Football

Mock Draft Final: Athletic Jalen Ramsey fills big need for Dallas Cowboys

Cal quarterback Jared Goff is expected to be the first player selected at the NFL Draft, which begins at 7 tonight from Chicago.
Cal quarterback Jared Goff is expected to be the first player selected at the NFL Draft, which begins at 7 tonight from Chicago. AP

It appears clear what will happen at the top of this draft. But it is anyone’s guess after the top-two selections are made. No one seems certain what the Chargers will do at No. 3, which makes the rest of the draft a crapshoot.

1. Los Angeles — Jared Goff, QB, Cal: The Rams move to California and go with a homegrown product as the face of their franchise, even though he went only 14-23 as a starter.

2. Philadelphia — Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: Sam Bradford isn’t happy, but Eagles fans will be after their team selects a QB in the first round for the first time since taking Donovan McNabb in 1999.

3. San Diego — DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon: The Chargers allowed more than 2,000 rushing yards last season and made only 32 sacks.

4. Dallas — Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State: Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne might leave after this season, and Orlando Scandrick returns from major knee surgery. But RB Ezekiel Elliott is a real possibility.

5. Jacksonville — Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: The Jaguars ranked 24th in total defense and had only 36 sacks last season.

6. Baltimore — Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi: Eugene Monroe has missed 15 games the past two seasons because of injuries, and the Ravens need to ensure Joe Flacco’s surgically repaired knee is well protected.

7. San Francisco — Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: The 49ers, who have doubts about RT Anthony Davis’ unretirement, have scouted Stanley thoroughly.

8. Cleveland — Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: The Browns, who lack playmakers, will excite their fans with this choice even with memories of Trent Richardson still fresh.

9. Tampa Bay — Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida: The Bucs allowed quarterbacks to complete 70 percent of their passes last season and need another CB despite signing Brent Grimes and Josh Robinson in free agency.

10. N.Y. Giants — Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia: The Giants, who used their past four first-round picks on offensive players, haven’t drafted a linebacker in the first round since Carl Banks in 1984.

11. Chicago — Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: The Bears, in their second year playing the 3-4, need pass rushers after making 35 sacks last season.

12. New Orleans — Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: The Saints ranked 31st in total defense last season.

13. Miami — Myles Jack, LB, UCLA: Jack might not play this season, and the longevity of his knee remains a question. It is unknown what teams, if any, are comfortable with risking a first-round pick on him.

14. Oakland — William Jackson, CB, Houston: The Raiders, who ranked 26th against the pass last season, swung and missed in drafting D.J. Hayden in the first round in 2013. So they try again with another UH CB.

15. Tennessee — Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: The Titans allowed a league-high 54 sacks last season, and quarterback Marcus Mariota missed four games due to injury.

16. Detroit — Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State: The Lions need a RT after claiming Michael Ola off waivers and starting him seven games last season.

17. Atlanta — Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State: The Falcons have not done a good job hiding their interest in Lee, who ran a 4.47 in the 40 at the combine.

18. Indianapolis — Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State: With the top offensive tackles off the board, the Colts take a CB to pair with Vontae Davis.

19. Buffalo — Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: The Bills, who ranked 19th in total defense and had only 21 sacks, need to give Jerry Hughes some help.

20. N.Y. Jets — Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: The Jets have an obvious need, with Ryan Fitzpatrick still unsigned.

21. Washington — Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama: The Redskins filled their need at CB with Josh Norman. Now, they can improve up front.

22. Houston — Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: The Texans want a speedy WR to pair with DeAndre Hopkins, and Coleman with a 4.40 in the 40 fits the bill.

23. Minnesota — Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss: The Vikings have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Sidney Rice in 2009, so the choice is either Treadwell or Josh Doctson.

24. Cincinnati — Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: Mo Sanu and Marvin Jones left in free agency, leaving the Bengals to take a receiver to fill the void and give Andy Dalton another playmaker.

25. Pittsburgh — Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia: The Steelers will draft a CB for the first time in the opening round since Chad Scott in 1997 unless the top ones are off the board.

26. Seattle — Germain Ifedi, OL, Texas A&M: If it happens, Ifedi will give the Aggies four consecutive seasons with an OL drafted in the first round.

27. Green Bay — A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: The Packers are getting old in the defensive line, so it appears they will take the best DT available.

28. Kansas City — Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama: The Chiefs likely take the best defensive player on their board, so Kevin Dodd, Mackensie Alexander or a DT could be the choice.

29. New England: Forfeited pick

30. Arizona — Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss: Calais Campbell is in the final year of his contract.

31. Carolina — Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson: Charles Johnson returned on a one-year deal, so the choice appears to be between Dodd and Emmanuel Ogbah if both remain on the board.

32. Denver — Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: If the Broncos pass on the QB, the choice could be Ohio State S Vonn Bell or Alabama C Ryan Kelly instead.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Mock Draft Final: Athletic Jalen Ramsey fills big need for Dallas Cowboys."

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