Mel Kiper Jr. NFL Mock Draft 2017: Notable Picks from ESPN Guru's 3-Round Mock

With just over one week before the 2017 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has unveiled his latest three-round Grade-A mock draft for all 32 teams. 

As Kiper notes, this version of his mock is different because it's all his opinion for what teams should do to receive a perfect draft grade instead of being based on information he's hearing from NFL sources connected to specific players. 

While the entire article offers all 105 picks from the first three rounds, here's how Kiper has the first round of the draft playing out:

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Cleveland Browns	Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
2	San Francisco 49ers	Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
3	Chicago Bears	Jamal Adams, S, LSU
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
5	Tennessee Titans (via Los Angeles Rams)	Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
6	New York Jets	O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
7	Los Angeles Chargers	Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
8	Carolina Panthers	Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
10	Buffalo Bills	Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
11	New Orleans Saints	Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
12	Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia Eagles)	Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
13	Arizona Cardinals	Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
14	Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings)	Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
15	Indianapolis Colts	Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
16	Baltimore Ravens	Forrest Lamp, G, Ball State
17	Washington	Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
18	Tennessee Titans	Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	John Ross, WR, Washington
20	Denver Broncos	Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
21	Detroit Lions	Kevin King, CB, Washington
22	Miami Dolphins	Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
23	New York Giants	Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
24	Oakland Raiders	Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
25	Houston Texans	Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
26	Seattle Seahawks	Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
27	Kansas City Chiefs	Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
28	Dallas Cowboys	Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
29	Green Bay Packers	Takkarist McKinley, LB, UCLA
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
31	Atlanta Falcons	Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
32	New Orleans Saints (via New England Patriots)	Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC

Notable Selections

No. 5: Tennessee Titans: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Keeping in mind the caveat this isn't what Kiper would have teams do and not necessarily what they are expected to do, Reuben Foster going No. 5 to the Tennessee Titans is certainly one of the most noteworthy things from this version of his mock. 

In terms of what Tennessee needs, Kiper does make a strong case for why Foster makes sense at this spot. 

"I think the Titans have three clear needs: cornerback, wide receiver and inside linebacker," he wrote. "I don't have a corner or receiver in my top five, but I do have Foster ranked that high. He's that good, an every-down linebacker with elite range."

There are some off-field concerns Foster will have to overcome, as Robert Klemko of The MMQB wrote about:

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He is considered a high-first round talent, one of the best linebackers to come out in years and the most highly regarded to emerge from Tuscaloosa during the [Nick] Saban era. Yet, at least one NFL team with a selection in the top 15 had already removed Foster from consideration before the incident at the combine.

"He already had immaturity, issues with life skills. This is the same guy," said an evaluator for the team after Foster was sent home from Indianapolis. "We're not in the market."

"

Foster's scouting reports almost universally acknowledge his dynamic talents on the field, but the concerns away from the field do make it unlikely he will be one of the top five picks.

It's also hard to justify taking an inside linebacker that high because the position's value isn't high in today's NFL. Yet based on what the Titans need and value with their first pick, Foster would certainly fit their roster. 

No. 8: Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

The consensus around this year's running back class is that Leonard Fournette will be the first one drafted, followed by Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook in some order. 

McCaffrey has been steadily rising up the ranks throughout the pre-draft process, with Kiper having him as the first running back off the board to the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall pick:

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He has the athleticism (4.48 40) and versatility to be a difference-maker. The Panthers could use him as a complement to veteran Jonathan Stewartand as a primary option in the receiving and return games. Don't count out McCaffrey's being an every-down back in the league, even at 5-foot-11, 202 pounds.

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The Panthers are in an unusual spot heading into 2017. They are one year removed from posting a 15-1 record and playing in the Super Bowl but have finished under .500 in five of the last seven seasons. 

Quarterback Cam Newton took a beating behind a mediocre offensive line last season. He completed a career-low 52.9 percent of his passes, and his 14 interceptions were his most in a season since his rookie year. 

McCaffrey would add a dynamic and versatile talent to Carolina's offense who can take some of the pressure off Newton to be the do-it-all player he's had to be throughout his career. 

Fournette and Cook are more impressive physical specimens than McCaffrey, but McCaffrey's versatile skill set as a running back and slot receiver makes him an ideal fit for the NFL in 2017. 

No. 34: San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

It's not a stretch to say this year's quarterback class is lacking in appeal, which is probably part of the reason why Kiper only has one going in the first round (Mitchell Trubisky to the Cleveland Browns at No. 12). 

Patrick Mahomes is Kiper's second quarterback off the board, going to the San Francisco 49ers with their second-round pick (No. 34 overall). 

The idea of Mahomes as a development project for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who has an offensive mind and played some role in helping Kirk Cousins develop into a solid quarterback after being a fourth-round pick in 2012. 

B/R's Matt Miller has Mahomes ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in this draft class, behind Trubisky and Deshaun Watson, with a positive scouting report to back it up:

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A shotgun-only quarterback in college, Mahomes is athletic enough to learn to take snaps from under center. Velocity on all throws is very impressive for Mahomes, who understands how to dial up spin and get the ball through tight coverage. He’s a dual-threat player with the strength and speed to be effective as a designed runner or when getting free from pressure.

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Miller also noted Mahomes boasts the best arm strength from this year's crop of quarterbacks. 

The 49ers don't have to play Mahomes in 2017 if they draft him. Brian Hoyer is a capable stopgap quarterback, especially for a team still rebuilding its roster that doesn't have to worry about its record right now. 

It would be a bold risk for the 49ers to take Mahomes, though one that could pay huge dividends if they develop him the right way and don't force him on the field before he's ready to play.