Advertisement
football Edit

NFL Draft: Mocking the 2016 recruiting class

Sometimes at Rivals.com we like to have fun, even cranky old dudes like me. So we thought it would be interesting to take the needs and draft order of the 2016 NFL Draft and replace the candidates with the Rivals.com recruiting class of 2016.

Where would No. 1 Rashan Gary land? Which quarterback, Jacob Eason or Shea Patterson, would be taken first? Would Gregory Little go where Ronnie Stanley did at No. 6 to the Ravens? Here’s my fictional draft.

Jacob Eason
Jacob Eason
Advertisement

1. Los Angeles Rams: QB Jacob Eason, Georgia

Farrell’s take: The Rams traded up for a quarterback and Eason is more of a pro-style guy who resembles Jared Goff.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Shea Patterson, Ole Miss

Farrell’s take: The Eagles also traded up for a quarterback and are happy to have Patterson, a more mobile quarterback who may lack ideal NFL size but can be very creative.

3. San Diego Chargers: DT Rashan Gary, Michigan

Farrell’s take: The Chargers went defensive end in the draft but in this case an elite defensive tackle who can fit in so many schemes is equally attractive.

4. Dallas Cowboys: DE Terrell Hall, Alabama

Farrell’s take: The first stunner of the draft. Hall is ranked in the late first-round range, but without an elite running back or big cornerback in the draft, the Cowboys go edge rusher.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Rahshaun Smith, Clemson

Farrell’s take: The Jags were always going to go defense in this draft, and Smith is an athletic guy who could play inside or outside and make big plays.

6. Baltimore Ravens: OT Gregory Little, Ole Miss

Farrell’s take: The Ravens always seemed to be going offensive tackle here and Little is a franchise guy.

7. San Francisco 49ers: DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson

Farrell’s take: The 49ers have so many needs and went defensive end in the real draft, but a massive defensive tackle with the athleticism of Lawrence is too good to pass up.

8. Tennessee Titans: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama

Farrell’s take: The Titans traded down and then back up in the real draft and were always going to go tackle, so Williams is the clear choice here.

9. Chicago Bears: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State

Farrell’s take: The Bears traded up to get a pass rusher and went with a situational player, but in this draft they go for a well-rounded end who can hold the edge.

10. New York Giants: LB Ben Davis, Alabama

Farrell’s take: The Giants needed help at inside linebacker but didn’t see the value there at No. 10. In my fake draft, Davis definitely brings that value.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DB Levonta Taylor, Florida State

Farrell’s take: The Bucs took a small, talented cornerback in the real draft and wouldn’t shy away from the same thing here.

12. New Orleans Saints: DT Derrick Brown, Auburn

Farrell’s take: The Saints have a ton of needs on defense and went defensive tackle in the real draft. There is plenty of value at the same position with Brown here.

13. Miami Dolphins: CB Chauncey Gardner II, Florida

Farrell’s take: Laremy Tunsil fell into the lap of the Dolphins in the real draft, but in my fake draft there are no gas mask bong hits, so they go cornerback, which is a huge need for them.

14. Oakland Raiders: OT Landon Young, Kentucky

Farrell’s take: The Raiders reached a bit at safety in the real draft, but they need a tackle. Young is one of three elite players at the position in this draft.

15. Cleveland Browns: WR Demetris Robertson, Cal

Farrell’s take: The Browns need wide receivers and everyone knows it. Robertson is the best one out there with slot ability and sneaky strength as well.

16. Detroit Lions: LB Mique Juarez, UCLA

Farrell’s take: With the elite offensive tackles gone, the Lions address linebacker needs with a big inside guy in Juarez who has outside quickness.

17. Atlanta Falcons: LB Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma

Farrell’s take: Defense is what the Falcons need and linebacker is a must, so Kelly, who can play outside and also help get after the passer, gets the call.

18. Indianapolis Colts: OG/OC Landon Dickerson, Florida State

Farrell’s take: The Colts went center in the draft with the three elite tackles taken and they go inside here as well in a similar, yet fictional, situation.

19. Buffalo Bills: DE Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State

Farrell’s take: As tempting as it could be for the Bills to go quarterback or even offensive line here, the Ryan brothers covet defense. This pick, of course, is conditional on whether Simmons is even on NFL radars after punching a woman. I wish I was making that part up.

20. New York Jets: TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia

Farrell’s take: Nauta is too talented to pass up here and can help the passing game immediately as the Jets address quarterback down the line, just like they did in the real draft.

21. Houston Texas: WR Mecole Hardman Jr., Georgia

Farrell’s take: Wide receiver was always the need for the Texas and Hardman is a slot just like Will Fuller, who they took in the real draft.

22. Washington Redskins: WR N'Keal Harry, Arizona State

Farrell’s take: I thought the Redskins would go defensive tackle in the real draft but they went wide receiver. I’ll do the same here with a big receiver who can stretch the field.

23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Tyler Vaughns, USC

Farrell’s take: The Vikings also wanted a wide out and are happy the talented Vaughns, who has great hands and size, fell to them.

24. Cincinnati Bengals, DT Ed Oliver, Houston

Farrell’s take: The Bengals, just like in the real draft, wanted a receiver bad, but the drop off is too large here now so they address an inside need.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Byron Murphy, Washington

Farrell’s take: The Steelers need a cornerback badly and surprise many by taking Murphy over the more highly-ranked Jack Jones.

26. Denver Broncos: QB Malik Henry, Florida State

Farrell’s take: The Broncos traded up for a quarterback because the position is such a mess, so let’s give them the best quarterback not named Eason and Patterson in this phony draft.

27. Green Bay Packers: LB Erick Fowler, Texas

Farrell’s take: I expected the Packers to go inside linebacker in the real draft but they went defensive tackle. But in this draft, Fowler is too good to pass up.

28. San Francisco 49ers: QB Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee

Farrell’s take: The 49ers traded back up into round one and took an offensive lineman, but the talented Guarantano is too good to pass on at a position of need.

29. Arizona Cardinals: DB Lamar Jackson, Nebraska

Farrell’s take: The Cardinals went defensive tackle in the real draft, but they need a safety badly, and Jackson is still there as the No. 1 guy at his position.

30. Carolina Panthers: DB Jack Jones, USC

Farrell’s take: The Panthers are in a position to take the best player available and can’t believe Jones, who isn’t very big but is ultra-talented, is still here.

31. Seattle Seahawks: OT Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame

Farrell’s take: The Seahawks traded back and took an offensive lineman in the real draft and the need at tackle leads them to the Notre Dame signee.

BEST PLAYERS LEFT ON THE BOARD

Best players left on board: LB Tre Lamar, Clemson, DE Marlon Davidson, Auburn, LB Lyndell Wilson, Alabama, DE Antonneous Clayton, Florida, LB Curtis Robinson, Stanford, LB Keandre Jones, Ohio State, LB Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame

Farrell’s take: Too many linebackers in this class and not enough linebacker needs but one of these guys could go to the right fit late in the round if they are best player on a team’s board. Davidson is the most unlikely to drop out given needs at defensive end around the league, and the Cardinals, Panthers or Seahawks would be tempted.

Advertisement