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2016 NFL Mock Draft: Rams To Go Defense After 2015 Offensive Splurge?

No rest for the weary. Dan Kadar of Mocking the Draft has a 2016 NFL Mock Draft up with a first round projection one year out.

By 3k
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It's never not mock draft season.

Dan Kadar of Mocking the Draft has his early one-round 2016 NFL Mock Draft out. Who does he have for the Rams 12 months early?

Kendall Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech)

At this point, it's all about the early favorites and how they shake out over the actual football season, not the mock run-up of February to May. I'm working out my three-round 2016 mock, and hopefully will get it out this week. If you go back to my early 2015 mock though, you'll see where this kind of sits in the mock draft universe.

Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Leonard Williams one through three. Their stock never really changed because the football production was maintained over their last college season. Stefon Diggs at 7th overall? Not all that close to his actual fifth-round selection at #146 overall.

So what are the big notes for the Rams a year out?

First, I think with the offensive haul in this year's draft, one of the major questions is whether or not the pendulum will swing back over to the defense in 2016. Obviously, it's too early to feel much certainty about anything, but if the offense makes a big jump and the defense remains just outside top 10 territory, perhaps a defensive talent infusion is in the cards.

As for the prospects themselves, there's plenty of intrigue. Notice the QB run Kadar has from six to nine: Cardale Jones (Ohio St.) is the first QB of the draft at #6 followed by Christian Hackenberg (Penn St.) at #8 and Connor Cook (Michigan St.) at #9.

With Greg Robinson and Rob Havenstein, the Rams have two young tackles to groom, but I do like the 2016 class as it stands. Kadar has four in his top 13 picks with Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame) at 3, Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss) at 10, Taylor Decker (Ohio St.) at 12 and Spencer Drango (Baylor) at 13.

Speaking of Tunsil, keep an eye out for Ole Miss' top trio this year in Tunsil, DE Robert Nkemdiche (who Kadar has at 23) and WR Laquon Treadwell (who doesn't make the first round cut in the mock I'd expect due to his grisly leg injury last season). They could all be first round picks in a year's time.

Another name for Rams fans to keep an eye on? Auburn WR D'haquille Williams. Kadar has him going one pick after St. Louis, but we all know the Rams-Auburn connection. Plus, we put the SB Natoin Auburn blog on blast to keep him safe...

The 2015 NFL Draft is over. So begins the march toward the 2016 NFL Draft.

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