NFL Draft 2016: ACC’s Lower Numbers A Blessing For The Conference
By Jason Parker
As the NFL Draft continues, the ACC actually has a blessing in disguise with the lower than normal projection of picks from member schools.
With the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft in the books, four players from schools in the ACC were selected to continue their pro careers. It started with former FSU star Jalen Ramsey, who was selected fifth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars and continued with Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins (12th to New Orleans), Clemson DE Shaq Lawson (19th to Buffalo) and Miami DB Artie Burns (25th to Pittsburgh.
While still quite the impressive number for any conference, it is noticeably down from the nine players who were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft from the ACC. Over the past 10 drafts before the 2016 edition, the ACC had 60 former players taken in the first round, the second most of any conference and highlights by first overall picks Mario Williams (2006) and Jameis Winston (2015).
While the numbers are going to predictably be down throughout the entire NFL Draft for the conference, that is the best thing that could happen. The ACC will return nine of the top ten players in passing, rushing and receiving from the 2015 season. Names mentioned as early Heisman and award candidates like FSU’s Dalvin Cook, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Miami’s Brad Kayaa will all be in college again this season.
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Entering Thursday’s first round, the ACC had produced 89 players picked in the last two drafts (nearly 20% of those coming from Florida State, which set a record for most picks in three drafts with 29 from 2013-2015). Individual school draft streaks will continue this year for FSU (Ramsey’s pick extending it to 33 straight drafts with a pick), Virginia (32 entering this year) and Miami (now at 42 drafts in a row)…as will Clemson’s streak of having four or more picks each year (seven drafts entering 2016).
At the same time, cynics will use it as a sign that the ACC isn’t as powerful as it has been in the past, when the conference had teams playing for a national title two of the last three years. At the same time, the lower NFL Draft numbers are a powerful sign that one of the league’s teams could be hoisting the College Football Playoff trophy come January of 2017.
The future is bright for the ACC, even if the numbers are down over one April weekend in Chicago. When the 2016 season kicks off, the talent on the field will show why it is one of the best conferences in the sport and, after a title comes back home, the 2017 NFL Draft will be stocked full of talent that calls the ACC home.