2017 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

NFL MOCK DRAFT - 3/18/2017

ROUND 1

1. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: Browns need a QB in the worst way, but they can't pass on the best position player in the draft. Browns hope Garrett is next Bruce Smith rather than the next Jadeveon Clowney.

2.  SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 

Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford: 49er also have a desperate need at quarterback to energize new head coach Kyle Shanahan's "choke first" offense, but the talent just isn't there. 49ers defense was even worse than its offense and the need is there for a big body inside to try and help stop the bleeding.

3. CHICAGO BEARS

Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama: A run on defensive linemen to start the draft continues. Bears were one of the worst defenses in the league last year, and they need to shore up everywhere on that side of the ball. They also need DB help but there will be plenty of secondary help in the 2nd round.

4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

  
Jamal Adams, SS, LSU:  The Jaguars already upgraded the DL with Calais Campbell so it makes sense to flow with the draft and add the highest rated safety to a secondary that already includes Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye at corner. Adams should give them a big, athletic presence on the back line and shore up a weak unit that gave up 400 points last season.

5. (TRADE) CLEVELAND BROWNS FROM TENNESSEE TITANS (FROM LOS ANGELES RAMS)

   
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: The Browns swap up from pick #12 to get the QB they need. Mitch Trubisky would be the better pick but head coach Hugh Jackson is a racist, so he'll take Watson instead. Watson is a better runner than passer, and although there are legitimate questions about his velocity and habit of throwing interceptions, he's always come up big in big games. Now if only the Browns actually played in big games.

6. NY JETS

 
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina: No way Trubisky is worth this pick but the Jets are desperate. He has some real promise, but he will need time and experience, and with head coach Todd Bowles on the hot seat he's unlikely to get it. Frankly, they'd be better off bringing back Mark Sanchez to start for a year while Trubisky adapts.

7. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State: The Chargers were terrible on the back end last year, giving up 423 points mostly through the air. hooker is a strong center fielder type who can help take away the deep ball at least. Teamed with the Chargers smallish CB's he also brings some size to the unit. 

8. CAROLINA PANTHERS


Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: Carolina fell apart last season after everything went perfect in 2015, and the lack of a consistent running game was a big part of it. Fournette has some red flags but the size and freakish talent is undeniable. Panthers will hope that a revitalized running game will take some pressure off douchbag QB Cam Newton, who crashed and burned when the pressure was on. 

9. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin: Bengals would ideally like to trade down and make this pick, but after the hits they took in free agency on the offensive like they need to draft the replacements as a top priority. They can always come back and get a defensive player in round 2. Ramczyk can step in and replace Andrew Whitworth at LT, on paper at least. Another pick born of desperation.

10. BUFFALO BILLS

Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State: Bills might like to take an offensive player here but when Lattimore falls to them they can't resist the temptation to replace the departed Stephon Gilmore. Lattimore may even end up being an upgrade for less money than they would have had to spend to keep Gilmore.

11. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan: The Saints ranked dead last in pass defense in 2016 and Peppers gives them a strong athletic presence for their weak secondary. They still need to add to the pass rush and get a corner or two, but luckily this is the draft to do that. 

12.TENNESSEE TITANS FROM CLEVELAND BROWNS (FROM PHILADELPHIA)

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama:Titans really need defensive backfield help so Humphrey gets the nod over OJ Howard or Washington WR John Ross. They're hoping one of them drops to their pick at #18. 

13. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple: Cardinals defense got shredded in free agency so they have little choice but to try and rebuild through the draft. Safety is a major position of need and Reddick can add some youth and speed to the LB corps and add to the pass rush. He'll be a good player for the next regime to build around after the Cardinals go 6-10 under Bruce Arians.

14. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (FROM MINNESOTA)

John Ross, WR, Washington: Fit meet need. Ross has Deshaun Jackson-like breakaway ability but without all the personal baggage. He'll team with Carson Wentz to terrorize NFC East secondaries for years to come.

15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama: This is a reach but the Colts had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year. Robinson could play either tackle spot or even guard and be an upgrade over the players the Colts have at those positions now. My guess is he ends up at RT and Joe Haeg moves inside to RG.

16. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee: Ravens could use a safety but the value isn't there. Barnett is a 1st round prospect who could step in for the departed Elvis Dumervil, who had a great career. 

17. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama: The Redskins gave up a ton of yards and touchdowns on the ground last year, and Foster is a Bobby Wagner type with great range and speed. Pedestrian pick but a necessary one. 

18. TENNESSEE TITANS

O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: Having already addressed the secondary and picking up some extra pick(s) in the trade with Cleveland, the Titans come back and add one of the top 3 offensive talents in the draft. Howard will give QB Marcus Mariota a big, talented target in the middle of the field which will force defenses to play deeper and open up the inside running game. 

19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: Cook gives the Bucs a dynamic option out of the backfield that's likely to be more consistent than the group they have there now. Scoring more points on the ground must be a priority for the Bucs because of Jameis Winston's limitations as a passer. Getting a consensus top 10 talent at #19 will help them get good draft grades, which is always a priority to energize fan bases.

