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2016 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 100 prospects
By Cody Bauer
Below is the list of the top 100 prospects I’ve been able to watch this year. I’ve only ranked players I feel comfortable enough to form a solid opinion/analysis on. It would be disingenuous to rank players I don’t have a strong opinion on.
Previous positional rankings:
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-quarterbacks
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-running-backs
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-wide-receivers
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-tight-ends
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-offensive-tackles
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-interior-offensive-lineman
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-nose-tacklesdefensive-ends
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-outside-linebacker-edge
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-inside-linebackers
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-cornerbacks
http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/nfl-draft-positional-rankings-safeties
Top 100:
- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
- Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida St.
- Joey Bosa, Edge, Ohio St.
- DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
- Myles Jack, ILB, UCLA
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio St.
- Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame*
- Andrew Billings, DL, Baylor
- Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville
- Shaq Lawson, Edge, Clemson
- Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
- Darron Lee, LB, Ohio St.
- Leonard Floyd, DE/LB, Georgia
- Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
- Chris Jones, DL, Mississippi St.
- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota St.
- LaQuon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio St.
- Nick Martin, OG, Notre Dame
- Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
- Noah Spence, Edge, Eastern Kentucky
- Jared Goff, QB, California
- Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
- William Jackson III, CB, Houston
- A’Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
- Vernon Butler, DL Louisiana Tech
- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan St.
- Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
- Cody Whitehair, OL, Kansas St.
- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio St.
- Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
- Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA
- Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge, Oklahoma St.
- Kevin Dodd, Edge, Clemson
- Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
- Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
- Kyler Fackrell, Edge, Utah St.
- Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida
- Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio St.
- Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor
- Keanu Neal, S, Florida
- Javon Hargrave, DL, South Carolina St.
- Kamalel Correa, Edge, Boise St.
- Su’a Cravens, LB/S, USC
- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
- Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
- Bronson Kaufusi, DL, BYU
- CJ Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
- Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
- Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
- Shilique Calhoun, Edge, Michigan St.
- Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
- Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona St.
- Deion Jones, LB, LSU
- Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio St.
- Adolphus Washington, DL, Ohio St.
- Artie Burns, CB, Miami
- Jordan Jenkins, Edge, Georgia
- Austin Johnson, DL, Penn St.
- Jeremy Cash, S/LB, Duke
- Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech
- Sebastian Tretola, OG, Arkansas
- Sheldon Day, DL, Notre Dame
- Vonn Bell, S, Ohio St.
- Hassan Ridgeway, DL, Texas
- Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio St.
- Charles Tapper, Edge, Oklahoma
- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
- Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
- Leonte Caroo, WR, Rutgers
- Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin
- Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon
- Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Mississippi
- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah St.
- Justin Simmons, S, Boston College
- Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio St.
- Yannick Ngakoue, Edge, Maryland
- Jihad Ward, DL, Illinois
- Jerrell Adams, TE, South Carolina
- Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri
- Joe Haeg, OL, North Dakota St.
- Rishard Higgins, WR, Colorado St.
- Vadal Alexander, OL, LSU
- Maliek Collins, DL, Nebraska
- Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford
- Kenny Lawler, WR, California
- Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
- Connor McGovern, OL, Missouri
- Darian Thompson, S, Boise St.
- Matt Ioannidis, DL, Temple
- Connor Cook, QB, Michigan St.
- Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
- DJ Reader, DL, Clemson
Comments (51)
dobber
April 20, 2016 at 02:00 pm
You made my day with that...
dobber
April 20, 2016 at 02:12 pm
So this would mean...
1 (27) Jackson III, CB, Houston
2 (57) Calhoun, DE/OLB, MSU
3 (88) Haeg, OL, ND St.
I like pick #3, but not so much on 1 and 2. Packers will need a CB in this draft, but a really good one would need to be there at #27 to make this sensible (is Jackson that guy? Eh...). I'm in MSU's local area, and I've never been overly enamored with Calhoun. A lot of hype, some drama, a decent college player. I don't think he'll be a noteworthy pro.
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 02:13 pm
I don't think it works like that.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 02:22 pm
I'm seeing people say (on here) Ragland has no value at 27. I'd like to know how it works then =)
RCPackerFan
April 20, 2016 at 02:27 pm
Wait 2-3 years and let people talk about how they reached for ___ player.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 02:40 pm
But what is a "reach"?
