This exercise was simple: aggregate the rankings of ESPN Scouts (insider), Pro Football Focus‘ latest draft board, and NFL.com‘s draft tracker grades. Based on this formula, here are the top 20 players in the 2016 NFL draft below.
1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (#1 ESPN, #1 PFF, #6 NFL.com)
It’s a little surprising to see him as the composite #1 based on how the mocks have gone for him. After a good (not great) combine and mediocre interviews, it seems like his stock has dropped a little bit. Whereas mocks saw him going first overall almost unilaterally a couple months ago, most are now having him fall somewhere between 3rd and 8th overall. It’ll be interesting to see if he falls at all. If so, someone is going to get fantastic value.
2. Laremy Tunsil, T, Ole Miss (#2 ESPN, #5 PFF, #1 NFL.com)
Tunsil’s stock is as hot as anyone’s in the draft right now. Considering the fact that the Titans need to protect Marcus Mariota, he could easily go first overall. He’s viewed by everyone as the best offensive lineman in the draft.
3. DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (#3 ESPN, #2 PFF, #3 NFL.com)
His stock is rising by the day. Once considered a likely top 10 pick, he now seems like a top 5 lock.
4. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State (#4 ESPN, #3 PFF, #5 NFL.com)
He’s done nothing but significantly increase his stock his the college football season ended. Many are starting to claim he’s the best player in the draft.
5. Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA (#6 ESPN, #6 PFF, #2 NFL.com)
The big question with Jack is how much will he fall given his meniscus surgery that prevented him from running the 40 at the Combine and his Pro Day? If healthy he’s clearly going to be special.
6. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (#5 ESPN, #7 PFF, #4 NFL.com)
I’ll admit I’m surprised Elliott made it into the top 10 in all three grading sites. He’s clearly the best back in the draft but with that position being somewhat de-valued in recent years, how will it affect where he gets selected?
7. Jared Goff, QB, California (#11 ESPN, #4 PFF, #8 NFL.com)
ESPN preferred Wentz by one slot but the other two sites view Goff as the best QB in the draft. He clearly faced tougher competition in college.
8. Ronnie Stanley, T, Notre Dame (#7 ESPN, #16 PFF, #9 NFL.com)
PFF didn’t like him quite as much as the other two sites, but he grades well across the board. He’s likely a top 10 pick.
9. Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (#10 ESPN, #14 PFF, #10 NFL.com)
He has everything you’d want in a quarterback. But will it translate at the next level?
10. Jack Conklin, T, Michigan State (#8 ESPN, #13 PFF, #14 NFL.com)
I didn’t expect Conklin to be up this high but all three sites gave him consistent and solid rankings. With tackle being so top heavy, Conklin may fall to a very fortunate team.
11. Vernon Hargreaves, III, CB, Florida (#12 ESPN, #18 PFF, #7 NFL.com)
He’s the only corner to make this list. Many had high rankings in one of the three sites, but the corner evals are all over the place. Some love a player that the other ones hate and vice versa. Hargreaves is the only one that seems to have a good showing on all three.
12. Sheldon Rankins, DT, Lousiville (#14 ESPN, #8 PFF, #19 NFL.com)
He’s going to be a steal. He’s got the motor and interior push to be a devastating disrupter.
13. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (#17 ESPN, #11 PFF, #24 NFL.com)
NFL.com hurt his stock a bit here but he’s viewed as a top notch pass rusher. For teams drafting between 8 and 15 – he’s the best pass rusher after Bosa and Buckner are gone.
14. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (#21 ESPN, #19 PFF, #12 NFL.com)
He had solid grades across the board. I didn’t expect to see him in the top 20, honestly, but everyone seems to view him as a solid player.
15. Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama (#19 ESPN, #26 PFF, #11 NFL.com)
Like Floyd he’s solid across the board with his best showing on NFL.com. A tackling machine.
16. Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (#13 ESPN, #20 PFF, #26 NFL.com)
Surprised to see Reed this high, especially on ESPN. He’s going to be a great player but can he push the pocket on passing downs? He might be more of a 2 down player which would hurt his draft value.
17. Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame (#23 ESPN, #25 PFF, #15 NFL.com)
The injury red flag is a big one. You have to think he’d be much higher on this list without that. How far does he fall based on such a serious knee injury that happened pretty recently?
18. Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (#20 ESPN, #22 PFF, #21 NFL.com)
He’s all potential. He’s raw and young but so powerful and quick. Someone will bite on his potential, but how soon?
19. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (#30 ESPN,#12 PFF, #23 NFL.com)
He’s getting more and more hype by the day. His grades continue to soar. He was viewed as a 3rd round pick by some but he’s showing up in the 1st round, sometimes early, in more and more drafts.
20. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (#15 ESPN, #28 PFF, #22 NFL.com)
The only receiver to make it in the top 20. Like corner the rankings are all over the place at this position. Treadwell is the one most consistently believed in.
