2017 NFL Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is the third 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- 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.

3. Chicago Bears- 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.

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- 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- 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.

10. Buffalo Bills- Derek Barnett, Defensive End, Tennessee: Barnett is a day one pass rusher that is too tempting to not pass up on. He has ability to time gaps and make things happen.

11. New Orleans Saints- 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 Saints can use help at the position as well.

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- Jonathan Allen, Defensive End/Tackle, Alabama: What a steal this would be for the Cardinals, who could go in a bunch of different directions with this pick. Allen has health concerns, but he may be too tempting not to pass up.

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. The scandal he's involved in could affect his draft stock, though.

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- Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson: This would be a steal for the Ravens, who have a need at wide receiver. Steve Smith retired and Mike Wallace is aging, so this pick would be great for Joe Flacco.

17. Washington Redskins- 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 the Redskins, sucking up blocks in front of him.

18. Tennessee Titans- 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 a great fit with the Titans, considering they have a need at receiver.

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- 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- Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Seahawks have a need at this position. Robinson could more than fill that hole and maybe even kick out to tackle at some point if asked.

27. Kansas City Chiefs- 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 Chiefs are likely looking for an inside linebacker or another cornerback. White fits.

28. Dallas Cowboys- Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, USC: Jackson represents an upgrade at a somewhat weak position for the Cowboys. He could also return kicks and punts for them, which would be dangerous.

29. Green Bay Packers- TJ Watt, Outside Linebacker, Wisconsin: This one just makes too much sense. The Packers need another pass rusher and Watt is a stud, but maybe not the stud his brother JJ is.

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- 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. 

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.