After spending the last 100 days preparing for the NFL draft, here is my final big board . Reminder: I am not one of the 32 NFL general managers nor one of the hundreds of NFL scouts. I am a football nerd with the time and inclination to learn as many of these players as possible (about 75) by watching them play college football extensively and talking to people in the sport who know more than me.
Through that, I have attempted to stack these players in a hypothetical order of where I would draft them if I was general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. That means scheme and fit has been considered from that franchise’s perspective, but it also means that I am thinking as if I was in charge (which, of course, differs from Jerry Jones). So, this is not a mock draft or a prediction of order of picks. Rather, it is a ranking that I hope stands up in five years -- which is invariably ridiculous.
Rank
|
Player
|
Position
|
College
|
Sturm comment
|
1.
|
Jalen Ramsey
|
DB
|
Florida State
|
A difference-maker in the secondary who could be your best option at all five defensive back spots.
|
2.
|
Jared Goff
|
QB
|
California
|
Non-issue for Cowboys, but he is my bet for best to become a legitimate franchise QB in 2020.
|
3.
|
Joey Bosa
|
DE
|
Ohio State
|
Somewhere along the way, the masses started suggesting Bosa is not a difference-maker I disagree.
|
4.
|
Laremy Tunsil
|
OT
|
Mississippi
|
The player who appears to have the least questions to answer, but ideally plays left tackle.
|
5.
|
Vernon Hargreaves
|
CB
|
Florida
|
In terms of pure cover skills, he appears to be as good or better as Ramsey on an island.
|
6.
|
Carson Wentz
|
QB
|
North Dakota State
|
Possibly pushed up because of position scarcity, but he has impressive traits to consider.
|
7.
|
Laquon Treadwell
|
WR
|
Mississippi
|
From the standpoint of ceiling, age and ability, this player looks like a real star.
|
8.
|
Myles Jack
|
LB
|
UCLA
|
Another defensive player with a high ceiling, but with his knee injury he could drop further.
|
9.
|
Noah Spence
|
DE
|
Eastern Kentucky
|
Get by the various issues off and the field and against the run, he is superb rushing the passer.
|
10.
|
Ezekiel Elliott
|
RB
|
Ohio State
|
No question he is the best RB in draft. The issue is whether he is good or generational. I believe the former.
|
11.
|
Sheldon Rankins
|
DT
|
Louisville
|
Of all the inside defensive players, he could best fit Dallas’ needs at 3-technique.
|
12.
|
Shaq Lawson
|
DE
|
Clemson
|
A talented player who can really step right in and be a starter with versatile skills.
|
13.
|
Ronnie Stanley
|
OT
|
Notre Dame
|
A distant second place behind Tunsil on the OL, but still has tools to be very solid.
|
14.
|
DeForest Buckner
|
DE
|
Oregon
|
For me, he is best as a 5-tech in a 3-4 defense. Cowboys may disagree and like him for their 4-3.
|
15.
|
Paxton Lynch
|
QB
|
Memphis
|
Difficult to fully analyze and project, but his top performances are impossible to ignore.
|
16.
|
Taylor Decker
|
OT
|
Ohio State
|
This guy is just a sliver behind Stanley for me and may actually develop beyond him. He looks great.
|
17.
|
Kevin Dodd
|
DE
|
Clemson
|
All things equal - which they are not - you might prefer him to Lawson. But age and body of work go to Shaq.
|
18.
|
Vernon Butler
|
DT
|
Louisiana Tech
|
A man this size should certainly not be this disruptive. But, he might give Rankins a run for best DT.
|
19.
|
Jaylon Smith
|
LB
|
Notre Dame
|
Will likely miss 2016 and his medical evaluations mean everything. But, the tape is incredible before injury.
|
20.
|
A’Shawn Robinson
|
DT
|
Alabama
|
Local defensive tackle who certainly has plenty of traits to be an incredible 1-technique run-stopper.
|
21.
|
William Jackson
|
CB
|
Houston
|
There is little in this fine combination of speed and size that gives one pause. He looks the part.
|
22.
|
Andrew Billings
|
DT
|
Baylor
|
You could make the case that he should be higher. I see a young Vince Wilfork.
|
23.
|
Robert Nkemdiche
|
DT
|
Mississippi
|
There is no reason this player with this much talent should be below the top 10\. He could be great.
