2016 NFL Draft Debate: Who Is The #1 Prospect?
By Erik Lambert
With the 2015 season drawing to a close, inevitably talk of football will shift to the 2016 NFL draft coming in April. Questions will begin to surface, most notably who the experts believe is the best overall prospect that teams should consider? Will it be a quarterback? A pass rusher? A pass protector? We asked the Mocks crew what their thoughts were.
Eric Robinson:
The consensus pick would more likely be Joey Bosa, Laremy Tunsil, or whatever your preference is at QB (Goff, Lynch, or Wentz). In my opinion, my top prospect is FS Jalen Ramsey. NFL size, excellent arm length, sharp instincts, playmaking ability. Whatever opinion those have of him as a CB is their own thinking, but I clearly view him as a franchise free safety and possibly the best player from this draft when we look back at this draft five, ten years from now.
George Stockburger:
Easily Jalen Ramsey. He has the size, instinct, speed, playmaking ability and everything else on the check list to make it in the NFL. A sure-fire top five pick.
Brady Lunt:
I’m going with Joey Bosa. Pass-rushers are often the second most important position on any draft board and after dominating the BIG 10 for the last two seasons, Bosa is the premier talent at the position. His combination of size and speed gives him the versatility to play on any scheme. He is almost a lock to be taken in the first four selections come draft time.
Erik Lambert:
One thing I’ve always noted about the best football players is that they seem to able to things beyond what their position requires. The greatest of past generations before the Super Bowl era were able to play both offense and defense. That is why I believe Myles Jack is the best overall prospect. There really isn’t anything he can’t do. As a linebacker he can do the sideline-to-sideline tackling, comes off the edge as an effective pass rusher and is especially good at dropping into coverage, making him almost appear like a safety.
To top it off he has a background as a running back, meaning he can switch over to offense if required and is a danger with the ball in his hands on turnovers. There isn’t a defense he wouldn’t fit and he doesn’t lack the passion or work ethic to get better. No doubt in my mind he’ll make whatever team that takes him very happy.