Final NFL Mock Draft 2017
With the NFL draft three days away, mock draft season is coming to a close, but not before I preview my final NFL mock draft of 2017, featuring a quarterback frenzy in the top half of the first round, a couple blockbuster trades, and lots and lots of defensive players.
1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
The Browns should have locked this pick in by now. Garrett began the offseason as the consensus number one overall pick, and everything he has done in this draft process has adhered to that notion. At 272 pounds, Garrett possesses the strength of a 300-pounder combined with the speed of a 230-pounder. His ability to pressure the quarterback and break up plays in the back field, due to his repertoire of moves and sheer athleticism, makes him a must-draft to pair with Jamie Collins. The Browns would love a quarterback here, but Trubisky isn’t good enough to warrant this pick, so Cleveland should start to build their defense instead.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
A lot of people have Solomon Thomas mocked here, but I don’t see the Niners taking a defensive lineman three years in a row. Additionally, new general manager John Lynch isn’t going to hinge his success in San Francisco on a quarterback in a class that lacks an elite talent. Instead, Lynch will stick to what he knows, and that’s an enormously talented safety in Adams. Adams possesses the unique combination of a box safety with the ability to play centerfield, and he was forced to take on both roles as the anchor of LSU’s defense. He can continue to be that anchor for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
3. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama
Jonathan Allen’s shoulder injury doesn’t bother me at all, and it won’t bother Chicago either. The Bears likely won’t go quarterback after they acquired Mike Glennon last month, and they have a plethora of needs on defense. With Adams off the board, Allen is the best pick that fills a glaring need. Vic Fangio has been building this 3-4 defense for two years now, and Allen fits perfectly into that 3-4 defensive end role as a guy who can be a force on the line and still rush the quarterback. Just ask SEC signal callers. Allen racked up 9.5 sacks from that spot last year, and was flat out the best defensive player on the best defensive team in college football.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Fournette is the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson, and yes, that included Ezekiel Elliott from last year. Fournette ran a 4.5 at 240 pounds, and has since dropped to his normal playing weight and looks even faster. The Jaguars whiffed on Chris Ivory last year, and TJ Yeldon isn’t a three-down back. Fournette could be what the Jags need to ignite an offense that relies on Blake Bortles to throw an obscene number of passes. Leonard Fournette can slow down the game and allow Bortles to play to his strengths since he won’t command as much attention.
5. Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
There’s been a lot of talk about Lattimore’s hamstrings, but it won’t scare Tennessee away. This is a crowded cornerback class, but Lattimore sits alone at the top of it, possessing plus size and speed. The Titans had a lot of trouble in the secondary last year and would love to pair Lattimore with Logan Ryan to form a formidable pass defense for the future. Hooker was in play here, but the combination of Kevin Byard and Jonathan Cyprien can be a good young duo for years to come.
6. (TRADE) Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky, QB, UNC
Sashi Brown couldn’t pass up on Myles Garrett with the number one overall pick, leaving Trubisky on the board. Luckily for them, they get the opportunity to jump back up and nab the quarterback out of North Carolina, giving up their first and second round pick and getting a fifth in return. The Browns and Trubisky have expressed mutual interest, and if he makes it out of the top five, I can’t see Cleveland not finding a way to take him. Trubisky is an Ohio kid, and could be the guy to stop the quarterback wheel in Cleveland.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
This pick is an absolute gem for the Chargers. Los Angeles is switching to a 4-3 defense in light of hiring Gus Bradley, and Bradley loves to run Cover-3 and Cover-1 schemes. He did it almost exclusively in Jacksonville, but lacked a safety with the speed and range to truly play centerfield. Hooker is that prototypical safety who can thrive there, and while he needs work against the run, seven picks last year, including three pick-sixes, is everything Bradley could ask for as he tries to reform this defense.
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Jonathan Stewart just turned 30, and he already looks like he’s slowing down. Without a reliable backup, the Panthers will likely go running back here, and with Fournette off the board, it’s either Dalvin Cook or Christian McCaffrey. The Panthers apparently love McCaffrey and haven’t been shy about it either. The do-it-all back from Stanford said earlier this month that a team has already guaranteed that they will take him if he’s still on the board. That team might very well be the Carolina Panthers.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
This is about as far as Thomas will fall. I have Thomas falling further than most, but the fact of the matter is that NFL executives simply aren’t as high on Thomas as the media is, viewing him as a mid-first round pick. I doubt he falls that far, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him available at nine. Cincinnati is a couple years removed from a top NFL defense, in part due to the lack of a consistent pass rush from the edge. Put Thomas next to Atkins on the line and they’ll live in the backfield.
