The 2015 regular season is over, and that means it's time for legit 2016 NFL Draft analysis and predictions for the top 20 picks, which are now set. The fourth installment of my mini mock series is now here predicting picks 16-20 of the draft, which include the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.
Previous Picks:
1. Tennessee Titans: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, Cal
3. San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
4. Dallas Cowboys: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (amended from Jaylon Smith)
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
7. San Francisco 49ers: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
8. Miami Dolphins: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
10. New York Giants: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
11. Chicago Bears: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
12. New Orleans Saints: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
14. Oakland Raiders: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
15. Los Angeles Rams: Carson Wentz, QB, NDSU
And now, picks 16-20:
16. Detroit Lions: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Something the Lions missed dearly this year defensively was inside pressure from the defensive tackle spots. It's no surprise either, really, as both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley left in free agency. Sure, they brought in an aged Haloti Gnata, but that simply wasn't enough, and a once-feared defensive unit floundered much of the season.
But opportunity has come a-knockin', and wouldn't you know it, a gift-wrapped, monstrous defensive tackle is waiting to be selected in the middle of Round 1 in the form of Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson. This 6-foot-4, 312-pound defensive lineman may not be Suh, but he's pretty close -- and looks just as mean. Robinson would be a great step toward rebuilding that line, and would be a nightmare paired with Ziggy Ansah.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Where to start with the Falcons ... Hmm ... This team has a lot of talent, but there's one glaring issue: defensive line, and more specifically, pressure on the quarterback. I mean, 19 sacks for the entire team last year?! That's barely one per game.
Ranking dead last in sacks is a major issue, and not one player had more than four sacks. In steps Ogbah, a more under-the-radar prospect who shouldn't be. Ogbah is a prototypical 4-3 DE who has the speed to get after the quarterback, but also the discipline and size to hold his ground in the running game. The 6-foot-4, 269-pound end had 13 sacks to go along with 17.5 tackles for a loss last year -- that's impressive, and something the Falcons desperately need.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
This one is kind of a no-brainer for me -- someone needs to start protecting Andrew Luck. You can give him all of the weapons in the world, but if he has no time to throw, he's going to get hit, and he took the toll last season.
This is a case of need over want big time, but this is not a reach at all for MSU's Conklin. Sure, the Colts need the best offensive lineman available at this time, but he truly might be the best player at this spot. A late riser in most rankings, Mel Kiper Jr. has said that "he just doesn't give up sacks."
And you know what? That probably sounds pretty good to Luck right now.
19. Buffalo Bills: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
I was going to put Laquan Treadwell here because he's probably the best player remaining as the top receiver in this year's draft, but knowing Rex Ryan, he doesn't pick offensive players in the first round. He just doesn't, even when his team could use them dearly. Other than Mark Sanchez (what a bum) in his first draft as a head coach, six-straight years with the New York Jets saw him take defenders.
In other words, the best defensive player on the board is likely a lock here, and that means Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith, who's more than likely going to fall until the mid-to-late time of the first round due to his knee injury. He'll be a good pick, though, because he can take the place of Kiko Alonso, who's been gone for two years thanks to an ACL tear and then the trade to Philly for LeSean McCoy.
20. New York Jets: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
The Jets are a very solid team; let's just start here by saying that. They won 10 games this year, and are clearly a level ahead of the other 19 teams that will pick before them in the draft. So what should they do here, because they do have a solid offense and defense?
Well, really, they need the biggest playmaker they can nab. Someone who can come in and increase their home-run hitting capability -- that's what I believe a fundamentally sound and good team should do. While they do have Chris Ivory, their depth behind him is spotty at best, and Ivory himself isn't much of a playmaker or receiver out of the backfield. Elliott, however, is a monster home-run hitter with excellent hands as well out of the backfield. He could truly add another element to that Jets offense, and maybe push them over the top and into the playoffs next year.
