The 2016 NFL draft is months away, but teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans have already started doing their homework on the top prospects like Jared Goff, Laquon Treadwell and Joey Bosa.
The Titans have the number one overall pick in the draft this year and they will pick first over the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers in the top three. The Dallas Cowboys have the number four overall pick, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the top five. The top 10 is rounded out by the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants for this year.
The top five should be very interesting this year, as the draft class for 2016 is a deep one, but it is also top heavy with solid prospects. The Titans are in a good position to get a quality player at number one, but the team may also consider making a trade down from the first pick. The Titans do not need a quarterback after taking Marcus Mariota last year and that could open up some trade options for the team. The Titans have needs all over the roster and a potential move down in the first round could net some quality draft picks for the team.
But if the Titans remain at number one, they likely will go after who they think is the "best available player" over going after a strict need position. Mel Kiper at ESPN released his first mock draft of the year and he has the Titans taking Joey Bosa with the number one overall pick. The defensive lineman from Ohio State is considered to be one of the best defensive players in the draft and he could be an immediate impact player for the Titans. CBS Sports and other scouts have the team going after Laremy Tunsil, who is ranked as the top offensive lineman in the draft this year.
The Browns are likely going to consider taking a quarterback with the number two pick and Jared Goff could be the target if no teams trade up to the number one spot with the Titans. Goff is considered to be the top QB prospect in the draft and Kiper has him going at number two to the Browns. The Cowboys likely will consider taking Goff is he slips to four, but that is unlikely with some of the things that new Browns head coach Hue Jackson has said about Johnny Manziel. The Browns need a new QB and Goff could be the pick.
The Chargers pick at number three and an offensive lineman could be an option there with Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley looking like the top two prospects at the position. Kiper has the Cowboys taking DeForest Buckner at number four, but the team also could consider offensive options. The Cowboys saw Dez Bryant deal with serious injuries last season and that could lead the team to consider Laquon Treadwell with the pick.
Titans: Laremy Tunsil
Browns: Jared Goff
Chargers: Joey Bosa
Cowboys: Laquon Treadwell
Jaguars: Ronnie Stanley