The Star’s NFL mock draft, version 4.0

This is the fourth and final edition of The Star’s series of NFL first-round draft projections. Here are the first, second and third mock drafts.

A quick disclaimer: Each mock is based on individual film work, research and recent transactions.

1. Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff, California: Carson Wentz was the pick here last time, but Goff has appeared to become a near-consensus No. 1 pick as the draft moved nearer. Goff, a California kid, throws with anticipation and will be the face of the franchise.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: The Eagles surrendered a boatload of picks to solidify their quarterback situation. Wentz has all the physical tools but might require an adjustment from FCS football to the NFL. If they can keep Sam Bradford in the fold, they’ll be able to give him the year of seasoning he probably needs.

3. San Diego Chargers: DE DeForest Buckner, Oregon: The Chargers need offensive line help, so Laremy Tunsil is a popular pick here, but they recently signed King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale to big deals, plus Tunsil has some injury concerns and isn’t a dominating run blocker. What they truly need is defensive help, particularly along the defensive line, and Buckner — who has the look of a classic 3-4 defensive lineman — fits the bill. A trade down might also be in order, since they could probably get him a few picks later.

4. Dallas Cowboys: CB/S Jalen Ramsey, Florida State: There’s been a lot of scuttlebutt about Ezekiel Elliott here, and he’d be a great fit. So would Ohio State’s Joey Bosa. But Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence will be back in the fold after four games, and the Cowboys did invest a decent amount of money in Benson Mayowa this offseason. So assuming that’s enough to deter them from taking Bosa, this will allow them to take Ramsey, who might be the best player in the draft.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: ILB Myles Jack, UCLA: The Jaguars are in a nice position for a tradedown, especially if they’re committed to Luke Joeckel or Kelvin Beachum at left tackle. Assuming they don’t make a trade, however, this allows them to take Jack, who is recovering from a knee injury but is a do-it-all dynamo at linebacker who can help complete an up-and-coming front seven.

6. Baltimore Ravens: OT Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi: An ideal situation for the Ravens, who could use tackle help and have two outstanding options — Tunsil and Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley — still left on the board. The Ravens could also use pass-rush help and might be tempted to take Joey Bosa.

7. San Francisco 49ers: OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame: A selection of a quarterback would clear the way for the 49ers to trade Colin Kaepernick to Denver, but it appears QB is not on their radar. So the 49ers need a right tackle, and the best tackle — and perhaps the best player — on the board is Stanley, a gifted pass protector who actually played right tackle in 2014.

8. Cleveland Browns: OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State: There’s not much at receiver in Cleveland, but no receiver is projected to go this high. The Browns could really use a right tackle in the smash-mouth AFC North, and Conklin — a nasty, classic Big 10 lineman — certainly fits the bill.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State: Another pass rusher could be in play for the Bucs, though the addition of Robert Ayers lessens the need a bit. Cornerback remains a big issue, too. But it would be hard for the Bucs to pass on a player like Bosa, who profiles best as a productive 4-3 defensive end.

10. New York Giants: OLB Leonard Floyd, Georgia: The Giants traditionally go for big, physically imposing players, and while Floyd might profile best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he’s a fluid athlete with rush ability who has plenty of experience playing in space and would actually be a supersized linebacker (6-6, 244) in a 4-3 scheme. He’d also bolster a weak linebacking corps and provide an interesting speed threat off the edge.

11. Chicago Bears: OLB Shaq Lawson, Clemson: In a draft with very few plug-and-play 3-4 edge rushers, the Bears might have a hard time passing on a player with the traits of Lawson, who had a monster 2015 and can bring some juice off the edge on passing downs.

12. New Orleans Saints: DE Kevin Dodd, Clemson: The Saints could easily go with a quarterback like Paxton Lynch, but the Saints could drastically improve a dormant pass rush by drafting a pass-rusher like Dodd — who was very productive last season — to team up with Cam Jordan on the edges of Dennis Allen’s 4-3 defense.

13. Miami Dolphins: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State: In this scenario, the Dolphins — who desperately need a star back — land the best possible player for them in Elliott, a gifted runner who can run with power, sprint away from defenses and block.

14. Oakland Raiders: CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida: The Raiders added Sean Smith in the offseason, but they could still use some quality depth here. If Hargreaves isn’t on the board, Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple or a trade down could be possibilities.

15. Tennessee Titans: RT Taylor Decker, Ohio State: The Titans would be wise to find a right tackle with upset to protect Marcus Mariota and complete a physical offensive line that can open holes for DeMarco Murray. Decker is a tough, classic Big 10 lineman who fits the profile of what the Titans like.

16. Detroit Lions: DE/DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama: The Lions could use a tackle in the worst way, but anyone here would be a reach at this point. The Lions should entertain a trade down, but if they can’t pull that off, another interior body would be a solid bet. Robinson probably offers the best pass-rush upside of the remaining bunch, along with scheme versatility.

17. Atlanta Falcons: LB Darron Lee, Ohio State: Lee is a great athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and three-down ability. There’s a real need here for the Falcons, and it could wind up coming down to Lee or Reggie Ragland, a throwback linebacker with less coverage skills.

