The NFL draft has names like Joey Bosa, Jared Goff, Laquon Treadwell, Ezekiel Elliott, Laremy Tunsil, DeForest Buckner, Carson Wentz and Jalen Ramsey as potential first round picks for 2016.
The draft opens up with the Tennessee Titans picking first and they are followed by the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars in the top five. The Titans have needs on both sides of the ball, but one spot they do not need to target is the quarterback position. The team took Marcus Mariota last year and that means they could look at players like Laremy Tunsil or Joey Bosa with the top pick.
Mel Kiper at ESPN and the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus has the team going after Bosa, who is considered to be the best defensive player in the draft. Boas comes in after putting up over 50 tackles for loss at Ohio State and he is expected to be a strong player at the next level. The Titans may go defense with the first overall pick and Bosa could be the option.
The Browns pick at number two and the feeling around the league and in the media is that the team will go after a quarterback. The team is reportedly ready to move on from Johnny Manziel after all of his issues from the past year and that could open things up for another young player to come in. Even before the latest issues with Manziel came up, head coach Hue Jackson said that the Browns needed to address the QB position this offseason.
The Browns will have the first crack in the draft if no one trades up with the Titans and players like Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch could be options for the team. Goff is coming in after putting up over 4700 passing yards and 43 touchdowns for California last season. Goff has the arm strength to make all the throws in the NFL and Kiper writes that his accuracy could make him the top pick. Wentz has size and while he is coming from an FCS school, Tony Romo has shown that FCS-level players can be successful quarterbacks.
The Chargers also have major needs on both sides of the ball and that gives them a number of options at pick three. Kiper has the team going after Tunsil, while PFF has the team picking DeForest Buckner. Buckner has been getting attention from scouts and he likely will be the second defensive lineman taken behind Bosa. The Chargers dealt with numerous injuries on the O-line last season and could consider Tunsil or Ronnie Stanley with the pick.
The Cowboys are in an interesting spot, as many have speculated that the team will target a quarterback at number four. Jerry Jones said the team is not necessarily going to do that and some early mocks have players like Laquon Treadwell, Buckner, Jalen Ramsey and Carson Wentz as options. The team may go with the D-line with Greg Hardy likely leaving in free agency this offseason.
Mock picks:
Titans: Joey Bosa
Browns: Jared Goff
Chargers: Laremy Tunsil
Cowboys: Laquon Treadwell
Jaguars: Deforest Buckner
