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WUNKLE’S TOP 20 PLAYERS: 2016 NFL DRAFT EDITION
Every year I have people are asking me, “Hey Wunkle, what do think about this guy?” or “Hey Wunkle, where do you think that guy should go?” Well, this year is no different; and while I think it’s still a little premature to say who’s going where, what I can do is give you my thoughts about what are – at least to me – the top twenty players in this year’s draft. With that said, let’s get this party started.
1) Joey Bosa – DE – THE Ohio State University: The son of a former NFL player, Bosa is an excellent combination of size (6′-5″ / 269 lbs. / 33-3/8″ arms / 10-1/4″ hands), explosiveness (24 reps at 225 / 32″ vertical / 120″ broad jump), agility (6.89 3-cone / 4.21 20 yd. shuttle) and football smarts. The bold italicized stats were the best at the combine for all D-linemen. Aside from the combine numbers, all you need to do is watch the video on this kid and you can see that he’s an elite player. Alpha male personality that plays with the intensity to match. He uses leverage and his hands extremely well and always seems to in the opposing QB’s face. And by the way, he’s an excellent tackler.
2) Jalen Ramsey – DB – Florida State University: A tall ball hawk with coverage skills and the ability to tackle, Ramsey measures out at 6′-1″ / 209lbs. with 33 3/8″ arms and 9″ hands. He put on a show at the combine, building off an outstanding college career. He has good enough coverage skills to cover any receiver and ball skills to make you want him to be your free safety. Without a doubt, Ramsey is the most versatile defensive back in this draft. With his 41-1/2″ vertical and 135″ broad jump, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him at WR for a few plays a game.
3) Robert Nkemdiche – DL – University of Mississippi: Be honest with me; you thought I was going to name another Ole Miss lineman here, didn’t you? Robert measures out at 6′-3″ / 294 lbs. with 33-7/8″ arms and 10-3/4″ hands. I’ve never seen a player weighing nearly 300 lbs. with a body so chiseled that he looks as if he’s only 260. Nkemdiche is that freakish of an athlete. Character issues will likely cause the draft stock of this disruptive force to fall into the second half of round one, but make no mistake about it. When this guy has his head on straight, he might be the best pure football player in this year’s draft regardless of position.
4) Laremy Tunsil – OT – University of Mississippi: Excellent combination of size (6′-5″ / 310 lbs. / 34-1/4″ arms / 10″ hands) and agility to protect your franchise QB’s blind side for the next ten years – maybe more. Tunsil is a technician on the field and the most polished OT in the draft. Personally, I’d like to see more of a nasty streak in him; but I like all my O-linemen to have a nasty streak.
5) Myles Jack – OLB – UCLA: At 6′-1″ / 245 lbs. / 33-5/8″ arms / 10-1/4″ hands; he has the size to paly LB on Sundays. Shows great explosion to make the tackle in the backfield and can even tote the rock when you need him to. Only a knee injury will keep him out of the top five. I’m not sure where he is on his road to recovery, so Jack could be a wild card in this draft.
6) Carson Wentz – QB – North Dakota State: Has all the measurements that you look for. 6′-5″ / 237 lbs. / 33-1/4″ arms and 10″ hands. This kid was the valedictorian at NDSU and has been in a pro style offense for the last five years. His work ethic would put some veteran players to shame. In his Senior campaign, his coaches just gave him the formation from which to run a play and let him call routes, protection and the like. Mentally, he’s NFL smart; but he really should spend his rookie season holding a clipboard on the sidelines until he’s fully adjusted to the speed of the NFL game. A broken wrist kept him out of eight games this past season, and the FCS level of competition makes people wonder whether or not he’s the real deal. However, I’ve seen loads of tape on this kid; and Carson Wentz has plenty of talent and upside to his game. Is he worth the risk of taking second overall with five players ranked ahead of him? If your team needs a QB, then yes.
7) DeForest Buckner – DE – University of Oregon: Buckner measures out at 6′-7″ / 291 lbs. with 34-3/8″ arms and 11-3/4″ hands (biggest hands at the 2016 combine). Unlike former Oregon Duck draft bust Dion Jordan, Buckner has a legitimate NFL D-lineman frame and NFL talent. His skills are such that you can play him at DE on first and second downs in either a 4-3 or a 3-4, then move him inside to put added pressure in the opposing QB’s face on third downs. Some team needing an impact pass rusher is going to take Buckner off the board early, and they’ll be glad they did.
8) Laquon Treadwell – WR – University of Mississippi: At 6′-2″ / 221 lbs. with 33-3/8″ arms and 9-1/2″ hands, Treadwell has absolutely the softest receiving hands in this draft. While not a burner, he has the physical skills and strength to win 50-50 balls against a defender.