There's no such thing (in my opinion).
If Richard Sherman was drafted 2 or 3 round before he was actually taken how can that be looked at as a "reach" when he turned out the way he is?
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 02:46 pm
It's all about a balance between value and the player.
If we had a redo and someone took Tom Brady 1st overall...would that be a great pick because he's arguably the best of all time? Or would it be a bad value pick because he could have been had much later?
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 02:50 pm
What if the coaches came out and said "we seen that in Tom all along."
Who's going to question that?
I'm sure coaches envision these players drafted to hit certain marks all throughout their careers before they're even drafted.
I think they're just "hits" and "misses". Either the guy is who you thought he was or he wasn't. People all of a sudden like Richard Rodgers. Funny...
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 02:52 pm
That's the thing to me. The draft really is 99% luck. If the Pats really thought Brady was going to be Brady, they wouldn't have waited till the 6th round. Maybe not the 1st round, but no way they risk someone else snagging him.
They took a flier on a lottery ticket and hit the jackpot. It happens, but I don't know how much skill/intelligence is involved.
dobber
April 20, 2016 at 03:23 pm
Think about how you approach FFL drafts: you give players a certain value and then you string them out based on that. If you take a guy like Brady at #1 overall, you still look like a genius, but you missed out on some pretty good players when you could've had him later and really helped your team out at both spots.
In my mind, that's the key to draft strategy: when do you pull the trigger on guys you really covet? If you jump too soon you might still get a Brady, or you get picks like Kennard Backman and Christian Ringo (who still might turn out to be decent pros, but it looks like the deck is stacked against them). If you wait too long, some one scoops up the guy you wanted.
I admit, comparing NFL draft to FFL is a stretch, but my guess is that it's not as much of a stretch as we might think.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 04:01 pm
"If you take a guy like Brady at #1 overall, you still look like a genius, but you missed out on some pretty good players when you could've had him later and really helped your team out at both spots."
I get that part, but I still don't get what a "reach" is if that player you really wanted you went and got. You also have the rest of the Draft to get player you (should have) thoroughly scouted. GMs/Coaches don't know other team's Draft Board.
RCPackerFan
April 21, 2016 at 07:02 am
essentially the reach during the draft is drafting a player way above when everyone expects them to be taken.
For example, Justin Harrell was considered a big reach at the time. I remember during the draft most thought he would go in the 2nd round. Packers picked him in the middle of the first.
Reaching for players is drafting players ahead of where most think they will go.
RCPackerFan
April 20, 2016 at 08:26 pm
Talking about Luck...
Just found out the other day that The Packers were going to draft TO in the 3rd round. 1 pick before the Packers pick, the 49ers take TO.
Also in the first round of that draft the Packers were on the record of saying they were going to draft Ray Lewis. 1 pick before the Packers picked he was taken. Packers were 1 pick away from drafting 2 HOF players in the same draft.
Talk about crappy luck.
Amanofthenorth
April 22, 2016 at 03:47 pm
RR is a fine tight end. He's just not a wide receiver.
RCPackerFan
April 20, 2016 at 08:34 pm
Reach is perceived value of the player at the time. Reaching for a player is taking a player way before they were thought to have gone.
Now if the team drafts him obviously that player is not a reach to them, and we wouldn't ever find out what other teams thought of those players. Really where the term reach comes from is from the media and fans that think player X should go at a certain spot, and if they don't they are either a value or reach.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 08:51 pm
So, there's no right or wrong. Especially if that player turns out to be "good" or a perennial pro bowler
RCPackerFan
April 20, 2016 at 10:33 pm
When the player turns out to be really good he is considered a steal. When he fails he is considered a bust by the general public.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 10:45 pm
So, what's a "steal"?
Ok, I'm joking...
NickPerry
April 21, 2016 at 06:11 am
I think a "Reach" will prove to be the Rams and Eagles 1st round picks. : )
dobber
April 20, 2016 at 02:49 pm
I know, but it's interesting to do that correlation...so if you step outside this and move back two picks, Vernon Butler rates as #29 here and Deion Jones is #60 and Vadal Alexander is #90. Plop those picks in, and I'm feeling much better. It's a matter of perceived need, the available players, and the value the selector places on each. It's all good fun!
