2017 FullerMetrics Mock Draft 1.0
Yes this might be WAY too early to release a mock draft, but is it ever TOO early? I decided to make my first edition this early because historically, I've really only made one mock draft per season. I'm very intrigued to see the changes that happen from before the combine to the day-off. Will we see a Laremy Tunsil-like drop due to stupidity again? The world may never know...
1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
So far, Garrett has been the unanimous pick. Yes, the Browns need a quarterback , but they also have the #12 pick and out of Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer, at least two of those guys will still be available. DL Jonathan Allen out of Alabama could be an option here too, but Garrett has the potential to be both an elite pass rusher and an incredible run stopper.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
This pick could easily change. New HC Kyle Shanahan has openly expressed he likes New England QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and trading their #34 overall pick could very well make that trade happen. This pick is made under the impression that they DON'T make a move for Garoppolo. Sure, they could keep Colin Kaepernick as their QB, but does anyone really want to see that? Watson would actually fit very nicely in Shanahan's offense, which is another plus for choosing the Clemson passer over versatile DL Jonathan Allen.
3. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
As much as I would love to see the Bears part ways with the epitome of a douche that is Jay Cutler, I still see it as improbably that they pull the trigger on Mitch Trubisky here. If Cutler is axed, Trubisky will most likely go here due to his good Pro-style fit. For now, it's Jonathan Allen. He's arguably the best player left on the board after Myles Garrett is selected. Akiem Hicks is a decent starter, but Mitch Unrein is average and C.J. Wilson is both mediocre and a UFA this offseason. Allen also fits like a glove in their 3-4, so this pick makes a ton of sense.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
The Jaguars have a few needs, but Adams by far makes the most sense here. Their pass defense was abysmal, and S John Cyprien is set to be a free agent. If they re-sign Cyprien, the pick could either be traded down or they could reach for an OT like Cam Robinson or Ryan Ramczyk, or take a decent pass rusher in Stanford DE Solomon Thomas. For now, Adams is the best player left on the board and the best player for the Jags to pick.
5. Tennessee Titans: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
The Titans have a variety of needs at #5. They need to add more weapons for Marcus Mariota, as his top option was TE Delanie Walker and he turned 33. Western Michigan WR Corey Davis could easily go here, as he's a bit more valuable than Clemson WR Mike Williams. They also need someone to start next to Avery Williamson at ILB, so Alabama's Reuben Foster could go here as well. Corner needs some work too. Jason McCourty was okay, but neither Valentino Blake nor Brice McCain are deserving of #2 reps. They could reach for Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore, but it would be a reach. Assuming he isn't ready to start, and assuming a decent WR option will still be available back at #18, I see the Titans going for ILB Reuben Foster.
6. New York Jets: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
According to multiple reports, the Jets believe QB Christian Hackenberg will develop into a decent starter, but if they start second-guessing, QB Mitch Trubisky. Assuming they trust Hackenberg, they could go with an edge rusher or a cornerback here, both major needs. Assuming that Darrelle Revis either leaves or switches to safety, the need at corner is greater and OSU's Marshon Lattimore has a bit more hype than Stanford DE Solomon Thomas. As of early February, Lattimore is the man here.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
There's already one LAC in the Clippers, so that will be weird to wrap my head around for a good sum of time. Phillip Rivers isn't getting any younger, but that's more likely to be addressed Round 3 or later. They could use another option at receiver, but that issue isn't pressing enough to gamble at #7. The Bolts definitely need help at OT, but no tackle is good enough to stretch for in the Top 10. This leaves Safety, where Eric Weddle's absense is still felt and current safety Jahleel Addae is set to leave. Malik Hooker out of Ohio State is one of the best players on the board, and while his injury will keep him out of the combine and months beyond, he's not set to miss any regular season time.
8. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Like many teams this early, Carolina needs help at OT and none of them are good enough here. They could also use a pass rusher, and with DE Solomon Thomas available, he could easily go here. If it wasn't for the raw talent and freak ability that Leonard Fournette possesses, I would say Thomas here, but there's no way Fournette is dropping out of the Top 10. Jonathan Stewart is an injury risk every year and a major cap hit, so the Adrian Peterson 2.0 gamble is one certainly worth making
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
The Bengals need SOMEONE to rush the passer successfully. Thomas is still on the board here, and with their two next biggest needs, Linebacker and Interior Offensive Line, left unattainable (Reuben Foster is taken and no Guard/Center is good enough for the First Round at all), picking Thomas here is a no-brainer
10. Buffalo Bills: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Tyrod Taylor situation could see Mitch Trubisky or DeShone Kizer going here. Right Tackle is another need that needs to be addressed this offseason. A few of the wide receivers are set to leave, so that along with the entire secondary could use some work. Right off the bat, WR Corey Davis is undoubtedly good enough to go here. Fellow receiver Mike Williams could be an alternative if they're concerned about Davis' ankle injury, but Davis makes the most sense here.
11. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The Saints could score, but their defense was atrocious. They need help at both corner and safety, as well as depth at linebacker. More than anything else, they need a solid pass rusher opposite of Cameron Jordan. Available at #11 are Derek Barnett, Taco Charlton, and Tim Williams. Although Charlton might have the physical edge, the Saints will most likely gravitate toward good numbers, and Derek Barnett set the career record in Sacks at Tennessee. Whoever emerges as the third-best edge rusher behind Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas after the combine will go here to the Saints.
12. Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
See, patience pays off for the Browns. They could still try to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, as they haven't had the best success drafting QB's (Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, Brady Quinn, etc.). At this point, drafting looks more likely than giving up this pick, so Trubisky is the man. If he's gone, they wouldn't mind taking QB DeShone Kizer either. IF they don't go with QB here and still have the pick, the interior O-Line and secondary are priorities, leaving Florida CB Quincy Wilson as the likely next biggest target.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Oh, the Cardinals looked like they were going to be so good this year. Carson Palmer did say earlier in the week that he is coming back; regardless, the Cardinals ought to add young talent behind Palmer. DeShone Kizer wouldn't really fit here, so they'll look to bolster further back in the draft. Larry Fitzgerald might be playing his final season next year and Michael Floyd got cut for being a moron. Clemson WR Mike Williams is a good value at #13, and the Cardinals certainly could use him here.
14/15. Indianapolis Colts: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
The Eagles and Colts will have a coin toss to decide who gets the #14 and who gets the #15 pick in the draft. There isn't too much pressure on who wins because both teams will be looking to address different areas of concern. For the Colts, the Eagles aren't going to take Dalvin Cook, and that's their only concern. Simply no offensive linemen are good enough to pick this high, and even if RB Frank Gore, 34, makes it through camp, they need a more explosive option. Look no further than Cook, who is undoubtedly the second-best back behind Leonard Fournette this year.
14/15. Philadelphia Eagles: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
The Eagles will be looking for a corner here. They need more options for Wentz at receiver, but they could easily get those in the second and third rounds or even in Free Agency. Florida CB Quincy Wilson is the best corner available in my opinion, but they could go with his teammate Teez Tabor, Washington's Sidney Jones, and possibly even reach for Alabama's Marlon Humphrey or USC's Adoree Jackson.
16. Baltimore Ravens: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
This is the biggest question mark so far in the draft. They need an edge rusher, so DE Taco Charlton or LB Tim Williams could go here. They also need depth in Safety badly, so a reach for Jabrill Peppers or Budda Baker could occur. They also have an aging receiving core and their biggest threat, Steve Smith, just retired, so they could stretch for John Ross as well. According to the Baltimore Sun, Ricky Wagner is not expected to return, so they could make it back-to-back years drafting a Tackle and take Cam Robinson out of Alabama, and Ozzie Newsome does love 'Bama prospects. Leaving the possibility that Ricky Wagner DOES come back and/or assuming they could find help in free agency, I'm gonna go with a player that fits their biggest need, from a school they love to pick from, and one of the best guys left on the board: Tim Williams.
17. Washington Redskins: Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
Redskins issue is literally straight-forward: the interior of each level of defense. Yes, they need help at defensive tackle, Inside Linebacker and Safety. For safety, they'd have to nab Jabrill Peppers or Budda Baker. For inside linebacker, Vanderbilt's Zach Cunningham is undoubtedly the best choice. Malik McDowdell would make sense here as well as a DT. Washington adores size and experience, and they get both by picking Zach Cunningham here.