|
24.
|
Jack Conklin
|
OT
|
Michigan State
|
Another capable tackle who went toe-to-toe with several draftable DL and held his own.
|
25.
|
Corey Coleman
|
WR
|
Baylor
|
So athletic, with plenty competitive edge and productive. Should destroy Baylor stereotypes at position.
|
26.
|
Jarran Reed
|
DT
|
Alabama
|
Honestly, A’Shawn and Jarran are very close to each other. I would consider A’Shawn slightly more freakish.
|
27.
|
Eli Apple
|
CB
|
Ohio State
|
Big corner who has a chance to develop a bit more into a strong corner on the edge.
|
28.
|
Mackensie Alexander
|
CB
|
Clemson
|
He is aggressive and confident, but you would like to see more than zero interceptions in college.
|
29.
|
Derrick Henry
|
RB
|
Alabama
|
There is no doubt in my mind that Henry, behind Dallas’ zone OL, would fit like a hand in glove.
|
30.
|
Jason Spriggs
|
OT
|
Indiana
|
There is little not to like, although Spriggs is a bit of a projection here. Underrated but interesting.
|
31.
|
Michael Thomas
|
WR
|
Ohio State
|
Seems like an absolute third-down machine who can do many things well.
|
32.
|
Josh Doctson
|
WR
|
TCU
|
Doctson has a chance to be special, but will his build cause issues getting off the line vs. press?
|
33.
|
Kenny Clark
|
DT
|
UCLA
|
Yet another disruptive DT behind the line of scrimmage. Seems to have some versatility.
|
34.
|
Karl Joseph
|
S
|
West Virginia
|
I admit that his knee evaluation is key, but if he checks out he is the second-best safety in 2016.
|
35.
|
Emmanuel Ogbah
|
DE
|
Oklahoma State
|
I believe he can really develop into something \impressive. But, there are many doubters.
|
36.
|
Darron Lee
|
LB
|
Ohio State
|
A modern-day linebacker in that runs like a DB, but he is no Ryan Shazier as he doesn’t hit much.
|
37.
|
Reggie Ragland
|
LB
|
Alabama
|
No question he brings plenty of thump. I wonder about his range in a league that requires it.
|
38.
|
Vonn Bell
|
S
|
Ohio State
|
A much safer, more conservative, and less physical version of a safety upgrade. Center field candidate.
|
39.
|
Conner Cook
|
QB
|
Michigan State
|
I believe he is the fourth-best QB and has a chance to really prove his critics wrong if fit is right.
|
40.
|
Ronald Blair
|
DE
|
Appalachian State
|
After Ogbah, this is the next pass-rusher who can move inside or win on the edge.
|
41.
|
Xavien Howard
|
CB
|
Baylor
|
There is a chance here to land a big and fast corner. But, he really lost deep too much at Baylor.
|
42.
|
Jonathan Bullard
|
DT
|
Florida
|
He certainly looks like he could be a factor inside, although pass rush skills are limited.
|
43.
|
Devontae Booker
|
RB
|
Utah
|
Those wanting Elliott in first round should hope to grab Booker later. Will his knee help him fall to early third?
|
44.
|
Kenneth Dixon
|
RB
|
Louisiana Tech
|
Ball security is a concern, but competitiveness, ability and versatility are certainly not.
|
45.
|
Sterling Shepard
|
WR
|
Oklahoma
|
I’m willing to ignore the criticisms and believe my gut that he will be a playmaking force for a decade.
|
46.
|
Shilique Calhoun
|
DE
|
Michigan State
|
Is undersized for sure, but can be a game-wrecker around the edge at times. Sacks are premium for sure.
|
47.
|
Hunter Henry
|
TE
|
Arkansas
|
The only top tight end up top who will struggle with blocking inline, but should find seam routes delightful.
|
48.
|
Will Fuller
|
WR
|
Notre Dame
|
A dangerous deep threat who has proven himself, but with small hands and drops has limitations.
|
49.
|
Leonard Floyd
|
OLB
|
Georgia
|
A difficult player to figure out, but he has no natural position besides nickel pass-rusher.
|
50.
|
Kamalei Correa
|
OLB
|
Boise State
|
Not the best scheme fit, but at No. 50 I think Correa is going to impact the league.
|
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