2016 NFL Draft: Who Will Go Number One? |

2016 NFL Draft: Who Will Go Number One?

The 2015 NFL Draft has been over for a month and yet we’re still three months away from meaningful football. That being said, OTAs have started up, minicamps and actual training camp will follow and before you know it NFL games will matter again. And just like that, we’ll be back to the drawing board for some of the worst teams in the league, trying to figure out what holes can be filled to do it all again in 2016.

That line of thinking asks us to look ahead, way, way down the road, to the top of the 2016 NFL Draft. We won’t have a sure-fire, locked and loaded superstar standing above the rest, but there are at least some strong contenders that could vie for the #1 overall pick. Who are they? Let’s find out:

Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State

The early money has to be on two things: it’s got to be a quarterback and if so it’s probably Jones. Any team that is bad enough to sink to 32nd in the league probably needs a quarterback, save for maybe the Buccaneers, Titans, Jaguars and Raiders at this point. But if we’re looking at the Browns, Redskins, Bears or Jets with the top pick come next April, we can probably bank on Jones hearing his name called.

Jones brings everything you want to the table physically, as he’s a brute with a big arm, good mobility and the skill-set to develop into a very dangerous passer at the highest level. He even has a Big 10 title and a national title under his belt. Yeah, that’ll do at the top spot.

Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State

Quarterback could continue to be the name of the game, and if that’s the case Hackenberg could give Jones a run for his money for the top overall pick. Blessed with all the necessary tools to be a success at the NFL level, Hackenberg braved major transition with head coach Bill O’Brien leaving for the NFL and still found a way to come out of the gates on fire in 2014. He fizzled until Penn State’s bowl game, but he capped the year with a perfect performance and re-instilled hope that he is the prospect everyone was making him out to be. He’ll need to show more consistency in 2015, but if he can, he’ll be in the running to go number one overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

If the team picking first overall in the 2016 draft doesn’t need a quarterback, they’re probably taking Bosa. The first play of the highlight reel video below says it all, as Bosa has a ridiculous combination of size, power and athleticism. On top of his quickness, burst off the line and ox-like strength, Bosa also has the size and versatility to line up all over a defensive line. Whether he’s working the edge or forcing his way up the middle, Bosa provides pressure on the quarterback and gives offenses trouble against the run. Numerous teams could use someone that disruptive and he just might end up being the top overall pick because of it.

Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

Cook is pretty much a “what you see, is what you get” prospect, but you see all good things, so it should work out just fine at the next level. That may not have him looking like a true #1 overall pick according to many, while there isn’t much he does that puts him clearly atop the other two top passing prospects. That being said, he knows how to operate out of a pro style system, has the size, and arm strength to turn into a franchise quarterback and has proven he knows how to win against tough competition. If he can refine his accuracy and enjoy another successful season, he’ll at least be in the conversation initially for the top spot.

Ronnie Stanley, LT, Notre Dame

You could probably toss fellow tackle Laremy Tunsil into the mix for next year’s top tackle prospect, but it looks like Stanley has the early edge. Is he the best left tackle in years or a lock to be the top pick? Of course not. However, he has the size, footwork and athleticism to be a moving tree on the left side of an offensive line. Had he entered the 2015 NFL Draft, there’s a decent chance he would have been a top-five pick, even though the demand for a stud o-line man seemed to be down. In 2016, it could rise back up, especially if a bad team picking first overall already has a quarterback.