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SI 50: Counting down the top 50 NFL prospects of 2016
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The 2016 NFL draft has arrived, and as NFL teams get their draft boards in order, Doug Farrar has assembled his own Big Board, featuring his top 50 players. The SI 50 uses tape study to define the best prospects in this class and break down their strengths and weaknesses which explain their rankings.
During the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, we published a scouting report for each player, complete with game tape from Draft Breakdown. You can keep track of all the scouting reports here by clicking on each player’s name for a full tape analysis.
Watch NFL Draft Live tonight, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Presented by MET-Rx and Carhartt.
Gallery: The top 50 NFL draft prospects of 2016
Top 50 NFL Draft Prospects of 2016
#50: Paxton Lynch — QB, Memphis
Lynch, who started 39 straight games for Memphis, has all the tools to succeed at the NFL level, but he’ll likely need some time to develop.
#49: Kendall Fuller — CB, Virginia Tech
The youngest of the Fuller brothers struggled with injuries in college, but said at the combine that he’s about 90% healthy.
#48: Braxton Miller — WR, Ohio State
The QB-turned-WR has a leg up thanks to Ohio State’s pro-style offense, but his inexperience at receiver could hamper him.
#47: Shilique Calhoun — DE, Michigan State
Calhoun stood out at MSU—named to All-America teams three years—but doesn’t necessarily stand out in this class of top defensive linemen.
#46: Germain Ifedi — OT, Texas A&M
A three-year starter at Texas A&M, Ifedi may be pushed down draft boards by his technique issues.
#45: Javon Hargrave — DT, South Carolina State
Hargrave exploded in 2014 and ’15, becoming one of the top small-school prospects in the draft.
#44: Le'Raven Clark — OT, Texas Tech
Clark is a spread-offense tackle who may not need need significant time to adjust to the pro-level game.
#43: Jonathan Bullard — DE, Florida
Bullard played mostly end at Florida, but he hopes to work more as a hybrid, shifting inside if needed, in the NFL.
#42: Emmanuel Ogbah — DE, Oklahoma State
The first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year from OSU is a raw athletic talent filled with potential, but he still needs to learn technical skills.
#41: Michael Thomas — WR, Ohio State
Thomas isn’t a flashy receiver, but he has plenty of the basics covered.
#40: Leonard Floyd — OLB, Georgia
Floyd led Georgia in sacks each of the three seasons he played there, totaling 17 in his college career.
#39: Jarran Reed — DT, Alabama
Reed’s versatility will be crucial when it comes to his future in the NFL.
#38: Chris Jones — DT, Mississippi State
The combination of Jones's raw physical tools with his gap versatility makes him a player on the ascent.
#37: Cody Whitehair — OG, Kansas State
It's tough to doubt this 6' 4", 301-pound guard. He'll be a safe pick for any team, and is worthy of first-round consideration.
#36: Eli Apple — CB, Ohio State
Apple has established himself as one of the better pass defenders in this draft class.
#35: Sterling Shepard — WR, Oklahoma
Teams in need of a legitimate outside receiver who can also dominate in the slot should turn their attention to Shepard.
#34: Kenny Clark — DT, UCLA
Clark may be limited early on, but he has the potential to become an every-down monster.
#33: Darron Lee — LB, Ohio State
Given the NFL's need for leaner players at the linebacker positions, Lee is hitting the pros at exactly the right time.
#32: Joshua Garnett — OG, Stanford
Garnett won the 2015 Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s best interior lineman, and was a big part of RB Christian McCaffrey's breakout season.
#31: Tyler Boyd — WR, Pittsburgh
Boyd leaves Pitt as the school’s all-time leading receiver, with 254 catches for 3,361 yards and 21 touchdowns.
#30: Jason Spriggs — OT, Indiana
Athleticism and consistency—which he showed off at the NFL scouting combine—are Spriggs’s hallmarks.
#29: Robert Nkemdiche — DL, Ole Miss
Nkemdiche has the potential to be an elite defensive playmaker, but his off-field issues may make teams hesitant.
#28: Will Fuller — WR, Notre Dame
Fuller surprised many by entering the draft early, and though he isn't a completely developed player yet, he'll be difficult for defenses to handle.
#27: Vonn Bell — S, Ohio State
Bell is classified as a strong safety, but he’s really a variable chess piece with the ability to make a defense better in several dimensions.
#26: Josh Doctson — WR, TCU
Doctson brings a combination of deep and boundary receiving skills, fearlessness in the red zone and game-to-game consistency.
#25: Taylor Decker — OT, Ohio State
Decker was the the 2015 Big Ten Lineman of the Year, and started 42 straight games for the Buckeyes after working on special teams in his freshman season.
