What’s up, GF2 fans! I’m back with my first NFL article of the upcoming season and I couldn’t be any more excited! In this article, I’m going to be covering my top five impact players coming out of the 2016 draft. The NFL Draft has come and gone with a ton of exciting picks and trades. Some teams such as the Dallas Cowboys made questionable picks that could either pay off greatly or blow up in their face. Other teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars played it safe and has an extremely productive draft.
So, here are my top five impact players from the 2016 NFL Draft:
Ezekiel Elliot, Cowboys RB
I know, I know the Cowboys didn’t need a running back but how could they pass up on the talented Elliott? Yes, Dallas could’ve gone after a top-notch defender but they chose to go a different route with a top of the line back. Elliott has awesome vision decisiveness and is one heck of a pass catching back. He also has a nice blocking ability, which will be huge in protecting Tony Romo from potential injuries, hopefully. Scouts have said that Ezekiel can be compared to Edgerrin James but I feel like he’ll have the shot at being an even better three down back.
Some scouts don’t like that he’s had overall 600 touches in his last two seasons, meaning that he may be a bit worn down. I personally see that as he’s an ultra-durable running back that can stand up to a high usage rate. In my opinion, you guys are officially looking at this season’s Rookie of the Year without a doubt. Yes, he’ll be competing for a starting gig with Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris but I think he’ll win that job by the time Preseason is over.
Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars CB
Ramsey could very well be the most athletic player from this draft without question. I personally think that Jacksonville by far had the best draft overall, completely bolstering their defense in the process. Ramsey is a press coverage corner that should really excel in today’s NFL. He only had a total of three interceptions in his college career but that doesn’t scare me because he has a knack for breaking up passes.
Is he the next Richard Sherman? Only time will tell but the kid is going to be a big addition to this Jacksonville squad. With Dante Fowler now healthy and Myles Jack joining this defensive crew for 2016, I love the future of this Jaguars team! One last nugget for you guys on Ramsey, last season, he allowed a completion rate of 38.5 percent, which gives me faith that he’ll be the shutdown corner that most franchises dream of.
Jack Conklin, Titans OT
The majority of the time offensive linemen are the most unattractive picks for the draft but they are critical to a team’s success. Conklin will help bolster up this Titans o-line and help protect young Marcus Mariota. I’m really impressed with what Tennessee has done with their offense over the last year. From drafting Mariota, bringing in DeMarco Murray and drafting Conklin, the Titans future is looking bright.
Conklin is both a great run blocker and sound pass protector. He’ll be the key piece to the puzzle for this offensive line going forward for the Titans to help get their team to the next level. Conklin not only has great core strength but also some powerful hands. Yes, I don’t believe he was the best overall offensive tackle in the draft but he is a great fit for this young Tennessee Titans squad.
Laremy Tunsil, Dolphins OT
Now, this guy is easily one of the best players from the 2016 Draft class but comes with a bit of scrutiny. Five minutes prior to draft time, someone allegedly hacked Tunsil’s Twitter account and leaked a video of him using marijuana. This killed his draft stock from a potential top three pick to free falling to 13 for Miami. In my opinion, though, the Dolphins were the biggest winner on draft night for this free fall. Hopefully, his drug use is indeed in the past and it won’t affect him going forward like many other players in today’s league.
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Tunsil has elite foot quickness and is an intelligent screen blocker. By far the best offensive lineman in the draft, Tunsil has drawn comparisons to Tyron Smith, so hopefully he can live up to those lofty expectations. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was under way too much pressure last season for the Dolphins, so the addition of Tunsil should bring the balance up front that is needed for the young quarterback to reach the next level.
Corey Coleman, Browns WR
As an avid Big 12 fan, I’ve seen plenty of Corey Coleman over the past few seasons. The kid is an absolute touchdown machine, scoring a total of 20 during the 2015 CFB season. He has lightning quick speed, running a 4.37 forty yard dash at this year’s combine. One thing that I really like about Coleman is his high ability to work his way back to the ball. A lot of young receivers don’t come into the league with that ability, so it’ll be a blessing for this young Browns squad.
I believe that pairing him with Robert Griffin could be a nice idea due to their Baylor University ties. Both have similar offensive views and could really mesh together within this Cleveland offense. One other intriguing aspect of Coleman’s game is his punt return ability. With his big time speed, Coleman could be a massive improvement to this Browns offense in 2016!
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