The first two picks of the 2016 NFL draft went as expected with Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles selecting quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. It was the second straight year that quarterbacks were selected with the first two choices. After those two picks, mock drafts blew up with Joey Bosa being selected third overall to the San Diego Chargers and Laremy Tunsils long night began.
About 20 minutes before the draft Tunsils Twitter account was hacked and someone tweeted out a video of him smoking a gas mask bong.Tunsil was once projected to be the first player selected in the draft but slid all the way to the 13th pick costing him around 10 million dollars. Tunsil was one of three Ole Miss players selected in the first round with teammates Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche being selected in the back half of the first round. Ole Miss three first rounders were second to the Ohio State Buckeyes who tied the modern record for players selected in the first round of the draft with five players going in the top 20. I've graded all 31 picks from round one below.
1) Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff, Grade B+
Goff is who the Rams wanted all along trading up 14 picks and putting their franchises future at risk. Goff gets the luxury not having to go to a bad team like past number one picks. The Rams have one of the most talented rosters in the league and Goff is the missing piece to their puzzle.
2) Philadelphia Eagles: QB Carson Wentz, Grade B
Wentz has drawn comparisons to Andrew Luck because of his size and ability to run. Philadelphia thinks they have their quarterback of the future with this pick as they will groom him behind Sam Bradford this season.
3) San Diego Chargers : DL/LB Joey Bosa, Grade A
The Chargers had their choice of the best non-quarterback in the draft and they chose Bosa. Bosa has the ability to line up anywhere along the defensive line and can play all three downs.
4) Dallas Cowboys : RB Ezekiel Elliott, Grade B
The Cowboys already have running backs Dareen Mcfadden and Alfred Morris on their roster but owner Jerry Jones believes Elliott is his next Emmit Smith.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars: DB Jalen Ramsey, Grade A
Head coach Gus Bradley believes that he has his next Richard Sherman with this pick. Ramsey is expected to play corner and nickel, and he also can impact special teams.
6) Baltimore Ravens : OL Ronnie Stanley, Grade B
The Ravens had Stanley graded above Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil so the bong incident didn't affect his chances of being a Raven.
7) San Francisco 49ers : DL DeForest Buckner, Grade A
Chip Kelly reunites with his former player Buckner who is larger than life at 6'7" and over 300 lbs. It's the second straight year that the 49ers selected an Oregon defensive lineman in the first round.
8) Tennessee Titans: OL Jack Conklin, Grade A+
The Titans traded back from the No. 1 pick to the No. 15 and back up to the No. 8 pick and still managed to get the tackle they wanted while attaining a future first round pick and an extra second round pick in this year's draft.
9. Chicago Bears: LB Leonard Floyd, Grade A-
The Bears targeted Floyd for months who was the best pass rusher in the draft and jumped ahead of the Giants to select him.
10. New York Giants: CB Eli Apple, Grade C
The Giants wanted Jack Conklin or Leonard Floyd here but both were already off the board so the team took a cornerback. Apple wasn't projected to go until the twenties but the Giants.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Grade B+
Hargreaves could've been selected by the Buccaneers at number 9 but the team was able to trade back and get an extra 4th round pick to bring him home to Tampa Bay.
12. New Orleans Saints: DL Sheldon Rankins, Grade B
New Orleans needs upgrades to their defensive following an abysmal last season. Rankins can rush the passer from the interior or the edge and should have an immediate impact.
13. Miami Dolphins: OL Laremy Tunsil, Grade A
Tunsil fall ended with the Dolphins selecting him to step in and help protect Ryan Tannehill.
14. Oakland Raiders: S Karl Joseph, Grade B
Oakland fills their need at safety with this pick, Joseph was the only player selected in round one that had medical concerns. Many believed he'd dropped to at least the second round.
15. Cleveland Browns: WR Corey Coleman, Grade B
Coleman gets to team up with another former Baylor Bear in Robert Griffin III. Griffin has a great deep ball and Coleman has the speed to beat NFL defensive backs for touchdowns.
16. Detroit Lions: OL Taylor Decker, Grade B
Decker was the fourth tackle taken and Matthew Stafford had to be the happiest Lion about this pick.
17. Atlanta Falcons: SS Keanu Neal Grade C
Head coach Dan Quinn believes that Neal can be the Kam Chancellor of the Falcons defense. The pick of Neal still leaves the Falcons looking for pass rushers.
18. Indianapolis Colts: C Ryan Kelly, Grade B+
Kelly is the center that Andrew Luck has needed in front of him all along. Kelly has the chance to be what former Colts center Jeff Saturday was for Peyton Manning
19. Buffalo Bills: DL Shaq Lawson, Grade B
The Bills were close to last in the NFL in sacks last season and Shaq Lawson will look to change that with his ability to get to the passer with an array of moves.
20. New York Jets: LB Darron Lee
Lee can slide in immediately at any of the linebacker positions for the Jets because He has the size and speed of a Safety.
21. Houston Texans: WR Will Fuller, Grade B
Fuller was one of the fastest receivers at the combine and the Texans wanted speed. Brock Osweiler has all the weapons he needs now to be successful.
22. Washington Redskins: WR Josh Doctson, Grade B+
Washington surprised most with this pick but it gives Kirk Cousins a receiver with size that he can throw the ball up to.
23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Laquon Treadwell, Grade A
Treadwell doesn't have the speed of the receivers that were chosen before him but his does everything else to the same ability if not better than his peers.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: CB William Jackson III
The Bengals wanted a receiver with this pick after losing Marvin Jones and Sanu in free agency. They settled with William Jackson III and forced the Steelers to take a gamble with their pick.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Artie Burns, Grade C
Burns being selected here is a reach for the Steelers who are in desperate need of cornerbacks.
26. Denver Broncos: QB Paxton Lynch, Grade B
Paxton Lynch said after the draft that the Broncos were the best possible situation for him and he's right. The Broncos will be patient with Lynch giving him a chance to adjust to the NFL.
27. Green Bay Packers: DL Kenny Clark, Grade C+
With B.J. Raji taking the season off the Packers needed to find his replacement. Clark will be able to step in and play right away but the team still needs to fill the hole at middle linebacker and could've have chosen Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland with this pick.
28. San Francisco 49ers: OL Joshua Garnett, Grade C
Garnett was the best available guard in the draft but he would’ve been available in the second round for the 49ers.
29. Arizona Cardinals: DL Robert Nkemdiche, Grade A
Nkemdiche is top ten talent who's had a troubled past but the Cardinals don't mind taking chances on a player who has the talent. Tyrann Mathieu pick, which paid off in a big way for the Cardinals.
30. Carolina Panthers: DT Vernon Butler, Grade B
Carolina builds from the inside out and with this pick they add depth to their defensive line. Current Panthers defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short will be free agents after next season so the addition of Butler gives the team the ability to let one of the players walk.
31. Seattle Seahawks: OL Germain Ifedi, Grade C+
Seattle traded down five spots and still got the player they wanted. Ifedi is a talented player that didn't always play up to his potential at Texas A&M.
