NFL Mock Draft 2016: Pre-Scouting Combine edition

LB. Alabama. Reggie Ragland. 16. player. 50. <p>Reggie Ragland might be my favorite player in the entire 2016 NFL Draft class. That, of course, does not mean that he is the best player or the player I would choose to build a defense around long-term, but Ragland is incredibly safe given his production level in college and the fact that his skill set should transition well to the NFL immediately.</p> <p>Detroit would probably love to get a replacement for Calvin Johnson in Laquon Treadwell, but in this scenario, he is off the board and no other wide receiver is worth this draft slot. Aside from linebacker, the Lions could use an infusion of talent at right tackle or in the secondary, but Ragland profiles as a fixture for Detroit at middle linebacker for the next decade, and this is a team that could really use that level of stability.</p> <p>There will probably be a segment of the fan base that would not love selecting Reggie Ragland in this spot, simply because he is not a “home run” but rather a very strong “base hit” pick. Still, the Lions could do far worse than the best middle linebacker in this draft, and if you can see past his relative lack of explosive speed, Ragland is a monster in the making.</p>