It's been a sad couple of days knowing that football season is officially over, but there are still things to look forward to this offseason, especially the 2016 NFL Draft. After the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50, they earned the 31st selection overall, instead of No. 32, because the New England Patriots had to forfeit their first-round pick after the whole DeflateGate situation. So without further adieu, here is my mock draft, post-SB edition.
1. Tennessee Titans: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Bosa is the unequivocal No. 1 pick for the majority of big boards out there, and the Titans are in a position where taking the best player available regardless of position -- outside of QB -- would benefit this roster. It just so happens that a playmaking defensive end like Bosa would do wonders for their defense.
2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, Cal
There's really only three choices the Browns could make here: Goff, Paxton Lynch or Carson Wentz. The most pro-ready of those three is undoubtedly Goff, and I maintain that Cleveland wants to bring in the guy who's closest to starting; because right now, they're banking on Josh McCown staying healthy with Johnny Manziel most likely gone, and that's not good.
3. San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Again, the biggest no-brainer of the top-five picks in 2016. If Tunsil is here at No. 3, the Chargers will take him. They need offensive line help more than anything, especially for Philip Rivers' sake.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey, DB, FSU
Many think Jerry Jones will take a quarterback here -- either Carson Wentz or Paxton Lynch. However, that may be a reach for either of those guys, and the Cowboys are still in do-everything-possible-to-win-now mode, like every year. Instead, I think that either Manziel or Robert Griffin III will be signed to this roster, and they'll take the best defensive back in the draft: Ramsey. He can play safety or corner, and both spots are major areas of need for the Cowboy defense.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Buckner has been moving up draft boards, and many think he could be a top-five pick. That works out well for the Jaguars, as they're in desperate needs of bolstering the defensive line and pass rush. Buckner is a classic 4-3 DE who has the potential to dominate in both the run and pass games. Pairing him with Dante Fowler -- who sat out 2015 with a torn ACL -- will give Jacksonville a dynamic pair of ends.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
The Ravens need a lot of help on offense. Whether it's an offensive lineman or wide receiver, something has to be addressed there because Joe Flacco needs some upgrades around him. Stanley projects to be a solid, if not outstanding left tackle, and would give the Ravens' OL a boost both in pass protection and clearing the way for the run.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
The Niners need to rebuild that defense, and the 3-4 end spot left vacant by Justin Smith's retiring a year ago is a major problem. Nkemdiche was suspended for weed possession: so what? Medicinal use is legal in California, and he'll fit in well with a defense looking to replenish its star power.
8. Miami Dolphins: Jack Conklin, OT, MSU
A late riser up draft boards recently, Conklin has impressed with his shear consistency. The Dolphins are in desperate need of some of that on their offensive line, and Conklin figures to be an excellent option.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Lovie Smith was fired not only because of the lack of success, but also because his defenses were just absolutely horrendous, and that's what he's known for. The front seven wasn't so bad, though. The real issue was in the secondary, and they need a true cover corner to come in and make an impact. Hargreaves is their man.
10. New York Giants: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
What was the Giants' biggest factor in their two Super Bowl runs? Dominant defensive line play. Specifically, dominant defensive ends. From Michael Strahan to Osi Umenyiora to Justin Tuck to Mathias Kiwanuka to Jason Pierre-Paul, D-ends were the key to success for the Giants. It's time for them to replenish that position, and Lawson might just be the next guy up.
11. Chicago Bears: Carson Wentz, QB, NDSU
Right now, there's a few routes the Bears could go in the first round, but a lot of it depends on how free agency plays out, and they have a ton of cap space. While getting a player who could contribute right away might be more appealing to some fans, setting the roster up for the future is the best route -- after all, they're not going to contend for a Super Bowl no matter who they draft this upcoming season. Wentz or Paxton Lynch are both options to develop behind Jay Cutler for the next 2-3 seasons, and locking up the most important position on the team would be something this franchise has never done in its history.
