2017 NFL Mock Draft: Second Edition

Here is the second 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- 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 made strides a year ago.

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)- 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- 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.

7. Los Angeles Chargers- Jonathan Allen, Defensive Tackle, Alabama: What a teal this would be for the Chargers, who drafted Joey Bosa a year ago. Allen and Bosa would be a force on that defensive line together.

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- 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- Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Bills have a need at receiver to go with Sammy Watkins and Williams would fit the bill. I like the thought of two Clemson receivers on the same team.

11. New Orleans Saints- Taco Charlton, Defensive End, Michigan: It took a while for the light to come on for Charlton at Michigan but he led the Big Ten in sacks a year ago in his first season as a full-time starter. Boasting a terrific combination of burst, bend and length, Charlton has Pro Bowl potential. 

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 (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- 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.

16. Baltimore Ravens- OJ Howard, Tight End, Alabama: This would be a great pick for the Ravens, who need more offensively around Joe Flacco. A wide receiver here can't be ruled out, but Howard is a classic Ravens pick.

17. Washington Redskins- 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.

18. Tennessee Titans- John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington: Yes, he's on the small side (5-11, 188), comes off off shoulder surgery and has had past knee issues. But perhaps no player in this draft can make a bigger impact without the ball in his hands. Ross' now legendary 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the combine should make him a bona fide deep threat and return man. That speed will garner instant respect from defensive coordinators already facing a slew of problems from Tennessee's run-heavy offense.

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- 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. Denver needs to replace departed Russell Okung and get more juice out of its running game. Bolles could allow the team to check both boxes.

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- Jarrad Davis, Linebacker, Florida: Rangy defender who could give a questionable linebacking corps a nice boost. And Davis would have a chance to quickly leave an imprint with Ndamukong Suh and Co. sucking up blocks in front of him.

23. New York Giants- Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin: This offense needs better tackle play on both sides of the ball. Ideally, Ramczyk would prove capable of locking down Eli Manning's blind side and allowing Ereck Flowers to anchor the right side.

24. Oakland Raiders- Kevin King, Cornerback, Washington: A big defender (6-3, 200) who could present a challenge to the Demaryius Thomases and Keenan Allens of the world, King would also bring a needed element of athleticism to this secondary.

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- 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. The Seahawks have a glaring need on the offensive line and Lamp would be a good pick here.

27. Kansas City Chiefs- Zach Cunningham, Linebacker, Vanderbilt:  Linebacker is a clear need in Kansas City with veteran Derrick Johnson again rehabilitating a torn Achilles. Cunningham, the SEC's leading tackler in 2016 and a two-time first team all-conference selection, possesses the speed and instincts to help fill that hole.

28. Dallas Cowboys- Charles Harris, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Missouri: The Cowboys' gambles on recent character concerns at pass rusher have not paid off and adding a play-maker to this unit should be a top priority. Harris has the burst, bend and lethal spin move to wreak havoc off the edge and, after only joining the sport as a junior in high school, he has the upside for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to develop.

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- Jabril Peppers, Safety, Michigan: The recent report that came out that he tested positive could very well impact his draft stock. That said, this would be a great pick for the Steelers, who could use some help in the secondary.

31. Atlanta Falcons- Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The NFC champs didn't lose much this offseason, but Chris Chester did retire. Robinson could more than fill that hole and maybe even kick out to tackle at some point if asked.

32. New Orleans Saints (via New England Patriots)- TJ Watt, Outside Linebacker, Wisconsin: The Saints could use help at linebacker. TJ might not be as good as his brother JJ, but he should be a good player in the league.