18. Tennessee Titans: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
They already covered the need for an ILB in Reuben Foster at #5, so receiver and corner are the two remaining holes. The next best receiver is Washington's John Ross, and he still might be a gamble this high. There are a few corners they could go with here, and out of Teez Tabor, Sidney Jones Marlon Humphrey and Adoree Jackson, right now Jones looks the most mature to handle #2 CB reps.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
This pick is tricky given what's left on the board. They need help on the Defensive Line, and DE Taco Charlton and DT Malik McDowell are both still available. They need help at Safety, and Jabrill Peppers is an excellent value here. This team also needs a threat not named Mike Evans, and they could look at receiver with John Ross, tight end with O.J. Howard, or running back with Alvin Kamara or Christian McCaffrey. Lots of options to choose from here. I'm gonna hold off on saying Kamara or McCaffrey this high until I see their combines. John Ross will be a good receiver, but not really a threat. Either defensive lineman would make sense, but given his incredible Senior Bowl performance, the stock has risen high enough for TE O.J. Howard to be taken here.
20. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
The best non-playoff team is now on the board, and they need O-Line help badly. It doesn't help that this is arguably the weakest class for O-Lineman since the 1970 merger. Believe it or not, I actually knew of Ryan Ramczyk in high school. He was this mammoth of an O-Lineman at Stevens Point Area Senior High, my ex-girlfriend's old school. He went to D-III UW-Stevens Point and then transferred to Wisconsin for one season. Like most Wisconsin O-Lineman, his size s naturally impeccable. Given Alabama OT Cam Robinson's character issues, I don't see an organization like the Broncos gambling like that. Utah OT Garrett Bolles isn't quite good enough for #20, and no interior lineman should be picked in the first round, so the name being called will be Ryan Ramczyk.
21. Detroit Lions: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
The Lions have some need at really every level in their defense, but a pass rushing Defensive End is first and foremost. Enter Taco Charlton. Since the Saints took Derek Barnett over Charlton (In this edition), he's still on the board as the second-best natural 4-3 Defensive End. If they want to add elsewhere, DT Malik McDowell, DT Caleb Brantley and CB Teez Tabor are the most likely suitors.
22. Miami Dolphins: David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL)
There's a good chance Mario Williams will become a cap casualty, so Defensive End is a likely position to add to. Everywhere at the Linebacker level could use some work, and Florida LB Jarrad Davis would make sense here. He could eventually move inside, but his most natural position Day 1 in camp would we as a weak-side backer in a 4-3. Boom, they need that. The biggest question mark, however, is at Tight End. Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims are both UFAs, and there's a very good chance they both walk. This will be a lot easier done if, or when, Miami picks the hometown boy TE David Njoku, a first-round talent Tight End with arguably as much potential as O.J. Howard.
23. New York Giants: Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple
Eli's not getting any younger, so DeShone Kizer is an option here. This would be more realistic if the Giants didn't have other issues. Everywhere at Linebacker could use work, a Defensive Tackle would be useful, and they need to find a solution at Running Back. Jason Pierre-Paul is hitting free agency, so they could look for an edge rusher as well. Out of those issues, you have Kizer, LB Jarrad Davis, LB Haason Reddick, OLB Charles Harris, DT Malik McDowell, DT, Caleb Brantley, OLB Takkaris McKinley, and RB Alvin Kamara. Honestly, the Giants are good enough where they can really afford to take any of these players, and out of these, one player gives value as both a normal linebacker and as a pass rusher: Haason Reddick. This is a stretch, but this pick is already a big enough question mark and likely to change, so go big or go home.
24. Oakland Raiders: Malik McDowell, DT, Mississippi State
If Derek Carr didn't go and get himself hurt, this would have been a later draft pick. Their secondary wasn't BAD, but it could use more depth and potential. Teez Tabor, Tre'Davious White and Adoree Jackson are all corners that could go here. They could also add depth at linebacker with Jarrad Davis or Charles Harris here. What they might need most here is a sturdy Defensive Tackle, and there's a high-potential one still left on the board: Malik McDowell. If they can straighten out the character issues, you're looking at a starter for years to come.
25. Houston Texans: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
Brock Osweiler was awful last year, and I highly doubt he nor Tom Savage will be the starter day one. Whether they address that in the draft or outside of it (Hello, Tony Romo?) is a harder question to answer. DeShone Kizer is on the board, but the fourth-best QB, Texas Tech's Pat Mahomes is a better fit and in state. If they want to put in the work to fully convert Jarrad Davis to ILB, that's a likely pick here as well. They certainly need help on the offensive line, and out of the two remaining first-round talents, OT Cam Robinson and OT Garett Bolles, the latter doesn't have character issues.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Seattle does have need for aid on the D-Line and for another physical corner, but their most glaring need is at BOTH offensive tackles. Cam Robinson is their man, as he's a natural fit for right tackle AND the Seahawks clearly don't mind taking players with character issues (Bruce Irvin, Kam Chancellor, etc.).
