NFL Draft 2016 Predictions: Top 5 Tosses Talent Aside

The NFL Draft is finally here, but after multiple trades its a real debate who goes top five. Do teams draft best available or for need? Your NFL Draft 2016 predictions.

Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

The first round of the 2016 NFL Draft takes place tomorrow. We have had a number of wild trades up near the very top, which obviously shook up the top five draft order. Just a day out, as essentially your final prediction, what do you have as a mock draft top five? Here is mine:

1. Los Angeles – Jared Goff, QB, California
2. Philadelphia – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3. San Diego – Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
4. Dallas – Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
5. Jacksonville – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Because of the wheeling and dealing, Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil drops out of my top five. I originally had him going first overall. Despite rumblings about Myles Jack’s health and teams being scared away of him, I’m pretty confident in him and this top five as a whole. Perhaps the order isn’t perfect, but these seem like the five likeliest players to come off the board first.

It seems almost like a guarantee at this point that the two quarterbacks will go first and second, in some order. I personally think Goff is the better player and better prospect. It also seems as though the Rams feel that way, but who knows. We already discussed how idiotic it was of Philadelphia to trade up to two not knowing who they’d be able to take with that selection. If the Eagles end up “stuck” with Goff, they may fall over backward into the best thing that could happen for the franchise.

Joey Bosa, earlier this offseason, was a guaranteed top-two pick. Now, he could fall out of the top five entirely, though I see him being snagged with that fifth pick. Nothing really happened to Bosa to force this slide. Other players simply rose above him for whatever reason. Bosa now seems like a steal to me at anything outside of the top four. I guess things like this always happen when teams force quarterbacks into draft values that aren’t representative of their talents. The position is simply too important. Everyone agrees that pass rushing may be the second most important position on a football field, but the difference between one and two in this regard is miles and miles.

Jan 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles new head coach Doug Pederson talks to the media during a press conference at the NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

Imagine if every team drafted the best player available, instead of selecting based on need. We’d have players being paid to their value and teams stacked on one side of the ball or another. I’m a steadfast proponent of drafting the most talented player on your draft board, regardless of need. That player is infinitely more likely to be a long-term starter on your football team and garner higher value on the open market. Despite the logic of it all, both the Rams and Eagles are likely to pick based on need. I understand what Los Angeles is doing, but Philadelphia leaves me perplexed.

1. Los Angeles – Jared Goff, QB, California
2. Philadelphia – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3. San Diego – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
4. Dallas – Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi
5. Jacksonville – Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

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Both Goff and Wentz are solid quarterback prospects, but neither has wowed me. I believe both players will have multi-year careers in the NFL, but its more likely they fall into a back-up roll then solidify their place as a starter. These quarterbacks remind me a lot of Mark Sanchez, in that their hype has become greater than the actual body of work. Sanchez has had several nice seasons and a few forgettable ones. He’s still a valuable player in the league, but I wouldn’t draft him over Bosa, Tunsil, or Ramsey in this class of players.

The Rams are grabbing Goff. He’s a local talent, at least from the same state, now that the team is in Los Angeles. This leaves the Eagles to draft Wentz. Both solid picks, but not as good as what the Chargers get at three. Bosa is the best player in the draft, in my opinion. San Diego needs playmakers, and as you noted, pass rusher is the second most important position. They will not pass on Bosa. San Diego drafts the best player available.

The Cowboys also follow suit, drafting the best player available to them at four. Tunsil is a standout offensive lineman and the Cowboys must continue to protect Tony Romo, ensuring they have the best offensive line in football for years to come. Dallas has to put more points on the board this season, they were 31st in the league in 2015, but Tunsil’s talent can not be ignored. Many offensive problems are easily fixed up front, and dominant line play makes every other player on the field look better. They play it smart by drafting Tunsil.

More nfl spin zone: Complete 31 Team First Round Draft Analysis

The Jaguars have a lot to pick from, but ultimately settle on Jalen Ramsey. Jacksonville gave up nearly the most points per game in the NFL last season and was near the bottom in stopping the pass as well. Adding Ramsey will go a long way towards improving upon their weakest unit.

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