2016 First Round Mock Draft 1.0

2016 First Round Mock Draft 1.0

(1.1) Tom-a-Hank

Ezekiel Elliot – RB – Ohio State

This will be quite possibly the easiest decision of the draft. I envision Brady already has his pick acceptance speech written and he’s just waiting to copy and paste it into our shared message/conference call.  Even with the good fortune of snagging Zach Zenner from Ole’s practice squad, RB is the biggest weakness on the roster. Tevin Coleman, Kadeem Carey, and Jay Ajayi all have HUGE upside but are blocked by others on their prospective rosters. At this point Elliot’s landing spot is anywhere from the Giants at 1.10 to the Texans at 1.22. Regardless, he is in a tier of his own when it comes to Running Backs in this draft.

(1.2) Average Joe's (from NattyBohs)

LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Ole Miss

When you look at the roster, two names literally jump out at you (one of them, snagging a catch with just three fingers) those are Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. There are several question marks and a pretty glaring need at RB for this squad but Joe is too smart to reach for need and bypass the cream of this year’s WR crop. He’s been burned by Bishop, tricked by TJ, and so this time he’ll get the sure thing and bolster the WR corps. Treadwell is not running at the combine but it won’t hurt him, he has all the other skills to excel at his position and should be a factor starting day one. Just hope he gets picked by a team other than the Los Angeles Rams.

   

(1.3) For Narnia (from Coach Dadbod)

Alex Collins – RB - Arkansas

Here’s the guy that is going to get the most buzz from now until draft day. At his best, he’s been compared to Marshawn Lynch, others see him as a Knowshon Moreno because of his superb pass-catching skills. In three years at Arkansas he’s surpassed 1000 yards rushing each season and until this season he split carries with fellow draftee Jonathan Williams. He could sneak into the first round of the NFL draft and land in a very fantasy friendly position.   The WR position for the Narnians is pretty solid so RB is a given. It’s just a question of is it the ‘buzz-beast’ or the Heisman winner.

(1.4) Fat Eddie (from For Narnia)

Tyler Boyd – WR - Pittsburgh

With the top wideout and top RB options taken, Fat Eddie will probably be trying hard to deal this pick for more in the future. However, I could also see him taking a calculated risk in selecting a guy that could be the next Larry Fitzgerald. Tyler Boyd was on the Heisman watchlist and figured to be the top wideout going into the season. He has the size-speed combo teams want but more importantly has soft hands and a sharp mind. He had off-field issues that will affect his draft position but my thinking is that while Boyd will be a day 2 pick, he will fall into a much better position with a competent QB who can help him win OROY honors. Yeah, I’m going there in Mock 1.0.

(1.5) DaBert

Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama

With the season’s first blockbuster trade Bert finds himself in the enviable position of being able to draft the best player available and not have to worry about them needing consistent player time in their rookie year. Derrick Henry may have a ton of miles on his tires but should still find a productive home in the NFL. The track record for Heisman Trophy winning RB’s isn’t the greatest, but every ‘curse’ is meant to be broken. If you ever feel bad about the pick just remember the side-by-side look we got of Henry with Mark Ingram… yeah Henry is an ox and he should be more than fine to start his career. Worry about the mileage later.     

(1.6) Gold Standard

Corey Coleman – WR - Baylor

With two picks in the first round, Gold Standard has options to bolster a roster that underperformed in 2015 and was also hit by the injury bug. Even with names like Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and AJ Green, I think the best value right here is at WR. Corey Coleman was spectacular last year for Baylor and didn’t miss a step when the backup QB took over, it ultimately took the 3^rd string QB to have a negative impact on his numbers. Baylor Wide Receivers are perennially en vogue (even when they get suspended constantly! Josh Gordon!) I think Gold Standard could also look to trade one or both of these picks for proven commodities to bolster the RB position.

(1.7) Milk Steak

Kenneth Dixon – RB – Louisiana Tech

Again, here’s another name you may not know yet, but just you wait. There is only one person in NCAA history to have more total touchdowns (Navy QB/RB Keenan Reynolds) than our boy Kenneth Dixon. Not only is he a strong and hungry runner, he has great hands out of the backfield. He has been compared to guys like Matt Forte and err… Ray Rice… but I think he could be this year’s David Johnson. Depending on where he gets drafted he will probably start as a change-of-pace back but he has the tools to really emerge as a feature back late in the season and into his sophomore campaign.  

(1.8) Size Does Matter

Michael Thomas – WR – Ohio State 

We didn’t always get to see Thomas shine as a Buckeye because the system really didn’t throw down the field on a consistent basis, who would blame them when you have a dual-threat QB, a workhorse RB, and a gadget player in Braxton Miller. Thomas has the pedigree (Keyshawn Johnson is his uncle) and the size-speed combination you want in a WR1. He has great hands to go with the 6’3” frame but still needs to be a better route-runner. He could find himself on a very fantasy friendly team towards the end of day 2. With only three wideouts currently on the roster, it’s a safe bet several picks will be spent at the position.

(1.9) Gold Standard

Devontae Booker – RB – Utah

Gold Standard may not like rolling with Eli and Romo at the gunslinger position but now is not the time to select a QB that isn’t a sure-fire franchise player. The run on Running Backs has left fewer options but outside Elliot, every other player is dependent on the team and opportunity for touches. Booker is a guy who should fall because of his torn meniscus last fall but you can’t discount his production while a Ute. By snagging a wideout early, Gold Standard can take a flier who could help as a bye week fill-in for David Johnson, Charcandrick West, and Ameer Abdullah. Again, this pick has trade-bait written all over it.

    

(1.10) Coach DadBod (from Fat Eddie)

Josh Doctson – WR – Texas Christian

I hope I am wrong, but every time I visit Josh Doctson, I get the feeling he could end up being this year’s Kevin White. He has everything you want in a wideout (have I said that a lot already?) has the speed to make defenses scared, can climb the ladder and high-point the ball, and then has the hands to snag those difficult catches. What he’s missing is the muscle and that’s where I think an injury in camp will force him to start on IR-designated for return, or keep him from meeting his true potential. Honestly that could be the outlook for any draft prospect, so don’t take my word for it. If he sees the field I think a rookie projection of 55 catches, 875 yards, and 6 TDs (11pts per game average) is more than respectable.    

(1.11) Average Joe's

Jonathan Williams – RB – Arkansas

I think Joe really would have liked to snag Alex Collins early but Treadwell was too good to pass up. So getting the other Razor-Running Back is a nice consolation. If not for a foot injury that required surgery, Williams would be higher on the draft board than Collins but he is a very solid between the tackles runner who has a very good chance of carving out the early-down role in many offenses across the league. If the anticipated run on running backs does happen I envision that Joe will try and trade the pick for a more proven runner or more draft capital in next year’s draft.  

(1.12) I Vincitori

Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame

I am making it a stipulation that anyone who drafts Will Fuller has to immediately change their team name to “Fuller House” and make their avatar a picture of Jesse Katsopolis and his flowing mullet. I will also accept the name of “ Jesse and the Rippers.” Ok back to all seriousness. Will Fuller is a straight-line burner who plays bigger than his 6’0” size. You probably are thinking this sounds like DeSean Jackson right about now, but I think he’s an even more polished receiver. On the tape he is very shifty and can get separation because DBs are afraid of his speed. I think the Patriots could scoop him up and make it very hard for Mr. Heinert to pass on a fellow Pat.