2016 NFL Draft Recap

The 2016 NFL Draft officially came to a close last night after three thoroughly unpredictable days. Now that the chaos of the draft has subsided, here are my picks for which teams made the biggest splash and who missed the mark, the biggest reaches and steals and potential sleepers and busts.

Biggest Winners: Jacksonville Jaguars
After watching his team's offense headlined by 2014 draft picks quarterback Blake Bortles and wide receiver Allen Robinson explode in 2015, general manager Dave Caldwell knew his team needed to get stronger on defense in this draft and he delivered with a draft haul that is pretty much flawless on paper. The Jaguars pulled off a task that would've seemed impossible a week ago by landing two of the draft's most decorated prospects in cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack-who fell out of the first round due to concerns about how his knee will hold up long-term-with their first two picks in the draft. Ramsey and Jack are both freakishly athletic, dynamic players that give the Jaguars some much-needed help at positions that were major weaknesses for them a season ago. In addition to Ramsey and Jack, the Jaguars acquired a pair of pass-rushing specialists in defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and defensive tackle Sheldon Day that should be able to come in and contribute in sub packages right away. Caldwell has drafted consistently well since he took over as the Jaguars GM in 2013 and 2016 could very well prove to be his finest work to-date. 
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens

Biggest Losers: Houston Texans
With the Jaguars plethora of young talent and the prospect of a healthy Andrew Luck returning to the Colts in 2016, the Texans are clearly panicking that they're going to fall behind in the AFC South hierarchy and it showed with their series of ill-advised draft selections. They used two of their first three draft picks on wide receivers in Will Fuller and Braxton Miller that have plenty of speed and athleticism, but limited experience running routes that aren't 20-25 yards downfield and terrible hands and their day three picks-with the exception of West Virginia safety K.J. Dillon-were all major reaches. This weak draft class paired with their head-scratching free agency moves gives me little faith that the Texans will be returning to the playoffs in 2016.
Dishonorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions

Biggest Steal: Noah Spence, defensive end/outside linebacker (Round 2, 39th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It's amazing what past off-the-field issues will due to a player's draft stock. Despite not having a single failed drug test since he was dismissed from Ohio State in 2014 after testing positive for MDMA twice and impressing scouts with his transparency in pre-draft interviews, the highly talented Spence somehow managed to slip into the second round. With his power and burst off the edge, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Spence turned out to be the most productive pass rusher in this draft class. 
Honorable Mentions: Myles Jack, inside/outside linebacker (Round 2, 36th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Round 2, 41st overall, Buffalo Bills), Devonate Booker, running back (Round 4, 121st overall, Denver Broncos) 

Biggest Reach: Eli Apple, cornerback (Round 1, 10th overall, New York Giants)
After the Bears traded up to get Leonard Floyd at number nine overall and all of the top tackle prospects that weren't videotaped proudly ripping a bong were off-the board, Giants general manager Jerry Reese was clearly beside himself with what to do with the 10th overall pick. Instead of trading down or addressing a position that they hadn't just committed $62 million to in the offseason, Reese pulled the trigger on Ohio State corner Eli Apple. Not only did the Giants not need to draft a corner that high with Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie locked in as starters, Apple is without question one of the rawest cornerbacks in the entire 2016 draft class. Apple's over-reliance on using his hands to slow down receivers, terrible footwork and tendency to get burned by any receiver that's a remotely savvy route runner ensures that he's a long way away from seeing a lot of reps in the pros and if the Giants continue to underwhelm, this current regime won't even get the opportunity to develop him themselves.
Honorable Mentions: Keanu Neal, safety (Round 1, 17th overall, Atlanta Falcons), Will Fuller, wide receiver (Round 1, 21st overall, Houston Texans), Leonard Floyd (Round 1, 9th overall, Chicago Bears)

10 Biggest Potential Sleepers:
1.Alex Collins, running back (Round 5, 171st overall, Seattle Seahawks)
2.Pharoh Cooper, wide receiver (Round 4, 117th overall, Los Angeles Rams)
3.Jerrell Adams, tight end (Round 6, 184th overall, New York Giants)
4.Kentrell Brothers, inside/outside linebacker (Round 5, 160th overall, Minnesota Vikings)
5.Sheldon Day, defensive tackle (Round 4, 103rd overall, Jacksonville Jaguars)
6.Hassan Ridgeway, defensive tackle (Round 4, 116th overall, Indianapolis Colts)
7.Joshua Perry, inside linebacker (Round 4, 102nd overall, San Diego Chargers)
8.Deon Bush, safety (Round 4, 124th overall, Chicago Bears)
9.Kolby Listenbee, wide receiver (Round 6, 192nd overall, Buffalo Bills)
10.Scooby Wright III, inside linebacker (Round 7, 250th overall, Cleveland Browns)

