Dane Brugler
1. Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (6-1, 245, 4.56, Jr.)
Jack is an athletic specimen with above average pursuit speed, contact balance and mental processor to know everything going on around him. He has the athletic skill-set to be a difference-maker, but several teams have red-flagged his knee, which is obviously worrisome.
2. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (5-10, 195, 4.43, RSo.)
Alexander didn't record an interception in college, but he wasn't consistently targeted, not allowing a touchdown the final 24 games of his career. While his route anticipation and technique need work, he is able to smother receivers with his lower body fluidity and quick reflexes.
3. Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (6-3, 313, 5.14, Sr.)
Although not a rangy player, Reed is a smooth athlete for his size, scraping down the line of scrimmage and pushing the pocket (led all Alabama defensive linemen in tackles each of the last two seasons). He is the draft's top nose tackle due to his stout anchor and balance.
4. Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (6-3, 261, 4.68, RJr.)
An Ohio State transfer, Spence is one of the top wildcards in the 2016 class due to his immense talent, but heavy baggage off the field. He is a slippery rusher with the initial burst, lateral quicks and natural leverage to threaten the pocket on a regular basis.
5. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama (6-2, 252, 4.72, Sr.)
An excellent point of attack defender, Ragland has terrific play speed and it's no coincidence that he's always around the ball with his diagnose skills. He can be overaggressive at times, but he's a punishing tackler and flashes violence in his hands to detach himself from blocks.
6. Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State (6-4, 309, 5.08, RSr.)
Whitehair left an indelible mark at KSU with his leadership, work ethic and high-level of play the last four years at both tackle and guard. He doesn't have the length to hold up consistently on the edges in the NFL, but Whitehair has the base strength and instincts to start at guard right now.
7. Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (6-3, 283, 4.86, Sr.)
A player who benefited by returning for his senior season, Bullard is a wrecking ball at the line of scrimmage due to his anticipation off the snap and quick reflexes to find the ball. He is limited as a pass rusher, but scheme diverse due to his play recognition at the point of attack.
8. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6-3, 312, 5.18, Jr.)
Nicknamed the “man child” growing up, Robinson has the look and power of a full grown man. His flashes are very good, but they don't happen consistently, mostly because he was asked to two-gap, clog things up and occupy blockers, which doesn't show up in the box score.
9. Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (6-1, 310, 5.04, Jr.)
Billings, who was a record-setting weight-lifter in high school, flashes dominant qualities when he keeps his pad level low, rolls his hips and pushes his momentum into the pocket. As the technique and discipline catch up, Billings should continue to get better.
10. Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (6-3, 210, 4.54, RJr.)
Although not the fastest or most explosive, Thomas is a good-sized athlete and detailed route runner with little wasted movements to create spacing at the stem. He will need time to adapt to a NFL playbook, but his savvy footwork, body control and ballskills are starter quality.
11. Su'a Cravens, DS/LB, USC (6-1, 225, 4.58, Jr.)
Cravens was asked to do a little bit of everything for the Trojans in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. His take-on strength and physical nature as a tackler are both below average, but he's a fluid athlete with excellent reaction skills and instincts to cover on an island.
12. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (6-4, 275, 4.84, RJr.)
Although he didn't start until this past season, Dodd made it count with 23.5 tackles for loss and a dozen sacks, numbers that fell just shy of Lawson's for the team lead. Dodd is still raw in areas, but with his size and quickness off the ball, he has been steadily rising.
13. Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor (6-0, 201, 4.58, RJr.)
Howard won't be featured as the prototype for fundamentals in coverage, but his ability to find the ball in flight and use his ballskills to disrupt the catch point is above average. Although his long-speed isn't ideal, he mixes things up and does a lot of receiver-like things in coverage.
14. Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas (6-3, 303, 5.02, RJr.)
Ridgeway displays an impressive skill-set with his power, athleticism and instincts, detaching himself from blocks and quickly finding the ball. He needs technique and conditioning work, but if he stays healthy, Ridgeway is a starting two-down one-technique in a 4-3 base.
15. Kamalei Correa, DE/LB, Boise State (6-3, 243, 4.69, Jr.)
Correa lacks much variety with his pass rush at this point in his development and his production is based more on effort and raw athleticism than technique and discipline. But he has the movement skills and competitive toughness worth grooming in a 3-4 scheme.
16. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (5-10, 194, 4.48, Sr.)
Although his lack of size and strength will limit him in some areas, Shepard has above average body control and route savvy, using tempo and multiple gears to get open. Despite his limitations, Shepard is a very natural pass-catcher with the skills to be a YAC monster.
17. Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian State (6-2, 284, 5.15, RSr.)
Although his Combine numbers don't accurately reflect his impressive tape, Blair belongs in the second round discussion. He plays with violent hands and aggressive pass rush moves to rip through blockers, showing the effort to finish in the pocket.
18. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (6-2, 242, 4.54, Jr.)
Since 2011, Alabama has had four running backs drafted in the first two rounds (with mixed results) and Henry should be the fifth. He is a powerful, yet graceful north-south athlete who can fit through tight spaces, using patience and instincts to gash defenses.
19. Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina (5-11, 208, 4.52, Jr.)
A playmaker with the ball in his hands, Cooper displays the play speed, elusive cuts and start/stop movements to create on his own, before and after the catch. Similar to Randall Cobb when he came out of Kentucky, Cooper is a jack-of-all-trades weapon on offense.
20. Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (6-6, 301, 4.94, Sr.)
A high school tight end, Spriggs was a four-year starter for the Hoosiers and doesn't have many negative snaps on his film. Although he needs to strengthen his core for the NFL, he has the frame, athleticism and body control to start at the next level.
21. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (6-0, 197, 4.48, Jr.)
Fuller looked like a future high round pick his first two years in Blacksburg, but 2015 was a lost season for him due to a torn meniscus. Nonetheless, he has the short-area quickness, controlled footwork and natural feel in coverage to be a reliable NFL starter.
22. Vonn Bell, DS, Ohio State (5-11, 205, 4.52, Jr.)
Although his tackling mechanics need some refinement, Bell plays with the requisite mental and physical toughness and can hold his own in man coverage. His athleticism, timing and savvy at the position translate well to the next level, along with his decisive reactor.
23. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (6-3, 275, 4.76, RJr.)
A native of Nigeria, Ogbah is a “coach's dream” according to Mike Gundy due to his strong work ethic, intelligence and discipline. He is still learning the complexities of the position and lacks elite burst, but he's a balanced athlete with a coachable mentality that can be molded.
24. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State (6-3, 325, 5.27, RJr.)
A prospect whose production matches his tape, Johnson is built well to take on multiple blockers and clog the middle of the field. His motor is always revving and he moves well in small areas, showing the strong hands to stack and create movement in even and odd fronts.
25. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State (6-1, 196, 4.64, Jr.)
Higgins put his name on the NFL radar with his sophomore season (96/1,750/17) and despite losing Garrett Grayson at quarterback in 2015, he put together a strong junior year as well (66/933/8). Higgins might be the best receiver in this class at exploiting defensive holes and getting uncovered.
26. Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 254, 4.68, Sr.)
A prospect with experience at every linebacker spot, Perry has the size of a defensive end, but moves more like a safety with his straight-line speed to stick with backs out of the backfield. He is wired right for the NFL with the well-rounded and scheme-diverse skill-set that will be attractive to every team.
27. Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas (6-5, 250, 4.68, Jr.)
The top tight end in the 2016 class, Henry has excellent route acceleration with vacuum hands to catch everything thrown in his direction. He won't offer much as an inline blocker, but as a pass-catcher, Henry is ready to help a NFL offense from day one.
28. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh (6-2, 197, 4.52, Jr.)
The most prolific wide receiver to come out of Pitt, Boyd is a graceful athlete and trusts his hands, showing quick eyes to pluck and immediately analyze his surroundings. He has average measureables, but pays attention to the details and would be excellent out of the slot.
29. Kyler Fackrell, LB, Utah State (6-5, 245, 4.72, RSr.)
A jack-of-all-trades type of linebacker in college, Fackrell was asked to drop in coverage, rush the passer and use his range to defend the run. He isn't a twitchy or explosive athlete, but flows with outstanding effort, offering functional versatility to be an every down player.
30. Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame (6-1, 293, 5.07, Sr.)
While not on the same level as Aaron Donald, Day is built in a similar mold due to his lack of size, but the athleticism and bod control jump off the film. Although he won't be a fit for every scheme, Day is ideal as an under tackle in a 4-3 scheme that focuses on one-gap principles.
31. Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State (6-1, 309, 4.93, Sr.)
One of the top-three “small school” prospects in the 2016 class, Hargrave moves very well for his size to fire off the snap and break down in pursuit. He also has the powerful hands to control blocks and gain proper gap leverage in the run game.
32. Deion Jones, LB, LSU (6-1, 222, 4.39, Sr.)
An undersized, but speedy linebacker, Jones flies all over the field with the cover skills that will make him an attractive prospect. He has below average length and will miss some tackles, but Jones has the speed and make-up that NFL coaches want to work with.
