ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has released his first mock draft for 2016 and the top picks this year include Joey Bosa, Jared Goff, Laremy Tunsil, DeForest Buckner and Jalen Ramsey in the top five.
Kiper has been working the draft for decades and he is one of the main experts that ESPN uses to analyze and predict what teams will do in the draft. This year the Tennessee Titans have the number one overall pick, followed by the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars in the top five. The draft class for 2016 is considered to be a talented one and the first five picks could be very interesting depending on how the Titans start things off.
The rest of the top 10 has the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants after the Jaguars pick. Kiper starts off his mock draft with Joey Bosa, Jared Goff, Laremy Tunsil, DeForest Buckner and Jalen Ramsey, but there is a chance that players like Shaq Lawson, Laquon Treadwell, Ronnie Stanley and Myles Jack move up as the draft gets closer.
The Titans are coming into the draft with needs on both sides of the ball, but one spot they do not need to go after is the quarterback position. The Titans picked Marcus Mariota last eyar and now have the chance to truly go after the "best player available" at the number one pick. The team has so many needs on the roster that going after talent is the best option for the Titans. Kiper writes that Joey Bosa will be the number one pick in his first mock draft, as the defensive line is a position of value and Bosa could be a solid pass rusher in the NFL.
The Browns pick at number two and Kiper has the team taking quarterback Jared Goff from California. Goff is considered to be the top prospect at QB in the draft and the Browns likely are moving on from Johnny Manziel, opening things up for another prospect to come in. Kiper writes that Goff has the arm to be an NFL QB and that he also has a "great mind for the game." It also helps that Goff threw for over 4700 yards last season with 43 touchdowns for the Golden Bears.
Kiper has the Chargers taking Laremy Tunsil with the number three overall pick, as the team has dealt with injuries on the offensive line recently. Tunsil is considered to be the top rated prospect on the O-Line for this draft and Kiper writes that Tunsil is "flat out gifted" and that he has the potential to be a number one overall pick for the Titans.
Kiper has the Cowboys picking DeForest Buckner from Oregon at the number four pick, as the team likely will not be bringing back Greg Hardy and could use a boost on the defensive line. Kiper writes that Buckner has a "major motor" and that he has the chance to be a strong NFL player.
Check here for the Mel Kiper mock draft and his selections for each team.