10 Biggest Potential Busts:
1.Eli Apple, cornerback (Round 1, 10th overall, New York Giants)
2.Will Fuller, wide receiver (Round 1, 21st overall, Houston Texans)
3.Keanu Neal, safety (Round 1, 17th overall, Atlanta Falcons)
4.Robert Nkemdiche, defensive tackle (Round 1, 29th overall, Arizona Cardinals)
5.A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Round 2, 42nd overall, Detroit Lions)
6.Josh Doctson, wide receiver (Round 1, 22nd overall, Washington Redskins)
7.Xavien Howard, cornerback (Round 2, 38th overall, Miami Dolphins)
8.Austin Johnson, defensive tackle (Round 2, 42nd overall, Tennessee Titans)
9.Jihad Ward, defensive end/outside linebacker (Round 2, 44th overall, Oakland Raiders)
10.Christian Hackenberg, quarterback (Round 2, 51st overall, New York Jets)

Draft Grades by Team: (team-by-team draft classes can be found here: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-team)
Arizona Cardinals: B-
Atlanta Falcons: C-
Baltimore Ravens: A-
Buffalo Bills: A-
Carolina Panthers: C+
Chicago Bears: B+
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cleveland Browns: B
Dallas Cowboys: B
Denver Broncos: B+
Detroit Lions: C
Green Bay Packers: B
Houston Texans: D+
Indianapolis Colts: B+
Kansas City Chiefs: B
Jacksonville Jaguars: A+
Los Angeles Rams: B+
Miami Dolphins: C-
Minnesota Vikings: B
New England Patriots: B+
New Orleans Saints: A-
New York Giants: B+
New York Jets: B-
Oakland Raiders: B
Philadelphia Eagles: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
San Diego Chargers: B+
San Francisco 49ers: B
Seattle Seahawks: A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B+
Tennessee Titans: B
Washington Redskins: A-

20 Best Prospects Available on Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft

While a majority of the draft's most intriguing players have been selected over the first three rounds, there are still plenty of promising prospects and potential starters on the board going into the final four rounds of the draft. Here are my picks for the 20 best players still available going into day three of the 2016 NFL Draft.

1.Devonate Booker, running back (Utah)
2.Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
3.Jeremy Cash, safety (Duke)
4.Alex Collins, running back (Arkansas)
5.Kenneth Dixon, running back (Louisiana Tech)
6.Pharaoh Cooper, wide receiver (South Carolina)
7.Christian Westerman, guard (Arizona State)
8.Jerrell Adams, tight end (South Carolina)
9.Jack Allen, center (Michigan State)
10.Kentrell Brothers, inside linebacker (Missouri)
11.Hassan Ridgeway, defensive tackle (Texas)
12.Connor McGovern, guard (Missouri)
13.K.J. Dillon, safety (West Virginia)
14.Rashard Higgins, wide receiver (Colorado State)
15.Brandon Allen, quarterback (Arkansas)
16.Sheldon Day, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
17.Jerald Hawkins, tackle (LSU)
18.Dak Prescott, quarterback (Mississippi State)
19.Charles Tapper, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma)
20.Scooby Wright III, inside linebacker (Arizona)

2016 NFL Draft: Top 50 Prospects + Top 5 Players By Position

Draft day has finally arrived! After spending an unholy amount of time breaking down game tape and reading scouting reports over the past two and a half months, here are my picks for the 50 best prospects and five best players at each position in the 2016 NFL Draft.
(Updated 5/1 with prospects NFL teams)

