2017 NFL Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first 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 are real.

2. San Francisco 49ers- Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback, North Carolina: The Niners could go with a defensive player here, but Trubisky makes the most sense here. His skill set would fit nicely in new head coach Kyle Shannahan's offense.

3. Chicago Bears- Jonathan Allen, Defensive End, Alabama: This just feels like a perfect fit. Highly productive college player with no sizzle who will immediately make an impact going to a John Fox defense.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars- Solomon Thomas, Defensive Tackle/End, Stanford: Thomas would lock down a weak-side defensive end spot for years and provide tremendous three-down value. He’s the kind of player that helps teams win games.

5. Tennessee Titans (via Los Angeles Rams)- Marcus Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State: It was obvious even before the Titans cut Jason McCourty that they would be looking to draft at the cornerback position. Here, they get the top prospect—a physical, aggressive lock-down defender.

6. New York Jets- Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Jets, after losing Brandon Marshall, lack a top receiver. Yes, their quarterback situation is not good and they will likely miss out on Trubisky, but Williams looks like an impact receiver that can produce at a high level for a while.

7. Los Angeles Chargers- Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State: Adding a ball-hawking safety to this team would make this defense suddenly one of the most interesting units in the entire league, chock full of young talent.

8. Carolina Panthers- Leonard Fournette, Running Back, LSU: This fit is a match made in heaven. The Panthers’ rushing attack is a power system, which plays right to Fournette’s strengths.

9. Cincinnati Bengals- Derek Barnett, Defensive End, Tennessee: The Bengals have a glaring need at defensive end, and Barnett is capable of tearing up the man-on-man blocking he’d see with lines focused on Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap.

10. Buffalo Bills- Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU: The Bills could use some help on the backside of the defense and this addition feels like a borderline steal considering where Adams has been targeted to go for much of mock draft season.

11. New Orleans Saints- Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan: The Saints can use a receiver after trading Brandin Cooks away to the New England Patriots. 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.

12. Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia Eagles)- DeShaun Watson, Quarterback, Clemson: In all likelihood, Trubisky won't fall down here so lets go with Watson here. He will bring a lot of leadership qualities as well as fine play at the position and that's what the Browns currently lack.

13. Arizona Cardinals- Haason Reddick, Linebacker, Temple: The Cardinals have earned a reputation for finding creative ways to utilize talent. Reddick looks like he’ll be able to do a little bit of everything, including bringing heat off the edge and as a blitzer through the A-gap.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings)- Gareon Conley, Cornerback, Ohio State: The Eagles fill their giant need at corner with the second-best corner in this draft. Conley has a ceiling as high as anyone in this class, save for Lattimore. 

15. Indianapolis Colts- 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. The Colts can use help at the position as well.

16. Baltimore Ravens- John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington: The Ravens could use another receiver with Steve Smith retiring and Mike Wallace getting up there in age. Ross would be a nice fit there and his speed is electric.

17. Washington Redskins- Charles Harris, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Missouri: Washington doesn’t need to draft an edge rusher just because Trent Murphy will open the season on a four-game suspension. But it might draft one because there wasn’t much depth there in the first place. Harris can get after the quarterback and seems comfortable in space.

18. Tennessee Titans- Taco Charlton, Defensive End, Michigan: The Titans have a big need in the secondary, but there will be plenty of cornerbacks and safeties to be found in this draft. A raw but uber-talented defensive end like Charlton, on the other hand, won’t be found in the second or third days of the draft.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Obi Melifonwu, Safety, Connecticut: There could be a small safety run near this point in the draft— Melifonwu, Jabrill Peppers and Budda Baker are all still available. Should the Buccaneers opt to go that route, Melifonwu’s rangy game might make the most sense paired with free-agent pickup J.J. Wilcox. The upside with Melifonwu is so intriguing.

20. Denver Broncos- 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. He could fill a role at either spot for the Broncos, who could lean on his athletic run blocking.

21. Detroit Lions- Malik McDowell, Defensive Tackle, Michigan State: McDowell is hands down the best athlete in this draft. He’s built like a power forward and was at times totally dominating at Michigan State. This is a great fit for the Lions, who have a need at this position after losing Cliff Avril.

22. Miami Dolphins- Jabril Peppers, Safety, Michigan: Miami is in solid shape at safety, with Reshad Jones and Nate Allen to be joined midseason by T.J. McDonald (eight-game suspension). That’s perfect for Peppers, who then can be used to erase matchup issues as he grows into his role— Allen and McDonald both are on one-year deals.

23. New York Giants- Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: For as much as the Giants could use Zach Cunningham or Jarrad Davis, the pick here is Robinson because the drop-off from Tier 1 to Tier 2 at tackle is greater than at linebacker. In other words, the Giants can find a starting LB in Round 2 or 3. They need to pounce on the tackle spot here, and Robinson can plug in as a road grader.

24. Oakland Raiders- Jarrad Davis, Linebacker, Florida: Oakland needs to get better on the inside at linebacker in a year that isn't "win now," but sort of is because of their move to Las Vegas.

25. Houston Texans- Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Texas Tech: The belief is that Mahomes needs to sit and watch next season. Landing on a depth chart headlined by Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden could change those plans. Mahomes’s potential alone could get him a crack as a starter early, and his athleticism/arm combo would make plays happen in Bill O’Brien’s offense. 

26. Seattle Seahawks- Garett Bolles, Offensive Tackle, Utah: A Luke Joeckel-George Fant tackle pairing probably is a step up from last season’s Fant-Garry Gilliam mess, but it’s hardly reason to avoid a tackle. Bolles needs to play with more power, but he’s still a ready-made NFL starter. The Seahawks could run behind him all day.

27. Kansas City Chiefs- Dalvin Cook, Runner Back, Florida State: Cook sitting on the board at this spot would be hard to pass. The Chiefs do not have a back capable of changing defensive game plans. Cook can force those adjustments. This would be a nice fit for the Chiefs considering Jamaal Charles isn't around.

28. Dallas Cowboys- Kevin King, Cornerback, Washington: There are no Round 1 guarantees in this cornerback class beyond Lattimore. King, though, has propelled himself forward enough that it would be a mild upset if he isn’t among the top 32 picks. The Cowboys have to be tougher against the pass, hence the addition of King’s size and speed.

29. Green Bay Packers- Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Stanford: McCaffrey would be an excellent fit for the Packers. He can run it down your throat and catch passes in the backfield. Aaron Rodgers would love that.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers- Chidobe Awuzie, Cornerback, Colorado: Big Ben might be pining for more offensive weapons, but the Steelers need someone to start as a slot cornerback next year, and Awuzie has prototypical cornerback size but also the quickness to play against opponents’ fastest receivers. Add in his ability to help in the pass rush (eight sacks, six hits and 17 hurries, per Pro Football Focus) and you have that slot corner.

31. Atlanta Falcons- Takk McKinley, Linebacker, UCLA: The Falcons need another viable pass rusher and they land that in McKinley, who only fell because of injury concerns.

32. New Orleans Saints (via New England Patriots)- Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, USC: The Saints coming away with a pair of blue-chip defensive players would be a massive win and would help justify moving a receiver with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons.