2017 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Prospects with Rising Stock

We're just about a month away from the 2017 NFL draft. With pro-day season in full swing, we're beginning to get to know this year's draft class even better.

Sure, we've known about guys like Myles Garrett and Deshaun Watson since before the start of last season. However, we're becoming more familiar with other potential gems this crop of incoming rookies has to offer.

Former Washington receiver John Ross, for example, may have solidified his status as a first-round pick by setting a new combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash.

This home stretch before the draft is the perfect time for players—even the one's we're familiar with—to see their stock rise. Taking into consideration recent combine and pro-day performances, here's an updated Round 1 mock.

We'll run down the current draft order and make our predictions for each pick based on factors such as player potential, player draft stock, team needs and team fit. We'll also examine some players who have seen their stocks rise in recent weeks.

2017 NFL Mock Draft

Pick	NFL Team	Proj. Selection
1	Cleveland Browns	Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
2	San Francisco 49ers	Jamal Adams, S, LSU
3	Chicago Bears	Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
5	Tennessee Titans (from LAR)	Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
6	New York Jets	Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
7	Los Angeles Chargers	Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
8	Carolina Panthers	Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
10	Buffalo Bills	Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
11	New Orleans Saints	Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
12	Cleveland Browns (from PHI)	Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
13	Arizona Cardinals	Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
14	Philadelphia Eagles (from MIN)	Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
15	Indianapolis Colts	Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
16	Baltimore Ravens	O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
17	Washington Redskins	Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan St.
18	Tennessee Titans	Takkarist McKinley, LB, UCLA
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
20	Denver Broncos	Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
21	Detroit Lions	Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
22	Miami Dolphins	Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
23	New York Giants	David Njoku, TE, Miami
24	Oakland Raiders	Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
25	Houston Texans	Jabrill Peppers, LB, Michigan
26	Seattle Seahawks	Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky
27	Kansas City Chiefs	John Ross, WR, Washington
28	Dallas Cowboys	Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
29	Green Bay Packers	T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	Tim Williams, LB, Alabama
31	Atlanta Falcons	Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
32	New Orleans Saints (from NE)	Budda Baker, S, Washington

On the Rise

Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

There are a lot of concerns surrounding former North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky because he only logged 13 career college starts. Well, former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker only had 13 starts and there are virtually no questions about him.

This is because Hooker is a physical specimen at 6'1" and 206 pounds who seems to have all the tools necessary to excel at the highest level. Last season, he amassed 74 tackles, seven interceptions, 5.5 tackles for a loss and three defensive touchdowns.

Now, normally a player unable to work out leading up to the draft might see his stock slide a bit. This hasn't been the case for Hooker, who underwent hip and core muscle surgeries after the season. If anything, it's allowed teams and scouts to spend more time digging into Hooker's quality game film.

One AFC college scouting director recently said the following of Hooker, per NFL Media's Bucky Brooks:

"

He has to be one of the best safety prospects to come out in the last few years. He was a big-time basketball player coming out of high school, and you see the explosiveness in his play. He has natural instincts and playmaking ability. I know he hasn't played a lot of football, but the game is easy for him. ... He's real. I think he's the real deal.

"

While Hooker wasn't able to work out at Ohio State's recent pro day, he did show off his hands (as you can see in the video below). Don't be surprised if Hooker ends up being one of the first defenders off the board on the draft's opening night.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Former Stanford running back Cristian McCaffrey has maintained a place in the national spotlight ever since rushing for more than 2,000 yards two years ago. Yet, his stock has somehow been on the rise ever since the scouting combine.

At the combine, McCaffrey measured in at 5'11" and 202 pounds. He also ran the 40 in 4.48 seconds and produced an impressive 37.5-inch vertical.

McCaffrey continued to improve his stock at Stanford's pro day, where he showed his versatility by working out as a wide receiver.

"It's something I pride myself on, being extremely versatile, and I feel like I can do that stuff," McCaffrey said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. "To show coaches I can play running back, I can play receiver."

According to Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today, McCaffrey has been training with his father, Ed, who is a former NFL receiver.

Considering McCaffrey racked up 82 receptions and 955 yards receiving over the past two years, it wouldn't seem that he needs a ton of help as a pass-catcher. However, his receiving ability is one of the reasons why teams are likely to target McCaffrey early in the draft.

His willingness to improve and showcase that aspect of his game should have McCaffrey rising all the way up until draft weekend.

Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma

Former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon might be a first-round prospect if not for his assault on a woman a few years ago that was caught on tape. Mixon punched the woman in the face, giving her an injury that required surgery.

What Mixon did was terrible, and virtually everyone has become aware of the incident. This is why some teams probably won't even consider drafting the talented ball-carrier. The fear of public backlash is justifiable, and any team considering Mixon would have to be confident that another incident would never occur.

However, some teams undoubtedly will consider Mixon because of the talent he possesses. Mixon showcased that talent at Oklahoma's pro day, and his stock has been on the rise ever since.

Mixon ran a 4.43-second 40 at that pro day. This comes on the heels of a 1,274-yard rushing season in 2016.

NFL Media's Maurice Jones-Drew rates Mixon as his top back in this year's class. He recently wrote the following:

"

What I know about Mixon on the football field is that he's without a doubt the best running back in this year's class. He's versatile, a good route runner, accelerates through contact and has great patience. I recently spoke to a coach who attended Oklahoma's pro day, and he told me Mixon was the best player he had seen in the last 10 years at any pro day.

"

The question now becomes which teams can convince their fanbases that Mixon deserves another chance. That team may pull the trigger on the Oklahoma product a lot sooner than originally thought.