they go with the top MIKE in the draft and have Ragland running things for the next 5-10 years.
Oakland Raiders (trade with NYJ): Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
- If Jack falls this far, it’ll be tough to watch but if someone has a “ticking time bomb” for a knee, it’s tough to see them going very high.
- Oakland is building a really nice roster but is still missing a couple pieces, including a man in the middle. Enter: Myles Jack. If his knee can last, Jack and Mack could be a dynamic defensive duo.
Washington Skins: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
- Washington needs help solidifying their defense and Reed looks like a perfect fit in the middle. If he’s still available, this seems like a no brainer.
Houston Texans: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
- Most have the Texans adding to their receiver corps with this pick but not me. I think they go with the best value pick and biggest need. Kelly is the best center in the draft and could start from day one, as another receiver can be found later on in the draft.
Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
- After winning the NFC North with a sophomore quarterback, arrested development running back and a 5th round receiver, the team could use another weapon to push them even further. And Doctson could be a star.
Detroit Lions (trade with CIN): Vernon Butler, DT, LaTech
- The pick that will set social media on fire amongst Detroit fans. A’Shawn Robinson and Andrew Billings are available, hell, even Will Fuller’s right there. But the Lions go with the player they’ve clearly done the most homework on (4 separate visits) and that’s Butler. He reminds me a lot of Muhammed Wilkerson.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
- There are some teams that just seem to get lucky every draft and Pittsburgh is one of them. They just sit back and watch top players fall. In this case, Apple is the best corner available and at a high position of need.
Seattle Seahawks: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
- Seattle normally trades out of the first round but if a talent like Lee falls to them, I don’t think they can pass him up. Adding a versatile linebacker like this Buckeye could really help put that defense back on top.
Green Bay Packers: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
- With the top linebackers off the board, Green Bay takes a run stopper to help fix the defensive line and give whoever their MIKE backer is a much better chance at making plays.
Kansas City Chiefs: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- Gone are the days of zero touchdown passes to wide receivers for Alex Smith as Andy Reid gets him another dynamic receiver to target. Fuller could be a really nice fit next to Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce.
Cleveland Browns (trade with ARI): Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
- Whataya know, Cleveland trades into the back of the 1st round and drafts a quarterback with question marks. Where have we seen this story before? This time, it’s right in front of a couple QB needy teams and it’s for Connor Cook who visited with the Browns three different times. I bet RGIII would love to lose his job to another Spartan alum.
Carolina Panthers: Germain Ifedi, OL, Texas A&M
- This was a tough pick to predict as Carolina always tends to go Best Player Available. However, offensive line issues are pretty bad and they seem to be enamored with Ifedi (visited with him three times), who can play both tackle and guard spots.
Denver Broncos: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
- After being passed over by everyone including the Lions, the meanest and oldest looking person in the draft finds himself the perfect landing spot with the NFL’s best defense and defending champs.
Rd 2. Arizona Cardinals (trade with CLE): William Jackson III, CB, Houston
- Without a 2nd round pick, Arizona will look to move back. Thanks to Cleveland wanting to move up, the Cardinals can get an extra pick and still land the talented William Jackson to add to their talented secondary.

So, what do you think? Obviously the trades are a little much but they also make sense, for the most part. Let me know what you think of my picks and trades, as well as your teams choice(s) in the comment section below!

Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

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Garrett Fishaw

Marketing Manager and Communications Director by day, Owner and Managing Editor of MGoFish.com by night. Detroit resident. Played soccer and graduated from Seton Hill University.

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