SI 50: Counting down the top 50 NFL prospects of 2016

Get all of Doug Farrar's columns as soon as they’re published. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.

The 2016 NFL draft has arrived, and as NFL teams get their draft boards in order, Doug Farrar has assembled his own Big Board, featuring his top 50 players. The SI 50 uses tape study to define the best prospects in this class and break down their strengths and weaknesses which explain their rankings.

During the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, we published a scouting report for each player, complete with game tape from Draft Breakdown. You can keep track of all the scouting reports here by clicking on each player’s name for a full tape analysis.

Watch NFL Draft Live tonight, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Presented by MET-Rx and Carhartt.

Gallery: The top 50 NFL draft prospects of 2016

Top 50 NFL Draft Prospects of 2016

#50: Paxton Lynch — QB, Memphis

Lynch, who started 39 straight games for Memphis, has all the tools to succeed at the NFL level, but he’ll likely need some time to develop.

#49: Kendall Fuller — CB, Virginia Tech

The youngest of the Fuller brothers struggled with injuries in college, but said at the combine that he’s about 90% healthy.

#48: Braxton Miller — WR, Ohio State

The QB-turned-WR has a leg up thanks to Ohio State’s pro-style offense, but his inexperience at receiver could hamper him.

#47: Shilique Calhoun — DE, Michigan State

Calhoun stood out at MSU—named to All-America teams three years—but doesn’t necessarily stand out in this class of top defensive linemen.

#46: Germain Ifedi — OT, Texas A&M

A three-year starter at Texas A&M, Ifedi may be pushed down draft boards by his technique issues.

#45: Javon Hargrave — DT, South Carolina State

Hargrave exploded in 2014 and ’15, becoming one of the top small-school prospects in the draft.

#44: Le'Raven Clark — OT, Texas Tech

Clark is a spread-offense tackle who may not need need significant time to adjust to the pro-level game.

#43: Jonathan Bullard — DE, Florida

Bullard played mostly end at Florida, but he hopes to work more as a hybrid, shifting inside if needed, in the NFL.

#42: Emmanuel Ogbah — DE, Oklahoma State

The first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year from OSU is a raw athletic talent filled with potential, but he still needs to learn technical skills.

#41: Michael Thomas — WR, Ohio State

Thomas isn’t a flashy receiver, but he has plenty of the basics covered.

#40: Leonard Floyd — OLB, Georgia

Floyd led Georgia in sacks each of the three seasons he played there, totaling 17 in his college career.

#39: Jarran Reed — DT, Alabama

Reed’s versatility will be crucial when it comes to his future in the NFL.

#38: Chris Jones — DT, Mississippi State

The combination of Jones's raw physical tools with his gap versatility makes him a player on the ascent.

#37: Cody Whitehair — OG, Kansas State

It's tough to doubt this 6' 4", 301-pound guard. He'll be a safe pick for any team, and is worthy of first-round consideration.

#36: Eli Apple — CB, Ohio State

Apple has established himself as one of the better pass defenders in this draft class.

#35: Sterling Shepard — WR, Oklahoma

Teams in need of a legitimate outside receiver who can also dominate in the slot should turn their attention to Shepard.

#34: Kenny Clark — DT, UCLA

Clark may be limited early on, but he has the potential to become an every-down monster.

#33: Darron Lee — LB, Ohio State

Given the NFL's need for leaner players at the linebacker positions, Lee is hitting the pros at exactly the right time.

#32: Joshua Garnett — OG, Stanford

Garnett won the 2015 Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s best interior lineman, and was a big part of RB Christian McCaffrey's breakout season.

#31: Tyler Boyd — WR, Pittsburgh

Boyd leaves Pitt as the school’s all-time leading receiver, with 254 catches for 3,361 yards and 21 touchdowns.

#30: Jason Spriggs — OT, Indiana

Athleticism and consistency—which he showed off at the NFL scouting combine—are Spriggs’s hallmarks.

#29: Robert Nkemdiche — DL, Ole Miss

Nkemdiche has the potential to be an elite defensive playmaker, but his off-field issues may make teams hesitant.

#28: Will Fuller — WR, Notre Dame

Fuller surprised many by entering the draft early, and though he isn't a completely developed player yet, he'll be difficult for defenses to handle.

#27: Vonn Bell — S, Ohio State

Bell is classified as a strong safety, but he’s really a variable chess piece with the ability to make a defense better in several dimensions.

