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Photo by Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Ready, set, mock

It's an annual tradition like many, many, many others. I painstakingly attempt to project the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, including a couple trades. And if you make it to the end, there's a Round 2 prediction for the Detroit Lions in it for you.

If you're left wanting more, don't fret, colleague Kyle Meinke will post his mock Wednesday morning.

Please, feel free to mock my mock in the comments section. I can take it.

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1. Los Angeles Rams - Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Born in California, Goff gets to stay on the West Coast as the Rams' new franchise quarterback.

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2. Philadelphia Eagles - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

After re-signing Sam Bradford and adding backup Chase Daniels this offseason, the Eagles clearly feel the brightest possible future is with Wentz at the helm.

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3. San Diego Chargers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

The Chargers need to do a better job protecting Philip Rivers, but have invested plenty in their tackles the past two years. Laremy Tunsil would be an improvement, but could have a tough path to winning a starting job as a rookie, which is a PR disaster for a No. 3 selection. Buckner, because of his size and skill set, compares favorably to dominant Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell. That's a great start to getting a bad defense back on track.

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4. Dallas Cowboys - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Dallas ranked near the bottom of the NFL in sacks last year and 2015 leader DeMarcus Lawrence is about to be hit with a four-game suspension.

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5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

Safety? Cornerback? It doesn't matter. Ramsey probably plays safety for the Jaguars, who have a bigger need at that spot. The athletic playmaker in the back end will be a big boost for a defense that forced just 18 turnovers last season.

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6. Baltimore Ravens - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi

The Ravens' offensive line took a hit this offseason, losing stud guard Kelechi Osemele in free agency. The team's tackle situation isn't all that great either, particularly on the right side. Additionally, left tackle Eugene Monroe has durability issues and his contract can be reasonably dumped after this season.

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7. San Francisco 49ers - Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

The knee concerns probably cause Jack to drop a couple spots, but the falls stops at the 49ers. Once one of the best units in the league, the San Francisco defense is in the midst of a complete rebuild. Jack, the do-everything linebacker, is a talent you can build around.

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8. Tennessee Titans (trade) - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

The Titans use one of their three second-round picks to move back up into the top 10 and bolster Marcus Mariota's protection. Stanley arguably has the best feet in the draft at his position.

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9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

Yeah, the Bucs added Brent Grimes to help fill their need at CB, but he's 32 and essentially under a one-year deal. Hargreaves, although undersized, can be as good as Grimes was in his prime.

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10. New York Giants - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

The Giants have had one of the NFL's least-explosive ground games three years running. Elliott is a true three-down back who would give the team's offense much-needed versatility, taking some of the pressure off Odell Beckham to carry the unit.

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11. Chicago Bears - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

The Bears struck gold last offseason with the signing of defensive lineman Pernell McPhee, but could use more pressure off the edges to complement Lamar Houston and Willie Young in the rotation. Floyd was one of the best at getting after the quarterback in the SEC last year and is a good fit in Chicago's 3-4 front.

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12. New Orleans Saints - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

The Saints could use help just about everywhere on defense. They were historically bad against the pass and Rankins gives them a presence in the middle that can disrupt the pocket. Given that New Orleans also allowed a league worst 4.9 yards per carry on the ground, Rankins also helps there with his strong base and long arms.

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13. Miami Dolphins - Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

The Dolphins could use a corner, but it's a reach for the remaining options on the board. Lee gives them a DeAndre Levy-type player behind Ndamukong Suh, a linebacker who can cover as well as any in the draft, but also aggressively come up and fill the run lanes.

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14. Oakland Raiders - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

Following the retirement of Justin Tuck and the one-year suspension of Aldon Smith, the Raiders could use a versatile lineman that can be stout against the run, but also pressure the pocket. Lawson would give Oakland another young piece to a defensive core led by Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards.

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15. Cleveland Browns (trade) - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi

The Browns have so many needs and moving down from No. 8 would give them seven picks in the top 100. Following the loss of Travis Benjamin in free agency and the uncertainty surrounding Josh Gordon, Treadwell gives new QB Robert Griffin III a top target to work with as he tries to resurrect his career.

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Photo by Mike Mulholland | mmulholl@mlive.com

16. Detroit Lions - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

There are several teams in front of the Lions who could stand to add an offensive tackle, but if Conklin does get to Detroit, it's a perfect fit of value and need. He can come in and play right tackle immediately and move to the left side in 2017 if the team decides against re-signing Riley Reiff.