#24: Derrick Henry — RB, Alabama
Derrick Henry has done nothing but succeed his entire football career. He finished the 2015 season with 2,219 rushing yards and went on to win the Heisman trophy.
#23: Andrew Billings — DT, Baylor
In any multiple-front defense, Billings has the capacity to dominate with his rare combination of quick-twitch athleticism and stunning power.
#22: William Jackson III — CB, Houston
Jackson has become one of the most heralded pass defenders in this draft class, with the size to play outside immediately.
#21: Su'a Cravens — LB/S, USC
Cravens may just be the most versatile player in the draft, and he's ready to prove that to whichever team takes him.
#20: Reggie Ragland — LB, Alabama
Ragland has been pegged by some as only an inside linebacker, but he has the talent to play anywhere.
#19: Jack Conklin — OT, Michigan State
Conklin is NFL-ready right now, but his raw athleticism remains a concern on tape.
#18: Vernon Butler — DT, Louisiana Tech
Butler is hitting the NFL at the perfect time, as all 32 teams search for hyper-versatile big men to stock their defensive fronts.
#17: Corey Coleman — WR, Baylor
A touchdown machine in 2015, Coleman should see the field right away, if only as a decoy.
#16: A'Shawn Robinson — DT, Alabama
Robinson was an imposing presence in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s vaunted line, and he is versatile enough to be valuable for any team.
#15: Shaq Lawson — DE, Clemson
With a little bit of NFL seasoning, Lawson could become the new prototype of the modern multi-gap defensive lineman.
#14: Jared Goff — QB, Cal
Goff boasts a NFL-ready skill set, but he may be better off waiting a year or two before starting in the league.
#13: Vernon Hargreaves — CB, Florida
Hargreaves has the tools and attributes needed to succeed immediately in the NFL and potentially develop into a Pro Bowler.
#12: Noah Spence — DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Whichever team looks past Spence’s checkered off-field record will get a QB hunter with an incredibly high ceiling.
#11: Sheldon Rankins — DT, Louisville
So what if he’s undersized? Rankins can become the next short DT to star in the NFL.
#10: Laquon Treadwell — WR, Ole Miss
How will concerns over speed impact arguably the most NFL-ready receiver in this draft?
#9: Mackensie Alexander — CB, Clemson
Alexander may not have the ideal size of an NFL CB, but he has the talent to be a starting slot and No. 2 corner from Day 1.
#8: Joey Bosa — DE, Ohio State
Some analysts think he’s the best player in the draft at any position, but after a quiet final season in Columbus, there’s some reason for skepticism.
#7: Carson Wentz — QB, North Dakota State
This small-school quarterback has a very big future ahead—and could potentially be the No. 1 pick.
#6: DeForest Buckner — DL, Oregon
We still don’t know just how high the ceiling is for the top defensive lineman on this big board.
#5: Ronnie Stanley — OT, Notre Dame
Stanley might be the best pass blocker in this year’s draft, and he can be plugged in to a starting lineup almost immediately.
#4: Ezekiel Elliott — RB, Ohio State
Elliott can fit into most NFL schemes immediately, and he already understands the little things that make RBs great.
#3: Laremy Tunsil — OT, Ole Miss
Tunsil has arguably the best game of any NFL prospect, making him the top offensive player on this big board.
#2: Myles Jack — LB, UCLA
The only thing holding Jack back from being the most dangerous player in this draft is a 2015 knee injury he’s still recovering from.
#1: Jalen Ramsey — CB/S, Florida State
He plays like a cornerback, thinks like a safety and hits like a linebacker. That’s why he’s the best player in the class.