TarynsEyes
April 20, 2016 at 02:29 pm
Yes...Kyler Fackrell is where he should be and why his value is important to the Packers...IMO.
NickPerry
April 21, 2016 at 06:14 am
I like Frackell and wouldn't mind him in the 2nd round a bit. The only reason his Sacks and TFL stats weren't higher was because he was used in coverage so much.
hybridauth_Facebook_100002574551585
April 20, 2016 at 02:53 pm
Looking at the list, take out Jaylon Smith who wont go in the 1st and that leaves us with A'Shawn Robinson and that would be A ok with me. 6'4" 34.25 inch arms 305 lbs. He can play inside or slide out to 5 tech and be very good there. He is a highly rated run defender and an underated pass rusher IMO. Would also be happy with Billings, Reed, Darron Lee, Noah Spence, or Butler at 27.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 04:05 pm
So, the QB's are highly likely to go 1 and 2. Would those be reaches?
sonomaca
April 20, 2016 at 06:27 pm
With QB's going #1, #2, that certainly enhances the value of Lynch, Jones, and Cook. Lynch will likely be gone in the top #20, but the Packers might have a valuable spot at #27 for teams wanting Jones or Cook. I think Ted would jump at the chance to move down, unless Lee or Fuller is still on the board.
sonomaca
April 20, 2016 at 06:52 pm
Apparently, Lynch is a very likely top 10 pick. A team might have to move up to #3 overall to get him. San Diego just hit the jackpot, unless of course San Diego wants to take him. I think it's highly unlikely Lynch gets past #7.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 08:38 pm
@Sonomaca
The more film I watch the more I want to come away with at least 2 Defensive Linemen within Rounds 1 and 3. But there are so many IF's that get in the way.
If TT and coaches feel the same and want to get at least 2 very good big guys maybe he does lean towards trading back.
Who are the players you would select at #27 (if available) even if you had a willing trading partner to trade back?
Could the right trade back (realistic) outweigh some of those available players available at #27?
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 06:58 pm
"Reach" is all a matter of perspective and how each GM has their board ordered. Imo, they're reaches at #1 and #2 because I don't think either is an elite prospect and there are "better" players in the draft who, in a vacuum, "should" be picked ahead of them.
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 06:59 pm
But if Goff/Wentz really are the top players on the Rams' board, then no.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 07:13 pm
But y'all do see where I'm going with this though...
None of the QBs are even Top 15 Overall, but 2 of them are all but guaranteed to go 1st and 2nd overall because teams rank them that way. Hell, look at what teams gave up to secure drafting them.
No such thing as a "reach"
RCPackerFan
April 20, 2016 at 10:44 pm
QB position is a bit different then other positions. It's by far the most important position on the field. The need is so great it forces teams to draft the players higher then they should be drafted.
Thegreatreynoldo
April 20, 2016 at 07:29 pm
Define ¨reach¨ and I will be better able to answer your question. I think there are only some broad parameters that bear on the issue.
1. Talent of the prospect (perceived by the GM at the time of the pick - no hindsight) matches the draft slot.
1a) There is (or is not) a prospect with significantly better talent available.
2. Need is (or is not) taken into consideration.
3. Positional value is (is not) taken into consideration.
4. The GM tries (or does not try) to exercise perfect knowledge as to the probable picks of other GMs.
5. Prospect is a scheme fit or the coordinator needs to get creative.
There may be more. I am not a purist on any of these parameters, and my opinion changes based on the talent level of the team.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 08:15 pm
"Define ¨reach...¨"
That's my point. What is a reach? It's not like GMs/coaches are drafting players that they have no knowledge of and are just preventing another team of getting him. They're drafting players that they feel are good, good fits for the team and most likely feel the player won't be available by the next time they're on the clock.
Shouldn't your point #1 be enough?
Evan
April 20, 2016 at 08:27 pm
I'm getting a headache.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 09:14 pm
Point is...