12. New Orleans Saints: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
Billings is one of the many stud defensive tackles in this year's draft, and the Saints could use him dearly. It's been several years since the defense was respectable, and it's high-time they address a huge need with arguably the most disruptive force of this class. Billings excels at blowing plays up, and allowing everyone else an easier time at making the play. He's a core player who can be built around.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
The Eagles need a dominant nose tackle, and Reed could be their guy. He held down the fort for the Crimson Tide, becoming perhaps their most important defensive lineman. He takes up room, blockers and focus with the best of them, and pairing him with Fletcher Cox along the line would be a wise move, indeed.
14. Oakland Raiders: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
While the Raiders have a fantastic pass-rushing linebacker in Khalil Mack, the middle of the defense is below-average at best. Not only did that position struggle to stop the run in 2015, but helped to give Oakland one of the worst ranking among defenses as far as covering tight ends were concerned. Jack is fanastic linebacker who understands the game of football on both sides of the ball, meaning he knows how offenses work as well. He's been praised for his ability to sniff out run plays, and his coverage skills are excellent.
15. Los Angeles Rams: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Basically, if any of the top three quarterbacks in this draft class are available at No. 15, I'd expect the Rams to take one. Case Keenum and Nick Foles are definitely not the answers, and unless they want to take a chance on Manziel or RG III (which I doubt), Lynch will be the pick in this scenario. He's a project quarterback, but he has all the tools to be an excellent starter in the league with experience and proper coaching.
16. Detroit Lions: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
With the way things are looking, Robinson may be taken long before Detroit gets the chance to take him. But on the off chance that he's available at No. 16, they'd be staring Ndamukong Suh's replacement right in the face. While he may never have the same type of dominance that Suh had in Detroit, he's nearly identical in size and shares the mean-streak, at least when on the field.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
If it wasn't for his teammate, Lawson, getting hurt late in the season, I don't know if as many people would've noticed Dodd. But he's been noticed and dominated when Lawson couldn't play, showing off the tools he possesses. Dodd has a bit more speed, but still commanding size at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds. The Falcons had one of the worst pass rushes in recent memory, and this pick needs to address that.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
The Colts need to do a better job opening running lanes and protecting Andrew Luck, and that's exactly what the selection of Decker would do for this offensive line. Having Decker and Anthony Castonzo as the bookend tackles on this offense would greatly improve the offense's capabilities, and maybe keep Luck from taking such a beating.
19. Buffalo Bills: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
Rex Ryan loves taking defensive players in the first round of the draft. His only offensive selection as a head coach was in his first year with the Jets, QB Mark Sanchez. Let's stick with defense, alright, Rex? Smith would be a great pick here to bring in a playmaking inside linebacker who could make a real impact on this defense, even if he may not be ready to go from Day 1 after the ACL-MCL tears.
20. New York Jets: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Elliott could be the third Buckeye gone in the top 20 picks of the draft, and for good reason. The Jets don't have a ton of pressing needs on a roster that went 10-6 and just barely missed the playoffs. Elliott provides something the Jets offense is lacking: a home-run hitter. He was known for his big plays at Ohio State, and if he can transfer that over to the NFL (expected 4.42 40 time), the Jets would be in a pretty good spot moving forward.
21. Washington Redskins: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Redskins were a surprising team down the stretch of the 2015 season, but still have some needs on both sides of the ball to fill. Looking at their inside linebackers, specifically, the loss of London Fletcher was huge. They used a rotation of Mason Foster, Will Compton and Keenan Robinson last year, but that wasn't good enough. Bringing in Ragland would be a major boost to this unit.
