BALLSTON SPA, NY – It’s finally here.
Yes, Game of Thrones is back, but I’m talking about draft season!
The NFL Draft is just three days away, and every team aside from the St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are finalizing their draft boards.
With that being said, here’s how I believe the NFL Draft will shake out. Check out my first mock draft of 2016.
1. Los Angeles Rams (7-9) – Jared Goff, QB, California: While I believe that North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz is probably the best fit for Los Angeles, because he fits what head coach Jeff Fisher is looking for in a quarterback with his athleticism, Goff is the best fit in terms of readiness and has the highest floor. Goff is a solid prospect and doesn’t get enough respect. He has enough talent to take this team from a .500 mainstay to a possible wild card threat.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9) – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: Look, I don’t get why the Eagles pulled off this blockbuster trade. But they did. They already signed both Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel to hefty contracts. Why bring in a third quarterback? Did you know that with the extremely likely addition of Wentz the Eagles will pay roughly $46 million to their quarterbacks next year. At least Philadelphia is a great fit for Wentz. He won’t be rushed into duty and will have the best coaches around him while he polishes his game before he steps on the field.
3. San Diego Chargers (4-12) – Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss: How lucky is San Diego? Not only did arguably the best player in the draft fall to them at the third overall selection, but the Chargers have an opportunity to beef up the offensive line. Phillip Rivers isn’t going to be around forever, and the least he deserves is a decent playoff run. Adding some talent to the offensive line is certainly the step in the right direction.
4. Dallas Cowboys (4-12) – Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State: Some analysts have compared Ramsey to Deion Sanders. I won’t go that far. However, he is one of the best defensive prospects in the draft, if not the best, and is exactly what the Cowboys are looking for. In a division that has the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and DeSean Jackson, secondary play is key. And boy did the Cowboys struggle in that area a season ago. Rasmey is a perfect fit for what the Cowboys are trying to do on the defensive side of the ball.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: Bosa to the Jaguars is purely best player available. While Bosa might not start Day 1, though he could take Malik Jackson’s spot, Jacksonville would be compiling a vaunted pass rush between the former Buckeye and last year’s first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr.
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-11) – Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-11) – DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
8. Cleveland Browns (3-13) – Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10) – Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
10. New York Giants (6-10) – Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: But wait, the Giants just drafted Ereck Flowers a year ago. Well, they still need help on the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, both Flowers and Marshall Newhouse ranked outside of the top 67 offensive tackles this past season. Not good. New York has to secure that offensive line if it wants to compete in the extremely tough NFC East.
11. Chicago Bears (6-10) – Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
12. New Orleans Saints (7-9) – Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
13. Miami Dolphins (6-10) – Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
14. Oakland Raiders (7-9) – William Jackson III, CB, Houston
15. Tennessee Titans (3-13) – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
16. Detroit Lions (7-9) – Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
17. Atlanta Falcons (8-8) – Darren Lee, OLB, Ohio State
18. Indianapolis Colts (8-8) – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
19. Buffalo Bills (8-8) – Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: Lawson to Buffalo at No. 19 is Rex Ryan’s dream. Not only do the Bills get another Clemson guy, but Lawson immediately replaces Mario Williams on the depth chart. 
Lawson provides Buffalo with another versatile pass rusher, adding to the once dominant pass rush. A perfect fit.
20. New York Jets (10-6) – Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: The Jets’ stinginess to pay Ryan Fitzpatrick has forced their hand. The Jets must draft another quarterback. If New York was comfortable with Geno Smith as its quarterback, it would have plugged him back in the starting lineup once he was healthy last season, but it didn’t. The Jets can’t go into the season with just Smith and Bryce Petty. They won’t be able to compete.
21. Washington Redskins (9-7) – Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
22. Houston Texans (9-7) – Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
23. Minnesota Vikings (11-5) – Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
24. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) – Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) – Artie Burns, CB, Miami
26. Seattle Seahawks (10-6) – A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
27. Green Bay Packers (10-6) – Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
28. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) – Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
29. Arizona Cardinals (13-3) – Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
30. Carolina Panthers (15-1) – Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
31. Denver Broncos (12-4) – Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
