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2016 NFL mock draft: Todd McShay loves Ezekiel Elliott

By Matt Verderame

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN analyst Todd McShay produced his third 2016 NFL mock draft this year.

It seems pretty clear that most believe Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil will be going to the Tennessee Titans with the first-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Apparently, McShay agrees, and believes that quarterback Carson Wentz will be the next man off the board, going to the Cleveland Browns (RIP, Carson).

After that, let’s take a look at some of the more eye-catching picks throughout McShay’s first round.

  • Dallas Cowboys (No. 4) – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
  • San Francisco 49ers (No. 7) – Jared Goff, QB, California
  • New York Giants (No. 10) – Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
  • Los Angeles Rams (No. 15) – Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
  • New York Jets (No. 20) – Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
  • Seattle Seahawks (No. 26) – Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss
  • Green Bay Packers (No. 27) – Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

It would be a major upset if we get a running back going in the top 10 picks for a second straight year. We have heard repeatedly that the position has been significantly devalued over the years, ans while Elliott is a talent, he’s not garnering the same hype that Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon received last season.

The quarterbacks make sense. Cleveland and San Francisco have to add signal-callers in the worst way, and getting Wentz and Goff in the first 10 picks is realistic. As for the Seahawks and Packers, both teams would be getting an absolute steal at the back end of the round.

Seattle would be thrilled to walk away with Nkemdiche, especially if the Seahawks have to let Bruce Irvin walk. Meanwhile, the Packers could use Ragland to either play alongside Clay Matthews or put Matthews back on the outside in his natural position.

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