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2016 NFL Draft: Round 1 Mock for All 32 Teams

By Peter Panacy

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell begins the draft and puts the Houston Texans on the clock at the start of the 2014 NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell begins the draft and puts the Houston Texans on the clock at the start of the 2014 NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 16: Detroit Lions

2015 Record: 7-9

The Pick: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Oh, to be the Detroit Lions. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson has called it a career, which puts the once-potent Detroit Lions offense into a considerable bind.

Detroit has a plethora of needs on both sides of the ball. But the Lions may want to pursue an offensive upgrade to alleviate the loss of Johnson to a certain extent.

The Lions ranked dead last in the NFL last season on the ground with just 1,335 yards gained. Running backs Ameer Abdullah and Joique Bell don’t seem to be getting the job done, and Detroit will need some other offensive playmaker to take pressure off assumed No. 1 wide receiver Golden Tate in 2016.

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott is an immediate upgrade over Abdullah and Bell, and he would provide a spark to a Lions offense boasting a lot of question marks of late.

And he may help alleviate some of the pressure on Detroit’s defense if the other side of the ball can maintain possession for longer stretches of time.

Next: No. 17: Atlanta Falcons