10. Buffalo Bills: OJ Howard, TE, Alabama
Has there ever been a tight end prospect as coveted as Howard? The tight end from Alabama could go as high as two in this draft. That’s how talented people in the National Football League think he is. It looks for now like Tyrod Taylor is going to be the starter for Buffalo, but the Bills could move on from him at the end of this year. Regardless of who starts under center, Howard has the potential to make them great. A guy who was criminally underutilized at Bama, new head coach Sean McDermott won’t waste 6’6 and 250 pounds with 4.5 speed.
11. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The Saints desperately need a pass rusher, and Barnett was far and away the best edge rusher in the SEC this year. The Saints have two picks in the first round of this draft, and in a year that’s unprecedentedly deep with defensive backs, they can address the major need they have at corner later. For now, Barnett can make an immediate impact in the league because he already looks seasoned. At 260 pounds, he can stand up or play on the line, as he did both at Tennessee, and can get to the quarterback in a hurry with his quick first step and exceptional dip.
12. (TRADE) New York Jets: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
The Jets move down here simply to acquire more picks, and that’s what you need to do when you have seemingly endless needs. They can’t all be addressed at once, but a versatile and vicious linebacker who can be a vocal leader in the locker room can shift the culture of the defense. Darron Lee finished second on the team in tackles last year, but in reality, he graded out as one of the worst linebackers in last year’s draft class according to Pro Football Focus. Lee isn’t a true inside linebacker, and David Harris only has so much left in the tank, so Foster can free up those guys a little bit while being the anchor on defense. Again, I know the Jets need quarterback help, but reluctantly drafting a quarterback after moving down without giving Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg a fair shot is poor management.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Life was all good for Arizona when Carson Palmer was winning playoff games, but coming off a 7-8-1 season, it may be time to move on. Watson has a little ways to go before he can be a starter in the league, and he’ll likely have a year to sit behind 37-year old Palmer. But that’s okay, and unlike most quarterbacks taken in the top half of the first round, Watson will be surrounded by an extremely talented roster when he does step on the field. The only other glaring weakness is wide receiver, and look for Arizona to address that in round two.
14. (TRADE) Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
With Trubisky and Watson off the board, Texans general manager Rick Smith can’t afford to wait until pick number 25 to get a signal caller. 14 might be ambitious for Mahomes, but the Texans truly are a quarterback away from a Super Bowl contender. Houston ranked first in the league in total defense, and it possesses a stout offensive line and playmakers in the form of Lamar Miller, DeAndre Hopkins, and Will Fuller. The only thing missing is a quarterback, so the Texans can afford to jump the gun to get their guy. I have them giving up their number 25 pick and next year’s first-rounder, an offer too difficult for Philly to refuse. And let’s be clear, Mahomes isn’t another Texas Tech numbers machine. He can make all the throws, and plays the game much like Dak Prescott in a more high-volume offense.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Charles Harris, OLB/DE, Missouri
It’s unbelievable that Harris is graded this highly with such little football experience. He didn’t start playing football until junior year of high school, and had to sit behind Shane Ray, Michael Sam, and Markus Golden before earning his shot at Missouri. However, Harris is an extremely athletic pass rusher that can help a Colts defense that’s for the most part devoid of talent up front. Dwight Freeney has been gone for years, and Robert Mathis retired after this past season, so it’s about time for a new pass rusher in Indianapolis. Andrew Luck can’t do it alone.
16. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Ravens won a Super Bowl with Anquan Bolden as their number one receiver, and Davis reminds me of a quicker version of Bolden. Ozzie Newsome loves to draft the best player available, and this time it happens to be a glaring need with Steve Smith headed into retirement. Davis is an absolute beast with exceptional hands, catching 332 passes for 5,285 yards and 52 touchdowns in his four years at Western Michigan. Those numbers immediately stand out, and if anyone isn’t afraid to take the small school guy over the big school guy, it’s Newsome.
17. Washington Redskins: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
Breshaud Breeland is headed into the last year of his rookie contract, and there’s talk of him moving to safety even if he does re-sign. That opens the door for Gareon Conley, the second best corner in this draft. I considered Dalvin Cook here, but the Redskins might like what they saw from Rob Kelley last year as a rookie. I can’t imagine them taking another back when their running back trio consists of Kelley, Matt Jones, and Chris Thompson, guys they took in each of the last three drafts, respectively. That leaves Conley, who has all the physical tools to be a shutdown corner for new defensive coordinator, Greg Manusky. Conley shadows receivers as well as Lattimore does, and if he is able to be a little more physical off the line of scrimmage and deep in the route with his hands, he might be as good as Lattimore too.
