2017 NFL Mock Draft: Updated Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

Only eight teams remain in the NFL playoffs, which means everyone else is focused on how to improve for the future.

The most notable event in the offseason is the NFL draft, which offers every team the chance to potentially turn around its fortunes. We might not know how the picks pay off for a few years, but it's never too early to make predictions.

Although a lot will change in the coming months, here are early projections for the first round of the 2017 draft.

Pick	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Cleveland Browns	Myles Garrett	DE	Texas A&M
2	San Francisco 49ers	Deshaun Watson	QB	Clemson
3	Chicago Bears	Jonathan Allen	DE	Alabama
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Leonard Fournette	RB	LSU
5	Tennessee Titans (via Rams)	Mike Williams	WR	Clemson
6	New York Jets	Teez Tabor	CB	Florida
7	San Diego Chargers	Jamal Adams	S	LSU
8	Carolina Panthers	Malik Hooker	S	Ohio State
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Derek Barnett	DE	Tennessee
10	Buffalo Bills	Mitch Trubisky	QB	North Carolina
11	New Orleans Saints	Reuben Foster	ILB	Alabama
12	Cleveland Browns (via Eagles)	DeShone Kizer	QB	Notre Dame
13	Arizona Cardinals	Jabrill Peppers	S	Michigan
14	Philadelphia Eagles (via Vikings)	Corey Davis	WR	Western Michigan
15	Indianapolis Colts	Ryan Ramczyk	OT	Wisconsin
16	Baltimore Ravens	Tim Williams	OLB	Alabama
17	Washington Redskins	Ryan Anderson	OLB	Alabama
18	Tennessee Titans	Marshon Lattimore	CB	Ohio State
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	John Ross	WR	Washington
20	Denver Broncos	O.J. Howard	TE	Alabama
21	Detroit Lions	Dalvin Cook	RB	Florida State
22	Miami Dolphins	Solomon Thomas	DE	Stanford
23	New York Giants	Taco Charlton	DE	Michigan
24	Oakland Raiders	Zach Cunningham	LB	Vanderbilt
25	Seattle Seahawks	Cam Robinson	OT	Alabama
26	Houston Texans	Takkarist McKinley	OLB	UCLA
27	Green Bay Packers	Quincy Wilson	CB	Florida
28	Pittsburgh Steelers	Sidney Jones	CB	Washington
29	Atlanta Falcons	Malik McDowell	DT	Michigan State
30	Kansas City Chiefs	Christian McCaffrey	RB	Stanford
31	Dallas Cowboys	Charles Harris	DE	Missouri
32	New England Patriots	Jarrad Davis	OLB	Florida

Notable Picks

San Francisco 49ers: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

There are a lot of different ways to evaluate a quarterback.

Deshaun Watson might not have the strongest arm, but he is accurate and can make all the throws required of him. He can also make plays with his legs, putting a lot of pressure on an opposing defense.

However, the biggest compliment you can give Watson is that when the game is on the line, you want the ball in his hands.

Most fans watched his impressive performance against Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, as he rang up 420 passing yards and four total touchdowns against an elite defense. However, his quotes after leading the game-winning drive in the final minutes show his character.

"I'd seen the two minutes and one second on the clock, and I just smiled and I just knew," Watson said Monday night, per Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com. "I told myself, 'They left too much time on the clock.'"

"It was calm; no one panicked," Watson added, per David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. "I said: 'Let's be legendary. Let's be great.'"

You never want to rely upon wins when evaluating a quarterback, but Watson has shown throughout his career that he is the type of player who can put his team on his back.

While the Cleveland Browns can add an elite player in Myles Garrett at No. 1, the San Francisco 49ers should take their quarterback of the future by selecting Watson.

Arizona Cardinals: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

Jabrill Peppers was one of the most talked-about players during the college football season, and he will likely be a source of debate during draft season.

The Michigan star showcased his talent over the course of the year by lining up all over the field and making plays on defense, offense and special teams. Although Ohio State fans might disagree, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist for a reason.

On the other hand, the elite athlete doesn't have a true position. At 6'1", 205 pounds, Peppers doesn't have the size to be a true linebacker at the next level or the speed necessary to be a safety.

If he is going to succeed in the NFL, he will need a coach who is willing to use him in a hybrid role where he can get the most out of his ability.

This is where Bruce Arians comes in, as he has plenty of experience in utilizing versatile players. The Arizona Cardinals took undersized cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and turned him into one of the best playmakers in the league by moving him around the defense. Deone Bucannon is only slightly bigger than Peppers, but the former safety has performed well as a hybrid linebacker.

Arizona not only needs more help on defense, but it is also one of the only teams that can get the most out of Peppers, which makes this a perfect fit.

Denver Broncos: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Although the Denver Broncos do have several tight ends on the roster in Virgil Green, A.J. Derby and Jeff Heuerman, the team desperately needs someone who can help out in the passing game.

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders make an impressive tandem at receiver, but no one else on the roster finished with more than 300 receiving yards on the season. A third receiver or a solid tight end could thrive in the middle of the field with all the attention going to the top two targets.

O.J. Howard might not have big numbers in his college career, but that is more based on the run-heavy system at Alabama. He is an elite athlete who can make plays with the ball in his hands while being a mismatch for most defenders.

Meanwhile, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller highlighted another skill set:

Howard showed this ability with the Crimson Tide, and his work at the end of the offensive line should give the Broncos a much-needed boost in the run game.

No matter who is at quarterback next season, the addition of Howard would help improve the Denver offense in all phases.

Kansas City Chiefs: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Christian McCaffrey has been one of the best running backs in college football over the past two years. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting last year when he totaled 2,664 yards from scrimmage and followed that up with 1,920 yards in 2016 in three fewer games.

He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and could excel in the NFL if he is given a chance to make plays in space.

Like Peppers, he would also benefit from a coach who knows how to use him best.

Andy Reid has a strong history of using his backs both as runners and receivers, from Brian Westbrook to LeSean McCoy to Jamaal Charles, putting them in the best position to succeed. McCaffrey can be yet another player who can rack up yards in a lot of different ways.

The Chiefs already have a few playmakers in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, but with Charles and Jeremy Maclin constantly dealing with injuries, the team can use someone who can help move the ball offensively.

McCaffrey and Spencer Ware could form a quality duo in the backfield while taking some of the pressure off quarterback Alex Smith.

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