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
The Chiefs are the first team that honestly don't have any glaring needs. They could use depth on the Defensive Line, some youth at Inside Linebacker, getting another corner wouldn't hurt, and potentially another edge rusher as Tamba Hali is past his prime and Dee Ford is in his contract year. Out of these needs, the one they're most desperate for is youth at Inside Linebacker, and they have the flexibility and coaching to work with Florida's Jarrad Davis into converting him to the inside full-time.
28. Dallas Cowboys: DE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
Dallas has gambled twice at Defensive End with Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory, and they're clearly 0-for-2. They could use a corner to potentially start, but with Teez Tabor, Tre'Davious White, Marlon Humphrey and Adoree Jackson left, there's no certainly about starting potential right off the bat. Jason Witten isn't geting any younger, but both first-round talent TE's have been taken. That leaves DE/OLB Takkarist McKinley and DE/OLB Charles Harris, and out of those two, McKinley has the most hype. McKinley goes here, for now.
29. Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
Okay, here we go, the most important selection. This one will be a little more in-depth. At Running Back, Eddie Lacy and Ty Montgomery are set to split time, so RB is an option here. T.J Lang and J.C. Tretter could both walk this offseason, so the interior line could be a weak spot. We do need improvements on the D-Line, as neither Letroy Guion nor Kenny Clark should have their jobs stay safe next season. Some people say they need help at MLB but I like the Jake Ryan/Joe Thomas/Blake Martinez combo. Julius Peppers is leaving, and if Nick Perry walks too, we'll need a new starter opposite of the declining Clay Matthews. We desperately need help at cornerback, but none of the players left are even marginally better than Damarious Randall, Ladarius Gunter or Quinten Rollins. They need veteran help anyways. Safety is fine, and so is Special Teams. That leaves RB, G/C and OLB as draft need. First off, no interior lineman is good enough here, and both Lang and Tretter could easily come back. Tennessee RB Alvin Kamara would make sense here, as he's the only true running back left that's a first round talent (Sorry, Christian McCaffrey). Plus, they already have a RB/WR from Stanford in Ty Montgomery. Missouri's Charles Harris is very likely to go here, but I'm seeing bad Datone Jones flashbacks. They honestly could stretch for T.J. Watt, and who doesn't love a Wisconsin-to-Green Bay story? Knowing that this will probably change, I'm rooting for a good story here.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri
They need some depth at RB behind Le'Veon Bell and could use another option at TE, but they're in denial if they don't think their biggest priority is finding a replacement for age-resistant James Harrison. Enter Charles Harris. This actually might be a perfect fit, as he's a raw quick pass rusher who needs at least a year of maturity and learning.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
Their offense is incredible. Really, they only need young, promising talent for depth on defense. A solid Defensive Lineman could work out here, as well as another pass rusher or throwing another corner in the mix. Personally, I think corner looks pretty good for them, but if they do go that route, I expect to see Teez Tabor or Tre'Davious White go here, maybe Marlon Humphrey. I'm not sure there are any 4-3 DE pass rushers that are even worth stretching for, which leaves DT. Caleb Brantley actually fits very well as a 4-3 DT, so he's the man in this edition.
32. New England Patriots: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Like most Super Bowl Champions, they don't have any glaring holes. Gronk is coming off of yet another surgery, so they'll likely take a TE in this draft, just not here. The Jamie Collins trade leaves a spot for another playmaking linebacker, but there really aren't any first-round-worthy guys that fit the bill. They'll have to address the OT situation soon, but the only three guys worth taking at #32 are all taken. This leaves the question, who's left? Well, one very talented Safety and return specialist is: Jabrill Peppers.
NEXT BEST AVAILABLE:
1. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
2. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
3. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
4. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
5. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
6. Budda Baker, S, Washington
7. John Ross, WR, Washington
8. Christian McCaffrey, RB/WR, Stanford
9. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
10. Forrest Lamp, G/C, Western Kentucky
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Think that this is way too early? Please let me know!
Thank You and God Bless,
Samuel R. Fuller