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17. Atlanta Falcons - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

With just five picks in this draft, the Falcons would probably love to move down and could find some interested takers in the early 20s from the group of teams that need a wide receiver. If they stand pat, Billings gives Atlanta a stout presence in the middle of a defense that gave up a league-worst 20 rushing touchdowns in 2015.

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18. Indianapolis Colts - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

The Colts must protect Andrew Luck at all costs and can do that by drafting any offensive line spot, whether it's a center like Alabama's Ryan Kelly, a guard such as Kansas State's Cody Whitehair, or our pick, offensive tackle Taylor Decker. With Decker, you get the added bonus of a nasty run blocker on the edge.

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19. Buffalo Bills - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

Kyle Williams is getting up there in years and by adding Reed to a rotation that also has two-time Pro Bowler Marcell Dareus, it allows the Bills to maintain their dominance on the inside.

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20. New York Jets - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

As it currently stands, Geno Smith is the Jets' starting quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick could still end up back in New York, but Lynch is a prospect worthy of drafting and developing on the bench for a year (or two) behind the veteran.

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21. Washington Redskins - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

Washington crossed cornerback off their wishlist in a big way, inking Josh Norman. Now the team can focus on the trenches. Robinson is an athletic, versatile defensive tackle with a high ceiling.

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22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

DeAndre Hopkins is well on his way to stardom and the addition of Coleman would give new quarterback Brock Osweiler a stocked arsenal to ease his transition to Houston.

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23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

Stefon Diggs made a nice impact as a rookie, but the Vikings need more weapons for Teddy Bridgewater after Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace and Cordarrelle Patterson didn't work out.

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24. Cincinnati Bengals - Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

It's a run on receivers. The Bengals lost Marvin Jones and Mohammad Sanu this offseason and need to find a better complement than Brandon LaFell for A.J. Green. Fuller is a speed merchant who can stretch the field, but there are concerns about his hands.

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25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson III, CB, Houston

William Gay is getting long in the tooth, and while he was a pleasant surprise last season, Ross Cockrell is far from a sure thing. Jackson gives the Steelers a big, physical corner who displayed elite ball skills his one season at Houston, breaking up an NCAA-best 23 passes.

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26. Seattle Seahawks - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

Seattle struggled to protect quarterback Russell Wilson last season and got some of their worst play from the center position after trading former Pro Bowler Max Unger to the Saints. Kelly shores up the middle of the Seahawks' line and gives them extra punch in the run game, which will be needed following the retirement of Marshawn Lynch. Offensive tackle Jason Spriggs is another strong option here.

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27. Green Bay Packers - Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

Value meets need as Ragland, an old-school, thumping inside linebacker falls into the Packers' laps at 27. Clay Matthews is expected to be moved back outside and this will ease the transition.

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28. Kansas City Chiefs - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Chiefs hit big last season with a cornerback in the first round and could go back to that well again in 2016. Apple has the length and athleticism to help replace the loss of Sean Smith in free agency.

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29. Cleveland Browns (trade) - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

The Arizona Cardinals don't have many pressing needs and can afford to move back a few spots. Cleveland gives up their No. 32 and their early fifth to grab their potential quarterback of the future if the Griffin reclamation project falters. The benefit of taking Cook in the first round is the extra year of contractual control.

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30. Carolina Panthers - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Alexander's measurables didn't wow anyone, and he didn't record any picks in college, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he was a shutdown corner for Clemson. He can step in and immediately help fill the massive hole created by Josh Norman's departure.

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31. Denver Broncos - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State

With the top four QBs off the board, the defending Super Bowl champs will continue to focus on what got them to the top of the mountain; a dominant defense. The athletic Jones has been a rapid riser during the pre-draft process and can help plug the hole left after Malik Jackson bolted to Jacksonville.

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Bonus: 46. Detroit Lions - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech

It's difficult predicting who will still be on the board at the midpoint of the second round, but with the draft's depth at DT, it's a position where some talent is likely to slide. Butler's disappointing combine metrics, plus competition level, might make him one of those guys.

The Lions have been all over him in recent months and the size is unteachable. The athleticism is better than he showed at the combine. He improved on all his metrics at his pro day, somewhat significantly. The pick would give Detroit an athletic monster in the middle who can be a long-term replacement for Haloti Ngata.