MOCK DRAFT
FOR SI'S CHRIS BURKE, MOCK-DRAFTING IS A 12-MONTH PROCESS—HE RAN HIS FIRST 2016 PROJECTIONS THREE DAYS AFTER MR. IRRELEVANT '15 WAS SELECTED. TEN VERSIONS LATER, HERE'S HOW HE SEES ROUNDS 1 AND 2 PLAYING OUT
Round 1
1 TITANS
LAREMY TUNSIL
TACKLEOLE MISS
Might a QB-needy team try to jump Cleveland for this spot? Sure. If not, Tennessee nabs Marcus Mariota's new blind-side protector.
2 BROWNS
CARSON WENTZ
QUARTERBACKN. DAKOTA STATE
The rare position for which teams grade up for need. Can the high-upside, high-character Wentz break Cleveland's QB curse?
3 CHARGERS
JALEN RAMSEY
CORNER/SAFETYFLORIDA STATE
With San Diego fortified at CB through free agency, the versatile Ramsey can float back to a safety role—arguably his best spot.
4 COWBOYS
MYLES JACK
OUTSIDE LBUCLA
Joey Bosa? Ezekiel Elliott? Either Buckeye would help Dallas, but a healthy Jack could be this draft's best defender, period.
5 JAGUARS
JOEY BOSA
DEFENSIVE ENDOHIO STATE
Count on the Jags to float this pick—they're more than one player away. But if Bosa is free, they'll pair him with Dante Fowler on the edge.
6 RAVENS
DEFOREST BUCKNER
DEFENSIVE ENDOREGON
This franchise doesn't often find itself in the top 10; Baltimore may as well take advantage with a potential All-Pro up front.
7 49ERS
JARED GOFF
QUARTERBACKCALIFORNIA
Goff's ability to get the ball out fast and to make plays while sliding the pocket make him an ideal fit for new coach Chip Kelly's attack.
8 EAGLES
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT
FROM DOLPHINS
RUNNING BACKOHIO STATE
Philly moved from 13 to eight with a pick in mind. It makes sense for that to be the dynamic Elliott, a true three-down back.
9 BUCCANEERS
VERNON HARGREAVES III
CORNERBACKFLORIDA
A corner or pass rusher is the likely play here. Hargreaves's quick feet give him a chance to excel outside or in the slot.
10 GIANTS
SHAQ LAWSON
DEFENSIVE ENDCLEMSON
Barring the fall of, say, Jack, New York may consider trading down. If not, Lawson could be the team's next great pass rusher.
11 BEARS
RONNIE STANLEY
TACKLENOTRE DAME
There's some negative predraft buzz surrounding Stanley's work ethic, but he would be an instant upgrade on Chicago's left side.
12 SAINTS
LAQUON TREADWELL
WIDE RECEIVEROLE MISS
New Orleans badly needs help on defense, sure. But this is still a team driven by Sean Payton's offense. Treadwell can be a star.
13 DOLPHINS
WILLIAM JACKSON III
FROM EAGLES
CORNERBACKHOUSTON
Brent Grimes is gone; Byron Maxwell can't be relied on as a No. 1 CB. Jackson is long and athletic, with sub-4.4 speed.
14 RAIDERS
SHELDON RANKINS
DEF. TACKLELOUISVILLE
Paxton Lynch is still out there, and the Rams are up next, so.... Anyone need a QB? If not, Rankins is a best-player-available move.
15 RAMS
PAXTON LYNCH
QUARTERBACKMEMPHIS
Los Angeles talks up Case Keenum, but it needs a QB of the future. This is high for Lynch, but he has a chance to be really good.
16 LIONS
TAYLOR DECKER
TACKLEOHIO STATE
Right tackle is no longer a spot to be overlooked this early. Detroit finds a long-term answer at the position with this OSU standout.
17 FALCONS
LEONARD FLOYD
OUTSIDE LBGEORGIA
Atlanta desperately needs more athleticism at linebacker. Whether Floyd is an edge rusher or a project inside, he fits the bill nicely.
18 COLTS
JACK CONKLIN
TACKLEMICHIGAN STATE
We know Conklin can play tackle. He might also be a stellar NFL guard. That flexibility plus high-end talent is why Indy nabs him.
19 BILLS
ANDREW BILLINGS
DEF. TACKLEBAYLOR
Buffalo has options among movable D-lineman. In Billings, Rex Ryan gets an inside force to free up DT Marcell Dareus.
20 JETS
NOAH SPENCE
DEF. ENDE. KENTUCKY
His 2014 banishment from the Big Ten is concerning. Still, Spence is worth a shot at No. 20 for a team in need of pass rushers.
