2016 NFL Mock Draft: Top tackle Laremy Tunsil takes a tumble after trade

With five selections among the top 76 picks of the 2016 draft (as well as two first-rounders in 2017), the Tennessee Titans look like big winners already following the trade with the Los Angeles to get out of the No. 1 overall pick.

The Rams, too, could be winners if the player general manager Les Snead selects -- presumably one of the top two quarterbacks -- pans out.

The biggest "loser" in the big trade could be Mississippi left tackle, Laremy Tunsil ^[1], who previously was seen as a popular candidate to go No. 1 overall. With the clubs currently slotted in the top five already heavily invested at the position, however, Tunsil may tumble, despite his undeniable talent.

This scenario is not as unrealistic as you might think. A year ago, many felt that Southern California defensive lineman Leonard Williams ^[2] was the best player in the draft and he slipped to the sixth overall (New York Jets) with clubs opting to fill bigger needs.

Laremy Tunsil is no longer the popular candidate to go No. 1 overall. (USATSI)

With the 2016 draft now just days away, here is how I see the first round shaking out.

1. Los Angeles Rams: Carson Wentz ^[3], QB, North Dakota State
The last time an FCS player was selected in the top three came back in 1995 when a young Jeff Fisher -- then head coach of the Houston Oilers -- drafted the late Steve McNair out of Alcorn State with the third overall pick. Hitting a "small school" prospect all those years ago may give Fisher and general manager Les Snead the confidence to nab Wentz, who is thought to possess a higher upside than Goff. Showing not only all of the physical talent scouts are looking for in a franchise quarterback but the leadership and composure as well, Wentz eased concerns about his level of competition at NDSU with stellar performances at the Senior Bowl, combine and his March 24 pro day. With explosive weapons Todd Gurley ^[4] and Tavon Austin ^[5] already in place on offense and the NFL's most ferocious defensive line, the Rams are only an improved passing game away from competing in the NFC West.

2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff ^[6], QB, California
The signing of Robert Griffin III ^[7] lessens the need for a Day One starting quarterback but the relative lack of interest shown by other clubs in free agency should keep the Browns looking for a fall-back option. Browns offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is very familiar with Goff after trying to recruit him to Stanford. Sh owing the mental toughness to help a moribund Bears squad steadily improve from 1-11 in his freshman season to 8-5 and a bowl win during his record-breaking junior campaign, Goff is perhaps better suited than most for the challenge of playing with the perennially disappointing Browns.

3. San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey ^[8], CB/S, Florida State
Highly regarded left tackle prospect Laremy Tunsil would make a lot of sense for the Chargers but the club has already dedicated a lot of money to its offensive line, albeit with disappointing results. Instead, of adding the talented (but oft-injured) Tunsil to a unit already struggling with durability, the Chargers fill another key need, boosting the size and athleticism of their secondary with the versatile Ramsey.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa ^[9], DE, Ohio State
The Cowboys face a fascinating decision with this pick because the club could build for the future with a quarterback to groom behind Tony Romo or opt for the more immediate impact potential of a standout defender like Bosa. Jerry Jones has never been one to exercise caution and with both quarterbacks off the board in this projection, the choice is an easy one. Bosa isn't a flashy athlete and may never be a 10-plus sack-a-season player in the NFL. He's pro-ready, though, showing awareness and strength to handle run-stuffing duties as well as the burst and refined hand play to attack the quarterback.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack ^[10], OLB, UCLA
Given that the Jaguars "earned" a top-five pick for the fifth consecutive year, there is certainly plenty of evidence that Jacksonville is stuck among the also-rans in the AFC. An ascending offense led by young stars Blake Bortles ^[11] and Allen Robinson ^[12] looks ready to take the next step if the Jaguars can just find more playmakers on defense. Jack comes with some medical concerns, but could be the perfect addition to Gus Bradley's defense, showing the combination of instincts, athleticism and star power this club currently lacks on that side of the ball.

6. Baltimore Ravens: Laremy Tunsil ^[13], OT, Mississippi
General manager Ozzie Newsome has made a career out of pouncing on talented players falling into his lap and that could continue with Tunsil, arguably the top player in the draft. The addition of Tunsil would give the Ravens options with incumbent starting left tackle Eugene Monroe, who has struggled with injuries himself, since being acquired from Jacksonville.

7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest Buckner ^[14], DE, Oregon
Rather than reach for the next quarterback, the 49ers could opt to rebuild their once proud defense, pairing Buckner with Chip Kelly and his former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead ^[15], San Francisco's top pick a year ago. At 6-7, 290 pounds, Buckner is an ideal five-technique defensive end for San Francisco's scheme .