22. Houston Texans: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
The biggest needs for the Texans offensively are probably quarterback and offensive line. They can't run the ball, and the quarterback play isn't good enough, no matter who they throw back there. But how much do they want to reach? The Texans are in a prime position to either trade up for someone or trade down to get more options. But if they don't do that, taking Treadwell might be their best option here. He's the No. 1 WR option in this draft, and if he does fall this far, he'd be an amazing player to pair with DeAndre Hopkins, giving defenses a lot more to worry about on the back end.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
Well, here's a reach for ya (at this point, anyway). It's clear that the Vikings offense needs more pop in it, and the biggest area of need is wide receiver. Yes, Stefon Diggs stepped up in a big way during his rookie season, but they simply need more talent there. Bringing in a guy like Miller, who has quickness and explosiveness, may be a risk, but it could have a huge reward. He's raw at receiver, but he has a high ceiling as well.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Something the Bengals need to address this offseason is definitely cornerback. While it wasn't a major hindrance or anything last season, their two starters are getting up there in age. Adam Jones, 32, and Leon Hall, 31, are both 31-plus in age, and both are 5-foot-11 or shorter. Apple is a 6-foot-1 corner with good hips and speed, and really has the opportunity to shine on an already terrific defense.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Su'a Cravens, S, USC
What an unfortunate ending to the Steelers season. They were expected to be Super Bowl contenders, but injuries dismantled their hopes. That said, the defense still isn't nearly as dominant as it once was, but wouldn't you know it? There's a safety out there being compared to Troy Polamalu by many, including former NFL and USC great, Ronnie Lott. That man's name is Su'a Cravens, and while he may not be the fastest safety out there, there's little doubt that he has the playmaking ability to be a lot like Polamalu in that regard. Just take a look for yourself:
26. Seattle Seahawks: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Rankins is another late riser, who has really made noise with his complete package of skills. He had 15 total sacks over the past two seasons for the Cardinals, but is also stout against the run with his 6-foot-1, 304-pound frame with exceptional arm length. This would be a great selection for the Seahawks as both Brandon Mebane and Ahtyba Rubin are set to be free agents.
27. Green Bay Packers: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
Ever since Jermichael Finley regressed (which led to his ultimate release a couple of seasons back), the tight end spot has been a big issue for the Packers. Look for them to address that with their first-round pick, especially if there aren't any offensive tackles that really spark their interest in this spot. Ted Thompson is known for his ability to draft, but has struggled in recent years. Henry would be a smart pick, though, and fill a major need for the offense. With Jordy Nelson coming back and the addition of Henry, the options for Aaron Rodgers will be looking pretty stacked for 2016.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
The Chiefs have made their mark on defense, and that led them to an incredible run in 2015 where they won 10-straight to end the regular season. Offensively, wide receiver has been a big hindrance for the unit, with Jeremy Maclin being their one saving grace last year. Enter Coleman. The Baylor speedster will add another element to the Chiefs' offense, one Alex Smith should be able to take advantage of on short, quick routes.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Even though Spence played for Eastern Kentucky, he showed during the Senior Bowl that his talent is no joke. The one-time five-star Ohio State recruit was kicked off the team after failing multiple drug tests, and his addiction was a serious one. But there's reason for hope with this young man, and he deserves the chance to prove it in the NFL. The Cardinals too a chance on the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu, and it worked out brilliantly. Spence could be the answer to their pass-rushing issues.
30. Carolina Panthers: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Despite all of Cam Newton's success in 2015, the offense still needs help -- specifically at wide receiver. What was the team's biggest issue last season could become a strength in the upcoming one. Getting Kelvin Benjamin back from injury and bringing in Ohio State's Michael Thomas could do just that, and it's a chance worth taking.
31. Denver Broncos: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
The raw, but extremely physically-gifted offensive tackle may be an option for the Super Bowl-champion Broncos. They need help both in pass protection and run blocking moving forward, and the 6-foot-5, 325-pound tackle might be the answer. He needs proper coaching at the NFL level to have success, but Gary Kubiak is known for developing his linemen. It could be a truly great situation for this team, as they most likely transition from Peyton Manning to Brock Osweiler at quarterback.