21 REDSKINS
A'SHAWN ROBINSON
DEF. TACKLEALABAMA
Robinson can clog lanes inside. But it's the belief that he could be much more than a run-stuffer that lends him such value here.
22 TEXANS
JOSH DOCTSON
WIDE RECEIVERTCU
Many tag Doctson, not Treadwell, as the top WR. Doctson would be productive off the hop as D's focus on DeAndre Hopkins.
23 VIKINGS
DARRON LEE
OUTSIDE LBOHIO STATE
If Minnesota covets a WR, it can move down and get one. Lee would be a luxury. He'd also solve some weakside issues.
24 BENGALS
MICHAEL THOMAS
WIDE RECEIVEROHIO STATE
At receiver, Cincinnati features A.J. Green and ... a load of uncertainty. Thomas can develop into a 70-catch player in short order.
25 STEELERS
JARRAN REED
DEF. TACKLEALABAMA
It's been a while since Pittsburgh had a stud at NT. Reed is limited as a pass rusher, but he's a monster against the run.
26 SEAHAWKS
MACKENSIE ALEXANDER
CORNERBACKCLEMSON
Alexander's pedestrian production (zero INTs) and raw technique drove him down, but Seattle likes his physical style.
27 PACKERS
REGGIE RAGLAND
INSIDE LBALABAMA
The notion that Ragland is strictly a run defender ignores his upside in pass coverage. Green Bay needs an ILB hammer.
28 CHIEFS
ELI APPLE
CORNERBACKOHIO STATE
Kansas City scored last year with Marcus Peters in round 1. Here, it nabs another imposing CB, who'll replace Sean Smith.
PATRIOTS
PICK LOST IN DEFLATEGATE
29 CARDINALS
RYAN KELLY
CENTERALABAMA
Holes on Arizona's roster? Hah. Kelly, a savvy, talented anchor for the O-line, addresses the closest thing to a weakness.
30 PANTHERS
KEVIN DODD
DEFENSIVE ENDCLEMSON
Dodd was brilliant in '15, but he might need a little while to find his NFL footing. Carolina is the perfect place for him to develop.
31 BRONCOS
VERNON BUTLER
DEF. TACKLELOUISIANA TECH
Round 1 picks have added value because they come with a fifth-year contract option. At this spot, Butler would be a steal.
Round 2
32 BROWNS
EMMANUEL OGBAH
DEFENSIVE ENDOKLAHOMA STATE
Despite many first-round projections, Ogbah is far from a finished product. Still, he's a boon here for a pass-rush-needy club.
33 TITANS
JALEN MILLS
FREE SAFETYLSU
Consider this Plan B for the Titans after they passed on Jalen Ramsey in round 1. Mills offers a wide range of abilities in the secondary.
34 COWBOYS
CONNOR COOK
QUARTERBACKMICHIGAN STATE
Fair or not, Cook gets dinged almost universally for his personality. Dallas needs a QB who could sub in a pinch. Great fit here.
35 CHARGERS
COREY COLEMAN
WIDE RECEIVERBAYLOR
The hype around Coleman has lapped his actual game. In San Diego, though, he would be a productive second or third option.
36 RAVENS
HUNTER HENRY
TIGHT ENDARKANSAS
Baltimore loves to stockpile picks, but there's no obvious match here. Hence, Plan B: Add another talented TE to the mix.
37 49ERS
CODY WHITEHAIR
GUARDKANSAS STATE
Whitehair will fit nicely in Chip Kelly's run-game scheme. He could even slot in at G or T if Anthony Davis isn't available for the latter.
38 JAGUARS
JOSHUA GARNETT
GUARDSTANFORD
Signing Mackenzy Bernadeau in free agency shouldn't stop the Jags from taking Garnett, a mauling, mature inside option.
39 BUCCANEERS
KARL JOSEPH
SAFETYWEST VIRGINIA
Joseph absolutely has round 1 talent as an intimidating thumper, but his '15 right-ACL injury slides him into this range.
40 GIANTS
JASON SPRIGGS
TACKLEINDIANA
The gap between Spriggs and the first-round OTs is teeny—even smaller if he harnesses his athletic ability as a blocker.
41 BEARS
DERRICK HENRY
RUNNING BACKALABAMA
Henry was once held on par with Ezekiel Elliott. Because of concerns about his college workload Chicago gets great value.
42 DOLPHINS
DARIAN THOMPSON
SAFETYBOISE STATE
A few fringe first-round WRs are left, and Miami showed it's willing to deal.... Keeping the pick brings a playmaking safety.