18. Tennessee Titans: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
This is a gift for Tennessee. I have Mike Williams dropping, mostly because he lacks speed and the ability to separate, but it’s hard to argue against the pedigree of Clemson receivers in the NFL. The Titans might trade up to get their guy in Williams, but in this case, I have him falling into their lap. Like Davis, Williams has tremendous hands, and can immediately be the number one receiver for Marcus Mariota. That bumps Rishard Matthews down to the two, while still having Delanie Walker and a bulldozing running back tandem to bolster this offense. Mariota is a red zone wizard, and it’s about time Jon Robinson got him a legitimate red zone threat at the receiver position.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Jameis Winston showed development in year two, but he could have afforded to spend a little less time avoiding the rush and standing in the pocket. A lot of people don’t think Robinson has the footwork to be able to play tackle and that he would better serve as a guard. It’s true, his footwork is average, but he makes up for it with his positioning, particularly with his hands. He held his own against Myles Garrett in Bama’s matchup with Texas A&M, and that’s all you can ask for against the best pass rusher in college football. He projects to be more of a right tackle, but has the ability to play on either side of the line.
20. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
Denver might have wanted Robinson, but he’s gone a pick before. Regardless, Robinson and Ramczyk are virtually neck-and-neck prospects, and the Broncos take the one who falls to them. Whether their quarterback is going to be Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch, they have to give him upright, and Ramczyk has the ability to do the job. He figures to start at left tackle from day one after the loss of Ryan Clady and Russell Okung in two straight years. Wisconsin is quickly becoming offensive lineman university, and Denver can’t go wrong here.
21. Detroit Lions: Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple
Reddick is a complete linebacker with great speed. There is concern about his size, but he’s a similar prospect to Darron Lee in the way he can serve multiple roles both rushing the quarterback and in coverage. Ziggy Ansah is one of the best pass rushers in the game, but the Lions have absolutely nobody else who scares offenses, causing Ansah to draw double teams all day. Reddick can force teams to abort those double teams, and has the speed to get to the quarterback off the edge to take advantage on quick reads even if teams continue to double Ansah.
22. Miami Dolphins: Jarrad Davis, OLB, Florida
This was probably the toughest pick I had to mock. I originally had Jabrill Peppers here, but I think the diluted drug test coupled with his lack of a concrete position will knock him out of the first round. It was between Forrest Lamp and a rush linebacker, and the more I listen, the more I hear that anything other than a defensive end or linebacker is nonsense in Miami’s war room. Cameron Wake is 35 years old and Olivier Vernon left for New York. Davis doesn’t quite have the size that those two had, but he does have the speed off the edge, and he’s flying up boards the past couple weeks. I imagine Chris Grier will stay local with this pick as an extra plus.
23. New York Giants: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
The last time the Giants had a dependable running back was Ahmad Bradshaw. It’s time to change that, as the combination of Paul Perkins (who isn’t valued very highly) and Shane Vereen (who can’t stay on the field) doesn’t scare anybody. The most dynamic back the Giants have had in the last five years is Rashad Jennings on Dancing with the Stars. Enter Dalvin Cook, a full-fledged three down back who can become a focal point of this offense as Eli Manning continues to age. With New York’s surging defense last year and the addition of Brandon Marshall and now Cook, this team looks destined for the playoffs again.
24. Oakland Raiders: Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
This pick is tailor-made for Oakland. I originally had Jarrad Davis here, but he’s gone now. Instead, Oakland can look to address their gap at cornerback, and who better than Awuzie to fill that void, a family friend of Oakland fan-favorite and star corner Nnamdi Asomugha. Awuzie can truly play anywhere on the field, and is the best tackler of any corner in this class. He can get to the quarterback and make plays on special teams in addition to his shutdown corner duties, displaying just the kind of tenacity that Oakland’s organization loves. They might as well get one more defender with a mean-streak before they leave Oakland for good.
