2017 NFL Mock Draft

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The 2017 NFL Draft will be held in Philadelphia, PA and the Cleveland Browns will pick first overall.

The 2017 NFL Draft starts on April 27, and all 32 NFL teams will try to secure their franchise’s future by finding prospects that should command the NFL spotlight. 243 college hopefuls will ultimately be selected, but we predicted the first ten players who will be picked, along with our own draft day busts and steals.

 

Team (Pick) Edward Jake
Cleveland Browns (No. 1) Myles Garrett, DE Myles Garrett, DE
San Francisco 49ers (No. 2) Solomon Thomas, DE Solomon Thomas, DE
Chicago Bears (No. 3) Malik Hooker, S Jamal Adams, S
Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 4) Leonard Fournette, RB Leonard Fournette, RB
Tennessee Titans (No. 5) Jamal Adams, S Marshon Lattimore, CB
New York Jets (No. 6) Jonathan Allen, DT Malik Hooker, S
Los Angeles Chargers (No. 7) Marshon Lattimore, CB Jonathan Allen, DT
Carolina Panthers (No. 8) Christian McCaffrey, RB Christian McCaffrey, RB
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 9) Mike Williams, WR Reuben Foster, LB
Buffalo Bills (No. 10) OJ Howard, TE Corey Davis, WR

 

On Myles Garrett:


E: Myles Garrett is clearly the number one player in this draft in just about every area. He would fill a major positional hole in the Browns’ struggling defensive line (the team only had 26 sacks in 16 games, as compared to their opponents’ 66). Also, Garrett is the most physically gifted prospect (he recorded a 4.64 on the 40 yard dash and an unreal 41 inch vertical jump) and doesn’t have any character issues–in fact, he seems like a
great person. In addition, he’s threatened that he will make whichever team picks No. 1 pay if they don’t draft him. That’s absolutely terrifying, and, frankly, I’d draft him based on that alone.

 

J: No NFL prospect is ever a lock to have success in the league, but Myles Garrett comes awfully close. A 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive end from Texas A&M, Garrett earned first team All-American honors last year even though he fought injuries throughout a significant portion of the season. Garrett additionally proved his worth with finalist honors for the Lombardi and Hendricks awards, both of which are awarded to the nation’s top defenders. With stellar NFL Combine numbers (such as an eye-popping 41-inch vertical jump) to boot, Garrett will be a welcome addition to a depleted Browns defense that allowed over 390 yards per game last season.

 

On the Browns’ pick at No. 12:

 

E: I don’t want the Browns to take a quarterback this early in the draft, especially because of their ill-fated selection just three short seasons ago at No. 22 (Johnny Manziel), but if QB Mitch Trubisky is still on the board, there’s no way the Browns will pass him up. Considering that the team is desperate for a franchise QB and are deliberating taking him over surefire star Myles Garrett at No. 1, the Browns should be thrilled if the Cleveland native was still available at 12.

 

J: It’s no secret that the Cleveland Browns are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, but I don’t value any of 2017’s quarterback prospects very high. For example, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky only has 13 games worth of starting experience, and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson will have difficulty adjusting to an NFL-style offense (he ran a “spread” offense in college.) Since the Browns still have holes to fill on offense besides the quarterback position, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard can make an immediate impact. Howard is a premier pass-catching tight end who can serve as a primary receiving target following the departure of Terrelle Pryor. His big size (6-foot-6, 251 pounds) will make him a matchup nightmare for NFL secondaries, and he can also block when his number isn’t called.  

 

Busts:

 

E: DeShone Kizer, QB

The numbers are right in front of us. The Kizer-led Fighting Irish finished 4-8 in 2016, which is concerning enough, but he also had just a 59% completion rate (as compared to College Football Playoff National Championship winning quarterback Deshaun Watson’s 67%). Accuracy and decision making are two vital components to an NFL quarterback, and Kizer doesn’t seem to possess them at a high enough caliber. Therefore, I don’t see him excelling at the next level.

 

J: Dalvin Cook, RB

The Florida State product’s talent is undeniable (three straight 1,000-yard seasons in college), but Cook comes with many red flags. He’s had many health issues throughout high school and college (his shoulder injuries are especially concerning), and his multiple off-the-field issues should have NFL organizations on high alert.

 

Steals:

 

E: Obi Melifonwu, S

Melifonwu could be a late first round or even an early second round steal for any team that selects him. The UConn product has something you just can’t teach: athleticism. Melifonwu opened eyes at the NFL Draft Combine with a gravity-defying 11’9” broad jump and a 44” vertical jump, causing scouts around the league to salivate over him. Players with his type of physical prowess have shown their value throughout the league; for example, Melifonwu’s former teammate Byron Jones set a world record at the 2015 NFL Combine with an incredible 12’3” broad jump and matched Melifonwu’s numbers on the vertical jump. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round and has become a core member of the secondary. Melifonwu has the potential to be as much, if not more, of an impact player right away; his 24 tackles against Tulane in his final game at Connecticut only support that notion.

 

J: Curtis Samuel, HB

Samuel has flown under the radar during the pre-draft process, and is a tantalizing option at both running back and receiver for teams who need an extra boost on offense. Listed as a halfback for Ohio State, Samuel posted an average of 128.8 all-purpose yards a game last year for the Buckeyes and led the team with 15 touchdowns. In the pros, Samuel could be reminiscent of Ty Montgomery, the Packers player who has found success at both running back and receiver in Aaron Rodgers’ offense. Samuel also posted the second-fastest 40-yard dash of the entire 2017 NFL Combine, at 4.31 seconds. Although there will be a steep learning curve for Samuel, the Ohio State product can be an interesting option in the middle rounds of the draft.