Let the Mocking begin ... Mockkkkkk
 

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Projections for Event's Fastest-Rising Prospects
By Ryan McCrystal , Featured Columnist Mar 30, 2016

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

We're entering in the final stages of the NFL draft evaluation process, with the main event now less than a month away.

But even in the final weeks, prospects are still jockeying for position on draft boards with some last-minute workouts, medical checks and interviews.

While NFL teams have strong opinions about prospects at this stage of the process, draft boards have yet to be finalized, which gives players a chance to rise or fall slightly in the coming weeks.

Here's a look at an updated mock draft followed by a breakdown of a few prospects who are on the rise.

NFL Mock Draft
Pick Team Player Pos School
1 Tennessee Titans Laremy Tunsil OT Ole Miss
2 Cleveland Browns Jalen Ramsey DB Florida State
3 San Diego Chargers DeForest Buckner DE Oregon
4 Dallas Cowboys Joey Bosa DE Ohio State
5 Jacksonville Jaguars Vernon Hargreaves CB Florida
6 Baltimore Ravens Myles Jack LB UCLA
7 San Francisco 49ers Jared Goff QB California
8 Philadelphia Eagles Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Shaq Lawson DE Clemson
10 New York Giants Darron Lee LB Ohio State
11 Chicago Bears Carson Wentz QB North Dakota State
12 New Orleans Saints Leonard Floyd LB Georgia
13 Miami Dolphins Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio State
14 Oakland Raiders Reggie Ragland LB Alabama
15 Los Angeles Rams Josh Doctson WR TCU
16 Detroit Lions Jack Conklin OT Michigan State
17 Atlanta Falcons Kevin Dodd DE Clemson
18 Indianapolis Colts Taylor Decker OT Ohio State
19 Buffalo Bills Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville
20 New York Jets Noah Spence LB Eastern Kentucky
21 Washington Redskins Eli Apple CB Ohio State
22 Houston Texans Corey Coleman WR Baylor
23 Minnesota Vikings Laquon Treadwell WR Ole Miss
24 Cincinnati Bengals Michael Thomas WR Ohio State
25 Pittsburgh Steelers William Jackson III CB Houston
26 Seattle Seahawks Cody Whitehair OG Kansas State
27 Green Bay Packers A'Shawn Robinson DT Alabama
28 Kansas City Chiefs Mackensie Alexander CB Clemson
29 Arizona Cardinals Ryan Kelly C Alabama
30 Carolina Panthers Vonn Bell FS Ohio State
31 Denver Broncos Paxton Lynch QB Memphis



Notable Fast-Rising Prospects

WR Michael Thomas, Ohio State

Michael Thomas didn't put up huge numbers at Ohio State, primarily due to the presence of running back Ezekiel Elliott in the offense. But Keyshawn Johnson's nephew is among the hottest names in the draft and is a candidate to develop into an even better pro than he was a college receiver.

Thomas lacks elite speed and is primarily a possession receiver. To further boost his stock in that role, Thomas has been working to add weight this offseason, recently sharing that he had gained five pounds since the combine.

Based on Thomas' updated weight, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller shared a comparison of the measurables for Thomas and Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell:

By the numbers: Michael Thomas (WR1) vs Laquon Treadwell (WR2) pic.twitter.com/yt8evyEX5y

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 28, 2016
Treadwell and Thomas both play similar roles, but the numbers advantage appears to go to Thomas.

According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, the Washington Redskins are among the teams that are high on Thomas as a first-round prospect.


CB William Jackson III, Houston

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, William Jackson visited with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, a potential indication that the team could be interested in him with the 13th selection.

In this mock-draft scenario, the Dolphins land Ezekiel Elliott to fill their running back void, but if Elliott were off the board, Jackson would be a viable option at No. 13.

The rise of Jackson has coincided with the rise of Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, who solidified himself as a potential top-10 selection with a dominant combine performance.

With Hargreaves and Florida State's Jalen Ramsey likely landing in the top 10, other franchises in the market for a cornerback are doing their homework on Jackson to determine if he's worthy of being the third cornerback off the board.


QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

Carson Wentz continues to ace every test thrown his way this offseason.

After wowing scouts at the Senior Bowl and then again at the combine, Wentz has checked off another box by scoring a 40 on his Wonderlic test, according to former NFL scout John Middlekauff:

The top 2 QBs in the draft dominated the Wonderlic

Wentz 40
Goff 36

— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) March 28, 2016
This news doesn't necessarily change Wentz's stock, but it's just another test he's passed with flying colors this offseason.

If teams were looking for reasons to doubt Wentz's ability to transition from the FCS to the NFL, he's hasn't given them any.

Look at me, I am Mr. Laz. I like to start tons of threads about mock drafts.

There is no way Paxton Lynch makes it out of the top 15.

/CP

Oh and Because Chiefs should we pass on Lynch and the Broncos draft him...

Is this the real draft or something? ROFL

He will not make it to 28, more or less 31.

Says...?

Says that know it all

Its Laz being butthurt about the draft forum.

Sorry but that is a horrible mock....

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Because if he makes it anywhere near 28 the Broncos will trade in front of us to get him. Guaranteed.

I don't think he gets passed the Rams at 15 though.

Go **** yourself. Do you ever talk football, or do you just like to talk shit? I'd love to hear your opinion/rebuttal, but I seriously doubt you have one.

Ohhhhhh...so this is your opinion.

MOST, maybe all, of the mocks I have seen has him making it out of the top 15.

I don't give a **** what the mock drafts say (is that not their opinion also?), but you're wrong. That has been the popular thing to do as of late, but I've seen plenty of mocks with him going top 15. Scott Wright on NFLDC has him going to the Rams for example.

I don't get how you could be so high on Lynch, but yet be so sure he'll make it to 28. If he's as good as you (or I) think he is, he will either go to the Rams at 15, or the Broncos will make a move after he slips.

Cleveland passes on a QB because of RG3? Lol, no.

I'm high on Joey Bosa...but KNOW he will go in the top 5. I would take Bosa over Lynch, no question.

But I KNOW that Lynch will make it out of the top 15, so I am pimping him.

I am smelling a signature bet...

I am not saying he has no chance of falling outside of the top 15. I just think it is very unlikely.

I'm saying he has no chance of making it to 28.

But I'd love to hear why you think the Rams, a team desperate for a QB, would pass him up?