During the 2016 NFL Draft, 20 FCS products were taken during the seven rounds. Some turned out to be Day One starters, others improved themselves on the practice squad to set up their futures. Dozens more FCS products went on to be signed as undrafted free agents.
Here's a look at the FCS draft class of 2016, and HERO Sports ranks the Top Five:
| RK | 2016 FCS DRAFT PICK | POS | SCHOOL | RD | PICK# | DRAFTED BY? | 2016 ROOKIE SEASON |
| 1 | Carson Wentz | QB | North Dakota State | 1 | 2 | Philadelphia | Day One starter; 3,782 pass yds, 16 TDs |
| 2 | Noah Spence | DE | Eastern Kentucky | 2 | 39 | Tampa Bay | 3 starts; 22 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles |
| 3 | James Bradberry | CB | Samford | 2 | 62 | Carolina | Day One starter; 59 tackles, 10 passes def'd, 2 INTs |
| 4 | Javon Hargrave | DT | South Carolina State | 3 | 89 | Pittsburgh | Day One starter; 27 tackles, 2 sacks–1 Def. TD |
| 5 | Joe Haeg | OT | North Dakota State | 5 | 155 | Indianapolis | 14 starts in 15 games played |
Here are the other 15 FCS draft picks from 2016, and how their rookie seasons stacked up.
| 2016 FCS DRAFT PICK | POS | SCHOOL | RD | PICK# | DRAFTED BY? | 2016 ROOKIE SEASON |
| Ryan Smith | CB/KR | North Carolina Central | 4 | 108 | Tampa Bay | Day One starter at KR; 16.9 yd KO ret avg |
| Miles Killebrew | SS | Southern Utah | 4 | 111 | Detroit | 0 starts, 16 games; 28 tackles, 1 INT |
| Deiondre' Hall | FS | Northern Iowa | 4 | 127 | Chicago | 0 starts, 8 games; 9 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass def. |
| Seth DeValve | TE | Princeton | 4 | 138 | Cleveland | 2 starts; 10 catches, 127 yards, 2 TDs |
| LeShaun Sims | CB | Southern Utah | 5 | 157 | Tennessee | 2 starts; 22 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass def. |
| Cole Toner | OT | Harvard | 5 | 170 | Arizona | Played in final two games of year, no starts |
| Temarrick Hemingway | TE | South Carolina State | 6 | 177 | L.A. Rams | 0 starts, 8 games; 1 special teams tackle |
| Tyrone Holmes | OLB | Montana | 6 | 181 | Jacksonville | 0 starts, 11 games; 6 tackles, 1 sack |
| DeAndre Houston-Carson | FS | William & Mary | 6 | 185 | Chicago | 0 starts, 8 games; 2 tackles |
| Harlan Miller | CB | S.E. Louisiana | 6 | 205 | Arizona | 2 starts in final two games; 7 tackles, 1 INT |
| Kamu Grugier-Hill | SS | Eastern Illinois | 6 | 208 | New England | Went to Eagles; 12 games; 8 tackles |
| Jonathan Woodard | DE | Central Arkansas | 7 | 226 | Jacksonville | Did not play |
| Lachlan Edwards | P | Sam Houston State | 7 | 235 | N.Y. Jets | Day One starter; 43.1 yards per punt, 75 punts |
| Trevor Bates | LB | Maine | 7 | 239 | Indianapolis | 1 game played, no statistics |
| Beau Sandland | TE | Montana State | 7 | 252 | Carolina | On Panthers and Packers' practice squads |
