Kiper's First 2016 Big Board....

[NewColtsFan]

And here it is with the usual proviso that Kiper only does the top-25 which only he understands why.

 

There's 32 teams,  32 players in the first round.   

 

Enjoy!!       

 

An asterisk denotes a junior for the 2015 season.

 

 

1. *Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes

He'll miss the first game due to suspension, but he's No. 1 here. His dad was my No. 3-ranked defensive end in 1987 and eventually went No. 17 overall to Miami. The son won't fall that far. Bosa has size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds and could play bigger), versatility that will fit any scheme and the ability to go around blockers or right through them. He has 34.5 tackles for loss in two seasons, and remember that so many guys who produce that well early had a redshirt.

 

2. *Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels

The key with Tunsil is health, because that's been the one knock so far in a stellar two-year run. When healthy, he's the best pass-blocker in the draft, a guy who wouldn't look out of place if he had to play on Sundays this season.  He's a nimble but powerful left tackle prospect, and has all the traits you look for at that spot. If he's healthy, he's an early pick.

 

3. *Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State Seminoles

While it doesn't dramatically shift his status as a prospect -- he'd be in good shape either way -- Ramsey will line up at cornerback this year after playing safety last season. A does-it-all talent who has already started 28 college games heading into this junior season, I would have rated him the top safety taken in the 2015 draft. He has the length, range and exceptional instincts to make plays all over the field, and I expect a smooth transition to corner. He is a truly gifted athlete.

 

4. *Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies

The pedigree is there; he is a major talent. Fuller has three older brothers who all went to VT and all landed in the NFL, and Kendall is the top prospect at this stage if you compare them. He has great instincts in coverage, plays physical and was an All-American in 2014, even though he wasn't at 100 percent. He has two years of starts under his belt, and just needs to stay consistent.

 

5. *Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators

Most people probably have Hargreaves ahead of Fuller, but I'm split. Hargreaves lacks size, but he makes up for it in instincts and effortless fluidity in moving with receivers. Of course, he's not small, at 5-11 and about 195 pounds; he just lacks a margin for error compared to some. He has already played in 24 games and has picked off six passes. Best pure cover corner in the draft.

 

6. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Stanley was wise to return to South Bend. His frame and upside are ahead of consistent performance, and another year will help. He already has 13 starts at right tackle as a freshman, followed by 13 at left tackle as a sophomore, so he'll marry plenty of experience to prototypical length and movement skills. He moves well laterally, and can flash great hand use, but he just needs more consistency. It's not always there at the same time.

 

7. *Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears

The system hands you numbers, but Goff is good enough to do damage anywhere. He has a cannon when he wants to really cut it loose, able to drill the ball down the field and into tight windows with ease, and he has effective movement skills and anticipation for a player with good length who seems to see the whole field. He can also move defenders with his eyes pretty well, and will continue to get better.

 

8. *Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Nittany Lions

Will there be a player more under the microscope?  Hackenberg had a tough sophomore season for various reasons -- a lack of blocking, a coaching transition and his own poor performances were all culprits -- but it's hard to look past the skill set. The arm is special, but he needs to get the ball out quicker. The size is there, but he's not running away from defenders. He needs to put it all together this season.

 

9. *Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels

If the numbers don't jump out, remember Nkemdiche moved inside after starting his Rebels career on the edge. He has exceptional movement skills for a player his size (6-4, 280 pounds). And although I want to see more production from him, he has been thrown into the mix early, all while making position adjustments, and has the potential to break out in 2015 as he gets comfortable.

 

10. *Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Nigeria-born Ogbah isn't a late bloomer as much as he was simply raw in terms of pass-rushing refinement early on at OSU. He broke though in 2014 with 17.5 tackles for loss, often showing exceptional quickness for a player standing 6-4 and carrying a lean 275 pounds. He can put a blocker on skates, but is also really fluid in the open field. Learn the name. 

 

11. *A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide

He packs 320-plus pounds, but isn't just a clogger -- Robinson can really move. He was an immediate impact player at Alabama, notching 5.5 sacks as a freshman. Though he can eat up blocks on the inside, he's actually in the backfield a lot, because he has got strength and impressive athletic ability for a man his size. To be an instant-impact player at Bama is usually a good sign, and Robinson should continue to get better.

 

12. *Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Bruins

Supremely athletic with good instincts, Jack can cover and make plays in the backfield. There was a lot of hype about the two-way player status, but the ability really is there. It's hard to question the football instincts when he was an offensive AND defensive freshman of the year in the conference at the same time. Eric Kendricks isn't around in 2015, so Jack will need to lead this Bruins defense.