• BURKE: Three-round mock draft | Draft needs for all 32 teams
50. Paxton Lynch
QB, Memphis
WATCH: Scouting Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
49. Kendall Fuller
CB, Virginia Tech
WATCH: Scouting Virginia Tech CB Kendall Fuller
48. Braxton Miller
WR, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State WR Braxton Miller
47. Shilique Calhoun
DE, Michigan State
WATCH: Scouting MSU DE Shilique Calhoun
46. Germain Ifedi
OT, Texas A&M
WATCH: Scouting Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi
45. Javon Hargrave
DT, South Carolina State
WATCH: Scouting South Carolina State’s Javon Hargrave
44. Le’Raven Clark
OT, Texas Tech
WATCH: Scouting Texas Tech OT Le’Raven Clark
43. Jonathan Bullard
DE, Florida
WATCH: Scouting Florida DE Jonathan Bullard
42. Emmanuel Ogbah
DE, Oklahoma State
WATCH: Scouting OSU DE Emmanuel Ogbah
41. Michael Thomas
WR, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State WR Michael Thomas
40. Leonard Floyd
OLB, Georgia
WATCH: Scouting UGA OLB Leonard Floyd
39. Jarran Reed
DT, Alabama
WATCH: Scouting Alabama DT Jarran Reed
38. Chris Jones
DT, Mississippi State
WATCH: Scouting Mississippi State DT Chis Jones
37. Cody Whitehair
OG, Kansas State
WATCH: Scouting Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair
36. Eli Apple
CB, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State CB Eli Apple
35. Sterling Shepard
WR, Oklahoma
WATCH: Scouting Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard
34. Kenny Clark
DT, UCLA
WATCH: Scouting UCLA DT Kenny Clark
33. Darron Lee
LB, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State LB Darron Lee
32. Joshua Garnett
OG, Stanford
WATCH: Scouting Stanford OG Joshua Garnett
31. Tyler Boyd
WR, Pittsburgh
WATCH: Scouting Pittsburgh WR Tyler Boyd
30. Jason Spriggs
OT, Indiana
WATCH: Scouting Indiana OT Jason Spriggs
29. Robert Nkemdiche
DL, Ole Miss
WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche
28. Will Fuller
WR, Notre Dame
WATCH: Scouting Notre Dame WR Will Fuller
27. Vonn Bell
S, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State S Vonn Bell
26. Josh Doctson
WR, TCU
WATCH: Scouting TCU WR Josh Doctson
25. Taylor Decker
OT, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State OT Taylor Decker
24. Derrick henry
RB, ALABAMA
WATCH: Scouting Alabama RB Derrick Henry
23. Andrew billings
DT, BAYLOR
WATCH: Scouting Baylor DT Andrew Billings
22. william jackson iii
CB, HOUSTON
WATCH: Scouting Houston CB William Jackson III
21. su’a cravens
LB/S, USC
WATCH: Scouting USC’s Su’a Cravens
20. Reggie Ragland
LB, Alabama
WATCH: Scouting Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
19. Jack Conklin
OT, Michigan State
WATCH: Scouting Michigan State OT Jack Conklin
18. Vernon Butler
DT, Louisiana Tech
WATCH: Scouting Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
17. Corey Coleman
WR, Baylor
WATCH: Scouting Baylor WR Corey Coleman
16. A’Shawn Robinson
DT, Alabama
WATCH: Scouting Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson
15. Shaq Lawson
DE, Clemson
WATCH: Scouting Clemson DE Shaq Lawson
14. Jared Goff
QB, Cal
WATCH: Scouting Cal QB Jared Goff
13. Vernon Hargreaves III
CB, Florida
WATCH: Scouting Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III
12. Noah Spence
DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
WATCH: Scouting Eastern Kentucky DE/OLB Noah Spence
11. Sheldon Rankins
DT, Louisville
WATCH: Scouting Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins
10. Laquon Treadwell
WR, Ole Miss
WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell
9. Mackensie Alexander
CB, Clemson
WATCH: Scouting Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander
8. Joey Bosa
DE, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State DE Joey Bosa
7. Carson Wentz
QB, North Dakota State
WATCH: Scouting North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz
6. DeForest Buckner
DL, Oregon
WATCH: Scouting Oregon DL DeForest Buckner
5. Ronnie Stanley
OT, Notre Dame
WATCH: Scouting Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley
4. Ezekiel Elliott
RB, Ohio State
WATCH: Scouting Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott
3. Laremy Tunsil
OT, Ole Miss
WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil
2. Myles Jack
LB, UCLA
WATCH: Scouting UCLA LB Myles Jack
1. Jalen Ramsey
CB/S, Florida State
WATCH: Scouting FSU CB/S Jalen Ramsey
SI.com contributing NFL writer and Seattle resident Doug Farrar started writing about football locally in 2002, and became Football Outsiders' West Coast NFL guy in 2006. He was fascinated by FO's idea to combine Bill James with Dr. Z, and wrote for the site for six years. He wrote a game-tape column called "Cover-2" for a number of years, and contributed to six editions of "Pro Football Prospectus" and the "Football Outsiders Almanac." In 2009, Doug was invited to join Yahoo Sports' NFL team, and covered Senior Bowls, scouting combines, Super Bowls, and all sorts of other things for Yahoo Sports and the Shutdown Corner blog through June, 2013. Doug received the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse from SI.com in 2013, and that was that. Doug has also written for the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, the New York Sun, FOX Sports, ESPN.com, and ESPN The Magazine. He also makes regular appearances on several local and national radio shows, and has hosted several podcasts over the years. He counts Dan Jenkins, Thomas Boswell, Frank Deford, Ralph Wiley, Peter King, and Bill Simmons as the writers who made him want to do this for a living. In his rare off-time, Doug can be found reading, hiking, working out, searching for new Hendrix, Who, and MC5 bootlegs, and wondering if the Mariners will ever be good again.