8. Philadelphia Eagles: Ezekiel Elliott ^[16], RB, Ohio State
Few players offer more immediate impact potential than Elliott, the consensus top back in the draft. After working previously with LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia and Jamaal Charles ^[17] in Kansas City, new Eagles coach Doug Pederson is used to operating an offense around a star back. A powerful runner with good spe ed, hands out of the backfield and rare awareness and tenacity for blocking, Elliott is the well-rounded back capable of making an immediate impact in the NFL.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves III ^[18], CB, Florida
Bucs' general manager Jason Licht won big by sticking close to "home" with FSU quarterback Jameis Winston ^[19] a year ago and may take a similar path with Hargreaves, a three-time All-SEC pick. Hargreaves is a scrappy playmaker with terrific agility and instincts for the position.

10. New York Giants: Ronnie Stanley ^[20], OT, Notre Dame
After investing heavily in free agent defensive linemen Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon ^[21], the Giants may look to the other side of the line in the first round of the draft. Last year's top pick Ereck Flowers ^[22] struggled at left tackle a year ago and his brawling style of play may fit better as a run blocking specialist on the right side. Stanley, on the other hand, is very light on his feet, making him an ideal blindside protector for the relatively immobile Eli Manning.

11. Chicago Bears: Jack Conklin ^[23], OT, Michigan State
Like the Giants one pick earlier, the Bears could see a young offensive lineman as the perfect capper to an offseason largely dedicated to adding defenders. Conklin, a former walk-on turned All-American left tackle, plays with the physicality and tenacity head coach John Fox requires of his players and could provide competition on an offensive line needing reinforcements at tackle and guard, alike.

12. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins ^[24], DT, Louisville
New Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has his work cut out of him after New Orleans ranked last or close to it in virtually every defensive statistic in 2015, including points (29.8) and yardage (413.8) allowed per game. Rankins' quick burst and active, powerful hands would him an effective interior pass rusher capable of complementing Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan ^[25].

13. Miami Dolphins: Darron Lee ^[26], OLB, Ohio State
Even with defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh ^[27] and Olivier Vernon often drawing multiple blockers, Miami's linebackers struggled to make big plays a year ago. Lee remains a bit raw after leaving Ohio State as just a redshirt sophomore but his talent is obvious. A former quarterback and safety, Lee combines a unique perspective on coverage with outstanding athleticism, including closing speed and explosiveness as a hitter.

14. Oakland Raiders: Shaq Lawson ^[28], DE, Clemson
With a potentially dynamic duo of Khalil Mack ^[29] and Bruce Irvin ^[30], it may not appear as though the Raiders need another edge rusher but the uncertainly surrounding the availability of last year's injured second round pick, Mario Edwards ^[31], Jr. (neck) could give general manager Reggie McKenzie reason to consider a similarly powerful defensive end. Lawson isn't the blue chip prospect that his NCAA-leading 25.5 tackles for loss would indicate, but he is powerful, agile and tenacious.

15. Tennessee Titans: Laquon Treadwell ^[32], WR, Mississippi
Whether picking first or 15th, the top priority in Tennessee should be helping young quarterback Marcus Mariota ^[33]. Mississippi left tackle Laremy Tunsil was the popular pick while the Titans held the No. 1 pick but his former teammate, Treadwell, could prove an even more dynamic help, using his size and stre ngth to quickly become Mariota's favorite target.

16. Detroit Lions: Kevin Dodd ^[34], DE, Clemson
The Lions boast one of the NFL's better young edge rushers in Ziggy Ansah, whose 14.5 sacks a year ago led the NFC. There is not a lot of help in the pass rushing department currently on the roster, however. Scouts are enamored with the upside of Dodd, who emerged last season for the Tigers to record 12 sacks of his own. Long, athletic and competitive, he could be a perfect complement.

17. Atlanta Falcons: Jarran Reed ^[35], DL, Alabama
It is hard to imagine Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a former defensive line coach, not pushing for help for a unit that allowed more rushing touchdowns (20) in 2015 than it had sacks (19), both worst in the NFL. Reed, known more for his run-stuffing ability than sacking the quarterback at Alabama, showed better-than-expected rush skills at the Senior Bowl and plays the toughness and dependability, frankly, that the Falcons have been lacking up front in recent years.

18. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly ^[36], C, Alabama
The top priority in Indianapolis must be protecting Andrew Luck ^[37], and that starts up the middle. New offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and offensive line coach Joe Philbin are looking for more athletic offensive linemen and Kelly possesses the strength, agility and pro-ready game to boost the Colts' play at any of the thr ee interior positions.

19. Buffalo Bills: Robert Nkemdiche ^[38], DL, Mississippi
The Bills probably should be looking for help on offense with this pick but as long as Rex Ryan has a say, the defensive line will get plenty of attention. Powerful and used to double-teams, Nkemdiche has the size and strength to be the defensive end Ryan had hoped Mario Williams ^[39] would be. He's also quite athl etic, boasting perhaps the most exciting raw talent as any defensive lineman in this draft. Ryan has never been one to shy from talent, even if it comes with red flags, as Nkemdiche does.

