The 2016 NFL draft is almost two weeks away, and it is looking like a big mystery of who goes where. Especially now that teams are trading for picks, such as the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles trading for the first and seconds picks.
The Rams traded with the Titans because the Rams desperately need a quarterback. Although they have Nick Foles, he hasn’t stayed healthy since being with the Eagles since 2014. The Eagles sent running back Demarco Murray to the Titans for the eighth pick in the draft and Wednesday traded the Browns for second overall picks.
As the next two weeks will dwindle down, boards are going to be moving all around with players. The topfive picks in the draft have transformed within the past few days.
Here is my mock draft for the top five picks of the 2016 NFL Draft:
#1 Los Angeles Rams
QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
Wentz has a lot of talent and skill. He can sit in the pocket and pick teams apart, but also use his feet to move around to find an open receiver. For the Rams to get this kid is going to be interesting. They will need to surround him with receivers and a line in order for him to get acclimated to the league.
#2 Philadelphia Eagles
QB Jared Goff, California
Goff has been a developing quarterback his whole career at Cal and will continue to develop. Coming in and being a starter day one is going to be tough. It’s going to take him a year to develop the NFL speed and for the Eagles to surround him with a good offensive line. Receivers won’t be a problem for Goff as the Eagles have a good young core of receivers but will need to protect him in the pocket.
#3 San Diego Chargers
OL Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
Tunsil is one of the best linemen in the draft. He has quick feet and can play the guard position as well as a tackle. The problem is that he will be going into a veteran team looking for him to perform early. That is a lot of pressure for this young guy, but with his size and knowledge of the game he can be that guy. Protecting veteran quarterback Phillip Rivers is what the Chargers need and for this team to get to the next level, rebuilding the offensive line.
#4 Dallas Cowboys
DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
Bosa is a freak of nature as an athlete, in addition to an amazing defensive end. The kid never stops working and will make a defense better wherever he ends up. The Cowboys need to rebuild their defense, especially on the defensive line. Bosa will bring heart and leadership to the Cowboys and with them needing to rebuild their defense, this is a step to bring in more players.
#5 Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
Ramsey was a stud at Florida State and was the heart and soul of the Seminole defense. He is quick and his breaking speed is incredible. The Jags defense was horrendous in 2015. The offense came together by the end of the year, but it was a shootout in most games due to the weak secondary the Jaguars have. Just like the rest of these teams, the Jags need to rebuild their defense and help out the offense.
This draft keeps changing around week after week. With trades being made every day and teams changing their minds, it is very hard to predict. But these teams will need to do more than just draft picks in order to get themselves into playoff contention. The draft is a steppingstone to a team making a run for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The 2016 NFL Draft will be on April 28 at 8 p.m.
Jonathan Sawyer is the Sports Assignment Editor at the BV. His email is sawyerjp15@bonaventure.edu