25. (TRADE) Philadelphia Eagles: John Ross, WR, Washington
Eagles love to criticize de facto general manager Howie Roseman, but he looks like a genius here. The Eagles move down 11 spots, pick up a first round pick next year, and still get their guy in Ross. Ross’s 4.22 40-yard dash put him on the map and vaulted him into certain first-round status, and I only have him falling due to the three early quarterback picks at the expense of early receiver selections. The Eagles love John Ross. In fact, he’s visited with organization four times already. If he’s available at 25, they won’t hesitate to grab a guy who looks like the second coming off Desean Jackson in Philly with a little more of a red zone presence. This is a great pick for a team looking to build around Carson Wentz, and with Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholar functioning as the number three and four receivers, they’re doing just that.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
The Seahawks still need an offensive lineman, but this is a weak class for the position and they’ll likely look to take one in the second round. Taco Charlton is a top-20 prospect, and at 273 pounds, he’s the perfect size to slide into that 4-3 defensive end spot and rush the quarterback. The Seahawks are built on their defense, and John Schneider hasn’t forgotten that. Charlton is the best player available and fills a need. Garett Bolles was in consideration here, but he weighed in at under 300 pounds and will turn 25 next month. Charlton is the safer and smarter pick here, and Schneider rarely misses on the defensive side of the ball.
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
Zach Cunningham is without a doubt the best mike linebacker in this draft, and he’s the only true mike linebacker that warrants legitimate first round contention. He’s a perfect fit in the center of an already dominant Kansas City defense as the replacement for Derrick Johnson, who will turn 35 next season. Cunningham is a safe pick, and figures to be up there in the league leaders in tackles year after year, but he’s also a playmaker. He finished a win against Georgia with his 19th tackle to stop the Bulldogs on fourth and one, jumped over the line of scrimmage to block a would be game-clinching field goal at Auburn, and forced a Josh Dobbs fumble to turn around the team’s final home game against Tennessee, helping them pull off the upset. Safe to say he’ll fit right in in Kansas City.
28. Dallas Cowboys: TJ Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
If there’s one thing we know about Jerry Jones, it’s that he loves big names coming out of college. Sometimes that can turn out great (think Ezekiel Elliott), but sometimes he needs to be restrained (think his son forcing him to not draft Johnny Manziel and go with Zack Martin instead). In this case, Watt makes a ton of sense. The Cowboys are desperate for a playmaker on defense, and Watt can get to the quarterback with elite strength for someone his size. Watt is still learning the linebacker position, but he showed excellent command of it last year at Wisconsin, and he only figures to get better when he inevitably works out with his brother in the offseason.
29. Green Bay Packers: Adoree Jackson, CB, USC
It’s a good thing this is a deep cornerback class because as usual, the Packers are drafting towards the end of the first round, and they desperately need two things. One is a pass rusher, but Clay Matthews is still serviceable and they were able to work out a deal with Nick Perry. The other is a cornerback, and there’s really no getting around that one. Adoree Jackson not only fills that role, but is an excellent return man. He can create turnovers and more possessions for one of the best offenses in football, and for the Packers, outscoring their opponents is the name of the game. They can’t afford to let Julio Jones catch nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC championship game anymore.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Takkarist McKinley, OLB/DE, UCLA
McKinley continues the run on pass rushers, becoming the fifth in the last ten picks. As a senior, he burst on to the scene with ten sacks and three forced fumbles, really breaking out against Utah, where he put up three sacks and forced two fumbles. He is still viewed by most teams as an unfinished product, but has an extremely hard work ethic and can fit right into Keith Butler’s defense as a near clone of current Steeler linebacker Bud Dupree.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
The Falcons would love a guy who could cover guys coming out of the backfield, notably James White, but they love Forrest Lamp, and he has to be number one on their board at this point. Lamp has met with the Falcons on three separate occasions, and the Falcons need a guard to fill the vacant spot on their offensive line. Lamp, who played tackle at Western Kentucky, is being looked at exclusively as a guard, and honestly, this might be a little late for him. It’s hard to imagine Atlanta’s record-setting offense getting any better, but if Lamp can contribute to both the running game and the passing game from day one, watch out.
32. New Orleans Saints: Kevin King, CB, Washington
I told you the Saints would be able to address cornerback later, and while I’m sure Mickey Loomis has a number of corners on his big board, King might be the most perfect fit of them all. Delvin Breaux isn’t a sufficient number one, not to mention he can’t stay healthy. In fact, none of the secondary really can. King can slide into that number-one corner spot with his 6’3 frame, a huge asset for a team that sees Kelvin Benjamin, Mike Evans, and Julio Jones twice every year. The concern about King is that he often covered the number-two receiver because of the prominence of Sidney Jones at Washington, but King is a physical corner, and that fits perfectly in the NFC South.
*Note: This mock draft was created prior to Gareon Conley being accused of raping a woman.