9) Jared Goff – QB – University of California at Berkeley: At 6′-4″ tall, he has the height you’re looking for; but at 215 lbs. and with very skinny legs (one already with a full knee brace, I’m wondering just how much more muscle mass this kid can put on. Goff does read the field well and is an accurate passer. However, 23 fumbles over three years as a starter is still a concern – which can at least partially attributed to his 9″ hands small for an NFL QB. He still needs to adapt to taking snaps from under center and get his footwork down to where he’s just playing and not thinking about mechanics when doing so. All in all, I think he can be a very good NFL QB if he can avoid the injury bug. I just don’t think he’s worth the risk of taking 2nd overall. Suffered a separated right shoulder in the 2014 season finale against Stanford.
10) Ronnie Stanley – OT – University of Notre Dame: Some people may think that I overvalue O-linemen. And while there may be some truth in there somewhere, that’s not the case with Stanley. He’s a good blend of size (6′-6″ / 312 lbs. with 35-5/8″ arms and 10-5/8″ hands) and balance with solid technique and footwork. Needs to get stronger for the next level, but Stanley will develop into a franchise caliber LT.
11) Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – University of Florida: Good, but not great size (5′-10″ / 204 lbs. with 30-5/8″ arms and 8-3/4″ hands) with an edge to his style of play. This kid is absolutely fearless – maybe it’s “little man syndrome”, I don’t know – but this kid is a baller.
12) A’Shawn Robinson – DT – University of Alabama: Perfectly proportioned frame for a DT (6′-4″ / 307 lbs. with 34-1/2″ arms and 10 1/4″ hands). Plays with a nasty streak, but needs to keep his pad level lower for better consistency. Compares favorably to John Henderson.
13) Ezekiel Elliott – RB – THE Ohio State University: Nice combination of size (6′-0″ / 225 lbs. with 31-1/4″ arms and 10-1/4″ hands), speed (4.47) agility and field vision. A true three down back, as Elliott catches the ball very well out of the backfield. You normally don’t draft a RB early in the draft, but Elliott is a very special talent.
14) Jaylon Smith – OLB – University of Notre Dame: The only reason he won’t be a top five selection is because he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Reports say he’ll most likely miss the entire 2016-2017 season doing rehab. When healthy, all he does is make plays in spite of his lack of ideal size (6′-2″ / 223 lbs. with 33″ arms and 9-1/2″ hands. Too light in the pants to play LB on Sundays, but can be an outstanding strong safety. could be the Ifo Ekpre-Olomu of the 2016 draft.
15) Shaq Lawson – DE/OLB – Clemson University: Nice size (6′-3″ / 269 lbs. with 32-3/4″ arms and 10″ hands) with the ability to either stand up or put his hand in the dirt. 4-3 or 3-4, it doesn’t matter because he can be effective in either scheme. Average athleticism for the position, but he always seems to be blowing up run plays either at or behind the line of scrimmage.
16) Mackensie Alexander – CB – Clemson University: Good, but not great size (5′-10″ / 190 lbs. with 31-3/8″ arms and 9-1/8″ hands), fiery competitor that’s not afraid to mix it up with the opposing receiver. Needs to work on technique, but has excellent instincts. This is the classic definition of a boom or bust type of player.
17) Andrew Billings: DT – Baylor University: Good, but not great size (6′-1″ / 311 lbs. with 33″ arms and 10″ hands) with very good upper body strength (31 reps at 225). Needs to get stronger from the waist down to get better leg drive. Started out as an O-lineman, but moved to the other side of the line and has made great progress each and every year.
18) Reggie Ragland – MLB – University of Alabama: Good, but not great size (6′-1″ / 247 lbs. with 32″ arms and 9-7/8″ hands). Throwback style of linebacker with ability to rush the passer. Some question his play speed, but he very seldom missed a tackle last season (only 3). Not afraid to take on an O-lineman in order to shrink a gap.
19) Darron Lee – OLB – THE Ohio State University: Small for a LB (6′-1″ / 232 lbs. with 33-1/4″ arms and 9-3/4″ hands), but really fast (4.47) and explosive (35-1/2″ vertical and 133″ broad jump). I see Lee as more of a run supporting FS on Sundays.
20) Noah Spence – DE – Eastern Kentucky University: Nice size (6′-2″ / 251 lbs. with 33″ arms and 10-3/4″ hands), strength (25 reps at 225) and explosiveness (35″ vertical and 121″ broad jump). Surprisingly though, he did not time well in the 40 (4.80); but neither did Terrell Suggs coming out of college. Was kicked off Ohio State’s team for drug issues, but has turned his life around to the point where he’s a legitimate first round talent. By all accounts, Spence realizes that you’re only given a certain number of chances in life, and he’s not going to waste any more of them. In spite of his checkered past, I think this is one kid that will be worth taking a change on taking – especially if a team needs a pass rusher (22.5 TFL and 13.5 sacks). Put him at DE in a 4-3 or stand him up in a 3-4 as a rush-backer, it won’t matter because his motor is always revving.
Well, that wraps it up for this year’s edition of Wunkle’s Top Twenty. As always, your comments and questions are most welcome. You can contact my via Twitter @billwunkle or via e-mail at BillWunkle@att.net. Thanks again for your viewership, and I’ll see you again soon. This is Bill Wunkle signing off from The Padded Cell. Have a good night, everybody!
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
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