Y'all better welcome Reggie Ragland when he's drafted, damn it! Lol
dobber
April 21, 2016 at 05:44 am
Don't get me wrong: if the Packers draft Ragland he immediately becomes the best ILB on the roster, and by default, makes the roster better, but I think that would be a tough one for our fellow CHTV users to handle. But I'm going to trust (because I will have no choice) that if Ragland is the pick at #27 that the Packers have a plan for him beyond being just a 2-down ILB...that maybe they see him as giving more in pass rush.
I, for one, will breathe a sigh of relief when he goes off the board ahead of the Packers...
DrealynWilliams
April 21, 2016 at 11:11 am
"I, for one, will breathe a sigh of relief when he goes off the board ahead of the Packers..."
Lol, damn you, Dobber!
Is he the best at Man-To-Man coverage? No. But what he lacks in that part of his game he certainly makes up for it with instinct, awareness, football IQ, aggression, zone coverage and sure tackling. He's not some big stiff who can't move. He's just no Myles Jack, Jaylon Smith, or Darron Lee in man coverage. I bet he's better at ILB than whatever position(s) they play in the NFL (excluding Jack...he does it all).
Evan
April 21, 2016 at 06:46 am
I'm really thinking Ragland is going to be the pick...
sonomaca
April 20, 2016 at 07:11 pm
Zeke Elliott could now end up in Chicago. It's possible Miami would have to trade up to get him.
EdsLaces
April 20, 2016 at 07:20 pm
Myles Jack is my #1 player in this draft overall. I think he is gonna be a stud. Side note ....what are the chances of us getting a crap load of picks so a team can move up six spots? Eagles are complete idiots!!!!
sonomaca
April 20, 2016 at 07:38 pm
Jack has the balky knee. He might fall because of it.
I think it's highly likely the Pack won't be picking at #27. If Lee falls into the 20's, I think Ted might make a move up to get him.
Most likely, the Packers will trade back with a team wanting to get Cardale Jones or Connor Cook.
DrealynWilliams
April 20, 2016 at 08:24 pm
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25559964/nfl-execs-...
SMH. This irks me.
sonomaca
April 20, 2016 at 08:50 pm
I think the issue is about the knee becoming arthritic at some point, which might limit the length of Jack's career. It's a legitimate concern. Of course, there are lots of games being played at this time of year.
Thegreatreynoldo
April 20, 2016 at 08:25 pm
This is a nice list, one that by large with which I agree, with only a few quibbles. Couple of issues:
1. Are the ranking based solely on talent?
2. Did you consider off the field stuff?
3. Did you take into account positional value?
4. Did you rank them with GB´s scheme in mind?
Where do you draw the line between a legitimate first round grade and the first/second round grade? I see about 26, but one or two of those you have ranked in the late twenties and early thirties.
Thegreatreynoldo
April 21, 2016 at 07:16 am
I'd be fine if, at #27, we took any of the following:
1-6;
8-12;
16, 21, 23;
28-30;
38.
I'd be okay but a trifle disappointed or worried with:
13, 14, 24, 26, 36, 37 but wouldn't be mad about those.
Evan
April 21, 2016 at 07:20 am
What is this, "LOST"?
RCPackerFan
April 21, 2016 at 07:54 am
I'm more confused about this then the ending to "Lost".
holmesmd
April 21, 2016 at 10:22 am
Reynoldo is referencing the players rank on the board as it pertains to where he would agree with the round they will be picked. Why the confusion, did I miss something?;) Lol
RCPackerFan
April 21, 2016 at 10:58 am
ohhh.
Thanks for the clarification. I just saw the numbers and didn't know what they meant. Brought me back to the days of Lost...
al bundy
April 22, 2016 at 06:53 pm
Wow hope this guy is wrong. Just read Rueters 7 round mock draft and he has Ted taking 7 of the what 10 picks from less than div 1 schools? Why would you pass on a div one guy in the third when you have top div 1 talent available.
Why? Western Mi? Samford? Temple. Real football powerhouses.
No nose tackle, two receivers and a TE you never heard of. No OL, three linebackers and one DE.
al bundy
April 22, 2016 at 06:55 pm
I take back my guestimate of two OL with the first two picks. Yes there are a lot of good ones available in the first and second but I think its nose tackle for the first pick. Shore up the run d.