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.