The 10 Most Anticipated Picks in the 2016 NFL Draft
From Laremy Tunsil to Jared Goff, these are 10 of the most promising players in this year's NFL draft.
Image via Complex Original
The NFL Draft is knocking, and with it, a new batch of players to scream for (or at) on Sundays. The selection process is always a nerve-wracking one, as you hope and pray for your favorite team to make the right pick. While it’s impossible to determine for sure who will bust and who will one day enter Canton, we can hazard a guess based on the information we have.That goes for NFL execs and fans alike.
Here are 10 of the most exciting and intriguing players in the 2016 NFL Draft. Which one of them will wind up on your team?
10. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
He’d be a top five pick if he wasn’t one of those guys with loosely defined “character issues” that gives NFL front offices nightmares. A few months ago, he fell out of a four-story window after allegedly participating in some illegal activities. That’s the type of thing you want to avoid right before the NFL Draft—and also every other day of your life.
That being said, dudes like Nkemdiche can be the most interesting players on the board. They become good value picks if they drop in the draft, but also have the potential to provide distractions or implode during the most pivotal moments of the season. Nkemdiche is likely to get chosen well after a player with his talents typically would.
9. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Tom Brady looked unstoppable last season… and then he ran into Denver’s pass rush. Cam Newton looked unstoppable last season… and then he too ran into Denver’s pass rush. There’s an obvious message here. Defense wins. That’s why teams would be smart to select two-time consensus All-American Joey Bosa.
As a top-five or ten pick, he won’t be trucking through NFL offensive lineman, but a never-ending stream of double and triple teams he faced throughout college has prepared him for the human walls he’ll soon face on Sundays. Bosa is certain to go in the first hour of the draft, and he’ll be one of roughly, what will feel like, 100 Buckeyes to hear his name called in Chicago.
8. Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Myles Jack left UCLA and declared for the NFL Draft after missing much of the 2015–2016 college football season due to a nasty knee injury. But, his freakish athleticism and ability to dominate on both sides of the football make him an attractive target for NFL teams. Don’t be surprised if he’s a top-five pick. That’s good news for his bank account, but bad news for him if he expects to win, as it means he may have to don a Jaguars jersey for the next several years.
While that’s something we wouldn’t wish on anyone, we’re looking forward to seeing Jack unleash his combination of linebacker instincts and running back foot speed against the NFL’s best.
7. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Quarterbacks don’t retire after winning the Super Bowl, unless, of course, they play for the Denver Broncos. That means we may end up seeing tight-end sized QB Paxton Lynch under center for the defending champs next season trying to lead Denver back to the Promised Land, whilst simultaneously attempting to fill Peyton Manning’s shiny Hall of Fame cleats. If he doesn’t end up succeeding the NFL’s all-time leader in (pick a category) then it’s probably because the St. Louis Los Angeles Rams selected him earlier in the draft to be the face of their new, re-branded West Coast franchise. Supposedly, Rams fans have come out in droves to drop early deposits for season tickets. Selecting Lynch could represent the dawn of a new era for pro football in Los Angeles. Not that we’re trying to amp up the pressure or anything…
6. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
One of three Rebels to make the list, Treadwell flourished during his junior season, leading the SEC in receiving yards and touchdowns just a year removed from breaking his fibula.
Recently, there has been a plethora of wide receivers (Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham, and Sammy Watkins) that have immediately made an impact upon entering the league. Don’t be surprised if Treadwell is the next name on that list. In fact, the 20-year-old compares favorably to Dez Bryant. That’s a good thing for those who enjoy highlight-reel catches. After all, the league can never have too many Dez Bryants. Ask anyone but the Cowboys’ PR department.
5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Speaking of Dallas, several mock drafts had Ezekiel Elliott going to “America’s favorite team” with the fourth overall pick. Now that the Cowboys have signed running back Alfred Morris, Elliot is expected to land elsewhere. But, don’t be surprised if Jerry Jones pulls a Jerry Jones by snatching one of the most coveted players in the 2016 draft pool. Of course, if the ’Boys pass on the Ohio State RB, another team will scoop him up in the first round.
The fact that the 2015 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year isn’t viewed as interchangeable (like essentially every other NFL back today) should give you an idea of the kind of star Elliot could turn out to be.
4. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
Maybe he’s a safety. Maybe he’s a corner. Either way, Jalen Ramsey is primed to be a superstar defensive back. Few NFL players can bottle up the world’s greatest playmakers, but when you find a dominant downfield stopper it changes everything.
Ramsey was the first true freshman cornerback to start at Florida State since Deion Sanders. Also like Deion, Ramsey was a star track and field runner for the Seminoles, coming just short of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Trials.
All you need to know is that Jalen Ramsey’s ceiling is that of a first overall pick. Needless to say, he’s not sweating draft day.
3. Jared Goff, QB, California
The NFL is a quarterback’s league, there’s no doubt about it. Thus, it makes sense that the most hyped players coming out of college are field generals.
Jared Goff is hoping to make an impact on the league right away. The Cal standout is a top-two QB in this year’s draft, meaning that he could find himself playing football close to home. If he does get selected by the San Francisco 49ers, he won’t only be tasked with propelling the team back to relevancy, his play will help determine if Chip Kelly is, indeed, a competent NFL coach.
2. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Laremy Tunsil is the premier left tackle in this year’s NFL draft and is possibly the best player, period. Tunsil wouldn’t be the sexiest pick ever—given his position—but when he’s blocking defensive ends, buying the quarterback enough time to breathe (a rarity to many teams with top choices), and creating holes wide enough to steer an RV through them, you’ll forget all about that.
1. Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
It’s understandable if you know very little about Carson Wentz since he’s an FCS quarterback in an FBS world but, by almost every projection, he’s the No. 1 quarterback entering the NFL. He looked like a surefire bet to head to Cleveland with the No. 2 pick, but then they went out and signed the No. 2 pick…from four years ago in Robert Griffin III. Perhaps they take Wentz anyway and give him time to grow. That may be best for a guy who was tossing touchdowns last year against teams like Weber State instead of, say, Alabama.
Given the Browns’ lack of success with quarterbacks this century, getting passed over at No. 2 might not be the worst thing for either party. However someday, likely by accident, the Browns will end up with a franchise quarterback. Maybe, just maybe, their gridiron savior can be Wentz.
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