Thursday, April 27, 2017

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final Edition

Here is the final edition of my 2017 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Cleveland Browns- Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Texas A&M: Garrett is a can't miss player in this draft and the Browns feel that way as they've turned down multiple trade offers for this pick. Garrett will make a big impact in this league and the comparisons to Khalil Mack and Von Miller are real.

2. San Francisco 49ers- Solomon Thomas, Defensive Lineman, Stanford: Thomas is a disrupting force who has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald. He could be the perfect finishing touch for a defensive line currently better prepared to stuff the run than bother rival quarterbacks.

3. Chicago Bears- Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU: Adams has that kind of potential and is viewed by some as the safest prospect in the draft. He is a tone-setter with a rare combination of instincts, athleticism and intangibles to make an immediate impact on a defense that needs some premier talent.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars- Leonard Fournette, Running Back, LSU: The Jags know it's incumbent to support Blake Bortles with a legitimate ground game in order to give him a final chance to flourish or finally determine that he's not the answer at quarterback. Fournette, who's drawing comparisons to a young Adrian Peterson, is a workhorse who would almost certainly end the club's five-season streak without a 1,000-yard rusher.

5. Tennessee Titans (via Los Angeles Rams)- Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson: I believe the Titans will trade down here, but they do have a need at receiver. Williams will immediately become Marcus Mariota's favorite target.

6. New York Jets- OJ Howard, Tight End, Alabama: Howard will give the Jets a much-needed weapon in the middle of the field. The problem here is that the Jets don't have a good quarterback situation.

7. Los Angeles Chargers- Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State: An elite ballhawk, Hooker had seven interceptions last year and returned three of them for TDs. Shoulder and hernia surgery sidelined Hooker the last few months, but considering his name has been mentioned with Ed Reed's, it will be hard to pass him up.

8. Carolina Panthers- Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Stanford: McCaffrey would be an excellent fit for the Panthers, who could do so much for that team. He could run the ball as well as catch passes from the backfield and return kicks and punts.

9. Cincinnati Bengals- Reuben Foster, Linebacker, Alabama: There are reports saying Foster tested positive on drug tests at the combine. However, before Day 1 grows too old, his talent relative to the 2017 draft class will demand a team take him.

10. Buffalo Bills- Marcus Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State: This would be an absolute steal for the Bills, who have a need at corner. Here, they get the top cornerback prospect—a physical, aggressive lock-down defender.

11. New Orleans Saints- Haason Reddick, Linebacker, Temple: Reddick's a player, that much is clear after his sensational showings at the Senior Bowl and combine, not to mention a sterling Senior year for the Owls. Whether he fits best as an inside or outside linebacker has yet to be determined.

12. Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia Eagles)- Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback, North Carolina: Getting Garrett and Trubisky in this draft would be a monster win for the Browns, who will try to trade up to get Trubisky. Trubisky is obviously a roll of the dice given that he only started one year for the Tar Heels, but he showed impressive accuracy, athleticism and pocket awareness in 2016.

13. Arizona Cardinals- Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan: Davis is polished, efficient, prolific in the red zone and a willing blocker to boot. Save for a few drops, he’s everything you could want in a WR1. He would be an eventual replacement for Larry Fitzgerald.

14. Philadelphia Eagles- Derek Barnett, Defensive End, Tennessee: They probably should take a corner here, but I wouldn't rule Barnett out here, who would be a great fit in this defensive scheme. He would make an immediate impact in this division.

15. Indianapolis Colts- Charles Harris, Defensive End, Missouri: Harris had a better 2015 than 2016, but he was also double-teamed for most of 2016. This might be rich for some, and going Harris over the other pass rushers might raise eyebrows, but he fits what Indianapolis is doing.

16. Baltimore Ravens- Jonathan Allen, Defensive Tackle/End, Alabama: This would be a monster steal for the Ravens. They can draft a receiver here, but I don't think Ozzie Newsome will be tempted to pass up on Allen.

17. Washington Redskins- Takk McKinley, Linebacker, UCLA: The Redskins are hunting for pass rushers. They'll probably take Harris if he's available, but if McKinley can get healthy, he might be the better player.

18. Tennessee Titans- Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback, Alabama: Humphrey has been a fast riser these last few days. The Cards could take him at 13, but the Titans have a need in the secondary and Humphrey would be a nice fit.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Dalvin Cook, Runner Back, Florida State: Cook sitting on the board at this spot would be hard to pass. I love the thought of Cook reuniting with Jameis Winston and don't forget that Doug Martin is suspended to start the season so the Bucs can use help at running back.

20. Denver Broncos- Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin: Ramczyk is a tough son of a gun, and he comes from a good lineage. Look at some of the NFL offensive linemen out of Wisconsin the past few years, and it’s home run after home run after home run. Ramczyk is the next in line.

21. Detroit Lions- David Njoku, Tight End, Miami: This offense has some nice pieces but lacks a true mismatch player. Njoku, 20, seems capable of being that guy in the near future and able to make the consistent impact that Eric Ebron has too often failed to provide.

22. Miami Dolphins- Forrest Lamp, Offensive Tackle, Western Kentucky: The consensus has been to push Lamp inside to guard, but he deserves a shot to show what he can do at tackle. Laremy Tunsil moves to tackle which creates the opening at the guard position.

23. New York Giants- Garett Bolles, Offensive Tackle, Utah: He's a late bloomer but also one of the few tackles coming out this year likely to make an impact. The Giants could use another tackle to move Ereck Fowlers to the other tackle side.


24. Oakland Raiders- Jarrad Davis, Linebacker, Florida: The Raiders need a playmaker in the middle of their defense. They had issues against the pass last year, and he's got the speed to upgrade.

25. Houston Texans- Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: If Patrick Mahomes or DeShaun Watson is still available here, I can see the Texans taking one of them, if not, I can see them pulling the trigger on Robinson. Robinson can handle the right tackle position immediately with a chance to eventually take over the left side.

26. Seattle Seahawks, Kevin King, Cornerback, Washington: This one is so obvious. He is a long corner who just fits with what they do on defense. They could also go offensive line here, but there isn't a player worth the pick.

27. Kansas City Chiefs- Zach Cunningham, Linebacker, Vanderbilt: The Chiefs are looking for linebackers and Cunningham would be a nice fit. Cunningham is a fast and athletic player with instincts.

28. Dallas Cowboys- Obi Melifonwu, Safety, Connecticut: This kid has rare athletic ability for a safety, which the Texans need on the back end. He is a big, fast player who can play either spot.

29. Green Bay Packers- Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, USC: Jackson represents an upgrade at a weak position for the Packers. He could also return kicks and punts for them, which would be dangerous.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers- Tre'Davious White, Cornerback, LSU: A supremely gifted athlete who clocked a 4.47 40-yard-dash at the Combine, he’s also a very solid tackler. The Steelers could use some help in the secondary and White would be a nice fit.

31. Atlanta Falcons- Marcus Williams, Safety, Utah: Atlanta could trade up, maybe all the way to the late teens. Failing that, Dan Quinn gets his centerfielder. Williams would be a great fit for the Falcons.

32. New Orleans Saints (via New England Patriots)- John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington: The Saints have a need at receiver after the trade of Brandin Cooks. Ross is perceived as the fastest receiver in this draft class and he would become a favorite target for Drew Brees.

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