Top 50 Overall Prospects
1.Joey Bosa, defensive end/outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 3rd overall by the San Diego Chargers
2.Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State) Selected 5th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars
3.Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State) Selected 4th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
4.Myles Jack, inside/outside linebacker (UCLA) Selected 36th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars
5.Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida) Selected 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6.Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame) Selected 6th overall by the Baltimore Ravens
7.Jared Goff, quarterback (California) Selected 1st overall by the Los Angeles Rams
8.Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State) Selected 2nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
9.Karl Joseph, safety (West Virginia) Selected 14th overall by the Oakland Raiders
10.Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi) Selected 13th overall by the Miami Dolphins
11.Noah Spence,defensive end/outside linebacker (Eastern Kentucky) Selected 39th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12.Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State) Selected 8th overall by the Tennessee Titans
13.Shaq Lawson, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson) Selected 19th overall by the Buffalo Bills
14.DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon) Selected 7th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
15.Ryan Kelly, center (Alabama) Selected 18th overall by the Indianapolis Colts
16.Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama) Selected 41st overall by the Buffalo Bills
17.Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor) Selected 15th overall by the Cleveland Browns
18.Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver (Mississippi) Selected 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings
19.Cody Whitehair, guard (Kansas State) Selected 56th overall by the Chicago Bears
20.William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston) Selected 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
21.Artie Burns, cornerback (Miami) Selected 25th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
22.Derrick Henry, running back (Alabama) Selected 45th overall by the Tennessee Titans
23.Vonn Bell, safety (Ohio State) Selected 61st overall by the New Orleans Saints
24.Sterling Shepard, wide receiver (Oklahoma) Selected 40th overall by the New York Giants
25.Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 20th overall by the New York Jets
26.Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson) Selected 54th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
27.Jaylon Smith, inside/outside linebacker (Notre Dame) Selected 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
28.Devonate Booker, running back (Utah) Selected 136th overall by the Denver Broncos
29.Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor) Selected 122nd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
30.Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama) Selected 49th overall by the Seattle Seahawks
31.Kevin Dodd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson) Selected 33rd overall by the Tennessee Titans
32.Tyler Boyd, wide receiver (Pittsburgh) Selected 55th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
33.Chris Jones, defensive tackle/end (Mississippi State) Selected 37th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs
34.Vernon Butler, defensive tackle (Louisiana Tech) Selected 30th overall by the Carolina Panthers
35.Alex Collins, running back (Arkansas)Selected 171st overall by the Seattle Seahawks
36.Michael Thomas, wide receiver (Ohio State) Selected 47th overall by the New Orleans Saints
37.Leonard Floyd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia) Selected 9th overall by the Chicago Bears
38.Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State) Selected 16th overall by the Detroit Lions
39.Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville) Selected 12th overall by the New Orleans Saints
40.Kenneth Dixon, running back (Louisiana Tech) Selected 134th overall by the Baltimore Ravens
41.Hunter Henry, tight end (Arkansas) Selected 34th overall by the San Diego Chargers
42.Alex Garnett, guard (Stanford) Selected 28th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
43.Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis) Selected 26th overall by the Denver Broncos
44.Su'a Cravens, linebacker/safety (USC) Selected 53rd overall by the Washington Redskins 
45.Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma State) Selected 32nd overall by the Cleveland Browns
46.Kendall Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech) Selected 84th overall by the Washington Redskins
47.Darian Thompson, safety (Boise State) Selected 71st overall by the New York Giants
48.Pharaoh Cooper, wide receiver (South Carolina) Selected 117th overall by the Los Angeles Rams
49.Cyrus Jones, cornerback (Alabama) Selected 62nd overall by the New England Patriots
50.Justin Simmons, safety (Boston College) Selected 98th overall by the Denver Broncos

Top 5 Players by Position:
Quarterback
1.Jared Goff (California) NFL team: Los Angeles Rams
2.Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles
3.Paxton Lynch (Memphis) NFL team: Denver Broncos
4.Brandon Allen (Arkansas) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
5.Jacoby Brissett (NC State) NFL team: New England Patriots

Running Back
1.Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State) NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
2.Derrick Henry (Alabama) NFL team: Tennessee Titans
3.Devonate Booker (Utah) NFL team: Denver Broncos
4.Alex Collins (Arkansas) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
5.Kenneth Dixon (Louisiana Tech) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens

Wide Receiver
1.Corey Coleman (Baylor) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
2.Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings
3.Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma) NFL team: New York Giants
4.Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
5.Michael Thomas (Ohio State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints

Tight End
1.Hunter Henry (Arkansas) NFL team: San Diego Chargers
2.Jerrell Adams (South Carolina) NFL team: New York Giants
3.Austin Hooper (Stanford) NFL team: Atlanta Falcons
4.Nick Vannett (Ohio State) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
5.Ben Braunecker (Harvard) NFL team: Chicago Bears

Tackle

1.Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens

2.Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi) NFL team: Miami Dolphins

3.Jack Conklin (Michigan State) NFL team: Tennessee Titans

4.Taylor Decker (Ohio State) NFL team: Detroit Lions

5.Jason Spriggs (Indiana) NFL team: Green Bay Packers

Guard
1.Cody Whitehair (Kansas State) NFL team: Chicago Bears
2.Alex Garnett (Stanford) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
3.Christian Westerman (Arizona State) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
4.Connor McGovern (Missouri) NFL team: Denver Broncos
5.Vadal Alexander (LSU) NFL team: Oakland Raiders

Center
1.Ryan Kelly (Alabama) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts
2.Nick Martin (Notre Dame) NFL team: Houston Texans
3.Jack Allen (Michigan State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
4.Evan Boehm (Missouri) NFL team: Arizona Cardinals
5.Max Turek (USC) NFL team: San Diego Chargers

Defensive Tackle
1.DeForest Buckner (Oregon) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
2.Andrew Billings (Baylor) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
3.Jarran Reed (Alabama) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
4.Chris Jones (Mississippi State) NFL team: Kansas City Chiefs
5.Vernon Butler (Louisiana Tech) NFL team: Carolina Panthers

Edge Defenders (Defensive End/Outside Linebacker)
1.Joey Bosa (Ohio State) NFL team: San Diego Chargers
2.Noah Spence (Eastern Kentucky) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3.Shaq Lawson (Clemson) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
4.Kevin Dodd (Clemson) NFL team: Tennessee Titans
5.Leonard Floyd (Georgia) NFL team: Chicago Bears

Inside Linebacker:
1.Myles Jack (UCLA) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
2.Reggie Ragland (Alabama) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
3.Darron Lee (Ohio State) NFL team: New York Jets
4.Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
5.Su'a Cravens (USC) NFL team: Washington Redskins

Cornerback:

1.Jalen Ramsey (Florida State) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars

2.Vernon Hargreaves (Florida) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3.William Jackson III (Houston) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals

4.Artie Burns (Miami) NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers

5.Mackensie Alexander (Clemson) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings

Safety:

1.Karl Joseph (West Virginia) NFL team: Oakland Raiders

2.Vonn Bell (Ohio State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints

3.Darian Thompson (Boise State) NFL team: New York Giants

4.Justin Simmons (Boston College) NFL team: Denver Broncos
5.T.J. Green (Clemson) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts

2016 NFL Mock Draft (Pre-Combine Mock #2, Updated 2/22)

1.Tennessee Titans: Joey Bosa, defensive end/outside linebacker (Ohio State)
2.Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
3.San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi)
4.Dallas Cowboys: DeForest Buckner, defensive end (Oregon)
5.Jacksonville Jaguars: Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame)
6.Baltimore Ravens: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback (Florida State)
7.San Francisco 49ers: Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver (Mississippi)
8.Miami Dolphins: Myles Jack, outside linebacker (UCLA)
9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreves, cornerback (Florida)
10.New York Giants: Jaylon Smith, outside linebacker (Notre Dame)
11.Chicago Bears: Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State)
12.New Orleans Saints: Eli Apple, cornerback (Ohio State)
13.Philadelphia Eagles: A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Alabama)
14.Oakland Raiders: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson)
15.Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
16.Detroit Lions: Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State)
17.Atlanta Falcons: Shaq Lawson, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson)
18.Indianapolis Colts: Kevin Dodd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
19.Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama)
20.New York Jets: Darron Lee, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
21.Washington Redskins: Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama)
22.Houston Texans: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Ohio State)
23.Minnesota Vikings: Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Vernon Butler, defensive tackle (Louisiana Tech)
25.Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendall Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Le'Raven Clark, tackle (Texas Tech)
27.Green Bay Packers: Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
28.Kansas City Chiefs: Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville)
29.Arizona Cardinals: Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma State)
30.Carolina Panthers: Shon Coleman, tackle (Auburn)
31.Denver Broncos: Cody Whitehair, guard (Kansas State)