Former Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) will likely go in the Top 10. Photo Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
By Dane Brugler, The Sports Xchange
If the NFL Draft were predictable, it wouldn’t be the popular event that it is every year.
The volatility of the draft, especially the first round, is what makes mock drafts the most visited webpages on the internet each spring and drives television ratings during the draft higher than World Series games.
Predictions are predestined for failure in this reality show.
Here are five bold predictions that have a good chance of happening Thursday during the 2016 NFL Draft. All five could be correct or all five could be misses — that’s what makes them bold.
1. Oregon’s DeForest Buckner is the first non-quarterback drafted
Mississippi left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and Ohio State pass rusher Joey Bosa are widely viewed as the better overall prospects, but Buckner will be the first non-quarterback drafted. The San Diego Chargers, who own the No. 3 overall selection, have needs on the offensive line and in the secondary, but the defensive line is also a glaring concern, which is why Buckner gets the nod after quarterbacks are drafted first and second overall.
2. A team trades into the top-10 for Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott
Some believe that Elliott will fall to the Bears at No. 11, Dolphins at No. 13 or even the Raiders at No. 14, but no such luck as he will be drafted top-10. However, one of those teams could make the jump into the top-10 to secure the talented running back from Ohio State with Miami making the most sense, possibly jumping to their original spot at No. 8.
3. Only three quarterbacks are drafted in first round
Quarterbacks will be drafted first and second overall, but how many passers will come off the board between picks 3 and 31? The answer is one: Memphis’ Paxton Lynch. Although some believe that Michigan State’s Connor Cook or Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg will crash the first round party, not even the allure of a fifth-year option will entice that type of investment from a NFL team.
4. Six offensive tackles are drafted in the first round
Offensive tackle is arguably the weakest position group in the 2016 class, which makes it all the more ironic that it could be the most drafted position in the first round this year. There isn’t great depth in this year’s class so if a team doesn’t get their offensive tackle early, they might be out of luck. Tunsil, Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley, Michigan State’s Jack Conklin and Ohio State’s Taylor Decker are just about locks for the draft’s opening round. Indiana’s Jason Spriggs and Texas A&M’s Germain Ifedi are graded as day two selections, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if both find a spot in round one.
5. Georgia pass rusher Leonard Floyd will be a top-10 pick
Based on tape study, Floyd doesn’t belong anywhere near the draft’s top-10 picks. But with his flexible athleticism and upside as a pass rusher, he won’t make it out of the top-10. With a skill-set reminiscent of Barkevious Mingo, Floyd has the speed to capture the edge and bend underneath blocks, but once blockers get their hands on him, he is usually shut down. Nonetheless, teams are willing to take chances on pass rush potential, even as early as the top-10 picks.