43 RAMS
STERLING SHEPARD
FROM EAGLES
WIDE RECEIVEROKLAHOMA
If not for his size (5'10", 194 lbs.), he'd be a round 1 lock. Sterling's polished game puts him atop the St. Louis depth chart.
44 RAIDERS
KENDALL FULLER
CORNERBACKVIRGINIA TECH
Fuller was a physical wreck in '15. If he remains on the field, he'll bring a ball hawk's impact, like his brother Kyle in Chicago.
45 RAMS
SHILIQUE CALHOUN
DEFENSIVE ENDMICHIGAN STATE
Chris Long's exit means St. Louis is hunting for another pass-rushing DE. At 251 lbs., Calhoun is a bit light, but he brings it off the edge.
46 LIONS
JONATHAN BULLARD
DEF. TACKLEFLORIDA
Bullard will draw Day 1 consideration. If he makes it to Day 2, Detroit can drop him in as a disruptive piece along its defensive front.
47 SAINTS
KYLER FACKRELL
OUTSIDE LBUTAH STATE
New Orleans swung for the fences on offense early; it bolsters the D here. Fackrell is a do-everything, high-effort linebacker.
48 COLTS
KAMALEI CORREA
OUTSIDE LBBOISE STATE
Back-to-back edge guys off the board. The underrated OLB has a chance to be everything Bjoern Werner (R1, '13) never was for Indy.
49 BILLS
SU'A CRAVENS
OUTSIDE LBUSC
Poor workouts and a tweener skill set have lowered Cravens's stock, but Buffalo needs a chase-and-tackle linebacker.
50 FALCONS
BRAXTON MILLER
WIDE RECEIVEROHIO STATE
Even with FA Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta is short on dangerous WRs. Enter former QB Miller, who could be phenomenal in time.
51 JETS
GERMAIN IFEDI
GUARDTEXAS A&M
A college right tackle who could kick inside to guard, Ifedi has all the traits that NFL teams want in a long-term lineman.
52 TEXANS
KENNY CLARK
DEF. TACKLEUCLA
While he might be a better fit in a 4--3 D, Clark's strength and wrestling background make him valuable in Houston's 3--4.
53 REDSKINS
VONN BELL
SAFETYOHIO STATE
Washington's depth chart looks mighty lean at safety. The reliable and tested Bell stands out as an obvious round 2 solution.
54 VIKINGS
WILL FULLER
WIDE RECEIVERNOTRE DAME
Out goes Mike Wallace (FA, Ravens), in comes another home run threat. Can the Vikes find a better use for him than they did for Wallace?
55 BENGALS
DEANDRE HOUSTON-CARSON
FREE SAFETYWILLIAM & MARY
With few dire needs, the Bengals are trade-down candidates. Houston-Carson adds a fresh face in the secondary.
56 SEAHAWKS
ROBERT NKEMDICHE
DEF. TACKLEOLE MISS
Like Randy Gregory in '15, Nkemdiche is a top 20 guy with major issues. Seattle has shown a willingness to give talent a second shot.
57 PACKERS
JIHAD WARD
DEFENSIVE ENDILLINOIS
Ward started climbing with an impressive Senior Bowl outing. He's likely a DE with Green Bay, but at 297 lbs. he could help inside, too.
58 STEELERS
JEREMY CASH
SAFETYDUKE
Questions remain about Cash's coverage skills. Nonetheless, he would have the inside track to start alongside Mike Mitchell.
59 CHIEFS
DEION JONES
OUTSIDE LBLSU
Jones is a dazzling athlete at a position for which Kansas City needs a future plan—and fast: The NFL stripped K.C. of its third-rounder.
60 PATRIOTS
JORDAN JENKINS
OUTSIDE LBGEORGIA
A scheme-versatile edge guy, Jenkins can play with his hand in the dirt or stand up in coverage—more muscle for the Pats.
61 PATRIOTS
KENNETH DIXON
FROM CARDINALS
RUNNING BACKLOUISIANA TECH
Don't let the Pats' RB depth fool you: They'll be looking for another option, and Dixon is a three-down possibility.
62 PANTHERS
LE'RAVEN CLARK
TACKLETEXAS TECH
Clark may not dominate as a rookie, but he looks the part of a starting NFL tackle, and Carolina has a desperate need at that position.
63 BRONCOS
JAYLON SMITH
OUTSIDE LBNOTRE DAME
At what point does Smith's potential outweigh concerns about his left knee? Denver can afford to be patient. The payoff may be huge.
INJURY WATCH
INSTANT STARTER
NONISSUE
OFF-FIELD CONCERNS
SINKER
STRETCH
TRADE BAIT
VALUE PICK
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TWO ILLUSTRATIONS
