The RSR Big Board
Before getting started with the 2016 Russell Street Report Mock Draft, we wanted to let you know which RSR writers picked for each teams. Also, know that no trades were made and that the selections made were based upon research, rumor and informed speculation, what we thought that particular team would do.
Representing the AFC divisions were: Mike Fast (North), Dev Panchwagh (South), Adam Bonaccorsi (East), and Brian Bower (West). Representing the NFC division were: Kyle Casey (North), Joe Polek (South), Kyle Rate (East), and Tyler Lombardi (West).
Without further ado, the Titans are on the clock…
Russell Street Report Mock Draft 2016
1. Tennessee Titans
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
This is a three-horse race with Tunsil in the lead, and defenders Joey Bosa and Jalen Ramsey nipping at his heels. While you could make the case for Bosa or Ramsey, the Titans can’t pass up the chance to get a franchise left tackle. He’s about as can’t-miss as it gets at arguably the most important position other than quarterback.
2. Cleveland Browns
Jared Goff, QB, Cal
For Cleveland, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up. That said, the position that needs to be drafted here is quarterback. Jared Goff has the most pro-ready skill-set, and the Browns should take him in a heartbeat. They can’t afford to miss, and as far as this quarterback class in concerned, Goff is at the top.
3. San Diego Chargers
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
Jalen Ramsey provides the Chargers with much needed help in their defensive backfield after the release of safety Eric Weddle. He’s a lock down corner with safety skills the San Diego defense desperately needs.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Dallas’ talented offensive line is wasted without a dynamic runner in the backfield. Elliot’s elite blend of size, power, and breakaway speed gives Dallas a three-down back that will take pressure off Tony Romo. Carson Wentz and Joey Bosa pique the Cowboys’ interest here, but Elliot is the win-now, splash pick.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Jaguars would be absolutely giddy if they had the chance for Bosa or Jack. Both players would fill a glaring need along their front seven. Jack is just the better fit for their scheme. He could play the K.J. Wright role or even the Kam Chancellor role in Gus Bradley’s Seattle-style Cover 1 and Cover 3 schemes. Jack is athletic, fast, and has electric sideline-to-sideline range. He would bolster an improving defense that already added Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson in free agency, and gets Donte Fowler back from an ACL tear.
6. Baltimore Ravens
6. Baltimore RavensVernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Hargreaves is a natural, fluid, and elite cornerback. So many times a team has a need and picks a player, that while very good, might not be a natural fit. Hargreaves, though, is a natural fit in the Baltimore defense. He has exceptional talent and instincts, but won’t be called upon to lead the defense, which should allow his mind get up to speed with how professional football is played.
He has no injury or off-field concerns to speak of, and he fits Baltimore’s biggest need.
7. San Francisco 49ers
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Carson Wentz’s inaccuracies while throwing on the run prevent the 49ers from taking him at No. 7. Instead, they opt to go with the best defensive lineman in a deep class, DeForest Buckner. PFF even argued that he should be the first pick in the draft.
He pushes the pocket in the passing game and can control multiple gaps in the running game. After a poor 2015 defending the run, the 49ers feel Buckner will give them the player they need to help return their defense to its 2011-2013 form.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The scheme fit is not phenomenal here, but the Eagles will have no complaints seeing a top talent slip into their laps at pick No. 8. The former Ohio State man will bring an NFL-ready frame, active hands, a relentless motor, and will be an extremely disruptive force along the Philadelphia defensive front.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The run of defensive ends in the Top 10 continues as the Buccaneers take Shaq Lawson. Hargreaves was their first choice, but no one is crying about taking Lawson. He should be able to get 10-plus sacks a season with a club that could really use that extra help.
10. New York Giants
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
The G-Men invested a fortune in their defense in free agency, so Stanley helps add talent to the other side of the ball. Giants fans won’t find a second first-round tackle in as many years particularly sexy, but Stanley has the instincts, quick feet, and reach to anchor the right side, or even challenge last year’s pick Ereck Flowers at left tackle.
11. Chicago Bears
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Who cares that they drafted Kevin White in the first round last year? The Bears still desperately need more weapons on offense, and Treadwell is far and away the best receiver in this draft. He doesn’t fill a need per se, but gives Jay Cutler one more playmaker to work with.
12. New Orleans Saints
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
He is quick and will give the Saints some inside help.
13. Miami Dolphins
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
With former Bengals Defensive Backs coach (and former NFL cornerback) Vance Joseph on board as the new Defensive Coordinator, the team will do what it can to load him up with weapons.
Eli Apple gives Miami a great option at corner, bringing size and athleticism to the backfield that is desperately in need of help after finishing 2015 allowing 31 passing touchdown (yes, that’s even more than the Ravens).
14. Oakland Raiders
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
After locking up various needs throughout free agency, the Raiders continue to piece together a young crop of players for the future and Henry has the makings of a stud NFL running back.