 

13. *Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes

For a high school quarterback, Lee's instincts last year were remarkable. Lee has outstanding burst to the ball when he diagnoses plays. And he won't just chase plays sideline to sideline; he can beat ball carriers (and pass-catchers) to the spot in the backfield. When they just told him to blitz, he was particularly effective.

 

14. *Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor Bears

The great thing about Billings is he isn't just weight room strong; you also see it on the field. He's powerful and can move big, sturdy blockers where he wants to at times. He's not the kind of freak athlete on the interior who will make plays to the edges, but he does get into the backfield by taking blockers backward and can make plays there.

 

15. *Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

A fun player to watch, Smith was an instant-impact talent in South Bend, starting all 13 games as a true freshman. He then had a stellar sophomore campaign during which he picked up 112 tackles, including nine tackles for loss. Smith can be moved around, has good length and can flat-out fly for a linebacker, with sub-4.5 speed. He'll be a household name with a healthy 2015.

 

16. DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon Ducks

You heard about Arik Armstead last season, but the tape showed Buckner as the guy making more plays. He picked up 12.5 TFL and should build on his sack totals in 2015. At 6-7 and 290 pounds, he has an impressive frame and could be a fit in almost any kind of system with another year of polish.

 

17. *Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes

Elliot was good all year but reached peak form in running over, around and through everybody over the last three games last season. A nimble runner with outstanding vision and good change-of-direction quickness, he's also about 225 pounds and will drop his shoulder on defenders. Hopefully the Buckeyes keep his odometer down when they can and he'll have a healthy junior season.

 

18. *Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Spartans

Once a walk-on for Mark Dantonio, Conklin is now one of the most steady, complete offensive tackle prospects in college football. At 6-6 and more than 320 pounds, he moves well (he was a good former high school basketball player) and is most impressive in his consistency -- he just doesn't give up sacks. Conklin could be a great draft story, if he maintains his form in 2015.

 

19. Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes

He moves well with a 6-8 frame, and can deliver a blow, so he's more than just a good athlete with a long frame. Decker was a building-block piece for an offensive line that came together in dominant fashion late in the 2014 season and into the playoffs. He has played both tackle positions and has gotten better each season.

 

20. *Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Rebels

Now healthy after a brutal injury last season, Treadwell is a great prospect if he stays on the field. At 6-2 and nearly 230 pounds, he has size, speed and tremendous hands. He was unquestionably the best WR on the team as a true freshman, even with Donte Moncrief still around. He and Tunsil are two big health stories to watch.

 

21. *Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

There's some projection here because Thomas' talent outpaces the production, but that says more about the offense (and the running game) than it does Thomas. The nephew of Keyshawn has length (6-foot-3), a strong frame and the ability to both win at the catch point (particularly on high throws) and do damage after the catch.

 

22. *Tony Conner, S, Ole Miss Rebels

Yet another high school star who became an immediate impact in Oxford, Conner has the range of a safety but will come downhill like a linebacker. And at 217 pounds, he is comfortable near the line of scrimmage, even in the backfield; he did tie for the team lead with nine tackles for loss. He's one reason the 2016 safety class already looks better than the 2015 group.

 

23. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Bears

 

A shredded athlete with big-time length at nearly 6-8, Oakman has great quickness and in some ways has the look of an NBA small forward who packed on 40 pounds of muscle. He can win with quickness but has good strength and can use it when he doesn't let blockers use his height against him and dislodge him by getting into his body and taking away all his leverage. If he continues to build on 2014, he could have a monster season.

 

24. Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Horned Frogs

He's such a natural pass-catcher, with velcro hands and the ability to adjust to about any throw, which is good because the accuracy wasn't terribly consistent. However, Doctson is not strong enough to power through every physical mismatch, but he'll go up over just about anybody to bring the ball in. 

 

25. *Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes

I said in my too-early Big Board that Jones could have a huge range, and if he's not the starter he won't stay here. He has some great physical tools and a dream stretch of games to build on, but the sample size is small, and Jones needs polish, which means reps. So he belongs here if he wins the job. If not, we need to back off a bit on the draft expectations.

[Nobody]

See my comment from McShay's

[akcolt]

I wish we could get Jaylen Smith love the Irish love watching that kid play.No way we get a shot

[JMichael557]

We need Karl Joseph from West Virginia. Free Safety.

[CheezyColt]

I vote Joey Bosa with the 31st pick in the first round... totally realistic, right?

(31st due to lack of Pats #1)

[wig]

I'm hoping we get Conklin. Will be a good pass blocking RT.