#26: Josh Doctson — WR, TCU

Doctson brings a combination of deep and boundary receiving skills, fearlessness in the red zone and game-to-game consistency.

#25: Taylor Decker — OT, Ohio State

Decker was the the 2015 Big Ten Lineman of the Year, and started 42 straight games for the Buckeyes after working on special teams in his freshman season.

#24: Derrick Henry — RB, Alabama

Derrick Henry has done nothing but succeed his entire football career. He finished the 2015 season with 2,219 rushing yards and went on to win the Heisman trophy.

#23: Andrew Billings — DT, Baylor

In any multiple-front defense, Billings has the capacity to dominate with his rare combination of quick-twitch athleticism and stunning power.

#22: William Jackson III — CB, Houston

Jackson has become one of the most heralded pass defenders in this draft class, with the size to play outside immediately.

#21: Su'a Cravens — LB/S, USC

Cravens may just be the most versatile player in the draft, and he's ready to prove that to whichever team takes him.

#20: Reggie Ragland — LB, Alabama

Ragland has been pegged by some as only an inside linebacker, but he has the talent to play anywhere.

#19: Jack Conklin — OT, Michigan State

Conklin is NFL-ready right now, but his raw athleticism remains a concern on tape.

#18: Vernon Butler — DT, Louisiana Tech

Butler is hitting the NFL at the perfect time, as all 32 teams search for hyper-versatile big men to stock their defensive fronts.

#17: Corey Coleman — WR, Baylor

A touchdown machine in 2015, Coleman should see the field right away, if only as a decoy.

#16: A'Shawn Robinson — DT, Alabama

Robinson was an imposing presence in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s vaunted line, and he is versatile enough to be valuable for any team.

#15: Shaq Lawson — DE, Clemson

With a little bit of NFL seasoning, Lawson could become the new prototype of the modern multi-gap defensive lineman.

#14: Jared Goff — QB, Cal

Goff boasts a NFL-ready skill set, but he may be better off waiting a year or two before starting in the league.

#13: Vernon Hargreaves — CB, Florida

Hargreaves has the tools and attributes needed to succeed immediately in the NFL and potentially develop into a Pro Bowler.

#12: Noah Spence — DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky

Whichever team looks past Spence’s checkered off-field record will get a QB hunter with an incredibly high ceiling.

#11: Sheldon Rankins — DT, Louisville

So what if he’s undersized? Rankins can become the next short DT to star in the NFL.

#10: Laquon Treadwell — WR, Ole Miss

How will concerns over speed impact arguably the most NFL-ready receiver in this draft?

#9: Mackensie Alexander — CB, Clemson

Alexander may not have the ideal size of an NFL CB, but he has the talent to be a starting slot and No. 2 corner from Day 1.

#8: Joey Bosa — DE, Ohio State

Some analysts think he’s the best player in the draft at any position, but after a quiet final season in Columbus, there’s some reason for skepticism.

#7: Carson Wentz — QB, North Dakota State

This small-school quarterback has a very big future ahead—and could potentially be the No. 1 pick.

#6: DeForest Buckner — DL, Oregon

We still don’t know just how high the ceiling is for the top defensive lineman on this big board.

#5: Ronnie Stanley — OT, Notre Dame

Stanley might be the best pass blocker in this year’s draft, and he can be plugged in to a starting lineup almost immediately.

#4: Ezekiel Elliott — RB, Ohio State

Elliott can fit into most NFL schemes immediately, and he already understands the little things that make RBs great.

#3: Laremy Tunsil — OT, Ole Miss

Tunsil has arguably the best game of any NFL prospect, making him the top offensive player on this big board.

#2: Myles Jack — LB, UCLA

The only thing holding Jack back from being the most dangerous player in this draft is a 2015 knee injury he’s still recovering from.

#1: Jalen Ramsey — CB/S, Florida State

He plays like a cornerback, thinks like a safety and hits like a linebacker. That’s why he’s the best player in the class.

