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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