The 2015 NFL Draft is a thing of the past, which means aside from training camp getting underway and the inevitable roster cuts, we're quite a ways off from actual football. That said, one of the best post-draft traditions is making ridiculously premature, way-too-soon predictions for what could happen the next time around with yet another mock draft. Todd McShay of ESPN joined the fray with his "too early" mock draft on Thursday.
Quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg, Connor Cook headline Todd McShay’s 2016 mock draft
It’s never too early for a mock draft, and Todd McShay has four quarterbacks going in the top 10 in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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Of course, calling it “too early” implies that regular mock drafts survive even the first few picks of the real draft intact, but traditional mock drafts at least take place following both the college football and NFL season. But where’s the fun in being logical or reasonable?
McShay's mock comes with the caveat that he has not done "full tape studies" on the players yet. Rather than stick with the draft order from this previous season, he's using the projected 2015-16 records from Football Outsiders, meaning we have a top five of Washington, the Cleveland Browns, the Oakland Raiders, the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All of these teams struggled this past season and only the Browns didn't pick in the top 10 of the 2015 draft.
Here’s a full look at his top 10 picks:
1. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Washington
Despite the fact that Washington exercised Robert Griffin III’s option, McShay has Washington drafting a quarterback at the top of the first round. That quarterback is Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, with McShay citing his “big-time talent with a pro-style skill set” as the primary reason for him going No. 1. Hackenberg is not a sure thing to be the top quarterback next year, but if he can get over his issues turning the ball over, his chances are good.
2. Connor Cook, QB, Cleveland Browns
McShay sends the Michigan State quarterback to Cleveland, where Johnny Manziel faces an uphill battle for the starting job. McShay notes that veteran Josh McCown is a “short-term fix” at the quarterback position and that Manziel is not exactly someone to put any faith in at this point. Cook has already had two good seasons and another one could solidify him as a top pick in next year’s draft.
3. Joey Bosa, DE, Oakland Raiders
Bosa could very well be next year’s Leonard Williams -- the consensus top player in the draft who doesn’t go first overall due to needs at quarterback. McShay has the Ohio State defensive end going to the Raiders with the No. 3 overall pick, though he also notes that Bosa is likely the top-rated prospect in next year’s class. The Raiders are always on the lookout for top-tier defensive talent.
4. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Tennessee Titans
A year after taking Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick, the Titans find themselves picking at No. 4 overall. What to do but give Mariota some help along the offensive line with Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil? Taylor Lewan was Tennessee’s first-round selection in 2014, but Tunsil would absolutely lock down the team’s tackle spots.
5. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McShay says that Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah has “an intriguing skill set and was highly productive during the 2014 season.” He notes that the Buccaneers should be able to prioritize the defensive side of the ball after taking Jameis Winston with the top pick this past season.
6. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The first defensive back off the board is Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves. He’s probably the top man-to-man player in the country at this point, and Gus Bradley values cornerbacks who can stick with receivers and take them out of the game. Jacksonville has issues on both sides of the ball, but Bradley’s forte is defense and he needs to get it up to snuff.
7. Cardale Jones, QB, New York Jets
Cardale Jones has a long way to go to prove his worth, but despite the fact that he’s not even guaranteed the starting job next season for the Buckeyes, he’s already drawing top quarterback buzz due to his large frame and arm strength. McShay has him as the third quarterback off the board, going to the Jets at No. 7 overall.
8. Duke Williams, WR, St. Louis Rams
The Rams haven’t had great success drafting wide receivers, so obviously it’s time for them to try, try again. Duke Williams is a big playmaker and if he puts together a productive season at Auburn, he should be in the No. 1 receiver discussion. Williams averaged 16.2 yards per catch on 45 receptions in 2014.
9. Jared Goff, QB, Arizona Cardinals
The final quarterback to go in the top 10 is Jared Goff of California. Goff could replace Carson Palmer, who doesn’t have a whole lot left in the tank. Despite multiple injuries and a carousel at the quarterback position a season ago, the Cardinals found success and made it to the postseason. But they can’t ignore the position for long, and addressing it early in the first round next season makes sense.
10. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Minnesota Vikings
More protection for Teddy Bridgewater is on the top of the list for the Vikings who, according to this projection, didn’t do so hot in 2015. Stanley can man either tackle spot and has done so at the college level, so another solid season of protecting the passer at Notre Dame could solidify him as one of the top tackles in the coming draft.
★★★
SB Nation’s Dan Kadar released his way-too-early mock draft right after the 2015 NFL Draft. You’ll recognize a lot of the names, though there are a few key differences. Kadar has the Titans picking first overall and selecting Bosa, with the first quarterback -- Jones -- going to the Browns at No. 6 overall. He also has the Jaguars taking Hargreaves, but he has them drafting the cornerback at No. 2 overall. Kadar’s mock also includes Cook and Hackenberg in the top 10, going to the Texans and Jets at No. 8 and No. 9 overall.
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