2016 NFL Mock Draft: Post Super Bowl Edition 11-20

startedwithaword:

With the 11th pick, the Chicago Bears select Leonard Floyd, OLB/DE

The Bears can go a number of ways including quarterback, but they will see that each of the playoffs teams had prominent edge rushers and will take their chance at Leonard Floyd.

Originally ranked as the top OLB entering the draft during preseason, he didn’t solidify himself and lost that ranking to Joey Bosa.

Still, Leonard will be a formidable player and a steal this late in the draft.

louiej23:

With the 11th pick, the Bears select LB Jaylon Smith.  Smith is an interesting prospect as he’s being compared to Patrick Willis.  He was the heart of that Notre Dame defense and is coming off a torn ACL that was suffered at the Fiesta Bowl.  The Bears take a risk and hopefully find their next Lance Briggs or Brian Urlacher.

startedwithaword:

With the 12th overall pick, the 49ers select Ronnie Stanley, OT

Trent Baalke knows his career is banking on this season. He needs the offense to flourish. They can’t do that if the QB is on the ground for nearly every play.

Treadwell was an intriguing pick here, but Baalke is not ready to call his WR picks a failure. Expect Baalke to ride Torrey, Bruce, Quinton, Dres, DeAndre, and DeAndrew to sink or swim.

Ronnie Stanley has been said to have the best abilities with long arms, great hand placement, and great timing. He will need to gain more strength to handle guys who utilize leverage like Calais Campbell or Michael Bennett who he will meet twice a year.

louiej23:

With the 12th pick, the Saints select DE Deforest Buckner.  I have Buckner slightly slipping out of the top 10, but he’s going where he is needed.  When have the Saints ever had a dominant pass rusher? They get one here with Buckner.  They also have a need at DB but they can find a free agent or a mid-late draft pick to fill the void.

startedwithaword:

With the 13th pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select Paxton Lynch, QB.

With the new coaching staff, expect that the Eagles target a new QB and Paxton has all the check marks. Why did he fall so far? Poor bowl game showed he has some question marks and his level of competition dropped. His stock may rise if he throws at the combine and has a great pro day.

louiej23:

With the 13th pick, the Eagles select WR Laquon Treadwell.  New head coach means new QB right?  Most mocks have the Eagles taking a QB with this pick.  I think the Eagles go with a WR here and find a QB via trade or free agency.  Pairing Treadwell with last years draft pick Nelson Agholor would give them a pair of young talented WRs.

startedwithaword:

With the 14th pick, the raiders select Mackensie Alexander, CB.

Mackensie lacks pass breakups and interceptions but it’s because he is on an island. Lockdown defender who was the 4th best high school prospect. Why did he fall so far?

Sometimes being part of the championship finals is a bad thing when your team loses.

But, Alexander will have a new island named after him in Oakland or wherever they end up.

louiej23:

With the 14th pick, the Raiders select CB Eli Apple.  Apple is a big physical corner with speed.  The Raiders selected DJ Hayden a couple years back, but he hasn’t panned out to be what they expected.  Apple can give them a lock down corner that they haven’t had since Charles Woodson and Nnamdi Asmougha.  Raiders could easily go with a pass rusher here also with Justin Tuck retiring.

startedwithaword:

With the 15th pick, the Los Angeles Rams select Laquon Treadwell.

The best wide receiver falls out of the top ten for the first time in years and he will need a quarterback to find him unless Nick Foles can bounce back from a down year. The Rams will get their top WR that they were hoping Tavon Austin would be.

louiej23:

With the 15th pick, the LA Rams select QB Carson Wentz.  Nick Foles is currently the starting QB for the Rams, but I believe they decide to move on from him.  Wentz is shooting up the mock drafts, but for me I’ll temper the hype until we see what he does at the combine.  Wentz is from a small school so the competition he faced wasn’t as tough as the other QBs in this draft class.  His upside is too hard for the Rams to pass on.

startedwithaword:

With the 16th pick, the Detroit Lions select Jack Conklin.

The Lions would have taken Mackensie if he was still available and many expected he would be. Now, they settle and still win with a top three lineman like Jack Conklin.

His ability to handle NFL speed rushers is in question, but he’s protected one of your NFL QB draft class candidates, Connor Cook to Michigan State’s passing record. He’s also an asset in the run game.

louiej23:

With the 16th pick, the Lions select DT A’Shawn Robinson.  The Lions tried to replace Suh with Ngata this season, but I can see Ngata walking this offseason.  Robinson is a big 3 down run stopper with very raw pass rushing skills.  With Ensah already creating havoc on that front line Robinson will get chances on one on ones while teams try to double up on Ensah.

startedwithaword:

With the 17th pick, the Falcons select Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB.

In the NFL, his brute force may not be as effective compared to those who have the ability to bend or burst around the edge. I look at Shaq Lawson as serviceable, but he has a motor that doesn’t quit and that will make him an asset.

louiej23:

With the 17th pick, the Falcons select LB Reggie Ragland.   The Falcons need safety help but I don’t see an immediate impact player with this pick.  Ragland gives them a big hitter in the middle.  Ragland can be their “Captain” in the middle for many years to come.  Vic Beasley is already developing into a force on the outside pairing him  with Ragland would help both their development.

startedwithaword:

With the 18th pick, the Colts select Taylor Decker, OT. Able to recover on plays where he is slow off the ball. Needs some work on his form. Excellent blocking down on runs and has agility to block inside linebackers on the run.

louiej23:

With the 18th pick, the Colts select OT Jack Conklin.  It’s pretty obvious what the Colts need to do with this pick.  They need to protect Andrew Luck.  I agree with my colleague either Conklin and Decker can go with this pick.

startedwithaword:

With the 19th pick, Bills select A’Shawn Robinson, DT

This guy has a lot of upside. Great swim moves and has great strength that has helped him against some double teams. He will need a little bit of seasoning in the NFL, but watch out when he does.

louiej23:

With the 19th pick, the Bills select OLB/DE Shaq Lawson.  The Ryan twins will be elated if Shaq Lawson falls into their lap with the 19th pick.  They need to find a replacement for Mario Williams and Lawson will be the right guy. A hybrid player who can lineup as a OLB or a edge rusher.  Look for Lawson to be turned loose on opposing QBs.

startedwithaword:

With the 20th pick, the Jets select Kevin Dodd, DE/OLB.

Kevin Dodd’s lasting memory is 3 sacks and 5 tackles against Alabama in the championship game and he’ll be devastating with the Jets.

louiej23: 

With the 20th pick, the Jets select DE/OLB Noah Spence.  The Jets take the risk with the off the field issues with Spence and get a pass rushing specialist with this pick.  Spence is an intriguing prospect as he’s expected to be a top 10 talent, but off the field issues could cause him to slip.

We will be releasing our final picks of the 1st round in the next few days.  If you missed the top 10 picks you can view them here.