Column by Grant Cohen

With Jared Goff and Carson Wentz likely to be taken up with the one and two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, defensive players are in desperate need for the teams with the top 10 picks.

The San Diego Chargers have the third pick of the NFL draft, and it is highly doubtful that they are going to waste their pick on an offensive lineman. San Diego needs to improve its defense, noted by giving up 2,000 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns during the 2015 season. 

Logically, Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner would fall perfectly in line with the Chargers, who need a good run and pass defensive player. Buckner has the size for the NFL, standing at 6-foot-7-inches and 287 pounds. He can make life difficult for offensive linemen. 

As a plus, Buckner went to the University of Oregon, a program that knows something about winning. The sports culture in Eugene, Oregon, will certainly help bring the party back to life in San Diego. 

For the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry World is looking like losers’ world with how horrible this team played in 2015. Yes, the Cowboys suffered a lot of injuries, including losing quarterback Tony Romo to a broken collarbone. 

It is defense, however, that takes most of the blame for the failures in Arlington. The Cowboys gave up 23.5 points per game last season, and if their defense does not improve, they will be watching the playoffs from that large TV screen at AT&T Stadium. 

Selecting fourth in the 2016 NFL Draft, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa is who the Cowboys should select because of the suspension of Demarcus Lawrence. Bosa, unlike the mess that is Greg Hardy, is far more disciplined and could actually help the Cowboys understand the definition of defense. 

The last time Dallas made a top 10 selection, the Cowboys drafted offensive lineman Tyrone Smith. Smith ended up playing in the Pro Bowl by his third year in the league. Who says that Bosa cannot do the same?

Going back east, Jacksonville has not played in January since 2007. They have been so putrid since that the Jaguars have not had a winning season in nine years.  

Offensively, the Jaguars have some potential star breaking pieces with Allen Robinson, Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, and Julius Thomas. If quarterback Blake Bortles can keep improving, the Jaguars have an arsenal of weapons. 

Defense is another story, but backs are not as crucial of an issue with Prince Amukamara and Nick Marshall. Dante Fowler Jr. was selected third overall in last year’s draft, so getting another quality defensive player would help make Jacksonville a scary opponent for offensive powerhouses. 

Standing 6-foot-1-inch and weighing 245 pounds, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is one of the most athletic and explosive defensive players in the draft. He gave offensive opponents complete tantrums at the collegiate level. Jack is a guy who is able to make plays all over the field, and those plays could be what sends Jacksonville to the top of the AFC South and help them get that elusive playoff spot. 

Watch out for these defensive players, while there are many others who will go into the top 10 of the draft. Defense always wins games in sports, but these defensive players could help win a championship or two in the near future.

Column by Nick Beach

With the No. 1 overall pick, the Rams — newly relocated to Los Angeles — spent a lot to acquire their position in a trade with Tennessee. They’ve made clear they want a quarterback, and they’ve made clear they value California quarterback Jared Goff over the comparison in North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. Goff is considered to have more talent than Wentz as a passer. Goff has a knack for throwing the long pass, and an experienced quarterback coach in Jeff Fisher couldn’t hurt his early development. 

As Philadelphia raised to the second pick in the draft, snagging a trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles expressed their desire for a new signal-caller, and veteran quarterback Sam Bradford expressed his desire for a new home. The answer for Philadelphia is Carson Wentz from North Dakota State. Although Wentz played in the FCS while at NDSU, he possesses a characteristic Goff has been unfamiliar with during his college career — winning. Wentz was a member of a five-time National Championship team, and the Eagles see him as the future of their franchise, whether he spends a year behind Bradford, or not. He has the ceiling of a Ben-Roethlishberger-type if he improves his long-ball passing.

At No. 3, San Diego stands as the only team to so far hold its ground in draft position. And the reason could be because the Chargers have a bevy of needs in this year’s draft, and it’s hard to gauge which is the most glaring. The most evident just may be the offensive line. Aging veteran Phillip Rivers cannot continue to air out long shots more than 50 times a game, making former Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil the answer for the Chargers. Tunsil has the size and skill to be an efficient pass blocker, but also to anchor a run blocking scheme designed to turn San Diego’s 2015 first round pick, Melvin Gordon, into a force in Ken Whisenhunt’s offense. 

At No. 4, to the dreary eye to many fans who call the Cowboys ‘America’s team,’ Dallas comes off of a 4-12 season plagued by injuries. Most might say they have a glaring need at cornerback, and the answer should be to draft the best available player. But Ezekiel Elliott, running back from Ohio State could rise to the occasion, locking up the fourth spot in the draft. Veteran running back Darren McFadden recorded his first 1,000-plus yard season since 2010, but with the offensive line Dallas possesses, some believe Elliott can be a 2,000-plus yard rusher. Some call this choice a reach, but Jerry Jones might see it as the steal of the draft. 

For Jacksonville, with all the trades that have occurred over the last couple of weeks, the Jags are eager to evaluate the board at No. 5. A clear candidate for the Jags may be cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey has size, coverage skill and the ability to find the ball — much to the likes of a young Patrick Peterson. As arguably viewed by some as the most talented player in the draft pool, Ramsey has the ability to hold the Jaguars’ defense, who signed Super Bowl Champion defensive lineman Malik Jackson this offseason. With Ramsey, the Jags just might have all the pieces to make a playoff push. 

The NFL Draft begins televised coverage of Round 1 at 7 p.m. Thursday on ESPN and the NFL Network.