20. New York Jets: Leonard Floyd ^[40], OLB, Georgia
With explosive edge rushers Miller and Demarcus Ware mitigating Tom Brady's quick passes in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos provided the rest of the NFL a manual on how to beat the New England Patriots. Adding a speed rusher like Floyd to complement an already stout defensive line could be exactly what the Jets need to end the Patriots' supremacy in the AFC East.

21. Washington Redskins: Reggie Ragland ^[41], ILB, Alabama
Washington surrendered an average of 4.8 yards per carry last season (31st in the NFL) and was even worse in the wild-card loss to the Packers, allowing 5.5 yards per attempt. While serving as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, GM Scot McCloughan plucked Patrick Willis ^[42] out of the SEC (Mississippi) and saw him emerge as one of the leaders of a formidable defense. Ragland isn't in Willis' class athletically, but he's instinctive, strong and a physical, reliable tackler.

22. Houston Texans: Vernon Butler ^[43], DT, Louisiana Tech
At 6-4, 323 pounds, Butler has the bulk and strength to handle playing all over the defensive line, providing depth at nose guard behind the 34-year old Vince Wilfork and helping to replace former starting defensive end Jared Crick ^[44], who left for Denver. Perhaps because of the decal on his helmet Butler does not receive much fanfare but he's well respected in the scouting community, offering an exciting blend of size, strength and agility.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson ^[45], WR, TCU
With the needs along the offensive line addressed via free agency, the Vikings may look to help out young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ^[46] by boosting his receiving corps on draft day. The 6-2, 202-pound Doctson has enough speed to challenge vertically and he's a master at winning contested passes due to his strong hands and body control.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Corey Coleman ^[47], WR, Baylor
The Bengals still have superstar A.J. Green ^[48] but will want to fortify a receiver corps which lost Marvin Jones ^[49] and Mohammed Sanu to free agency. Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award last season by catching 20 touchdowns, offering the pure speed to serve as an ideal complement to red zone threats Green and tight end Tyler Eifert ^[50].

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple ^[51], CB, Ohio State
Pittsburgh's leaky secondary was a season-long issue with reinforcements almost surely coming in the offseason, whether via the draft, free agency or both. Apple has natural coverage skills, including the fluidity and quick hands to make plays on the ball. He was voted the Defensive MVP of the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.

26. Seattle Seahawks: Germain Ifedi ^[52], OG, Texas A&M
Just two years removed from their championship run, the Seahawks are essentially starting over along the offensive line with zero of the starting five blockers from Super Bowl ^[53] XLVIII still on the roster. The cap-challenged Seahawks may be forced to look to the draft for reinforcements. With experience at guard and right tackle, Ifedi possesses the versatility Seattle looks for, as well as the exceptional length (including 36" arms) and experience blocking for a mobile quarterback.

27. Green Bay Packers: Andrew Billings ^[54], DT, Baylor
The loss of starting nose guard B.J. Raji to a "hiatus" creates quite literally a massive hole in the middle for the Packers. Stout, strong and surprisingly athletic, Billings would seem to be a logical replacement.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: William Jackson III ^[55], CB, Houston
After losing Sean Smith ^[56] to the division-rival Raiders, the Chiefs have a huge hole at cornerback opposite rookie Pro Bowler Marcus Peters ^[57]. Scouts have some reservations about the level of competition Jackson faced at Houston after transferring in from a junior college, but his combination of length, speed and awareness of the ball in coverage stand out on tape, making him a potentially ideal complement to Peters.

29. Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence ^[58], OLB, Eastern Kentucky
The trade for Chandler Jones ^[59] certainly boosts Arizona's pass rush, but the remarkable depth of this year's defensive line class could allow general manager Steve Keim even more. Spence is arguably the elite edge rusher of this draft but lacks ideal size at just 6-2, 251 pounds and comes with well-documented off-fi eld concerns. Keim has been willing to overlook these concerns for other playmakers (like Tyrann Mathieu ^[60]) in the past and may see Spence as simply too dynamic to pass up.

30. Carolina Panthers: Taylor Decker ^[61], OT, Ohio State
Starting offensive tackles Michael Oher and Mike Remmers fared better than expected for most of the year but struggled in the Super Bowl ^[62]. Decker plays with the aggression and physicality Carolina has prioritized in the past and could slide inside to guard initially, if needed.

31. Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch ^[63], QB, Memphis
John Elway reacted quickly to Osweiler's surprise signing in Houston by trading for Mark Sanchez, but the Broncos are likely to re-invest at quarterback on draft day with Trevor Siemian ^[64] the only other quarterback on the roster. The 6-7, 244-pound Lynch bears a striking resemblance to the 6-8, 240-pound Osweiler. Surprisingly athletic and boasting a live arm, Lynch has first-round upside but he's viewed by most as a project and therefore may "slip" lower on draft day than some of his hype suggests. He might be the perfect project, however, for coach Gary Kubiak to develop.

The 6-7, 244-pound Lynch bears a resemblance to the 6-8, 240-pound Osweiler. (USATSI)