Todd McShay releases 2016 NFL Mock Draft version 1.0

Todd McShay and ESPN have released their first Mock Draft for 2016.

Todd McShay has finally given the people what they want and released his first 2016 NFL Mock Draft. It’ll be the first of about 78 copies (give or take a dozen), and will likely look a heck of a lot different come the actual NFL Draft in April.

After all we still have all the bowl games, the Senior Bowl, the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl, and the illustrious meat market known as the NFL Combine. Lord only knows what will happen during that time – guys could get injured on the field or, I don’t know, fall out the window of their fourth-floor hotel room. There’s plenty of time for players to rise and fall.

Next: 5 Worst Picks In Todd McShay's Latest Mock Draft

For the top pick in his first draft, McShay has the Tennessee Titans taking Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. The Titans are a team with a myriad of holes, so there was really no wrong answer here (except for quarterback, of course). Tennessee’s selection is, as McShay admits, a case of taking the best player in the entire draft. Sure, the Titans need offensive line help like the desert needs rain, but a strong sack master coming off the end is also a great call.

Things get really interesting with McShay’s second pick, as he has the Cleveland Browns selecting Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, despite Lynch having not yet declared. McShay loves the Lynch’s frame, efficiency and performance in the big game – most notably the Ole Miss victory. He also relegates Lynch to a list that includes Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, Brady Quinn and Tim Couch as first-round quarterbacks selected by the Cleveland Browns since 1999 – also known as the Four Horsemen who never had a chance in hell.

In third, the ESPN pundit has Robert Nkemdiche going to the San Diego Chargers – obviously assuming that the Chargers don’t care much about the star defensive lineman’s character issues. The fourth player off the board is defensive back Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. Ramsey and Florida Gators cornerback Vernon Hargreaves are consiered the top two players in the defensive backfield in this class; McShay likes Ramsey as a better fit for the Ravens. And rounding out the top-five is Jared Goff going to a San Francisco 49ers, not looking to bypass another homegrown prospect (the curse of Aaron Rodgers is real).

For the rest of the list, check out McShay’s full Mock Draft here (paywall). And since it’s a boring hump day one week out from Christmas vacation, why not kill the time comparing it to FanSided’s latest Mock Draft (shameless plug).