2016 NFL mock draft: Pre-Combine
By Ben Almquist
With the NFL Combine just days away, we are now firmly into 2016 NFL mock draft Season. Over the next several weeks, NFL analysts and writers will do their best to mimic the conversations going on inside of the 32 NFL front offices. Here at Arrowhead Addict, that means trying to pinpoint what moves John Dorsey will make in his fourth go at the draft as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Every Tuesday, I’ll bring a new mock draft to you that takes a look at the many different avenues that the Chiefs can take. I’ve done a good deal of research into the draft, but by no means am I done. Much like with the professional analysts and writers out there, my draft board will be changing as I get the opportunity to look at players more closely. It will also change based on how certain players are able to help or hurt themselves over the next few weeks.
For those of you looking to do your own research, here are a pair of excellent sources:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings
I invite everyone to offer up their opinions and own mocks in the comments section. Mock drafts are meant for interaction and discussion. There are still plenty of players I need to study up on, so I’m sure I have missed more than a few that other people are interested in.
1st Round (#28)
Leonard Floyd – OLB – Georgia
Strengths: Played in a 3-4 at Georgia, which should limit the the growing pains for the NFL. Known for his quickness off the edge and quality closing speed, Floyd also shows surprising power when he gets engaged by offensive linemen.
He’s already developed an arsenal of pass rush moves that includes being able to blitz from multiple angles. Floyd is also more of a complete 3-4 OLB that can play in space, chase down the run, or drop into man coverage. Relentless in going after the ball carrier and lives in the backfield.
Weaknesses: A tall and lanky frame leads to some questions about his ability to stand up in the NFL grind. Has an injury history, though none appear to be lingering. While he shows the potential for being a top pass rusher, it has yet to play out on the field in college. He is athletic, but his tall frame does hamper his ability to flatten out when he is rushing around the edge.
The Fit: There are still a number of questions about the future of Dee Ford, but this pick is about more than that. In today’s NFL, you need to be able to get to the passer consistently. Being able to rest your pass rushers is an absolute key for continued success, and the top defenses in the league are starting to go 3 and 4 deep when it comes to edge rushers. With Hali another year older, Houston still having some injury questions, and Ford still only flashing talent, adding a guy like Floyd to the mix makes a lot of sense.