20. DENVER BRONCOS

Garett Bolles, OT, Utah: The Broncos need both a RB and an upgrade on the offensive line. The line wins out because of the scarcity of talent there in this draft. Bolles can be a solid guard and possibly even a tackle at the pro level. Running back will have to wait for the 2nd round.

21. DETROIT LIONS

Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt: The Lions addressed concerns along the offensive and defensive lines through free agency but lost speed at linebacker with the decision to release DeAndre Levy. Cunningham, a two-time All-SEC pick, has the range and length to fill this hole immediately. 

22. MIAMI DOLPHINS

Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan: Dolphins still need to add to the pass rush and Charlton is the best prospect on the board. 

23. NY GIANTS

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: McCaffrey is exactly the Patriots-like, annoying, quick punk-ass white guy the Giants need to upgrade their run, pass and return games. He'll especially add a dynamic pass catching option out of the backfield for Eli Manning so he doesn't have to force the ball downfield so much.

24. OAKLAND RAIDERS

Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State: The Raiders' offense is OK but they need to keep adding to a weak defense to make a serious run. McDowell is an athletic inside presence that can add a needed dimension to a stagnant aspect of their team.

25. HOUSTON TEXANS

DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: Unless the Texans can get their hands on Tony Romo, QB remains their biggest need. Personally I'd sign Jay Culter and draft Kizer if I was them, rather than bother with Romo. Kizer may not be a great prospect but he has potential, and that's more than you can about any QB on the Texans' roster at the moment.

26. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Kevin King, CB, Washington: If they don't sign Ryan Clady, an offensive lineman like Forrest Lamp is a possibility here but so is a trade down into the early 2nd round. Lacking a 4th and 5th round pick, this would fit the Seahawks draft playbook. However, King may represent too great a value for them to pass on and risk losing. Physically, the 6-3 King is a virtual Richard Sherman clone, and was essentially raised in the Seahawks system at UW. He could start immediately on the right side opposite Sherman and fill a spot that's been a problem since Byron Maxwell departed in free agency. A year spent in the DB room with Sherman and Earl Thomas will set King up to be Sherman's eventual successor as the best shut-down corner in the NFL.

27. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan: The Chiefs' probably aren't looking for a receiver specifically, but Davis has fallen too far and he is a bigger target than the rest of their group. Might have liked a DT to replace Dontari Poe but the Raiders snapped up Malik McDowell just a few picks earlier.

28. DALLAS COWBOYS

Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama: Cowboys need to add to the defense and although Williams comes with some character concerns, that's never stopped them before. If Jaylon Smith recovers from his knee injury, they would have the makings of a very strong and much improved defense.

29. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky: Packers will be sorely tempted by WR Mike Williams, but after losing guards T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton Lamp is the smart pick to protect Aaron Rodgers. Lamp starred at left tackle for the Hilltoppers but made a seamless transition inside to guard at the Senior Bowl.

30. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Obi Melifonwu, SS, Connecticut: Melifonwu is a super athletic defensive back who can make an impact for the Steelers right away. Their secondary has been a problem for a while and the playoff loss to the Deflatriots exposed the need to get better on the back end.

31. ATLANTA FALCONS

Charles Harris, DE, Missouri: After their epic collapse in the Super Bowl it's obvious the Falcons biggest need is more depth in the pass rush rotation. Harris will add to that even if the Falcons are likely to hit bottom next year while coping the psychological impact of their epic choke job.

32. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (FROM NEW ENGLAND)

TJ Watt, OLB, Wisconsin: Saints will tempted to replace WR Brandin Cooks with Clemson's Mike Williams, but they need to stick to their commitment to add talent at every level of the defense. Watt is a marginal 1st round pick, but he's big, strong, athletic and a relentless worker which can only rub off on his teammates.


Other Seahawks Picks
Round 2 - Pick #58 - Issac Asiata, OG, Utah: If they don't sign Clady, the Seahawks probably come back with an OL in the 2nd round. Asiata is a mauler in the run game which is a point of emphasis for the Seahawks this year. Western Michigan's Taylor Moton might also be a consideration here if falls this far, but given his athletic ability that's doubtful. So either Asiata pushes 2016 1st round pick Germain Ifedi to RT or he lines up next to Moton at RG.

Round 3 - Pick #90 - Sidney Jones, CB, Washington: If he lasts this long after his Achilles tear, I think the Seahawks snap him up.
Round 3 - Pick #102 - Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington: Adding a defensive lineman will be a priority early in this draft for the Seahawks.
Round 3 - Pick # 106 - Jeremey Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas: With Luke Wilson and Jimmy Graham free agents in 2018, it makes sense to add another TE to the roster this year.
Round - 6 - Pick #210 - Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB, Tennessee: Seahawks are looking to add a linebacker with quickness at some point in the draft.
Round - 7 - Pick #226 - Bryan Cox, DE, Florida: Looking for an outside pass rusher.

Obviously, additional free agent signings could affect priorities as the draft nears.