• BURKE: Three-round mock draft | Draft needs for all 32 teams

50. Paxton Lynch

QB, Memphis

WATCH: Scouting Memphis QB Paxton Lynch

49. Kendall Fuller

CB, Virginia Tech

WATCH: Scouting Virginia Tech CB Kendall Fuller

48. Braxton Miller

WR, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State WR Braxton Miller

47. Shilique Calhoun

DE, Michigan State

WATCH: Scouting MSU DE Shilique Calhoun

46. Germain Ifedi

OT, Texas A&M

WATCH: Scouting Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi

45. Javon Hargrave

DT, South Carolina State

WATCH: Scouting South Carolina State’s Javon Hargrave

44. Le’Raven Clark

OT, Texas Tech

WATCH: Scouting Texas Tech OT Le’Raven Clark

43. Jonathan Bullard

DE, Florida

WATCH: Scouting Florida DE Jonathan Bullard

42. Emmanuel Ogbah

DE, Oklahoma State

WATCH: Scouting OSU DE Emmanuel Ogbah

41. Michael Thomas

WR, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State WR Michael Thomas

40. Leonard Floyd

OLB, Georgia

WATCH: Scouting UGA OLB Leonard Floyd

39. Jarran Reed

DT, Alabama

WATCH: Scouting Alabama DT Jarran Reed

38. Chris Jones

DT, Mississippi State

WATCH: Scouting Mississippi State DT Chis Jones

37. Cody Whitehair

OG, Kansas State

WATCH: Scouting Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair

36. Eli Apple

CB, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State CB Eli Apple

35. Sterling Shepard

WR, Oklahoma

WATCH: Scouting Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard

34. Kenny Clark

DT, UCLA

WATCH: Scouting UCLA DT Kenny Clark

33. Darron Lee

LB, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State LB Darron Lee

32. Joshua Garnett

OG, Stanford

WATCH: Scouting Stanford OG Joshua Garnett

31. Tyler Boyd

WR, Pittsburgh

WATCH: Scouting Pittsburgh WR Tyler Boyd

30. Jason Spriggs

OT, Indiana

WATCH: Scouting Indiana OT Jason Spriggs

29. Robert Nkemdiche

DL, Ole Miss

WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche

28. Will Fuller

WR, Notre Dame

WATCH: Scouting Notre Dame WR Will Fuller

27. Vonn Bell

S, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State S Vonn Bell

26. Josh Doctson

WR, TCU

WATCH: Scouting TCU WR Josh Doctson

25. Taylor Decker

OT, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State OT Taylor Decker

24. Derrick henry

RB, ALABAMA

WATCH: Scouting Alabama RB Derrick Henry

23. Andrew billings

DT, BAYLOR

WATCH: Scouting Baylor DT Andrew Billings

22. william jackson iii

CB, HOUSTON

WATCH: Scouting Houston CB William Jackson III

21. su’a cravens

LB/S, USC

WATCH: Scouting USC’s Su’a Cravens

20. Reggie Ragland

LB, Alabama

WATCH: Scouting Alabama LB Reggie Ragland

19. Jack Conklin

OT, Michigan State

WATCH: Scouting Michigan State OT Jack Conklin

18. Vernon Butler

DT, Louisiana Tech

WATCH: Scouting Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler

17. Corey Coleman

WR, Baylor

WATCH: Scouting Baylor WR Corey Coleman

16. A’Shawn Robinson

DT, Alabama

WATCH: Scouting Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson

15. Shaq Lawson

DE, Clemson

WATCH: Scouting Clemson DE Shaq Lawson

14. Jared Goff

QB, Cal

WATCH: Scouting Cal QB Jared Goff

13. Vernon Hargreaves III

CB, Florida

WATCH: Scouting Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III

12. Noah Spence

DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky

WATCH: Scouting Eastern Kentucky DE/OLB Noah Spence

11. Sheldon Rankins

DT, Louisville

WATCH: Scouting Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins

10. Laquon Treadwell

WR, Ole Miss

WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell

9. Mackensie Alexander

CB, Clemson

WATCH: Scouting Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander

8. Joey Bosa

DE, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State DE Joey Bosa

7. Carson Wentz

QB, North Dakota State

WATCH: Scouting North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz

6. DeForest Buckner

DL, Oregon

WATCH: Scouting Oregon DL DeForest Buckner

5. Ronnie Stanley

OT, Notre Dame

WATCH: Scouting Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley

4. Ezekiel Elliott

RB, Ohio State

WATCH: Scouting Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott

3. Laremy Tunsil

OT, Ole Miss

WATCH: Scouting Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil

2. Myles Jack

LB, UCLA

WATCH: Scouting UCLA LB Myles Jack

1. Jalen Ramsey

CB/S, Florida State

WATCH: Scouting FSU CB/S Jalen Ramsey