NFL Draft: Position Rankings- Pre-Senior Bowl
With the Super Bowl just two weeks away, it’s finally time to start getting into draft season. With the NFL allowing for 96 underclassmen to become draft-eligible, the field of prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft has finally been established.
Below are the top 5 players for each position and their respective draft grade based on round (as well as any changes in the rankings) according to BLTD’s Derek Kramer.
+ Indicates a player injured during draft process
Quarterback
1. Jared Goff, California (top 5 pick)
2. Paxton Lynch, Memphis (mid-1st)
3. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State (mid-1st to mid-2nd)
4. Connor Cook, Michigan State (late-1st to late-2nd)
5. Kevin Hogan, Stanford (3rd-4th)
Running Back
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State (top 10 pick)
2. Alex Collins, Arkansas (mid-2nd)
3. Derrick Henry, Alabama (2nd to 3rd)
4. C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame (mid-3rd) +
5. Devante Booker, Utah (early-3rd)
Wide Receiver
1. Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi (early-1st to mid-1st)
2. Josh Doctson, TCU (mid-1st)
3. Will Fuller, Notre Dame (late-1st to mid-2nd) +
4. Corey Coleman, Baylor (late-1st)
5. Michael Thomas, Ohio State (late-1st to mid-2nd)
Tight End
1. Hunter Henry, Arkansas (late-1st)
2. Austin Hooper, Stanford (late-2nd to early-3rd)
3. Bryce Williams, East Carolina (mid-3rd)
4. Nick Vannett, Ohio State (late-3rd to mid-4th)
5. Jerell Adams, South Carolina (late-4th to mid-5th)
Offensive Tackle
1. Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi (top 5 pick)
2. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame (early-1st to mid-1st)
3. Taylor Decker, Ohio State (mid-1st)
4. Shon Coleman, Auburn (late-1st to early-2nd)
5. Jack Conklin, Michigan State (mid-2nd)
Guard
1. Cody Whitehair, Kansas State (late-1st to early-2nd)
2. Vadal Alexander, LSU (early-2nd)
3. Joshua Garnett, Stanford (early-3rd to mid-3rd)
4. Rees Odhlambo, Boise State (3rd) +
5. Landon Turner, North Carolina (mid-3rd)
Center
1. Nick Martin, Notre Dame (2nd)
2. Ryan Kelly, Alabama (late-1st to mid-2nd)
3. Jack Allen, Michigan State (mid-3rd)
4. Max Tuerk (3rd to 4th) +
5. Mike Matthews, Texas A&M (5th to 6th)
Defensive End
1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State (top 5 pick)
2. DeForest Buckner, Oregon (top 10 pick)
3. Shaq Lawson, Clemson (mid-1st)
4. Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State (late-1st to early 2nd)
5. Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State (late-1st to early-2nd)
Defensive Tackle
1. Andrew Billings, Baylor (mid-1st)
2. Jarran Reed, Alabama (mid-1st to late-1st)
3. A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama (late-1st)
4. Austin Johnson, Penn State (early-2nd)
5. Jonathan Bullard, Florida (early 2nd)
Outside Linebacker
1. Myles Jack, UCLA (top 10 pick) +
2. Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame (top 10 pick) +
3. Leonard Floyd, Georgia (mid-1st)
4. Jordan Jenkins, Georgia (late-1st)
5. Su’a Cravens, USC (mid-2nd)
Inside Linebacker
1. Reggie Ragland, Alabama (mid-1st)
2. Kentrell Brothers, Missouri (mid-2nd)
3. Scooby Wright, Arizona (2nd) +
4. Kyler Fackrell, Utah State (2nd)
5. Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma (early-3rd)
Cornerback
1. Jalen Ramsey, Florida State (top 5 pick)
2. Mackensie Alexander, Clemson (top 10 pick)
3. Vernon Hargreaves, Florida (top 10 pick)
4. Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech (2nd)
5. William Jackson, Houston (late-2nd)
Safety
1. Jaylon Kearse, Clemson (late-1st to mid-2nd)
2. Jeremy Cash, Duke (mid-2nd)
3. Vonn Bell, Ohio State (late-2nd to mid-3rd)
4. Darian Thompson, Boise State (late-2nd to mid-3rd)
5. Jalen Mills, LSU (late-3rd)
Disagree with the first 2016 NFL Draft Rankings? Is there a player that you think Derek should check out the tape of? Leave a comment below, hit up our Facebook page or on Twitter @bltdsports or with Derek @DerekKramerWBNY
Come back often to BLTD Sports for more coverage of the NFL Draft and for all of your other sports news!