18. Indianapolis Colts: C Ryan Kelly, Alabama: The Colts’ pass rush has been dormant for quite a while, but this isn’t a great situation for them with Shaq Lawson off the board, though perhaps they can find a way to shoehorn a 4-3 three-tech like Sheldon Rankins into their system. They also need offensive line help, and Kelly is a superb, plug-and-play center who can not only immediately fill a position of need but also develop into one of the game’s best players at the position.

19. Buffalo Bills: DE/DT Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi: Rex Ryan might be tempted by the opportunity to add a player like Nkemdiche, a superbly gifted interior lineman whose motor runs hot and cold and has off-field concerns but is arguably one of the most talented players in the draft, to his 3-4 defense.

20. New York Jets: QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis: Jets coach Todd Bowles loves his corners, making someone like Eli Apple or William Jackson III a possibility. But even if the Jets work out their contract issues with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, it makes sense to get a high upside guy like Lynch in the fold and let him learn for a year or two.

21. Washington: DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech: Washington had a need at corner, but with Josh Norman in the mix, the need shifts to the interior defensive line and safety. The decision to let Terrance Knighton leave via free agency indicates a desire to make sure their next 3-4 nose tackle has pass-rush ability. Butler is raw, but he has great measurables and fits the bill. Washington could be a prime destination for a team looking to move up for the top receiver in the draft.

22. Houston Texans: WR Corey Coleman, Baylor: Coleman boasts outstanding speed and quickness, which will make him a difficult cover with DeAndre Hopkins attracting so much attention on the other side.

23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Josh Doctson, Texas Christian: The Vikings lack a true possession receiver, and they’ll have a chance to pick between the best of the bunch here. Also keep an eye on Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell here; both players have strong hands and route-running ability.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi: The Bengals have a hole at wide receiver with the free agent departures of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, but they can fill it by taking either Treadwell or Josh Doctson. Both are plug-and-play types with NFL ability.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Karl Joseph, West Virginia: The Steelers could be tempted to take one of the top corners, like Eli Apple or William Jackson III, a playmaking receiver like Will Fuller, a strong interior defensive lineman like Alabama’s Jarran Reed or Baylor’s Andrew Billings, or an edge rusher like Noah Spence. But the chance to give the secondary some juice with a guy like Joseph might be tough to pass up.

26. Seattle Seahawks: DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville: It would be a mild surprise if a pass-rushing three-technique like Rankins falls this far, but if he does, he might be tempting enough to pass on an obvious need at left tackle, considering there might not be great value here at that position, anyway.

27. Green Bay Packers: DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State: Jones’ sack number (2  1/2 ) in 2015 was underwhelming, but he’s a big guy (6-6, 310 pounds) with plus athleticism for his size. He’s still raw, but he’s got the physical traits to be a good pass rusher who can line up all across the interior.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Eli Apple, Ohio State: Assuming some interior defensive linemen they like are off the board — in case Vernon Butler, Chris Jones and Robert Nkemdiche (all of whom The Star has mocked to the Chiefs in previous mock drafts) are gone — the Chiefs have their choice of two corners with first-round grades in Apple and William Jackson III of Houston in this scenario. Apple has great physical traits; he is big (6-1, 199), fast (4.4 40) and and still growing as a player, and he could be long gone by this pick. Jackson (6-0, 187) is an aggressive corner with great ball skills, but if forced to choose, the Chiefs might pick Apple because he’s the bigger man with a high ceiling. If those guys are gone, and the Chiefs remain intent on picking a corner, a physically-gifted player like Miami’s Artie Burns might be a nice fit.

Also, keep an eye out for an edge rusher (Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence or Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun), a safety (West Virginia’s Karl Joseph), an offensive guard (K-State’s Cody Whitehair), a receiver (Will Fuller, Laquon Treadwell, Josh Doctson and Corey Coleman are all worthy first rounders) or a trade down. The latter might be very palatable, considering there’s a pair of quarterbacks remaining on the board (Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg and Michigan State’s Connor Cook) whom teams might be willing to trade up for.

Also, in the unlikely chance Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch falls, it might be tough for a quarterback guru to pass on a such a gifted player with moldable skills.

29. Arizona Cardinals: CB William Jackson III, Houston: Here’s another player who could be long gone by this point, but if Jackson is on the board, he’ll give the Cardinals another ball-hawking cornerback to pair with Patrick Peterson, and he also represents great value at this point. A quarterback like Connor Cook or Christian Hackenberg might make sense, too.

30. Carolina Panthers: OT Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M: The Panthers might be tempted to upgrade at tackle after Mike Remmers and Super Bowl 50, so somebody like Ifedi could be a good fit. Ifedi is a massive guy (6-6, 324) with plus athleticism whose technique needs work. If he gets good coaching, he could be a solid NFL starter at tackle or guard.

31. Denver Broncos: QB Connor Cook, Michigan State: The Broncos have a need at quarterback, and Cook has experience in a pro-style system. If the Broncos are comfortable with his leadership traits, he could potentially come in and play immediately.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "The Star’s NFL mock draft, version 4.0."