Henry’s size, speed and ability to break tackles make him a prime candidate to split reps with Latavius Murray. While not much of a pass blocker, the 6’2, 240-pound Henry provides Oakland with a powerful north-south running game.
15. Los Angeles Rams
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
The Rams are giddy that they get Carson Wentz, the quarterback they desperately needed, without having to move up. Wentz needs to work on his footwork and struggles while throwing on the run, but he can make throws all over the field.
With Tavon Austin finally starting to come into his own and a great running back (Todd Gurley), the Rams should be very happy with this selection.
16. Detroit Lions
Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
An experienced, physical technician, Decker gives the Lions an instant starter opposite Riley Reiff.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
The Falcons are in desperate need of an athletic defender who can do it all. They get that player in Darron Lee.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Spence is one of the most polarizing players in the draft. There are some teams that won’t touch him in the early rounds, and there are some that will take a shot because of his upside. Despite the terrible combine showing, Spence is a pure edge rusher with the get-off and dip move to wreak havoc.
19. Buffalo Bills
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
The Bills look to the first round of a deep defensive end draft in order to fill the void left by Mario Williams. As luck would have it, they land one of the best in the bunch in Emmanuel Ogbah.
Ogbah was a backfield beast in 2015 for Oklahoma State, posting 13 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. Couple that with Ogbah’s 4.630-second 40-yard dash, and Rex Ryan may just land himself one of the best pass rushers in the draft.
20. New York Jets
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Ah yes. A selection that likely causes J.E.T.S fans at the draft in Chicago to politely disagree in a calm, collect manner (I’m kidding, they’ll boo loudly and drop 4-letter bombs all over the place). But look at the facts:
- The Jets refuse to pay Ryan Fitzpatrick the money he wants (offering high-end backup money at best)
- The free agent market for quarterbacks is a barren wasteland.
As it stands today, the Jets plan to start Geno Smith Week One. But do they want to?
21. Washington Redskins
Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Redskins simply lack talent at inside linebacker. Ragland may have some man-to-man coverage deficiencies, but he has the instincts, strength, and tackling ability to become one of the best run-stuffing linebackers in the league.
22. Houston Texans
Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
Duane Brown remains one of the best left tackles in the game, but he isn’t getting any younger. Right tackle Derek Newton is solid on the right side but hardly a rock star. With Conklin, the Texans could conceivably kills two birds with one stone. This rugged, physical tackle has the versatility to play on the outside or he could bounce inside at guard until one of the tackle spots opens up.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Josh Doctson is an improvement over the failed Mike Wallace experiment and forms a formidable one-two punch with Stefon Diggs.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
A.J. Green can’t do it all, folks. If the Bengals make this pick, he won’t have to.
Corey Coleman, the 2015 Biletnikoff Award winner (nation’s top receiver), ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, even though he was recovering from sports hernia surgery. In 2015, he hauled in a whopping 20 touchdowns. His skill-set is elite, from foot speed to technique to determination, and he’d go a long way in compensating for the loss of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Even though they are stacked at linebacker, the Steelers will heavily consider taking outside linebacker Leonard Floyd from Georgia here. They’d also be thrilled with defensive end Kevin Dodd. But due to need, scheme fit, and overall player rating, they decide to go with Robert Nkemdiche, who becomes the final piece of their front-7 puzzle.
Nkemdiche is exceptionally talented, has a NFL-ready physique, and a nasty attitude that would fit in perfectly with the Steelers defensive reputation.
26. Seattle Seahawks
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
The Seahawks sit back and have a few good players to choose from at No. 26. They elect to shore up their defensive line and go with Kevin Dodd, mainly because of his explosive upside as a pass rusher. Dodd played just one year full-time, but still showed off great instincts and a relentless motor. He’s an every-down defensive end.
27. Green Bay Packers
Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
Billings is consistent, often-dominant force that can plug gaps and disrupt blocking schemes. He’s a solid value pick this late in the first round, and he can contribute from Day 1.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
By selecting Mackensie Alexander, the Chiefs will go back to the well to shore up their secondary after hitting big in 2015 with Marcus Peters.
Despite standing just 5-10 and weighing 190 pounds, Alexander brings his fiery competitiveness and his knack for playing proper technique to a Chiefs squad that’s shallow at the cornerback position.
29. Arizona Cardinals
A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
The best two players remaining on the Cardinals’ board are both interior defensive linemen from Alabama. Though they are relatively comfortable with what they have at the position, the Cardinals can’t resist A’Shawn Robinson. He has some upside as a pass rusher and had plenty of two-gap responsibility at Alabama. He should serve well as a member of an aging defensive line rotation.
30. Carolina Panthers
Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
The Panthers need offensive line help, and Jason Spriggs will help a lot in pass protection.
31. Denver Broncos
Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
With the Top 3 quarterbacks off the board early, the Broncos opt for protection along the offensive line with the selection of Germain Ifedi.
Ifedi, a 3-year year starter at Texas A&M, has experience at both guard and right tackle. He could provide Denver with stability at either position for years to come.
